Here’s a little look at the development of an idea that never appeared in the parks; these sketches by Imagineer Herb Ryman show the evolution of a concept for a “buffeteria” dining area in EPCOT. The sketches are undated, but we can divine that they are from fairly early in the park’s development – most likely somewhere between 1976 and 1978. First, they’re labeled as “United States Pavilion” instead of American Adventure, and we also see the monorail in two of the sketches which indicates that this was indeed the earlier version of the pavilion that was to be built between Future World and World Showcase.
Notes on the sketches indicate that the facility would seat 150 inside the “shell” and 100 on an outside terrace. The restaurant is labeled as “World Buffeteria” – perhaps that indicates that it was to feature a variety of cuisines? Buffeteria, of course, is one of those great old coined words that Disney used to create for their parks; this invented vernacular helped create a sense that you were truly in a unique place set apart from the regular world. Other buffeterias included the original incarnation of EPCOT’s Le Cellier as well as the beloved Trail’s End Buffeteria at Fort Wilderness.
Take a look at this progression of sketches:
While few will argue that this was Ryman’s most compelling assignment, and, in fact, details of the building itself are frustratingly vague, there’s one thing that’s really entertaining about these sketches – the people! Ryman’s art was famous for the cast of characters that circulated in the foreground, and it looks like Herb might have been more interested in the people in these sketches than in the buffeteria. I especially love the Edwardian gent in the bowler hat with his stogie, with what appears to be Carmen Sandiego on his arm. In that last sketch it even looks like Mr. Smee is in attendance, and, in a strangely prescient touch, Princess Jasmine. Some of these characters are so detailed, I wonder if they were based on real people.
Maybe the World Buffeteria won’t wind up being as lamented a lost attraction as Equatorial Africa, but the cast of characters there would have been really interesting!
Special thanks to John Donaldson for sharing these images
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Herb was all about the people. Nuns, kids, even supposedly John Hench selling his paintings for $1.99. You can do an entire book on “Herb’s people” because half the time they are more interesting than the project they depict. Herb told me a rendering in concept should be “specifically vague” as to let it design itself in the minds of the viewer. Good point indeed and a fine example of dodging the buffeteria. ironically it became called the Odyssey. Herb showed me a book by a man he admired for his use of people and subplot in illustrations, Tony Sarg.
http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/29703/
Eddie Sotto
I think that is is fairly safe to assume that Hench was going for more of an international cast in this specific render.
Fantastic find. Thank John for me!
[…] City USA analyzes Herb Ryman sketches for the “World Buffeteria,” a dining establishment slated for EPCOT Center that never came […]
It seems to me that this became the Odyseey. The look is going in that direction, and the location and function etc. That may have been obvious to everyone but me, but when it dawned on me I thought that I would chime in and support this awesome blog. Thanks.
[…] Crawford at Progress City, USA spills the beans on the EPCOT Buffeteria. He also posts about the precursor to […]