Walt Disney and the Quest for Community (Design & the Built Environment) [Hardcover]

Steve Mannheim (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0754619745 | ISBN-13: 978-0754619741 | Publication Date: January 2003

During the final months of his life, Walt Disney was consumed with the worldwide problems of cities. His development concept at the time of his death on 15th December 1966 would be his team's conceptual response to the ills of the inner cities and the sprawl of the megalopolis: the "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow" or, as it became known, EPCOT. This volume focuses on the original concept of EPCOT, which was conceived by Disney as an experimental community of about 20,000 people on the Disney World property in central Florida. With its radial plan, 50-acre town centre enclosed by a dome, themed international shopping area, greenbelt, high density apartments, satellite communities, monorail and underground roads, the original EPCOT plan is reminiscent of post-war Stockholm and the British New Towns, as well as today's transit-oriented development theory. Unfortunately, Disney himself did not live long enough to witness the realization of his "model city". However, EPCOT's evolution into projects such as the EPCOT Centre and the town of Celebration displays a remarkable commitment by the Disney organization to the original EPCOT philosophy, one which continues to have relevance in the fields of planning and development.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...solid academic historical research and a "great read" about one of the most fascinating people of our century." -- Richard Peiser, Michael D. Spear Professor of Real Estate Development, Harvard Design School, Massachusetts, USA

"Mannheim does a remarkable job in detailing the Disney's revolutionary urban planning contributions that shape most of the modern world." -- Edward J. Blakely, Dean, Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy, New School University, New York, USA

"The book is the first to reveal Walt Disney's deep personal concern for the urban "crisis" of the time..." -- Gerald Gast, Associate Professor, Portland Urban Architecture Program, The University of Oregon

"...a well-documented historical account of the decision-making processes regarding EPCOT...an indispensable resource." -- Jeffrey Sasha Davis, Pennsylvania State University

"For professionals, practitioners, and students of community development...Walt Disney and the Quest for Community provides a nugget of unique information." -- Roger L. Galatas, Urban Land

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Ashgate Pub Ltd (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754619745
• ISBN-13: 978-0754619741
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,168,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Evolution of Walt's EPCOT Concept, March 6, 2003

By 

"supercalifragilisticexpe" (Round Hill, NV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Walt Disney and the Quest for Community (Design & the Built Environment) (Hardcover)

This is a great read about Walt Disney's EPCOT concept. It draws upon original interviews, research in archives, Disney company building experience, and history to tell a fascinating story of Walt's original ideas and how they evolved into later projects like Epcot and Celebration. Most important, it is clear that the author has a solid understanding of Walt Disney the man and uses it to put EPCOT into context. In addition, the author provides many references with which I was unfamiliar. Finally, the book is organized in such a way as to make it very accessible. I think that this book will be an important resource for both scholars and Disney fans in the future.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars strange, controlling vision, July 2, 2006

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Walt Disney and the Quest for Community (Design & the Built Environment) (Hardcover)

Mannheim gives an independent look at Walt Disney's last dream. Of a planned urban community that would not have the various ills common in American cities in the 60s. The text goes into many details of how EPCOT was designed. It draws key distinctions between the EPCOT of Walt's vision and the Epcot centre that actually was built in Florida.

The vision was for an experimental community. What the Disney Corp. later did was set up a planned community, "Celebration", in Florida that evoked Walt's ideas. The text describes how this community could well be seen as culturally stifling by some readers, with many restrictions on its inhabitants.

The textual portion of the book is only 70% of the pages. The remaining 30% has an extensive bibliography that indicates serious scholarship by Mannheim.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Serious and Enjoyable Work on Walt's Vision of Epcot, June 7, 2008

By 

George H. Taylor, Jr. "biblioadonis from imag... - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Walt Disney and the Quest for Community (Design & the Built Environment) (Hardcover)

Steve Mannheim has written a wonderful academic treatise on Walt Disney and Walt's dream for Epcot. The focus of the book is the Epcot City, the development of the ideas and their ultimate fruition. Although the title is treated as an academic work, it can almost be considered a page-turner. Steve has done an impressive job of distilling New Urbanism concepts into a readable and understandable read (for us laymen).

The genesis for the book was when a friend of Mr. Mannheim had described Walt's plan for another project after Disneyland about a city of tomorrow--where Epcot Center is today. This was the mid-1980's and there was not a lot of published information at the time. So, Mr. Mannheim began his research. Steven Mannheim holds a doctorate in planning and development. His current professional practices include real estate economics and development.

As I stated in my review of Realityland, there is not a lot published on the history of Walt Disney World. This titles adds greatly to the literature and provides a solid focus on Epcot the City, its history, development and changes.

The work starts with a look at Walt and the germination of the idea. There is a lot of focus on where Walt was, mentally and sociologically, as he began planning the Florida Project (also known as Project X). Mr. Mannheim deftly takes us through the history and theories that Walt was discovering about New Cities, Garden Cities and urban development. With the success of Disneyland, Walt felt vindicated that he could cure the ails of modern society.

The biggest issue? Control.

With Disneyland, Walt was able to push through the City Council to meet a lot of the building demands of Disneyland. With the Florida Project, he knew he needed more control. The book outlines what Walt, Roy and the leaders of the Disney Company were able to secure and create after Walt's passing. Mr. Mannheim spent a lot of time interviewing key members of the Company, the State of Florida, local government and Disney cast members. He provides a detailed look at how Disney (the company) figured out what to do after building Phase I of Walt Disney World.

In looking at any historically-based research title, you have to consider the sources cited. Mr. Mannheim devotes 140 pages to the text and the remaining 59 to research notes and the bibliography. To a librarian and Disney Geek, this connotes a vast level of research on Mr. Mannheim's part. My only issue with the sources cited, is that a lot of the citations are from interviews conducted by the author. As of this review, the interviews have not been published. Talk about a dream publication! Mr. Mannheim, if you are out there, I would love to read the interviews that you have conducted.

Bottom Line: I really enjoyed this title. The book is presented as an academic work but it is still an enthralling read and you can't put it down. Mr. Mannheim easily presents mundane concepts about planning and design and correlates them into the foundations of Disneyland and what we can surmise about Epcot the City. I would love to read the transcripts for all of the interviews that were conducted--there must be a vast goldmine of Walt Disney World-related history on those interviews. After reading this title, you will gain a vast appreciation for Walt's original ideas and the presentation of Walt Disney World as we know it. This title is geared more towards the serious Walt fanatic and the Epcot junkie. But if you like city planning, the origins of Epcot or theories about what could have happened--you will enjoy this book.

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