It was a hot day in Anaheim, California. As Walt Disney strolled through his favorite creation he observed Cast Members and the splendor he had dreamed of. Hundreds of people rushed by trying to get to their next attraction, but he only saw one thing, someone who was very out of place: a cowboy, walking through the futuristic Tomorrowland. He was so disappointed. But then, Walt Disney did what he had always done best: dream.
Disney dreamed of a land where that would never happen, a place where he would have all the space he needed to fill his dreams. A space where he could build so much more than a park. So, he began the search.
When Disneyland was announced and a location was set, land prices skyrocketed and hotels immediately bought the land surrounding it, leaving Disney with no room to expand. This in mind, the company decided to be secretive about this new undertaking.
Much time was spent flying over properties and deciding where on the East coast this next park would be, when a large area of swampland was spotted in Osceola County, Florida near I-4. The location was settled and the project was given a name: The Florida Project.
Disney began buying the swampland under fake company names to keep his plans secret, but eventually, the news media found out and in 1965 Disney announced its new project that was officially named Disneyworld.
One year later, in December 1966, Walt Disney passed away.
His brother, Roy Disney, had been his partner through the company’s existence and he refused to let his brother’s last dream die with him. At the age of 78 years-old, Roy Disney put off retirement to build another magical kingdom.
Although he stayed out of the limelight, Roy had a habit of making Walt’s dreams come true. This loyalty and business prowess was not lost on Walt.
Two months before his death, at a business luncheon, Walt was asked what would happen to the project if he died. He responded, “Absolutely nothing, my brother Roy runs this company, I just piddle around.
Roy wanted this park to be just as Walt dreamed it and didn’t want anyone to lose sight of Walt’s vision of the project. So, soon after his brother’s passing, he renamed it Walt Disney World and insisted that everyone refer to it by that name.
Walt was a dreamer and Roy was a doer. Roy once told reporters, “Walt had this idea [for Walt Disney World]. My job all along was to help Walt do the things he wanted to do. He did the dreaming. I did the building.”
Although that meant that Walt Disney World was going to be realized no matter what happened, it also meant that Roy lacked the creativity that his brother had. he relied heavily on Dick Irvine, one of Walt’s Imagineers, and Joe Fowler in order to build the park. Both of their names can be found on windows on Main Street.
On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World opened to the public. Later that month, Roy gave the dedication.
“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.”
The Magic Kingdom was finally realized. Soon after its opening, Roy Disney passed, but his legacy and the legacy of his brother lived on through the Magic Kingdom. Today, you can find a statue of Roy and Minnie Mouse sitting on a bench on Main Street. Roy’s hand is holding Minnie’s up, always beside her and always supporting her.
Happy birthday to Magic Kingdom and thank you to the two brothers who dared to dream and dared to do.
Sources:
http://www.wdwmagic.com/walt-disney-world-history.htm
http://www.disneyparkhistory.com/magic-kingdom1.html
Annie Proctor 
Colors of the Wind came on when I read this and it gave me chills.
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I got chills writing it! It’s such a cool story!
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