Walt Disney World Celebrates 40th Anniversary

For forty years Walt Disney World has been helping kids and families to make lasting memories in Orlando, Florida. On October 1st, 1971, Walt Disney World opened its doors to the public for the first time.

But Walt Disney World wasn’t the first Disney themed amusement park. Walter Elias Disney created Disneyland in 1955, but the California theme park couldn’t hold all of Walt Disney’s creative ideas. Walt dreamed of a bigger theme park where he could display all of the magic within the Disney world.

Walt Disney said:

“Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland… the blessing of size. There’s enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine.”

The Huffington Post reports that Walt never saw his dream come to life. “The Florida Project” was only in its early stages when Walt Disney died in 1966. His brother Roy took over the project, and named the theme park Walt Disney World after his brother.

And Roy Disney truly embraced the idea of building a world based on Disney’s creations. Walt Disney World quickly grew. The EPCOT Center was built in 1982. Disney’s Hollywood Studios were added in 1989. The Animal Kindom was added in 1998. And Disney keeps on growing. From golf courses to hotels, to restaurants and water parks, Disney World is truly its only little world.

Of course, the expansions will never be complete. Disney is currently building Avatar themed rides which will go live next year.

If you have an hour to spare, here is a TV special that aired on October 29th, 1971, celebrating the grand opening of Walt Disney World.

Have you ever been to Walt Disney World? What are your favorite Walt Disney World memories?