By Keith Mahne

Did you know that World Showcase in Epcot was originally going to be built next to the Polynesian Resort and the Ticket and Transportation Center? It's true! Let's take a look back at the origin of Epcot's World Showcase in today's new article...

By Keith Mahne

Before there was Test Track, there use to be a wonderful attraction presented by General Motors that invited you to travel the open road - to discover that when it comes to transportation, it's always fun to be free! That wondrous dark ride was called World of Motion. It was a road trip through the evolution of transportation. The attraction opened in October 1982 with the rest of EPCOT Center and closed in January 1996 to make way for Test Track. In this promotional video from General Motors from the early 1980s titled "General Motors Presents: The Reality of Dreams" we'll take a firsthand look at the creation of one of EPCOT Center's original attractions, World of Motion...

By Keith Mahne

Join the Imagineers on a behind the scenes look at what it took to bring to life the largest animatronic show of all time, The American Adventure. Let's peek behind the curtain as we watch this 1987 Disney Channel special hosted by Lloyd Bridges called Backstage Disney: The American Adventure and take an inside look at the creation of this classic EPCOT Center attraction...

By Keith Mahne

The late, great Marty Sklar stood as a dedicated torchbearer of Walt Disney’s philosophy since first joining the Company a month before Disneyland opened in 1955. Anyone remotely interested in the history and developments of Disney's Imagineering will thoroughly enjoy this 2004 interview Marty gave on his personal reflections on a number of interesting topics, such as Walt, Tomorrowland, and Epcot. Additionally, the interview includes a number of wonderful archive film clips of Walt, the 1964 New York World's Fair, Imagineers in action, and the Disney parks. This one you won't want to miss...

By Keith Mahne

The Making of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a 1994 TV Special celebrating the opening of Walt Disney World's new Tower of Terror attraction. Kirk Cameron is our guide through the making of this Imagineering marvel. With interviews by then-CEO Michael Eisner, the late Marty Sklar, and other Imagineers responsible for this classic Disney attraction, we'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how it was created, designed and built. Join us today and travel back to Disney-MGM Studios circa 1994—but watch your step because this video takes you directly to...the Twilight Zone...

By Ted Linhart

There isn't a former Disney attraction that inspires as much passion presently as Horizons. From 1983-1999 GE’s follow-up to the Carousel of Progress took EPCOT guests on a ride into the 21st Century for a purportedly realistic look at life in the future. Join us today as we take a detailed look back at Horizons via a 1983 cast member booklet and a GE corporate magazine as we remember the most legendary dark ride to have ever come out of the minds of Imagineering...

By Keith Mahne

Walt Disney once said, "I would rather entertain and hope that people learn, than educate and hope that they're entertained." That statement, made years before EPCOT was created or even conceived, became the standard by which Walt's successors designed their version of the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow he had originally envisioned. EPCOT Center was more than just a new theme park; it was a creation that paved the way for Walt Disney World to become the most magical and unique resort destination the world had ever seen. Join us today for the final installment of our 45th anniversary celebration series as we cover the creation of EPCOT Center and the dawn of a whole new Disney era...

By Keith Mahne

Marty Sklar started his career at Disneyland, one month before it opened, working as the editor of The Disneyland News, a mock newspaper that was handed out to visitors as they entered the Park. Marty went on to head up Imagineering as its vice chairman and principal creative executive and has always stood as a dedicated torchbearer of Walt Disney’s philosophy. In today's new article, read quotes from Marty as he recalls working directly with Walt Disney and learn how special Walt was to him personally...

By EPCOT Explorer

Early in the planning stages for Tokyo Disneyland, WED was a flurry of creativity, simultaneously guiding Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom though its first few years and attempting to broaden the Vacation Kingdom with EPCOT-inspired initiatives. Most notable of the EPCOT projects was the Walt Disney World Showcase, an international exhibition. Learn how an EPCOT inspired World Showcase almost made it to Tokyo Disneyland’s entrance corridor in today's new article by EPCOT Explorer...

By Keith Mahne

The creation of Walt Disney World took a variety of personalities and skills in order to make it into something worthy of the Disney name. Building the vacation kingdom of the world was all about overcoming amazing obstacles. Sure, there was leery bankers and alligator infested swamp land to deal with, but for the ones whose fate it was to transform 40 square miles selected in the middle of nowhere into something magical, the bankers and alligators were nothing compared to the task of making the park succeed without the guidance of the companies founder and "chief executive dreamer", the great Walt Disney. Walt, their leader and friend, had passed away almost five years before opening day and the six men charged to see his "latest and greatest dream" were creating not just a park, they were creating a legacy. In today's new article, we'll learn how the 6 fathers of Walt Disney World got the resort into working order...

By Keith Mahne

Picture a place with maze-like hallways. You walk through those hallways, passing cubicles filled with art supplies and artwork. Photographs and doodles fill in the blanks to reveal the style and personality of the occupant. Sometimes the cubicles are the size of a broom closet, and sometimes as large as a walk-in. If you continue, you might come across a wood shop, or a sculpture studio, or a room filled with computers. Pass the library, and at certain times of the day you might hear a string trio playing bluegrass music. You're probably thinking you are observing Imagineers in action while on a tour of 1401 Flower Street (Imagineering Headquarters in Glendale, California) however, it happens all day, every day in Valencia, at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), a school made possible by Walt Disney. Join me today as we have a look at Walt's magic school where Imagineers are born...

Welcome back friends to another special episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. With all the excitement going on right now for the 60th anniversary of Disneyland, I thought…what could we do on this show to really make it special for you in commemorating the 60th? And then it hit me…let's invite the one and only Marty Sklar to come back on the show and tell us all about the opening of Disneyland because, well, simply put, Marty was there with Walt on that special day! Continue after the page break and hear from the legend himself as Marty Sklar takes us back to July 17, 1955 and the opening of Disneyland...

By Keith Mahne

Welcome to a brand new segment here on Disney Avenue called A Moment in Time where I ask big names in Disney history to share the backstory on a particular picture and post their response here for your enjoyment and knowledge. I absolutely love looking at old photos throughout Disney history. If you follow Disney Avenue on Facebook you'll see what I mean. But I often come across a photo like the one pictured above and think, "What was it like that day?"..."Where was this taken?"..."Who is that guy on the left?"..."Look at all those amazing drawings on the wall and that model on the table!" Unfortunately,  we don't always get an opportunity to know the backstory of a particular photo, we just let our imaginations run wild. Well today friends, you'll know the one about this photo as I forwarded the picture to Marty Sklar and asked him to share as much info as he could for the Disney Avenue readers. Join us today for Marty's response to this wonderful "moment in time"...

The Disney Avenue Podcast is back with a guest I think you may have heard of...Marty Sklar! Dusty Sage, founder and CEO of MiceChat.com, joins host Keith Michael Mahne for another fantastic interview with a man that needs no introduction. Marty talks about joining the company, working and writing for Walt Disney, his old pals John Hench and Herb Ryman, finding out Walt had passed away, whether he will attend the opening of Shanghai Disney and so much more. This is a show you definitely won't want to miss. Continue after the page break for more...