Walt Disney and the Quest for Community (Design & the Built Environment)

During the final months of his life, Walt Disney was consumed with the world-wide problems of cities. His development concept at the time of his death would be his team's conceptual response to the ills of the inner cities and the sprawl of the megalopolis: the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow or, as it became known, EPCOT.
This beautifully written, instantly engrossing volume focuses on the original concept of EPCOT, which was conceived by Disney as an experimental community of about 20,000 people on the Disney World property in central Florida. With its radial plan, 50-acre town center enclosed by a dome, themed international shopping area, greenbelt, high-density apartments, satellite communities, monorail and underground roads, the original EPCOT plan is reminiscent of post-war Stockholm and the British New Towns, as well as today's transit-oriented development theory.
Unfortunately, Disney himself did not live long enough to witness the realization of his model city.  However, EPCOT's evolution into projects such as the EPCOT Center and the town of Celebration displays a commitment by the Disney organization to the original EPCOT philosophy, one which continues to have relevance in the fields of planning and development.

Walt Disney and the Quest for Community is the first, groundbreaking work on the subject of Walt Disney's experimental city. Mannheim combines archival research with fascinating original interviews with many of Walt's colleagues and family members. The book has won praise from academics, students, Disney fans and alumni, and professionals. It has also been acquired by libraries worldwide and used in expert testimony.

Mannheim holds degrees in history, urban studies, and real estate development from Stanford University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California. His professional background includes city planning, real estate economics, and commercial real estate development and finance.