The History of Disney World

Walt Disney World opened to the public on October 1, 1971, and has been wildly popular ever since. Disney World is a resort that people travel across the world to visit. This park currently contains multiple different theme parks, water parks, and many hotel resorts. Even to this day, the park continues to add new features that are bigger and better than the last. Disney World attracts over 50 million visitors per year and is labeled the most visited vacation destination in the world. This resort is located in Orlando, Florida and is about 43 square miles.

Many people have heard about Disney World, but don’t know the history of it. It all started because of Disneyland. Walt Disney came up with the idea of Disneyland after visiting another amusement park in Los Angeles. He wanted a place that children and their parents could go and enjoy their time together. Disneyland opened on July 5,1955. After seeing the success that Disneyland had, Walt Disney wanted to expand beyond that. They started the construction of this new theme park on May 30,1967. Unfortunately, Walt Disney became ill and died from lung cancer in 1966, so he wasn’t able to see any of the construction for this park.

Disney World started with just one theme park, Magic Kingdom. This quickly led to the company wanting to expand the park further. The next theme park was called the EPCOT Center, and was opened in 1982. This part of the resort featured several of Walt’s ideas that he wasn’t able to introduce when he was alive. Later that decade, in 1989, the third theme park was opened as Hollywood Studios. This park was inspired by show business, like television and music. Currently, the most recent addition to the parks is the fourth theme park, being Animal Kingdom, which opened in 1998. There are many other additions to the park, but these have been the main 4 so far. 

Personally, I’ve never been to Disney World or Disneyland, but I would like to visit someday. The history of these resorts is very interesting and isn’t one that most people would think is as deep as it is. Although Walt Disney wasn’t able to see the creation of this park, I think he would be proud of how it came out, and how successful it turned out to be.

 

https://disneyconnect.com/disney-history/

https://www.frommers.com/destinations/walt-disney-world/in-depth/history

https://www.floridadaily.com/why-walt-disney-chose-orlando-the-history-of-walt-disney-world/

 

Have you ever been to Disney World? or Disneyland?

Did you enjoy going if you did? 

What is your favorite part about Disney World?

You need to be a member of History 360 to add comments!

Join History 360

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies

  • I have been to Disney world before and I was very young so I don't remember a lot about it. I remember I really enjoyed it and I have good memories from going there. I remember my favorite part was this rollar coaster that went backwards.

    • That sounds frun, it is too bad that you went when you were young so you can't remember much of it.

  • I have never been to disney world or disney land. When I was 10 years old, I went on a disney cruise. I spend over 4 days on it. It was pretty fun. I enjoyed it. I am not a fan of rollar coasters and I don't think I would enjoy disney land/world as much. 

    • I have not been to either of them also. A disney cruise sounds really fun. Since you don't like rollercoasters much then they probably wouldn't be as fun for you.

  • I have never been to either we were planning on going this summer but now we are going to Mall of America. I have seen many videos of people going and I think that something I love is their hug rule. When the kids hug them they can't let go until the kids do I love this.

    • I also have not been to either and it does seem really fun. The hug rule is something I find really cute.

  • I have never been to Disney World or Disney Land, I think it is too expensive. I think I would enjoy it if I went. The thing I would enjoy the most would probably be the food. They have a variety of delicious food and have different kinds of food from around the world.

    • I agree, it probably is really expensive but it would be very fun. They do have many different things, like food.

  • I went to disney world when I was in second grade. I rally liked going becuase there were a lot of different types of rides and they even had a couple water rides. My favorite part of Disney World was the animal kingdom. 

    • That sounds fun, I've never been to either Disney World or Disneyland, and I would like to go one day.

This reply was deleted.
eXTReMe Tracker