Coke’s manufacturers said it couldn’t be done.
Disney designers are called Imagineers, and they rule. What they say goes. And for the Drinkwalla (Coca-Cola’s main section of Animal Kingdom in Orlando), Imagineers insisted on an old-fashioned slider soda machine. The reason being, the theme for Drinkwallah was 1930s Africa. But those machines hadn’t been manufactured in over 50 years. They also dispensed glass bottles, not pliable plastic bottles that we had to use. Coke couldn’t find someone to do it, so Disney turned to me, and I was stupid enough to accept the challenge. We found an old Coke cooler hull on Disney property that we repurposed into what they wanted. Over $130,000 later we delivered a replica that passed an Underwriters Laboratory inspection. Disney used it for six months before mothballing it. They discovered kids would sneak up to it, remove the plastic caps from the bottles and use a straw to suck them dry.
Coca-Cola Vending Machine for Disney World
FOURTH QUARTER 2004
Coca-Cola Vending Machine for Disney World
FOURTH QUARTER 2004
<
>
Scroll for more
V
Layout studies
Layout studies
Sliding glass doors study
ADA rules door study
Drinkwallah site
Old Coca-Cola cooler from Africa, at Disney World prior to shipping to Minneapolis.
Top piece is refitted to use as coin panel.
Bill insert
LED display
Coin return button
Coin insert
Looking at left side of machine at bill insert and coin return.
Left access panel unlocked and lifted to retrieve/fill money. This panel is hinged in the back.
Cooler is gutted for refitting.
Fabricated vending machine ready to fit into cowling.
Back of machine, showing refill access panel open.
Close-up of panel removed to show fans
and refrigeration unit.
Study in wood of metal interior to be fabricated.
Back of machine with left vent panel removed.
The green button will be mounted on the panel and indicates to guest that the bottle is in place and the correct amount of money has been tendered.
Shipping to Disney World.