Moseying Moose

Opened on October 1st, 1971, Walt Disney World is now the largest theme park complex in the world. Encompassing nearly 25,000 acres, Walt and his brother Roy had designed Walt Disney World (also known as WDW) to be the best place for families to visit, kids and adults alike. WDW has grown in content dramatically in the past 54 years. From a single park (Magic Kingdom) and two hotels (Polynesian Resort and Contemporary Resort) in 1971 to now having 4 parks, 2 water parks, over 20 resorts, 2 campground areas, a full shopping area, 2 mini golf courses, and 3 PGA tour level golf courses, growth has happened.

The year was 1955, a 53 year old man had just done a world’s first, opened a park based upon cartoons he drew. Walt Disney had just opened his first theme park in Anaheim, California. The park started with much skepticism from his studio and even his own friends and family. Never to give up on a dream, Walt was determined. Funding was a main issue, Walt’s vision of putting his art into reality for adults and children to enjoy was going to be expensive. Expensive to the tune of more then $16 million. Even the business savvy Walt couldn’t convince the banks to lend him that money. Never able to let go, he began with a plan. Walt gathered money in ever imaginable way possible. He sold his vacation homes in southern California, he borrowed against his life insurance policies, even mortgaged his own home, but ht wasn’t enough. Walt needed to get creative, this time pecuniary creative.

Walt struck a deal with the American Broadcasting Company, ABC (yes that ABC). Walt would produce a weekly show for the TV network. The funds were enough to get Walt started on the park, his vision was coming to life. The Disneyland park opened in 1955 and in no time Walt has proven to the doubters that the world not only love d the idea of a theme park, but was ready and willing to pay. The area of Anaheim around the theme park was booming in no time. Hotels, restaurants, anything tourist related was packed around the park. Land prices became astronomical and before Walt knew it, Disneyland was land bound.

The success of Disneyland proved to Walt that the world wanted more. But with Disneyland unable to grow in size, how was he to continue to build hsi dream? If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’ll let you in a secret: Walt always found a way. Enter “The Florida Project”.

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
-Walt Disney

Walt knew, based upon his California park, that any hint of a new park would hyper inflate any land value for a new location. Ingenuity back at work, Walt and his team began looking for new locations in teh late 1950’s. After surveys found that a small percent of visitors came from the eastern seaboard of the US, Walt knew that he hand an untapped market. So the search and analytics began. A few requirements had to be met though: land, weather, location, and cost.

The first priority was land, and lots of it. For the new park, he had even grander ideas which meant he needed more space. Also, Walt was picturing a place where guest felt truly immersed in a magical space. The California park was already surrounded by the city, he felt this took away from the feeling of the park. With anticipation of growth, he wanted as much space as he could get.

When we consider a project, we really study it – not just the surface idea, but everything about it.
-Walt Disney

Walt began to put out his feelers and was quietly approached by many to bring his park to their areas. A few possible locations were entertained, quite seriously, too.

New York. The Big Apple was a big option. Large population, high tourism, and growing infrastructure made it a prime spot. Also, it was clear to Walt he because it was going to be home to the World Fare in 1964. Walt was a big fan of the Fair. technology, innovation, and inspiration all were loves of the man behind the mouse. But after Walt sent some of his own people to check into the area it was found to have a few big falls. One, it was found that New York City tourist visited for only short times, typically only two to three days. Two, the big city was growing rapidly and Walt already had one park under confinement of city growth. Third was weather. Most parks opened in upper New England only were opened for around half the year. Walt had a quick run for making a park under a weather dome, but it was quickly ruled out due to cost.

Niagara Falls was also pitched. Appealing to Walt’s love of natural landscapes, the idea of a park with a view of the waterfall was amazing, but as before space and weather ruled it out in addition to a lack of long term tourism.

