The iconic beacon that is Spaceship Earth; the majesty of The American Adventure; the otherworldly thrills of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. These are only some of the attractions that beckon millions of people to visit Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort … and make the property an extraordinary park. It took remarkable people to craft a vision and to dream about the future that Epcot would represent.
To mark the park’s 40th anniversary, five of Disney’s dreamers-in-residence gathered at the IAAPA Expo’s annual Legends panel to share their insights about Epcot. In doing so, they revealed some insights about themselves. Moderator Bob Rogers, founder and chairman of BRC Imagination Arts, is one of the Imagineers that was on the team responsible for developing Epcot.
“It launched my career. It launched my company,” Rogers says about Epcot. With barely any experience, the twenty-something was amazed to find himself on a plane to Europe, scouting locations and helping to fashion Impressions de France, the World Showcase film he wrote and co-produced. “It plays still to this day, for 40 years, completely unchanged,” Rogers says, receiving loud applause.
Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) Global Ambassador Bob Weis was also part of the creative crew that conjured Epcot. Rather than focus on his own contributions, he paid homage to Marty Sklar, who helmed Imagineering at the time.
“Without Marty Sklar, Epcot would not exist today,” notes Weis, adding that he rallied the Imagineers to believe in his great vision. Weis would later lead WDI himself.
The park would “address the issues that must be solved if humankind is to survive the 21st century: energy, transportation, world peace–pretty darn lofty ideas,” Rogers says, articulating Sklar’s mission.
Rick Rothschild, founder and chief creative officer, Far Out! Creative Direction and former Imagineer, focused on the notion of experimentation that Sklar encouraged.
“That was part of the spirit of Walt Disney–to try, fail, and try again,” Rothschild says, noting that he’s carried that passion and spirit throughout his career.
Always in a state of becoming, the park continues to require dreamers. They are Epcot’s stewards, nudging and guiding it—and us—to the future. Also joining the panel: Jodi McLaughlin, WDI executive portfolio producer, who is guiding Epcot’s current transformation, and Kartika Rodriguez, Epcot vice president, who oversees the park’s day-to-day operations.
Rothschild, who served as the show producer for The American Adventure, says that he struggled when trying to develop the attraction’s narrative, especially its conclusion. Upon realizing that the story of America is an endless evolution, he settled on an “ending that is a launching pad to the future. There is no end. It’s still evolving.” Not unlike Epcot itself.
