“Water stop 3 will be located in the green area next to the talking trash receptacle... this, of course, is purely show, water bottles will not be allowed inside the park."
From the Reedy Creek Board
Written by EPCOT resident 232024
Once upon a time, a great American institution chose to touch down in Orlando. In the 1960’s, shadow companies began buying up swamp land in central Florida. In 1965, it was discovered that the puppeteer behind the land purchasers was WED Enterprises, Walt Elias Disney. The 64-year-old planned to build an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, where he would control every aspect of a utopian society, down to the clothes worn by tenants whose residency depended on their ability to contribute to the utopian society. No freeloaders! And no retirees! Sorry Snowbirds, hit the beach towns! Understanding the potential financial benefit to the area, local and statewide government bodies bent over backward to make it happen. A remnant of this effort is the Reedy Creek Improvement District, now named the Central Florida Tourism District, seen in the news lately, center stage in the fight between Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney company. Reedy Creek had the power of a government body, except the power of the people was held by a board of directors originally meant to be controlled by Walt Disney. In 1966, Walt Disney died, and his brother Roy scrapped the original plan for the futuristic city and built the world’s largest theme park, moving earth to elevate the 107-acre Magic Kingdom approximately 20 ft. above the swamp. Because of the flat topography of the area, the spires of Sleeping Beauty’s castle can be seen from miles around. Perfect for a spire-chase…
Over 51 years after the park’s opening, another great American institution will touch down in Orlando. The United States Olympic Marathon Trials come to the swamplands on February 3rd to crown the first representatives of Team USA 2024 in downtown Orlando, about 20 miles from Sleeping Beauty’s Castle as the elephant flies. Jon and Betsy Hughes, the owners of The Track Shack, heads of the local organizing committee have moved heaven and earth to host this race in their hometown, because they love the sport, comprised of dedicated individuals who commit to countless hours of grueling training with a dream in their infrequently beating hearts. It’s a wish your heart makes.
In 1955, it took $8 million to build all of Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, approximately $89 million dollars in today’s money. SoFi Stadium, home to the LA Rams and Chargers completed in 2020 cost approximately $6.7 billion.
It has been discussed that in order to obtain hosting and organizing privileges for the US Olympic Marathon Trials, the local organizing committee must be willing and ready to part with close to $1 million, having no share of broadcast revenue and little of advertising. 1/8th the cost to build Disneyland. The cost of dreams, although always high, has become inflated. Orlando and Chattanooga were the only two US cities to bid for the honor this year. Their commitment to the hopes and dreams of the athletes and to all runners in the United States who aspire and are inspired by such feats cannot be understated.
The Olympic Marathon Trials are one of the most meaningful events that we have in a sport desperately needing more events that carry real weight. Ironically, speaking of their importance only inflates their value and puts their future existence in jeopardy. The more people that want to go to Disney World, the costlier the tickets become. It’s the way of the world, and why I never told people people how much I loved retail electronics superstore Circuit City until they shuttered storefronts forever and it was too late.
The energy emanating from the marathon trials created by what it takes to achieve the honor of toeing the line combined with the stakes of the race itself is a hue of light that can only be glimpsed in the darkest remote backwaters of the swamps of Florida. Around 200 make it in and 3 make it on. The marathon, itself, is a grueling distance. The toughness required to finish the race is visible on the faces of the competitors- they’ve been in knee-deep and seen some shit and come out on the other side wanting more.
They’re the ones who have the sand to build in boglands. They’re the characters walking the theme park that we’ve seen on screens and we’ll be there in Orlando to take finish line photos with them for our Magic Kingdom scrapbook, and to shake the hands of Jon and Betsy Hughes, the owners of the Track Shack- a castle to the running world.
“To all who come to this happy place, welcome”
If you see us around the course in Orlando, give us a high five.
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