Tharmeni wrote: Well, I AM a resident of Florida and will tell you that without WDW, Orlando would be a forgotten, dying town.We Floridians take pride in providing a good vacation experience and value for everyone. We realize we live in a very beautiful and WARM state.WDW is criticized because it is a BIG target. But judge for yourself. Come down and experience it!
Well, I AM a resident of Florida and will tell you that without WDW, Orlando would be a forgotten, dying town.
We Floridians take pride in providing a good vacation experience and value for everyone. We realize we live in a very beautiful and WARM state.
WDW is criticized because it is a BIG target. But judge for yourself. Come down and experience it!
Since I'm a Floridian too, I totally agree with you, Tharmeni. If it wouldn't have been for WDW, Orlando would be just another "small" town like any other. And WDW is indeed a humongous part of Florida and Floridian life.
...I must agree with {RABEL}, Walt no doubt would be shocked to see some of the massive company changes that have taken place since his passing. Now, having said that.....
I'm not here to support any of the changes that Walt would not have approved.
My only thought is towards the original {speaking just of WDW}, Florida complex. I've studied the background how the land was aquired and developed and how the park itself was designed and built, etc....and it's that original concept and reality that had {has}, provided much pleasure and entertainment for me and my family and countless others.
Have spent Christmas there twice and other extended stays {in the Contemporary Resort}, many, many times. Much fun and pleasure and memories were taken away by my family from our stay there.
That's the part of the whole concept I believe has really worked well and was Walt's original dream....The fun and pleasure families have and memories they take away with them.
Quentin
The railroad at the original Disneyland was the Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad, and the depots had Santa Fe shields on them. ATSF Engineering personnel assisted in the design of the depots and if I am not mistaken, ATSF MOW crews assisted in tracklaying and bridge construction. If I remember correctly, the crew positions were for a time, protected off of the Santa Fe's Hobart Extra List.
Once Santa Fe opted out of the sponsorship deal, Disney hired their own crews and the shields came off the depots, or so old ATSF and Disney employees related this to me.
As a side note, Walt Disney's Carolwood Pacific was his brainchild after he and his pals visited the legendary Billy Jones' live steam railroad in Los Gatos, CA. They flew up to the Bay Area, using a limo or some other such means to get to Los Gatos. Sneaking into town was thwarted when the driver asked for directions to Jones' ranch, and the local media got wind of the visit.
Photos of the visit are in the book Railroads of Los Gatos.
I was referring to the Company's holdings in total.If Walt was anything it wasn't greedy
or let's say sleezy.
Walt Disney would be embarrased by what his dreams have become today.
The company that exists today is not what he envisioned.
rrandb wrote: Modelcar wrote: ...We're all intitled to our opinions for the most part and yours {emmar}, sure is clear.I find we {my family},have dealt with reality probably as long as most on this forum and we also have had major enjoyment at Disney's WDW many, many times....For days on end. Beautiful place and we have wonderful memories from all the family fun being there and enjoying it all. As a resident of the area in florida where your beloved park was built you have only see disney public side. They are a nightmare to have in your backyard. Many residents pray for it to return to pristine swamp land. The company is many things but the only thing that motivates them is greed. Not concern for the enviroment.
Modelcar wrote: ...We're all intitled to our opinions for the most part and yours {emmar}, sure is clear.I find we {my family},have dealt with reality probably as long as most on this forum and we also have had major enjoyment at Disney's WDW many, many times....For days on end. Beautiful place and we have wonderful memories from all the family fun being there and enjoying it all.
...We're all intitled to our opinions for the most part and yours {emmar}, sure is clear.
I find we {my family},have dealt with reality probably as long as most on this forum and we also have had major enjoyment at Disney's WDW many, many times....For days on end. Beautiful place and we have wonderful memories from all the family fun being there and enjoying it all.
I believe Disney has done nothing but good for the Florida economy, and that of the whole U.S. And Disney happened to create the most beautiful and best railroad on earth that is the WDWRR. Apart from the Railroad, there is no other place on earth like Disney World. And I dislike those that oppose Disney, I find them ignorant and backwards. It was Walt Disney's dream to create his parks for everyone to see and enjoy and those types seem to dishonnor that great man's dream. He was also an avid railfan which contributed to his beautiful railroads at the parks. There is absolutely nothing wrong about Disney. I became a steam railfan, for the most part, because of Disney, ever since I began my visits to WDW when I turned just one yr old. I have been extremely blessed that I have been able to par-take because of my numorous visits there. And the WDWRR, in particular, became a very big and important part of my life, because my love for steam railroading soley lies there. And I proudly have my #1 engine named for him, Walter E. Disney. I also believe that Disney has not harmed the environment in any way at all. Just look at WDW! So many trees and all.
....I'm sure with a complex system as large as WDW there are items of action that some people take issue with.
I also would like to see the figures {if possible}, of how many of the folks would be on the other side of the opinion at hand....of how WDW has effected Florida on the positive side.
I'm not a resident of Florida so all of the above is not something I can vote on one way or another at their annual election process to effect change, etc...
