Disney's International Village of Friendship

Here's a rarely seen piece of Disney concept art! Imagineering has always tended to put its best foot forward when it comes to giving the money men renderings that get those important projects approved. From brand new theme parks to groundbreaking attractions, the business side of the Walt Disney Company must look at hard facts and financial projections before approving a project. They're not hired to be artistic or visionary! 

When it came to just about everything surrounding EPCOT Center, the second theme park at Walt Disney World, the business side quickly realized the impact of developing more of those 40 plus thousand acres. A new theme park would drive the need for more places to stay for all those tourists- and room rentals are BIG money makers. (It's one reason that Luau Cove at the Polynesian Village Resort is giving way to yet another Disney Vacation Club location.)

In the case of cast members having to be international students to create the realistic culture for World Showcase, Disney also had to provide appealing lodging to create a sense of community. Enter International Village, an ambitious, first of its kind campus and living center. Cast members recruited from all over the world would live together in peace and harmony in a welcoming and attractive complex.  New friendships would foster greater understanding about the world around us. What a loft goal! But that's what EPCOT Center was all about- making our world a better place. Does the Company care anymore about that? I guess a case could be made both prop and con. But that is a discussion for another day.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

International Village to World Showcase, EPCOT Center

Here you go: Version One of World Showcase, known as International Village, back when it was a whole separate theme park from Future World.  EPCOT Center went through a lot of changes before it became the incredible park it was at opening 1982.

Looking at this piece of Imagineering concept art, its pretty easy to see the PeopleMover in the background. There's the international signs pointing to the various countries, and alas, there's also the very 70s looking concrete version style that has plagued Disneyland's Tomorrowland since 1955!

Thankfully, the designers took a second and third look at the plan, and decided to present a more traditional architecture for each of the countries represented. The end result: much more charming- and  a vision much more in line with the fantasy version of countries imagined by travelers that never make the journey overseas.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)