I have always wondered when Walt Disney announced his intentions to build Disney World in 1965. Did he know what it would become? Did he have some legendary foresight that what he was doing with all that land would make Orlando a tourism destination?
Obviously, Walt had other plans for Disney World. He wanted swampland to become a visionary utopia. He wanted EPCOT to be the prototype community of tomorrow. But sadly that dream died with him.
After Walt’s death, Roy O. Disney took over the project and renamed it Walt Disney World in honor of his brother. When discussing Walt Disney World’s amazing development we have to credit Roy for building and finishing Walt’s kingdom.
Roy passed away, shortly after he retired from Disney in 1971. Shortly, after the opening of Walt Disney World.
Despite both Disney brothers not being alive to see the resort evolve through the years. Disney and its cast members throughout the years have kept the spirit of both Walt and Roy alive.
In 1982, a group of Imagineers created EPCOT Center without guidance from their leader Walt. An ambitious theme park that inspired and informed millions of guests. EPCOT Center showed glimpses of the future and showed the beauty of our world. Even though it wasn’t Walt’s dream idea, EPCOT Center was a wonderful pivot.
Throughout the years, Disney would keep expanding and expanding. Utilizing all that land. The Eisner Era brought us Typhoon Lagoon, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and the launch of the Disney Vacation Club. Resorts were popping up and the Vacation Kingdom of the World was growing larger.
Walt Disney World’s pioneering spirit continued in 1998 with the launch of Disney’s largest theme park in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Where live animals and the beauty of conservation mixed.
In the modern-day, Disney continues to innovate with lands like Pandora — The World of Avatar and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Great things are on the horizon for the resort. The 50th-anniversary celebration will last 18 months and future projects include Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, TRON Lightcycle Run, Play! Pavilion, and more to be announced.
Walt Disney World is a source of imagination, inspiration, and dreams. There is a reason why they call it The Vacation Kingdom of the World and The Most Magical Place on Earth. Despite all the changes over the years, the resort continues to be a beacon of happiness in what is often a very dark and unsettling world.
So, how would Walt feel once you told him that his idea of “Disney World” amounted to four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom), two water parks (Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon), 27 themed resort hotels, nine non-Disney hotels, several golf courses, a camping resort, and entertainment venues, like the entertainment/shopping district Disney Springs and the ESPN Wide World of Sports?
Well after all I think he would know it was just a part of his dream becoming a reality.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