I did bring money to Florida for the 8 winters we stayed there though and maybe helped a little and for our part, we enjoyed wintering there those 3 or 4 months yearly.
And once again, we thoroughly enjoyed our many times of vacation spent at WDW...{before we started to spend winters there}....Back in our working life era.
Modelcar wrote:...We're all intitled to our opinions for the most part and yours {emmar}, sure is clear.I find we {my family},have dealt with reality probably as long as most on this forum and we also have had major enjoyment at Disney's WDW many, many times....For days on end. Beautiful place and we have wonderful memories from all the family fun being there and enjoying it all.
daveklepper wrote:Also: Doesn't Disney World have the only operating HORSE CAR LINE in North America? It did some 30 years ago. Does it still?
Also: Doesn't Disney World have the only operating HORSE CAR LINE in North America? It did some 30 years ago. Does it still?
This is kind of a long delayed reply... I saw a horse car running at Disneyland yesterday morning, so WDW is not the only place with an operating Horse Car Line in North America.
Another item of note was noticing that DRR #5 is named 'Ward Kimball' (a 2-4-4T Forney), it brought a smile to my face having met the gent a couple of times while helping out with the Grizzly Flats Enginehoouse at OERM. One of the crewmembers mentioned that Ward's nephew is involved with the Disney Parks and liked to tell stories of firing the Chloe.
- Luke
Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's
REI wrote: I know this is off subject but does anyone have Walt Disney World Railroad G-scale train sets? I have one that I love and I've added a little more stickers to make her look a little bit more like the #1 Walter E. Disney. She's not completely accurate because she should be a 4-6-0 ten wheeler instead of a 2-6-0 mogul, the sand dome and bell are not in the right place, and the smoke stack is not the same, but hey! I find a resemblence in her. Here are some pictures of her with her Red, 100 series coach:
I know this is off subject but does anyone have Walt Disney World Railroad G-scale train sets? I have one that I love and I've added a little more stickers to make her look a little bit more like the #1 Walter E. Disney. She's not completely accurate because she should be a 4-6-0 ten wheeler instead of a 2-6-0 mogul, the sand dome and bell are not in the right place, and the smoke stack is not the same, but hey! I find a resemblence in her. Here are some pictures of her with her Red, 100 series coach:
OK, let's see if this works with Snapfish. Here's the Roy O. Disney...
And the Walter E. Disney...
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
...Yes, in my opinion, you were at the premier fun place. Have ridden up in the operators compartment of the Monorail many times and it really gives one a different perspective. Especially, exiting from the Contempory Hotel and you are instantly 60 or so feet in the air....Pretty good sensation.
Disney....A great place to visit....And stay....! {in my opinion}.
Jock Ellis Cumming, GA US of A Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers
Which one would be your favorite? My favorites are #1 Walter E. Disney and #3 Roger E. Broggie, "the twins". #2 Lilly Belle is my third favorite and #4 Roy O. Disney is my least favorite.
UNIONPACIFIC4018 wrote:My family will be at Disney world in a week! I wish they had a railroad themed hotel to stay in.
That's nice! I like to hear when people are going to see and ride my favorite Railroad in the whole world, some pictures will be nice. On a side note, I might be moving to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma which means I might not be able to go as often. I have been able to go every year of my life, or even two or three times in a year since I was born and live in Miami, Fl (it's about 210 miles away, which is about 4 hours driving). But anyway I might be able to go to the Disneyland Railroad since I'm gonna be in the middle of the nation.
broncoman wrote: REI wrote:Sorry will start a new post. I didn't see how the horse-drawn trolleys applied to the topic, but I guess thats different.
REI wrote:
Sorry will start a new post. I didn't see how the horse-drawn trolleys applied to the topic, but I guess thats different.
You were fine. Didn't need to start another post, some people need to lighten up.
Bert
An "expensive model collector"
I grew up in the area, and went to River Country one time in the late 70's when the trains were still operating. I don't know why they removed them, probably too expensive. Last time I was there (3 or 4 years ago), the tracks were still there. I believe you can even walk along them. If you are ever in the parking lot, I believe the station is still there with the tracks intact. The trains got replaced by trams, which were then replaced by buses. Also, the trams originally ran on LP instead of diesel, but had too many problems, so got converted.
broncoman wrote:Fort Wilderness is the campground/rental cabin area to the south east of the Contemporary at Disney World. There were train tracks there that went throughout the "campground" but when I was there, the tracks were still there but the trains were gone and they were shuffling people around on multicar open air trams, like what the used in the parking lot at Disneyland. I was hoping maybe someone who stayed there pre 86 may remember them.
vsmith wrote:The Horsedrwn Trolley is still there along with the Model T cabs, I dont think they use them on peak days though, too many people.
Yes, I believe the Horsedrawn Trolley is used 4 days a week only. Unfortunetly, with all the times I've visited, I don't think I've seen the Main Street cars operate in person...except one time in Dec. 1994, but that was at Epcot and it was a double-decker bus running around World Showcase.
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