Welcome to Theme Park Insider! Join the community or log in
Theme Park Insider
Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube
February 13, 2008

Disneyland trying House of Future concept again

By Robert Niles It looks like Disneyland is going to revive its "House of the Future."

The House was a Tomorrowland fixture back in the 1950s, and was later stripped, boxed up and moved to Florida, where it is now rotting, I believe, on U.S. 192 in Kissimmee. Disney's revisited the concept of futurist living over the years more times than I can count: Carousel of Progress, Horizons, the old Space Mountain exit, to name three examples that pop into my head immediately.

Now reports say that Disney's trying again, with a 5,000-sq.-ft. home that will open in Tomorrowland in May.

The $15 million home is a collaboration of The Walt Disney Co., Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., software maker LifeWare and homebuilder Taylor Morrison.

Visitors will experience the look of tomorrow by watching Disney actors playing a family of four preparing for a trip to China.

"It's much different than a spiel that you would get at a trade show," said Dave Miller, director of alliance development for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. "We won't get into the bits and the bytes. It will be about the digital lifestyle and how that lifestyle can help you."

Readers' Opinions

From rick stevens on February 13, 2008 at 10:55 AM
I remember the original house and being amazed at the electric can opener! What can I say, I was young. I hope this one can stir up the imagination of this generation and not be another "Innovation".
From Rob P on February 14, 2008 at 5:32 AM
I like the idea but it will have to be done well or it could fail big time.

I can remember Fairs back in the day exhibiting the projected views of life in the 2000s.

Well we're still driving vehicles with wheels, we're not wearing aluminum foil suits and we still don't have personal robots looking after us.

But is was fun thinking it might happen. So Disney needn't bother getting too highbrow with this.

Mind you my walkie-talkie from the 50s looks pretty naff next to a Blackberry.

From Chris Wilkes on February 14, 2008 at 5:48 AM
Wait... that stupid Xanadu house in Orlando used to be at Disneyland!??!?
Wow, I never knew that!
From David Sutter on February 14, 2008 at 5:50 AM
Yep, I rmember it! A four winged house...kinda nifty for its time...Center doom skylight and all...It now would be very retro and fun to see...with tommarowland being total flash gordan,,,julis vern....So bring it back we all need a laugh
From Keith Rayment on February 14, 2008 at 7:38 AM
Xanadu was one of those 'naff-but-let's-see' attractions from my first trip to Kissimmee twenty years ago ...and it was naff too.
From Matthew Baker on February 14, 2008 at 8:07 AM
I'm curious where this will be built. On the still-exiting foundation where the original was? Inside the Innoventions as an inside-only exhibit?
From claudia maffei on February 14, 2008 at 9:53 AM
I pray they don't take something out for it! Disney takes too many things out and either doesn't replace it for years or puts something stupid in place of it.
Personally I still love the carosel of progress at Disneyworld. That song just sticks and now today I am singing it again. my kids were facinated that we didn't have microwaves and how things were not only before they were born but when Grandma was young. :) I really hope they don't take it out because it is part of Disneyworld and history. Just like the Hall of Presidents at Disneyworld.
Anything added is great. I can't wait for the line to take everyone to the new attraction and I can ride other things easier. :)
From Marc Ricketts on February 14, 2008 at 10:09 AM
The picture I saw of the Xanadu house was NEVER in DL. I guess it's possible that some of the fixtures were, but I doubt that. I think the reference was a joke, or hope it was. The house of the future in DL had to be cut apart with saws since wrecking balls were just bouncing off.
From Heidi Hirsch on February 14, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I remember as a kid going to Disneyland and being completely amazed by the House of Future. I was truly sorry to see it disappear. This is great news and I hope to God that that “mess” in Kissimmee wasn’t the old house. What a humiliating decline.
From Mike West on February 14, 2008 at 12:25 PM
I wonder if they'll just turn it into another sales pitch for the next i phone or something. Knowing the suits these days, I'll bet money on it.
Just firther proof that they've NO IDEA what is needed to improve. I'll tell you exactly why this project was approved, they liked the numbers, it has minimal output or upkeep, & most of these folks come from running hotels which is where that type of revenue is examined. How much carpet & soft goods replacement will cost over time. How very imaginative!
Will it ever get better? Now I know why I haven't been to Disney in a few years.
From Molly R on February 14, 2008 at 3:20 PM
$15 million??!!
From Matthew Baker on February 15, 2008 at 7:25 AM
And we thought sub-prime mortgages were a problem nowdays...

It'll indeed be inside the Innoventions building, like the Epcot version.
http://www.yesterland.com/futurehouse.html

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.