The search then focused further south. St. Louis, Missouri, made a big pitch to Walt and the company. The venture even planned out a park with rides, locations and layouts being done. Walt was liking the idea, but when discussions got serious and details reviewed, an agreement could not be made. Walt, always looking in the future, knew the long term benefit to the city and state. Taxes and growth would be a massive benefit to the economy of the city and state. Walt wanted the city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri to cover more of the infrastructure and building cost while giving tax benefits to the park. The city and state couldn’t (maybe wouldn’t) meet the demands and Walt moved on. But, things always happen for a reason, and a new deal began to grab hold.

Walt’s surveys of new places continued and a prime location with a lot of potential was sunny Florida. National Broadcasting Channel (NBC) pitched a plan to Walt about location on Palm Coast (a city just a bit north of Miami). This partnership never solidified, since NBC wanted a permanent partnership with the park, but Walt wasn’t looking for a long term commitment. After some financial instability, the deal permanently fell through.

After more searching a prime spot finally came through though. A spot, around 20 miles south west of Orlando really caught the eye of Walt and the Disney park staff. The area was developing with the infrastructure of I-4 being built along with the Florida Turnpike being built. Florida also was a location perfect for long term vacations and the weather (aside from being rather hot in the summer) rarely would shut a park down. After a bit of debate, visiting, and thinking, the process was started to make the site near Bay Lake the new theme park complex. Disney had to be cautious about getting land. He wanted as much as possible. So the plan was hatched. Disney would create numerous dummy corporations to buy up land.

Fun Fact: Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom features some of the fake corporations on the windows along Main Street USA.

As with true southern fashion (and that of natural human curiosity), a secret could not be kept. Rumors of who was buying up the farm and cattle land ran like a wild fire. Along with Disney, NASA was a main contender of rumors with it’s popular launch site just down the road. Walt had to become a performer now. Questions and questions came in asking if Disney was building a new theme park near Orlando. Walt did his best to deny any such claims. But the task of keeping the metaphorical cat in the bag becomes tedious when attempting to purchase over 25,000 acres from nearly 50 different owners. A newspaper article published a story in 1965 claiming they believed the large land purchases were for a new Disney park in Florida. Walt, realizing the rumors were just going to continue, finally gave the ok for Florida Governor Haydon Burns to announce ‘the greatest attraction in the history of Florida.’

With the public knowing about the park, Walt and his company began the planning. Walt visited the site twice, once right after the press release about the building of the new park in 1965, and again in mid 1966. But before much headway was made, tragedy struck. On December 15th, 1966, Walt Disney, the original Imagineer, died of complications due to lung cancer. The world was devastated.

The torch was picked up by business partner and brother, Roy O. Disney. Delaying his retirement, Roy continued on with the building of the new theme park. Construction was busy, the new location was slated to have two potential theme parks but after extensive review and planning it was determined that only one would be build initially. In addition 2 golf courses and 2 resorts would be constructed for the opening.

It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.
-Roy E. Disney

After almost 6 years, the new place was ready for opening. On October 1st, 1971, Magic Kingdom opened it’s gates for the first time. Along with it, two resorts were available for guest to stay at, the Polynesian Resort and the Contemporary Resort were available for guest to stay at. Soon after opening the Magic Kingdom, Roy Disney announced the new complex would be called Walt Disney World, in memory of the visionary behind the Dream that started with a mouse. Roy O. Disney passed away in December of 1971 almost exactly 5 years after his brother.

Magic Kingdom was built to replicate Disneyland, but on a bigger scale. More space meant more rides, more shops, more restaurants, more entertainment. Magic Kingdom is what most folks commonly refer to “Disney World” as. Covering 107 acres (just a touch over the area of Disneyland), the park keeps a focus on family and nostalgia. Every year over 48,500 people average through the gates of the park daily. Walt’s dream is a hit success, bringing kids and adults alike into a land where worry seems to drop when you get to walk under the tunnel and take a stroll down Main Street USA.

It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.
-Walt Disney

WDW would continue to expand. It’s second theme park, Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, or EPCOT, was a long desired dream of Walt. Walt originally planned for EPCOT to be a city. With an estimated 20,000 residents, this bustling modern metropolis was imagined to be the cutting edge of modern living. After Walt’s passing though, the company decided the endeavor of building a city was not practical and did not proceed with the venture. Although the city of his dreams wouldn’t be built, it was a foundation for a new theme park.

