Tom Fitzgerald headed to Epcot

I was just catching up on some of these same articles too, about the new changes in leadership at WDW, and I found out that a guy that I grew up with, in my tiny, little town in PA, is now the new VP of Disney World Transportation. His name is Jason Kirk. It is a "small world" indeed!

http://www.epcyclopedia.com/2011/12/27/consultant-in-1990-declares-where-epcot-center-went-wrong/

Some interesting related reading

I agree the Horizon building (if it is even still there) is a waste of space, and I have always wondered what could be done with the Odyssey building.

To my thinking, FW needs the serious attention. From what I can see as a visitor, the WS can stay as it is for another 5 years.

In my rebuilding plan, the FW area would be covered by a dome and moving walkways would move guests around. Also the MB technology would be showcased so that guest preferences, recorded from past visits, are used to enhance the current visit. FW should be a "George Jetson" kind of place like it was supposed to be in the original "Progress City" plan.

Do you maybe mean the Wonders of Life building? That's the one they use as the festival & conference center. The Horizons building has been gone for more than a decade.

Odyssey also gets used as a special events center, I've been to a few private dinners there over the past few years.

Epcot hasn't really been what it was envisioned to be at any stage of it's second birth (if we take Walt's original concept to be the first birth). It was more educational when I first visited in 1988 - there were interactive attractions - anyone remember the automated portrait machine? - and you could relate how technology helped shape the world as we knew it. Over the last few times I've been, other than the Mission to Mars which attempts to make an interactive attraction out of what is essentially a thrill ride, FW at least has been lacking in 'futureness'...

Now, I do agree with the article The Colonel posted, it seems to have gone away from any intended purpose towards a straight theme park, but strangely rooted in a snapshot of what the Disney Corporation viewed as a World's Fair circa 1982.

I'd like it to go back to showcasing how technology has helped (and is helping) to shape the new digital world - whether it be by use of appropriate Disney properties or purely by interested sponsors, it needs to get back to being a technology showcase. I think that the sponsors have lost their belief in being able to get their point across; that Gen-X (or whatever they call themselves now) has little patience for showcases and only want out and out thrills. Maybe the House of Mouse decided this...I could be wrong, and I do hope I am!

I was very excited about this announcement. Did everyone also hear that an Imagineer has been assigned to the sole task of figuring out how best to incorporate Star Wars into WDW in a more meaningful way and that the possibility of a fifth gate is on the table? Let's just say that the mere possibility of this happening brought great joy in this household when we heard about is on Tuesday!

Which small town in PA are you from?

Alicemouse, I grew up in Dubois PA.

Annie I'm from Bradford, Pa just a hop, skip and a jump from Dubois!

No way! I do bookkeeping for a builder who lives in our area now, but he originally from Dubois!

Depending on his age, if he grew up in Dubois, at the very least, I've probably heard of him. It is a very small town!

His name is Charlie Walker. He's maybe...53? He's been in the Hanover area for about 25 years now. His dad still lives there and his name is...Edward, maybe?

No, I don't know him. He's almost 20 years older than me. Also, I haven't lived in Dubois for about 17 years, so I don't know any of the young people there anymore, if he has children that still live there.