Walt Disney was born in 1901 in Chicago, IL. As a young man, he studied art and later became involved in cartooning and film. In 1923, Disney founded The Walt Disney Company, an entertainment and media company, under which he created such characters as Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan, and Snow White. What started as a rough beginning full of competition for popularity became a huge success for Disney, who won an Academy Award for Mickey Mouse in 1932. Disney was known to be a big thinker and determined worker. In the late 1940's, Disney made sketches for a plan for an amusement park he wanted to build to complement Disneyland in California. After searching for the ideal location, Disney purchased 43 square miles of land near the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 4 bit by bit under the names of false corporations to avoid land speculation. His goal with the amusement park was to create a fantastic microcosm in which the entire family could participate. He wanted a huge castle, plenty of rides, and a even a train service for transportation through the park. Unfortunately, Disney died in 1966 before his dream was fully accomplished. His brother, Roy Disney, took over the project. The Imagineers (the engineers at Walt Disney World) and those in the corporation kept Disney's ambitious attitude and big dreams alive while completing Walt Disney World. For years, they used the most advanced technologies available and incorporated their own original ideas and solutions to create what we know today to be Walt Disney World.
The result: a 21st. century utopia of engineering and a world-class showcase of technological potential all contained within four separate parks.
Perhaps one of the most impressive features of Disney World is the Walt Disney World Monorail System, an electric train system that provides transportation around the resort. The trains themselves run on an elevated concrete rail. What is unique about the design of the trains is that their sides extend down along the rails and inside the panels are wheels which rotate sideways along the track. The trains carry on average over 150,000 passengers per day.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a thrill ride in Disney World's Hollywood Studios. Passengers enter into a haunted elevator with a mind of its own. From a seated position, the guests are taken through a series ghostly projections and sound effects finished off by a sequence of intense lifts and drops. The significance of the ride is that the system that controls the ascent and descent of the ride is completely random, meaning that each ride is different from the next. This technology was customized particularly for Walt Disney World, and its unpredictability has gained The Tower of Terror world-wide recognition.
Audio-Animatronics (the type of robotics trademarked by Disney's Imagineers) is a technology that Disney World and the Imagineers invented in an attempt to solve various problems with robotics. One problem was that the Imagineers needed robotic figures that moved very realistically. Previously such a thing was nonexistent. Because of this, robots were designed using an analog system combined with hydraulics to allow for the free and particular movement of the figures. The robots now move in very realistic and precise motions and can make noise, such as speaking. Another problem that faced robotics was that faster movements created a lack of control and unrealistic shaking of the object. Since the Imagineers wished to create fast, and concise movements without loosing control, they used the technique of compliance, which allows the parts to move beyond the assigned position and then snap back to the place they were wanted. Previously, this type of robotics was not used and robots could only move in a few, limited number of ways. With the development of Audio-Animatronics, Disney can entertain visitors with performances by lifelike characters, such as the collection of US presidents in the The Hall of Presidents.
Less exciting but just as interesting as the Tower of Terror and Audio-Animatronics is the Vacuum Trash System employed by Walt Disney World. Pipes with a diameter of about two feet use a vacuum to draw all of the trash into an underground collection area. This system saves time and cuts back on litter in the parks.
Unbeknownst to many Walt Disney World visitors is that as they are strolling around enjoying themselves, beneath their feet is an entire intricate system of tunnels that wind throughout the resort. These tunnels were Walt Disney's original idea. He wanted employees and all unappealing processes to be hidden from the visitors so that the atmosphere of magic and wonder would remain intact. The tunnels allow actors, engineers, maintenance workers, and all employees to move about the park unseen. Trash collection, computers, sewer systems, tools, supplies, and more are also housed in the tunnels. It is almost like a stage; the park setting is the stage for performance and the underground tunnels are backstage.
Walt Disney World is a very remarkable place when it comes to demonstrating the newest and most creative technology in modern times. Disney World is a place where engineers, technicians, and creative problem solvers are continuously being challenged to improve what is already in existence. Perhaps this is due to Walt Disney's "the sky's the limit" personality. Based on the interviews in the film of the Imagineers, it seems as if Disney's attitude about always taking things one step further set the tone for Disney World and allowed it to rise as one of the most progressive and creative collections of technology in the world. Such innovation is not only essential to the functioning of Disney World, but can have a big impact on life outside of the fairy tale world. For it is from Disney World that many important and useful developments and inventions are born, only a few of which have been mentioned. Now it is necessary to apply these fantastic new innovations to the real world. Techniques of managing traffic flow, monorail transportation, trash collection, and useful robotics should all be utilized in cities, towns, and industry. If a perfect little world can be created by using such dynamic and creative developments, why not, as I'm sure Walt Disney would agree, take it further and try it on a larger scale?
Modern Marvels - Walt Disney World was an excellent program. It was very informative and quite entertaining. I learned a lot about the history, infrastructure, and importance of Walt Disney World. I now have a new understanding and appreciation for Disney World, as well as the admirable man who made it happen. Walt Disney used his drive, ambition, and big dreams to create what we know today to be Walt Disney World: a mixture of brilliant engineering feats, cutting edge technology, and a sprinkle of magic!
