Originally Posted By trekkeruss Because of its upcoming 25th anniversary, we have a few discussions going on regarding Epcot, and possible announcements about its future. Along with those discussions, some have touched on how the theme park differs from Walt's intent. Which brings me to my question: what did/does Walt's EPCOT mean to you? What would elements would have to be a part of a true Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow that you would actually want in a "utopian" city? Is it mainly a technological goal, or is it more?
Originally Posted By nemopoppins I think of it as something like Progress City, technologically advanced, but the life-sized, real CM's that work there can live there too. It's capable of supporting such a community because instead of attractions there's a general store, restaurants, transportation (not cars), a school, entertainment venues, parks, offices, a farm, etc. The CM's that work at those support centers can also live there. We, the visiting public, really just tour the living conditions and enjoy the same entertainment and restaurants that those of the CM's that live there do. No one from outside can live there unless they work there but there can be specific long-term contracts, so if you want to try living there for vacation, you would have a temporary job also. Maybe Disney could also place a resort on site. Maybe there could be a representative government, but the constitution it is based on would have to be somewhat limited by Disney in order to keep the original spirit of the thing. Yes, of course Americans are free, but they could always move out if they didn't want to accept any necessary limits on their freedoms.
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP I don't know that I would like to visit the experimental protical community of tommorrow, but I do know that I wish SOMEONE was doing some serious research into the field!
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn First, see what Walt's vision of EPCOT was ... <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=u9M3pKsrcc8" target="_blank">http://youtube.com/watch?v=u9M 3pKsrcc8</a>
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Yes, I have that film on the Walt Disney Treasures Tomorrowland DVD set. What I am asking is what parts of Walt's vision do people think is realistic and feasible. It has been 40+ years since that film was made, and technology has marched on, not to mention people's perceptions of what is a desirable lifestyle. For instance, in Walt's EPCOT, the entire 50 acre urban core of his city would be enclosed... in other words, like the Mall of America. I don't know if I like that idea. In Walt's EPCOT, the business and commerce is in the middle of his city, surrounded by apartment housing, then a greenspace, and then single family homes. It all looks great on paper, but when I really think about the layout, I don't know if I think it's actually a good idea. I can see how it is designed to reduce the dependency on the automobile and get residents to use public transportation, but it's predicated on the assumption everyone who lives in EPCOT will work there too (which is how nemopoppins envisions it). Is that realistic? I don't know.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < but it's predicated on the assumption everyone who lives in EPCOT will work there too < this was likely based on places like the Pullman area of south Chicago. The vast majority of people who lived there worked for the Pullman company who made railroad cars. The stores were company owned and somewhat subsidized - everything revolved around the parent company. Is it possible for all to work where they live - at some point in time that is likely close, but constant changes in the world and economy tells me it could never last
Originally Posted By nemopoppins In my EPCOT, in order to make it work, I don't make living there a requirement for working there. I don't think free choice nor forced design could make the perfect combination of skills required to maintain the community. So, in order to attract the correct balance of skills, it isn't required to live there, but I think the fun of living there would be incentive for lots of workers. Workers who live on the outside would assume their duties the minute they reach border, so they would be abiding by the community's standards even if they chose not to live there. On the other hand, I really don't think it could work if residents left to work elsewhere. That would contradict the sense of community, so that's why I would make residence available only to those who work within the community.
Originally Posted By ExplorerDave An updated radius plan EPCOT could be incredible. By updated part of what I mean besides technology is that it would be mixed use development through most of the community further reducing the need for cars and reducing the size of the single family detached home area. The central tower rather than being a thirty or so story hotel could be the worlds tallest building, or one of the tallest. It would include a hotel, office, and living space. Likewise the core shopping, dining, and entertainment area would include living and working/office space. Disney did a good job of this in Celebration. If this central area is all enclosed it could be with a green roof turning the whole area above this district into parkland. Besides being at the cutting edge of technology it should be a very green community, perhaps even the first real cradle to cradle community <a href="http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm" target="_blank">http://www.mcdonough.com/cradl e_to_cradle.htm</a> it could also build and test the first high-rise farms <a href="http://www.verticalfarm.com/contact.php" target="_blank">http://www.verticalfarm.com/co ntact.php</a> There are a lot of other exciting possibilities that would take a really forward thinking company to pull it off, it could be an awesome example for the world, especially if it really took a self-sustaining, cradle to cradle approach.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins ^^^Sounds good. Now how do we make it profitable? Experimentation and research all cost money. We need to demonstrate a clear return on the investment.
