Today in History

October 1, 1971

Disney World Opens

Walt Disney World Resort opened on this date near Orlando, Florida in 1971. As the largest recreational resort in the world, Walt Disney World Resort now consists of four theme parks, two waterparks and 28 resorts. Walt Disney began looking for an appropriate location as early as 1959. Unhappy with the many businesses that had cropped up around Ahaheim Disneyland, Walt Disney wanted a much larger parcel of land to control the development in the immediate vicinity of his project. To avoid rampant land speculation, he purchased land under dummy corporations for years. His first choice near Sanford, Florida rejected his early overtures. Disney died in 1966 and did not see the completion of his visionary project.

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