Port Disney
Encyclopedia
Port Disney was a planned property of The Walt Disney Company
that was to have been built in Long Beach
, California
, United States
. The property was to have featured a marine-themed theme park, a marina
, a cruise ship
port, a specialty retail and entertainment area, and hotel accommodations. It was also to have incorporated the RMS Queen Mary
and Spruce Goose
, which Disney acquired as a result of acquiring the Wrather
company in 1989.
Port Disney was announced in 1991 via a publication called "The Port Disney News". The project was canceled amid financial constraints which also brought down the planned WestCOT
theme park in Anaheim
. Some elements of the theme park that was to have been built at Port Disney were incorporated into Tokyo DisneySea
.
According to former Disney cast members, the company abandoned the idea mainly due to its significant financial problems caused by the EuroDisney Project (the cost of the construction and operation of the marina was an estimated $1 billion at the time) which ultimately led to the cancellation of the Port Disney and the planned Disney WestCOT
Project. City of Long Beach employees say that it was abandoned because the city did not agree to make expensive improvements to the Long Beach Freeway and other roads leading to the development site as requested by Disney.
A similar publication was produced for Virginia residents relating to the unbuilt Disney's America
park.
.
Oceana - This area would have been the parks center piece. The Port Disney News described Oceana this way:
In Oceana, interactive displays and hands-on participation will encourage children and adults to learn about the ocean in ways that are fun, challenging, and informative. For example, guests can see for themselves how gills work, how fish communicate, and how coral build their fragile, complex reefs. Through special lenses, they may see through the eyes of an octopus, a lobster, a penguin, and a whale. A variety of demonstrations and experiments will be specially created to educate as well as entertain.
Future Research Center - This area would have been an interactive Research and Preservation exhibit similar to the Living Seas
and Walt Disney World's Epcot
. The Port Disney News described the Future Research Center this way:
Southern Californians active in marine science will be invited to serve on an advisory board to direct the initial mission statement of the Center.
Through an ongoing dialogue with the local scientific community and nearby universities, joint research programs will offer students of all ages a rare opportunity for hands-on exploration.
Guests will be able to visit the heart of this functioning sea laboratory, observing scientists at work. Watching these experts, visitors can glimpse the future of man's involvement with the seas and probe deeper into man's relationship with the environment. For the more light-hearted adventurers, the Center will include a simulator adventure that will give guests a glimpse of the drama -- and danger -- faced by real explorers of the deep.
In addition to Oceana and The Future Research Center the park would have included other themed "lands". At the time of the publication of the Port Disney News Walt Disney Imagineering
still had not finalized the list of green lighted lands. The Port Disney News again says:
Fleets of Fantasy, adventurous attractions, themed to storybook seafaring, would recapture the spirit and whimsy of turn-of-the-century amusement park rides. Mysterious Island and Hero's Harbor would feature "high seas" thrill rides incorporating thousands of years of mythic folklore relating to the ocean.
At the rim of the American continent and the Pacific Ocean, DisneySea will offer a unique entertainment experience -- and a site of magic and wonder.
Other Park Offerings - The Parks Future Research Center would have also offered a number of educational opportunities and facilities including:
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
that was to have been built in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The property was to have featured a marine-themed theme park, a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
, a cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
port, a specialty retail and entertainment area, and hotel accommodations. It was also to have incorporated the RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
and Spruce Goose
Hughes H-4 Hercules
The Hughes H-4 Hercules is a prototype heavy transport aircraft designed and built by the Hughes Aircraft company. The aircraft made its only flight on November 2, 1947 and the project was never advanced beyond the single example produced...
, which Disney acquired as a result of acquiring the Wrather
Jack Wrather
John Devereaux "Jack" Wrather, Jr. , was a petroleum millionaire who became a television producer and later diversified by investing in broadcast stations and resort properties...
company in 1989.
Port Disney was announced in 1991 via a publication called "The Port Disney News". The project was canceled amid financial constraints which also brought down the planned WestCOT
WestCOT
WestCOT was a planned theme park that was to have been built by The Walt Disney Company in Anaheim, California, United States. The park was intended to be a west coast version of EPCOT Center, a park devoted to international science and knowledge at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and was to...
theme park in Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
. Some elements of the theme park that was to have been built at Port Disney were incorporated into Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo DisneySea
is a 176-acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just outside Tokyo. It opened on September 4, 2001. It is owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses the theme from The Walt Disney Company. Tokyo DisneySea attracted an estimated 12 million visitors in...
.
The Port Disney News
The Port Disney news publication was produced by Disney and distributed to Long Beach residents in 1991. The paper was made to look like a newspaper and was used mainly to create public support for the planned property. The Port Disney News saw only one printing and was abandoned. Most of the information available about Port Disney comes from this publication.According to former Disney cast members, the company abandoned the idea mainly due to its significant financial problems caused by the EuroDisney Project (the cost of the construction and operation of the marina was an estimated $1 billion at the time) which ultimately led to the cancellation of the Port Disney and the planned Disney WestCOT
WestCOT
WestCOT was a planned theme park that was to have been built by The Walt Disney Company in Anaheim, California, United States. The park was intended to be a west coast version of EPCOT Center, a park devoted to international science and knowledge at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and was to...
