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

1965 marked the 10th anniversary of Disneyland, and to celebrate the occasion, Walt gave TV viewers a sneak peek into the upcoming Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean attractions and other new plans for his park on this beloved 10th anniversary show as part of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. Join us in today's new article as we travel back to 1965 and join Walt, Disneyland Ambassador Julie Reihm, and his Imagineers as we watch Disneyland's 10th Anniversary Show in spectacular HD quality...

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 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

John Hench was a true legend of the Walt Disney Company. Hired by Walt Disney to work on Fantasia, John was employed at the Studio until the early 1950s, when he left to join the creative group Walt was assembling to help him plan and design Disneyland. Hench went on to design many iconic elements for Disney's theme parks, including Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland, Space Mountain, and Spaceship Earth at Epcot. John was also Disney's "official portrait artist" of Mickey Mouse. Because of his resemblance to Walt Disney and his frequent visits to Disneyland, he was often asked to sign autographs and pose for pictures with park visitors who mistook Hench for Disney himself. John was respected by Walt Disney as one of the studio's most gifted artists and the pair had a close relationship. Let's hear a few wonderful stories as John Hench shares some special memories of Walt Disney...