Abstract:
The World's Fair of 1964/65 held in Flushing Meadows, New York was a
fascinating event when ideas and technology were brought together in a world showcase. With company sponsorships from corporations represented at the fair, the Disney Company was able to research and experiment with new technologies that, in turn, transformed the modern amusement park. Disney greatly influenced the World’s Fair,
and the World 's Fair greatly influenced the Disney Company. Audio-animatronics technology was perfected during the Fair, and has now become a staple of the modern amusement park. The attractions that Disney created for the World's Fair were incorporated into both Disneyland and later Disney World, and even helped shape EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) Center. The World’s Fair of 1964-65 provided an unprecedented opportunity to develop new technology at little or no cost to the Disney Company. This reciprocal relationship benefited both the Fair and the Disney Company, which continues to affect amusement parks today.
