'Disney and the World's Fairs Legacy, Part 2: 1964-1982' Webinar

While Disney theme parks have dazzled millions over the decades, few realize that their magic has deep roots in the spectacle of world’s fairs, which brought global art and innovation marvels to life for an incredibly short period of time. How did Walt Disney’s childhood memories of the grand 1893 Chicago Fair, which his father helped build, eventually lead him to create a series of groundbreaking exhibits for the 1964-65 World's Fair? It's time to uncover how these international expositions not only left an indelible mark on Walt Disney’s imagination, but also redefined theme parks for generations to come.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore Disney's unique connection to nearly a century of world's fairs, tracing how these global expositions shaped the legacy and innovation behind the magic of Disney theme parks. In Part Two: 1964-1982, we'll dive into how Walt Disney’s groundbreaking exhibits at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair became blueprints for Disneyland and beyond, influencing the design and technology of future theme parks, including Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center.

Led by Bill Cotter — former Disney Studios employee, Imagineer, and expert on world’s fairs — this special experience will include:

• A look at the groundbreaking exhibits Disney created for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, including General Electric's “Carousel of Progress,” Illinois' “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” Ford’s “Magic Skyway,” and Pepsi's iconic “it’s a small world”
• How the 1964-65 exhibits allowed Disney to perfect Audio-Animatronic technology and ride systems, later used in Disneyland attractions like the PeopleMover
• Lessons from the New York fair that influenced the choice of Florida as the site for Walt Disney World, setting the stage for future park expansions
• Disney’s continued involvement with world’s fairs, including a 360-degree film for Montreal’s Expo 67 and a later version for Vancouver’s Expo 86
• The legacy of world’s fairs within Disney, culminating in the creation of Epcot in 1982 as a permanent “world’s fair” experience in Florida

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Bill — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week after the entire series concludes.

See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser

***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale

****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Bill

Bill Cotter was inspired by the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair to pursue a career in technology, becoming a submarine designer out of college for the US Navy, working on the Polaris-Poseidon-Trident guidance and launch systems. Cotter was then hired by The Walt Disney Company to set up the company's initial computer security. He also contributed to the designs for several major computer-controlled attractions. More recently, Bill retired as a Senior Vice President of Information Systems for Bank of America and is now an active volunteer with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Bill has written 12 volumes about the history of world’s fairs. He has contributed to dozens of books and documentaries and served as a consultant on several movies, including Iron Man 2 (2010) and Tomorrowland (2015). Bill spoke at the 50th anniversary of the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair and Disney’s D23 celebration of the Fair held at Walt Disney World Resort. Bill is also the author of a comprehensive history of Disney television and other entertainment projects, and operates three websites devoted to the study of world’s fairs.

Disney and the World's Fairs Legacy Series

Part 1: 1893-1963 (Friday, December 6)

Part 2: 1964-1982 (Friday, December 13)

Disclaimer

By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.

This event is a Disney-themed educational webinar organized by New York Adventure Club. It is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company, its subsidiaries, or any related entities. Our event is a fan-inspired experience, celebrating Disney's cultural legacy. Any references to Disney are purely for entertainment purposes, and no official endorsement or sponsorship is implied. Disney and related trademarks are registered properties of The Walt Disney Company, and this event is an independent initiative by New York Adventure Club.

Categories: Virtual, Moments in History

Event Venue

Online