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Imagineer Zach Riddley’s Tribute to Walt Disney

Posted by: Paula K December 5, 2021

Credit: Disney

December 5, 1901 was the day that Walt Disney was born. It’s hard to believe all the ways that the world has changed for the better because of his visions.

Related: Happy Birthday, Walt Disney

Credit: Disney

Imagineer Zach Riddley is heavily involved with the transformation of EPCOT. He will often share updates on the progress. On December 5 he shared some thoughts on Walt Disney and the new statue of Walt that is coming to EPCOT on Instagram:

Today we celebrate the birthday of Walt Disney. EPCOT was a special dream of Walt’s – a place that stands for big ideas. From its very beginning, when Walt Disney himself dreamed up a grand vision of an experimental prototype community of tomorrow, EPCOT has been based on a set of aspirational ideas rooted in a deep respect for people.

Credit: Disney

Central to these ideas is a belief that ingenuity and imagination can lead humanity to achieve the impossible.

One of the first decisions we made as a team dreaming up this next chapter of EPCOT was to create a space dedicated to Walt. That lead us to the idea of Dreamers Point – and a statue of Walt that would live in this place. Recently we shared this video of Imagineer Scott Goddard sculpting what will later become the model for this full sized bronze sculpture. I have had the honor of watching Scott make his magic, a true artist, dreamer, Imagineer creating something that will inspire all who come to this place.

Credit: Disney

The statue of Walt Disney shows him at the time of his life when he was dreaming up EPCOT and the overall Florida Project. He’s older, positioned as one of us, sitting at Dreamers Point off axis, looking out at the park he never saw in person but created in spirit.

Walt founded WED Enterprises – later known as Walt Disney Imagineering – to create reality from dreams. We continue his legacy through work like the EPCOT transformation and in commitment to craft from artists like Scott.

Credit: Disney

We owe Walt so much, as do the countless creators and dreamers and storytellers who follow in his footsteps.

Thank you Walt.

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About Paula K

I grew up in Western Massachusetts. When I was nine my family went to Disneyland and I was hooked. I grew up, attended New England College in Henniker, NH and eventually moved to Virginia. I worked as a disc jockey, married and became a full time mom when our daughter was born. Fast forward several years. In 2010 we moved to Central Florida and my Disney obsession grew. I now work as a freelance writer and spend my spare time in the parks. Under the name Paula Brown I penned the novels Dream Wanderers and The Coffee Cruiser. I also am a co-author of Dining at Walt Disney World: The Definitive Guide. I'm obsessed with Star Wars, so this is a good time to live in Central Florida. I've been a vegetarian for well over a decade, a choice that my daughter eventually made as well. While my husband still hasn't joined us fully he has given up most meats except for seafood. I was relieved to find that vegetarian dining is not difficult at Walt Disney World.