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Following the success of the world famous Disneyland in California, founder Walt Disney wanted to expand his operations. He quietly began purchasing land in central Florida under the mask of fake companies in order to keep prices low. On February 2, 1967, after meeting with various local legislative, civic, and industrial leaders, a new Walt Disney Florida project was announced in a press release by Walt Disney Productions. Called “Disney World,” this new Walt Disney Florida project was to be built on a 43-square mile piece of land sixteen miles southwest of Orlando, Florida.
Basic elements of the project were to be similar to the California amusement park, including outdoor sports centres and a series of theme motels surrounding the area. However, there were also planned to be a number of major differences between this and California ventures, namely the establishment of an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT), which was supposed to become home to 20,000 permanent residents and serve as a real-life lab for new technologies and ideas about the urban future.
The entire cost of the project was meant to cost $600 million and take years to construct. However, it was estimated that in its first ten years of operation, the park would directly generate $6.6 billion – half from expenditures by tourists and half from new jobs created. At the press conference where it was first announced, CEO Roy O. Disney – Walt’s younger brother – said, “Our corporation is dedicated to making Walt Disney’s dream a reality.” Completing the project had become the founder’s new dream.
Today, that Walt Disney Florida project continues to be one of the top vacation destinations for families around the world. Several parks fill Walt Disney Florida, including Magic Kingdom – the first and most famous of the four, the Animal Kingdom Park, Epcot Park, and MGM Studios, which houses the infamous Tower of Terror. With four separate parks full of shows, rides, and a myriad of other attractions, as well as shopping and restaurants, Walt Disney Florida is always listed as a must-see sight in travel books for the state.
Despite its success the venture has not been without its problems. Indeed, the recent controversy between Disney Vice Chairman Roy Edward Disney – nephew of the company’s founder – and CEO Michael Eisner was much publicized. Disney felt Eisner had turned the company into a “rapacious, soul-less” company, and resigned from his position. In 2004, Disney released this statement: “Closure of the Walt Disney Florida Feature Animation facility is yet another example of Michael Eisner’s de-emphasis of creativity and total indifference to the impact his decisions have on the people who helped to make the company great.”
The project opened its doors on October 1, 1971. Today, the attraction receives over 40 million visitors each year and that number continues to grow. It was one of the largest contributors to the over $34.3 billion in revenues the parent company generated in 2006.
Following the success of the world famous Disneyland in California, founder Walt Disney wanted to expand his operations. He quietly began purchasing land in central Florida under the mask of fake companies in order ...
In 1955, the first Walt Disney Resort opened in Anaheim, California. It was extremely popular, but despite its success, market research revealed that only two percent of visitors that came to the resort were from ea...
Walt Disney may be one of America’s most beloved visionaries and entrepreneurs, but there is much about Walt Disney that his fans don’t know. For instance, did you know that Walt Disney’s actual autograph bears no r...
In the Frommer’s Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, author Bob Sehlinger says, “When it comes to Walt Disney World you either need a plan or a frontal lobotomy.” Indeed, as huge a complex of theme parks as Walt ...
It is consistently ranked one of the top vacation destinations in the U.S., if not the world, and has become a mainstay in the cultural landscape of America. If you have never been to Walt Disney Orlando, you are mi...
Walt Disney Video - A documentary looking at Walt Disney's character. Includes interviews with artists Bill Melendez, David Hilberman, Mary Eastman, Bill Hurtz, Marie Beardsley, and Bill Littlejohn, screenwriter Joan Scott, and biographers Marc Eliot, Richard Schickel, and Bob Thomas.
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Following the success of the world famous Disneyland in California, founder Walt Disney wanted to expand his operations. He quietly began purchasing land in central Florida under the mask of fake companies in order ...
