Episode Details
Back to Episodes
120. Why Walt Wanted to Build a Utopian Community (Epcot's Origins Part 1)
Description
How did Walt’s past impact his decision to create an experimental community of tomorrow?
In this episode of Distory, we begin a new series exploring the origins of EPCOT, beginning with Walt Disney’s Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. But before we dive into the details of this utopian city, we have to give some context behind WHY Walt would want to create a city when he had spent most of his life focused on animation, movies, and theme parks. From explaining Disney’s impact on urban planning to understanding Walt’s legacy, this introspective episode delves into the mind of Walt to help us understand why E.P.C.O.T. was so important to him. Kate also gives us some rabbit-hutch insight into the world of Disney’s Hyperion studio, Kirk shares an unusual source of funding for CalArts, and we discuss how project timelines in the Disney parks have changed from 1955 to the present day.
Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!
Kate’s YouTube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch