Disney World

By peace | January 8, 2007

Walter Elias Disney was born 5 December 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. He was a film director, engineer, animator and entrepreneur. Walt Disney is famous for his many films, innovative theme parks and the animated character Mickey Mouse. The Disney brother’s studio, called Walt Disney Productions, was located on Hyperion Avenue in Hollywood. Today, the firm is known as the Walt Disney Company.

In 1964, Walt Disney was on a secret mission of buying land in Florida for his next dream of building a larger version of Disneyland he wanted to call The Magic Kingdom. Roy Disney took over the project after Walt Disney, a cigarette chain-smoker, died of lung cancer 15 December 1966. The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, opened in 1971 and Roy Disney died three months later.

Disney World is said to be the “happiest place on earth”. Located just southwest of Orlando, Florida, Disney World is one of many Disney theme parks dotting the globe. It all began with the smaller Disneyland in Anaheim, California in 1955, when Walt Disney decided to incorporate his cartoons and animation studio into a theme park. Disney’s dream was to create a live adventure where people could forget their cares and spend a day feeling like they were inside a cartoon.

Disney’s most famous character, Mickey Mouse, actually started out with the name Mortimer, but Lillian, Walt’s wife, thought Mickey was a better name. Walt Disney won an Academy Award in 1932 for the creation of Mickey Mouse. Disney became quite famous after that. Walt Disney holds the record for the most Oscar nominations as he was nominated for 40 of them, as well as seven Emmys.

When building Disneyland, and then Disney World, Walt made it clear that the outside world should be kept outside. From within the Magic Kingdom, no signs of the real world were to be seen. He even took pains to make sure that the workings of the park and its attractions were hidden from view. Disney World employees wear costumes or Disney garb and they are called “cast members” instead of employees.

The streets are clean, the colours are bright, the sights, sounds, and smells are pleasant ones, and everyone wears a big smile, just as Walt Disney wanted it. Unfortunately, before Disney World opened to the public in 1971, Walt passed away. His brother Roy changed the name to “Walt Disney World” to honor the name of its creator.

Disney World contains different “lands” such as Advertureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, and Mickey’s Toontown Fair. There are nearly 50 major attractions to choose from, making it difficult to do the Kingdom justice in just one day. Fortunately, there are vacation packages available that allow visitors to relax at the Walt Disney World Resort and come back refreshed the next day.

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