Do you remember where you were 50 years ago?
Tom Morris does.
On October 1, 1971, Tom was a 12-year-old who had traveled across the country on his own – flying from his home in California to attend the opening day of the Magic Kingdom.
Tom recounts his memories from that day 50 years back.
Attending The Magic Kingdom Opening Day
Tom recalled the smell of fresh mulch and newly poured asphalt (which helicopters had dried just a few hours earlier). The look of new paint. The district lack of crowds (there were only 9,000 people in attendance on opening day in the Magic Kingdom).
That day had an impact on Tom, and he went on to work for the Disney Company in many roles for more than 40 years.
Building EPCOT – And Thinking About Its Changes
As someone who helped to design EPCOT – and its original themes – from the ground up, Tom shares his thoughts on the direction of the park today. He said that more than any other Disney park, EPCOT will always be in a state of transition and becoming.
Designing Disneyland Paris
Tom was assigned to help design Fantasyland, as well as the castle, for Disney’s park in Paris. He shares the story of touring the castles of Europe and explains how that castle, in particular, needed to be different.
Let’s take a look at the full interview!
Do you enjoy hearing from Disney Imagineers?