Project. City of Long Beach employees say that it was abandoned because the city did not agree to make expensive improvements to the Long Beach Freeway and other roads leading to the development site as requested by Disney.
A similar publication was produced for Virginia residents relating to the unbuilt Disney's America
Disney's America
Disney's America was a planned theme park that was to have been built by The Walt Disney Company in Haymarket, Virginia in the early 1990s. The park was to have been dedicated to the history of the United States; however, amid opposition from citizen's groups, the project was canceled in 1994.The...
park.
DisneySea Theme Park
A lone theme park touted for the new property would have been DisneySea. However this park would have been quite different from the DisneySea park in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Oceana - This area would have been the parks center piece. The Port Disney News described Oceana this way:
- The architectural centerpiece of DisneySea, Oceana would also serve as one of the main educational components of the park. Within this oceanarium, guests will experience true-to-life recreations of marine habitats and ecological systems from around the globe. Visitors will be able to touch, smell, feel and hear the world of water. Overhead walkways and underwater portholes would provide both bird's-eye and crab's-eye views.
In Oceana, interactive displays and hands-on participation will encourage children and adults to learn about the ocean in ways that are fun, challenging, and informative. For example, guests can see for themselves how gills work, how fish communicate, and how coral build their fragile, complex reefs. Through special lenses, they may see through the eyes of an octopus, a lobster, a penguin, and a whale. A variety of demonstrations and experiments will be specially created to educate as well as entertain.
Future Research Center - This area would have been an interactive Research and Preservation exhibit similar to the Living Seas
The Living Seas
The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a pavilion in Future World at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort. The attraction is themed as an underwater exploration base, with several exhibits devoted to oceanic study...
and Walt Disney World's Epcot
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
. The Port Disney News described the Future Research Center this way:
- Set at the edge of DisneySea, the Future Research Center will be a state-of-the-art research laboratory where guests could interact with some of the nation's top marine scientists conducting oceanographic research.
Southern Californians active in marine science will be invited to serve on an advisory board to direct the initial mission statement of the Center.
Through an ongoing dialogue with the local scientific community and nearby universities, joint research programs will offer students of all ages a rare opportunity for hands-on exploration.
Guests will be able to visit the heart of this functioning sea laboratory, observing scientists at work. Watching these experts, visitors can glimpse the future of man's involvement with the seas and probe deeper into man's relationship with the environment. For the more light-hearted adventurers, the Center will include a simulator adventure that will give guests a glimpse of the drama -- and danger -- faced by real explorers of the deep.
In addition to Oceana and The Future Research Center the park would have included other themed "lands". At the time of the publication of the Port Disney News Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide...
still had not finalized the list of green lighted lands. The Port Disney News again says:
- While plans for DisneySea are still evolving, Walt Disney Imagineering is planning attractions for visitors to enjoy the spirit of the sea with fun as the common denominator. For example, n on the exotic beaches of Venture Reefs, guests will enjoy scenic beach vistas from the Caribbean, Polynesian, and the Pacific. They'll be entertained and invited to dine, shop, and take a dip in the ocean, where they'll find sunken ships and marine life "under the sea."
Fleets of Fantasy, adventurous attractions, themed to storybook seafaring, would recapture the spirit and whimsy of turn-of-the-century amusement park rides. Mysterious Island and Hero's Harbor would feature "high seas" thrill rides incorporating thousands of years of mythic folklore relating to the ocean.
At the rim of the American continent and the Pacific Ocean, DisneySea will offer a unique entertainment experience -- and a site of magic and wonder.
Other Park Offerings - The Parks Future Research Center would have also offered a number of educational opportunities and facilities including:
- Interactive Programs for Students of all Ages - In addition to Oceana and the Future Research Center, DisneySea will offer more formal on-site educational programs. A variety of full and half-day programs will be designed to help teachers in their efforts to share the wonder of the ocean with students. Programs may include special field trips featuring multimedia presentations, tours and lectures for the Los Angeles and Orange County area schools.
- Ocean Outreach Center - Similar to the Teacher's Center in Walt Disney World's Epcot Center, an Ocean Outreach Center is envisioned to assist visitors in their quest for more information about the ocean. Serving as a library of the sea, the Outreach Center will offer computer terminals, reading rooms and research files designed to meet the need of guests, staff scientists, teachers and students.
Other aspects
Disney's property at Long Beach would have included amenities outside the park including:- Five hotels (Including the RMS Queen MaryRMS Queen MaryRMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
) - A specialty retail and entertainment area
- 400-boat marina
- "Cruise Ship Port": The home port for a west coast line for the Disney Cruise line.
- The Spruce Goose was also to be displayed here
External links
- Jim Hill Media Articles: http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2005/02/03/538.aspxhttp://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2005/02/07/540.aspx
- Progress City, U.S.A. Article: http://progresscityusa.com/archives/neverworlds-bicentennial-special-port-disney