EPCOT began construction in 1979. At the time it was the world’s largest construction project. The park covers 305 acres and was opened on October 1st, 1982. The park was a blend of the classic World Fairs and a celebration of the cultural diversity of the planet. Since it’s opening EPCOT has gone through a few major renovations, but it’s always kept it’s balance of future technology and world heritage at it’s core.

WDW’s next park was a water park. River Country was opened in June of 1976. The park was made to look like a rustic swimming hole (a ‘swimming’ spot to the city folk). The park carried a fair amount of popularity into the 90’s, but after numerous issues the park closed in 2001. In 2005 Disney announced the park was officially closed. Guest can still see evidence of the old park if they’re riding around the southern side of Bay Lake (between Fort Wilderness Lodge and the Campgrounds). Nature has taken most of the park over, but if you’re riding the water taxi, ask your Skipper about it, most will be glad to talk about it.

Next park to be opened at WDW was Disney’s MGM Studios, now known as just “Hollywood Studios”. This park was built for show-business, literally. The park was designed to embrace the world of movies and tv, Disney wanted to give guest a feeling of being in backstage lots. When it was opened, there were actually a few working production studios running. The park’s name was changes in 2008 when the contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer expired. Hollywood Studios has changed a lot over the years. From being focused on the backlot stage feeling to more of being in the movies themselves. The Golden Era of Hollywood feeling is still rampant through the park and you almost want to get all dolled up and walk Sunset Boulevard to the Chinese Theatre like a true movie star.

Disney opened it’s second (and still active) water park in WDW in June of 1989. Typhoon Lagoon is themed after a shipwreck in a tropical paradise. It’s massive outdoor wave pool (one of the world’s largest wave pools still to this day) and plenty of family activities and rides make Typhoon Lagoon a great place for families to cool off in the Florida sun.

I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing — that it was all started by a mouse.
-Walt Disney

We’re ticking the 6th park and 2nd water park at WDW off the list now. Introducing the (not so) frigid winter water park of Blizzard Beach. Legend has it that a freak snowstorm blew in and created the first ski resort in Florida. Well if you didn’t know the snow doesn’t last long in Florida, and the result was a water park of ‘slush’ that was left behind. This water park features many family friendly rides and even a few wild ones for the adventurous souls!

The 4th theme park to open at Disney really pushed the boundary with this one (literally). Roar into some wild times at Animal Kingdom in April of 1998, Disney’s incredible theme park and zoo (yes it’s actually an accredited zoo, it’s one reason why there’s no fireworks or balloons in the park) wanted to pay homage to Walt and his love of nature. Disney set the bar high with this park. Just in size it’s massive, covering over 580 acres! Animal Kingdom was designed around nature. Plants, animals, and awareness is the focus here. From safari’s to musical shows to thrill rides Animal Kingdom has a little bit of everything for everyone.

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
-Walt Disney

WDW has a few areas that are no more.

-Discovery Island, a ‘nature’ reserve in Bay Lake brought guest in for animal viewings (birds mostly) until the late 90’s.

-Pleasure Island was an adult night entertainment area with bars, comedy, and shows. The location was closed in the late 2000’s to make way for expansion of Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs).

-Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser was a Star Wars themed resort opened in March 2022 and promptly closed in September 2023. The resort, trying to create an immersive experience for guest, was an overambitious, under delivering, and over priced guest experience.

WDW is host to numerous resorts around the property. From luxury resorts to budget minded stays, Disney has accommodations set up for nearly everyone.

We hope you’ve picked up some good information from this. Keep an eye out for more articles about more specifics of Walt Disney World, places to visit, things to eat, places to stay, and things to do! Don’t forget to visit our YouTube channel where we’re beginning to make videos for traveling, not just with WDW, but all around! Thanks for stopping by!

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