Why is Australia not in EPCOT Center's World Showcase? The real answer may surprise you, as it once was on the map and in the model! Would you believe a Disney entertainment complex in Sydney could be the real reason it was never added? Well, read on! As you can tell, from looking at he model above, the Sydney Opera House would have made a great waterside landmark. But it never came to be, nor did that contemporary looking building that was a version of the American Adventure. Or even the new proposed structure for Imagineer Zach Riddley's Epcot redo. Cancelled as well. (If you look closer, by the way, there's a few other pavilions in the model, including one that eventually was built but in an entirely different location.)
Nice Opera House!
Brazil was coming- and you can see the original model here. Another cancellation for the "improved" Epcot of 2022/3/4. EPCOT Center was my favorite Disney Florida park. But I'm getting less enamored by it as the suits continue to turn it into another version of the Magic Kingdom.
Now, what about Disney's abandoned plans for a themed entertainment complex down under? They were very real!
Plans for Disneyland Australia resurface in a new documentary that makes quite a compelling case for the idea that the Walt Disney Company really was looking at locations down under. Was it a new Magic Kingdom, something along the lines of Disney Springs, or a combination of both? Let's look at some art, a video, and a copy of a proposal.
This piece of concept art shows a Magic Kingdom on the bay next to a Pleasure Island type area. It's been around for awhile. First shown here, on the Disney and More site I believe.
Here's the video showing Disney was in fact looking for something in Sydney Harbor. (I found this on the WDWMagic discussion boards.) It's 15 fascinating minutes! I'm convinced the proposal was real.
The fun concludes with a shot of the proposal. Look at what was planned. Hmm... Sounds as if it was legit.
It's not the first time the Company planned to take advantage of America's fascination with Australia. May not be the last either. But with this current leadership team, your guess is as good as mine!
(Art and model copyright The Walt Disney Company. Video from ReviewTyme.)
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