Walt Disney World opens
Walt Disney World, a major expansion of the original Disneyland, opened in 1971 and was conceived by Walt Disney, who envisioned a larger, innovative theme park reflecting the technological advancements of the space age. Located in central Florida, the project involved the acquisition of over forty square miles of land and became the largest private development in the world, with construction beginning in 1969. Despite Walt Disney's passing in 1966, the resort debuted with twenty-six attractions and quickly attracted more than ten million visitors in its first ten months. Over the years, Walt Disney World expanded with the addition of new attractions, hotels, and entertainment events, making it a pivotal tourist destination. Notable milestones included the introduction of Epcot in 1982, which showcased futuristic themes and cultural exhibits. Today, Walt Disney World remains renowned for its commitment to customer satisfaction and continues to inspire imagination and wonder for visitors of all ages. Its growth has significantly impacted the central Florida region, cementing its status as a beloved cultural and recreational hub.
Walt Disney World opens
Identification Resort and theme park
Date Opened on October 1, 1971
Place Orlando, Florida
Walt Disney World solidified the legacy of one of America’s great creative geniuses and provided a setting for millions of visitors to envision the future, remember the past, and have a memorable entertainment experience.
Walt Disney World, the companion park to California’s Disneyland, resulted from the creative mind of Walt Disney, who was intrigued with the technological advances of the space age. Having established himself as an American legend and developed major attractions for the New York World’s Fair in 1964, Disney wanted to create a larger theme park and resort than Disneyland, which had opened in 1955.
Following an exhaustive nationwide search for the best location, Disney led the efforts in acquiring more than forty square miles of land in central Florida. Construction began in 1969 on the latest Magic Kingdom and two hotels. In what would become the largest private project in the world, Disney’s “Imagineers” and nine thousand workers employed many new innovations in developing Walt Disney World, at an eventual cost of more than $400 million. Having died in 1966, Disney did not see his dream fulfilled, but the much-anticipated opening occurred in 1971, with twenty-six attractions and five thousand performers. The park was immensely popular, with more than ten million guests arriving in the first ten months.
Steady growth defined the next few years, as eleven new attractions were introduced by 1975. The original resort hotels were joined by a dozen more before the end of the decade. Entertainment milestones included the first Easter Parade in 1972, Donald Duck’s fortieth birthday celebration in 1974, the bicentennial-themed America on Parade from 1975 to 1976, the large fireworks show Fantasy in the Sky and the Main Street Parade in 1977, and the fiftieth birthday celebration of Mickey Mouse in 1978. The Walt Disney Village emerged in 1975 as a gathering of residential, recreational, and commercial enterprises.
In 1975, plans were announced for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (Epcot), the second phase of development at the site. Though different from Disney’s original concept of a working future city, the park offered two themed areas, Future World and World Showcase. During construction, Epcot required ten thousand workers and had as its focal point Spaceship Earth, a large geodesic dome. Epcot opened on October 1, 1982, exactly eleven years after Walt Disney World.
Impact
Walt Disney World grew to become one of the world’s leading tourist destinations and transformed the central Florida area. Two of later additions were the theme parks Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Walt Disney World’s unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction has set an enviable standard worldwide for high-quality entertainment and service. It has kept alive the spirit of imagination and wonder for people of all ages.
Bibliography
Barrett, Steven M. Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets. Branford, Conn.: Intrepid Traveler, 2003.
Mongello, Louis A. The Walt Disney World Trivia Book: Secrets, History, and Fun Facts Behind the Magic. Branford, Conn.: Intrepid Traveler, 2004.