Walt Disney World
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
Project Future: The Inside Story Behind the Creation of Disney World-click the link to learn more about this book.
Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World Plaque
Epcot Center
Hollywood Studios
Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
“WALT DISNEY WORLD is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney and to the talents, the dedication and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place...a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn -- together."
Plaque dedicated October 25, 1971, by Roy O. Disney, rededicated Oct. 1, 1996, by Roy E. Disney
The Walt Disney World Resort was envisioned in the 1960s after the success of its precursor, Disneyland. Its grand opening was held October 1, 1971, but sadly, Walt did not live to see his vision come true. He died December 15, 1966 from lung cancer, leaving his brother and business partner, Roy O. Disney, to oversee the development.
Over 9,000 workers were involved in the construction of the original resort, including Magic Kingdom, two 18-hole golf courses, three hotel resorts, and a 200-acre lake called Seven Seas Lagoon. The total cost of the project by its opening day was over $400 million. Disney World has now expanded to house 27 themed resort hotels, four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses, a downtown-like shopping district, and many other entertainment venues.
The first of the four theme parks, Magic Kingdom, is divided into six “themed” lands: Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Themed around fairy tales and Disney characters, it currently hosts 41 attractions, featuring the world-renowned Cinderella castle, Haunted Mansion®, “it’s a small world”®, and Pirates of the Caribbean®.
Disney World’s second park, Epcot, was opened in 1982 with a focus on technological innovation and international culture. Epcot is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, a “city of the future” planned by Walt Disney. It features the World Showcase, eleven pavilions each dedicated to represent a specific country, and 34 attractions including Test Track® and Spaceship Earth.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios was opened 7 years later, in 1989, dedicated to show business and drawing inspiration from its namesake, 1930s and 1940s Hollywood. It is home to 10 attractions, including Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™.
The fourth of the Disney World theme parks is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which opened Earth Day 1998. It is themed around animal conservation with the Tree of Life® at its center, a 145 feet tall and 50 feet wide base tree showing over 300 animal carvings. It has 28 attractions, many featuring exotic animals such as African elephants and even a section for dinosaurs.
Disney World now invites over 52.2 million people annually from all over the world, making it the most visited vacation resort in the world1. Also, keep an eye out for the thousands of Mickey Mouse heads hidden throughout the parks and resorts.
To see the dedications for each of the theme parks and more information about the resort, click the link under additional information.