Skip to Content
Streetsblog Chicago home
Streetsblog Chicago home
Log In
Streetsblog Chicago

Talking Headways Special Episode: Walt Disney, City Planner

In the fifties, Walt Disney became more interested in making places than making movies. Photo: ##http://blogs.disney.com/insider/articles/2014/04/06/60-years-ago-disneyland-starts-journey-from-dream-to-reality/##Disney Insider##
In the 1950s, Walt Disney became more interested in making places than making movies. Photo: ##http://blogs.disney.com/insider/articles/2014/04/06/60-years-ago-disneyland-starts-journey-from-dream-to-reality/##Disney Insider##
false

While most people know Walt Disney as the creator of lovable characters like Mickey Mouse and movies like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Fantasia," Disney doesn't get as much credit for his design of Disneyland. Turns out Disney made himself an expert on the subject.

This podcast isn't a typical Talking Headways conversation. It's a 45-minute special feature episode, produced by Jeff for the Overhead Wire, on one topic: the history and ideas of Walt Disney the planner. Guests Sam Gennawey, an urban planner and author of three books on Walt Disney, and Tim Halbur, director of communications for the Congress for the New Urbanism, discuss in detail Walt’s focus on planning places for people in Disneyland, Disney World, and even Celebration, Florida.

We hope you’ll take a listen and enjoy. We'll be back next week with your regular dose of news and banter from Talking Headways.

As always, you can subscribe to the Talking Headways Podcast on iTunes or Stitcher or by signing up for our RSS feed, and we always love hearing from you in the comments.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Chicago

Equiticity and ATA: Passing a 25 mph speed limit should be combined with street redesigns that calm traffic

Equiticity, a mobility justice nonprofit, says the new speed limit shouldn't involve increased enforcement, which it says would disproportionately impact drivers of color

April 29, 2024

Johnson appoints one West Side pastor to CTA board, then nominates another West Side pastor for RTA board

Supporters argue that, despite his lack of transit expertise, Ira Acree’s social justice experience and political connections could be an asset for the RTA board.

April 26, 2024

The de-facto ban on riverwalk biking is back. What should we do about it?

In the short term, new signage is needed to designate legal areas for cycling on the path. In the long term CDOT should build the proposed Wacker Drive protected bike lane.

April 26, 2024
See all posts