All Aboard the "General Joe"

On this particular hot summer day, at the Transportation Station, I decided to enjoy the calm ride of the ferry to start my jorney into the Magic Kingdom. Walking to the dock I saw the "General Joe" waiting to take me across the Seven Seas Lagoon. As I selected my seat, I noticed a portrait of a man. It was General Joe Potter. I wondered "Who is this man, and what was his connection to this ferry?" Having done some research on other Disney theme park transportation, I know that there is always a clear purpose to all the details.  The story of this man was no exception.

William E. "Joe" Potter was a retired U.S. Army major general who happened to be an engineering genius. During 1964-5 Potter was the Executive Vice President of the New York World's Fair. He was in charge of the construction of the Federal and State attractions for the fair. It was during this time that he met Walt Disney and soon joined the Disney company.  

He was given the task to transform 300 Florida acres into the Magic Kingdom while preserving the area's ecology. Potter oversaw the Park's infrastructure, including underground sewer, power and water treatment plants and the drainage canals. now know as "Joe's ditches."

General Joe worked at Disney until 1974. At his retirement he was the vice president for ECOPT Planning and senior vice president of the Walt Disney World Company. He was also president of the board of supervisors of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. This group was formed to provide public services necessary for tourist and residents at Walt Disney World. His work between the park and the community during the 1960s and 1970s gave him a lot of notoriety and many came to know him as "Mister Disney."  Joe Potter spent the rest of his life in Orlando and passed away on Dec 15, 1988.

This powerful man, who left his mark on the parks at Walt Disney World, was given a place to reside here on a ferryboat, in 1999.  In honor of the WDW Resort's 30th Anniversary, all three of the ferries at the Transportation Station were renamed after people of importance to the park's design. Let's stick to the "General Joe" for this blog.  

Originally named the "Kingdom Queen", this ferry was added to Disney's fleet in 1976. It was commissioned to help accommodate the growing number of visitors to the Magic Kingdom. It was designed by naval architect Ben Ostlund, who worked on the fairs in New York City. In 1976, the boat cost $1,250,000. It has a steel hull and aluminum substructure, and weighs 180 tons. It can hold 600 passengers on the two decks. What make this one different from the others was it was designed be chartered for private events. The upper deck housed two wet bars, bathrooms and a dance floor. In 2001 these elements were removed and the ferry is only used to transport guests. If you are not sure which of the three ferries is "General Joe", it has blue panels on the sides, no seating on the upper deck, and the only one with two smoke stacks. This ferry is a fitting place to honor General William E. "Joe" Potter, an officer and engineer who many have said that if Potter had not joined Disney there would not be a Walt Disney World as amazing as we know it.  

It only takes five minutes to travel across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the Transportation Station to the Magic Kingdom on the "General Joe." In those five minutes, take the time to look at the details and remember everything is truly in the details for Disney.