In November 1963, Walt Disney took a flight over the Orlando property for the Florida project.
Walt’s brother and business partner, Roy Disney, postponed his retirement from the Walt Disney Company to spearhead the first phase of construction on Disney World.
Reports at the time estimated that 5,000 cast members were ready and waiting to welcome just over 10,000 park guests.
Walt Disney initially conceived Epcot Center as a model community that would house 20,000 residents and serve as a testbed for future city planning.
Disney World’s third theme park is a tribute to film, television, animation, and the golden age of cinema.