Long lost Westcot

[MarkTwain]

The main things I miss about this idea are the things not related to WestCot - specifically the improved Esplanade, the idea of Downtown Disney on a lake, and all-new fully-themed hotels in particular.

[kaliwolf]

Originally Posted by ♥disney.princess♥

Oh, so it was just a rumor, though? Noone but WDI and Disney knows if it was really bogus or not?

Essentially yes. I've often heard that Port Disney was the real idea, and WestCOT just a spiffed up copy of Epcot to use as a ploy (hence why a version of DisneySea is the only thing that was actually built from out of both plans, just in Tokyo). We'll never know for sure what was the truth I think. Also, it's quite possible that all the Imagineers legitimately thought both projects were real, while maybe management felt both were a bait and switch scheme.

[leopardchucks]

While Westcot looks like an awesome park, I like the general idea of DCA. Sure, it's a tad hokey in some parts (entrance neon lighting and Beach Boys/ Mamas & Papas loop of music), but there are some great things to experience there! The lake (when it's filled) is a breath-taking sight. Also, ToT will most definitely become (if it has not already) a "non-negotiable" for terminating. It is already a classic.

I think DCA has tons of potential. The new 'victorian' theming will be a more 'magical' touch. IMHO, that was the one thing DCA was lacking : Magic. Now I think it will finally get that magical feel, and we will ALL benefit from having a new, ORIGINAL park to play in.

[Bobby Stoan]

Westcot was NOT a clone of WDW's Epcot. It was using the same concept but doing it right. It was less a worlds fair type park and way more Disney. Instead of the individual countries it was the four corners of the world. Each land would blend together instead of being sepparated by a empty pad for future countries ( that would never come ). What really made the difference between the East and West coast versions was the amount of Disney put into it. Lion King attraction in Africa, Mary Poppins ride in England, Beauty and the Beast & Huntchback attractions in France.

The entrance was really cool too. The entrance land represented North America ( Mexico on the right and Canada on the left ), where the actual main entrance looked like turn of the century America, ie. Main Street USA. From some of the concept art it looked like the perfect blend of Disneyland into the new park. Pretty cool.

Looking at it from above it looked like it was just a copy of World Shocase, but with an original looking golden Spaceship Earth on an island in the middle. That piece of concept art with the monorail going around it in the lagoon is one of my favorites. They say good ideas never die, maybe someday we will see it as the 3rd park out here in the 90 acres south of Katella. ( tho I'm not holding my breath )

Proof of good ideas not dieing is that the Downtown Disney had a major theme of California icons. In the art you can make out Avalon from Catalina, and a little lagoon. Hmmmm, I wonder what happened to that California theme after Westcot got dropped.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Originally Posted by Bob Weaver

Who made the final decision to drop Westcot?

I did, Bob. A decision I have come to regret.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

As you explore the many shops and exhibits you find in the park's international area, your eye keeps being drawn to the top three floors of the six story buildings that ring World Showcase Lagoon. What a thrill it must be to have a room up there -- in one of two new Disney Resort hotels, where guests can actually "live the dream" of staying inside a theme park.

This brings up a great question!

Why do we only dream in one level?

Why not underground parking and backstage areas, and more than one level for guests/visitors, with hotel space on top?

Why did they develop DCA into a sprawl, without adding enough trees (GRR excepted) or anything organic to make it feel like a nice outdoor space.

[Bob Weaver]

And by now, 8 years later, they could have grown into fairly substantial trees giving some real shade.

[kaliwolf]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaAdventurer

This brings up a great question!

Why do we only dream in one level?

Why not underground parking and backstage areas, and more than one level for guests/visitors, with hotel space on top?

Why did they develop DCA into a sprawl, without adding enough trees (GRR excepted) or anything organic to make it feel like a nice outdoor space.

I agree, utilizing space to its fullest seems like something of a lost art within WDI. One thing though about the hotel space above attraction space, this always seemed like the most blue of blue sky ideas for WestCOT. I really don't know how having attractions, with all their associated safety requirements/issues, would work with hotel rooms built right on top. Now, we do have MiraCosta, which is built right within DisneySea, but it's not built right on top of attractions. We also have the Dream Suite, but that's built more over a queue area, not a showbuilding. Not to mention that it would've left the resort with a huge surplus of rooms. Remember, these in-park rooms would've been in addition to three brand new hotels, as can be seen in the plans. It might've been destined to be another EuroDisney fiasco.

Originally Posted by Bobby Stoan

Westcot was NOT a clone of WDW's Epcot. It was using the same concept but doing it right. It was less a worlds fair type park and way more Disney. Instead of the individual countries it was the four corners of the world. Each land would blend together instead of being sepparated by a empty pad for future countries ( that would never come ). What really made the difference between the East and West coast versions was the amount of Disney put into it. Lion King attraction in Africa, Mary Poppins ride in England, Beauty and the Beast & Huntchback attractions in France.

As I said, a spiffed up/reworked clone. The idea is not original, it's just rearranged. It also sounds to me like WDI threw together a bunch of their own pet project ideas, jumbled them all together, and said, "Look, a new park!" You forgot to mention the ideas for a coaster on top of the buildings in the Asian area, an exposed coaster not dissimilar to 'Screamin probably, maybe a tad more disguised. Or the 40 minute long AA boat ride around the lagoon (as cool as it sounded, I'm doubtful about any modern theme park goer being able to withstand that, even with the stops between locations). Future World was essentially direct lifts from Epcot of maybe 4 attractions (don't ask me how they would've fit onto that little island). Then I've also heard odd comments about strong religious overtones to some attractions that I've never been able to get clarified. It's all added up to me that WDI didn't really know what they were doing with that park, just throwing out ideas, and making cool art that was rather ambiguous as to what the actual content of the park would be.

Also, character rides? Really? You want 70% of a park to be essentially a 90's versions of Fantasyland? That definitely makes me glad it was never built. You can't take a beautiful idea like World Showcase and turn it into "Disney Around the World!". Maybe WestCOT was "patient 0" for the character craze we currently see.