On Oct. 1, 1971, the gates of the Magic Kingdom opened in central Florida and Walt Disney World welcomed its first guests. The man whose name was on the sign was not there to see it. Walt Disney had died on Dec. 15, 1966, nearly five years before opening day, and the job of finishing his Florida dream fell to his older brother Roy.
According to D23, the official Disney fan club, the resort opened with the Magic Kingdom and two hotels, along with a campground and golf courses. Disney kept that first day deliberately quiet. The company remembered the troubles of Disneyland’s 1955 debut, when women’s heels sank into the melting asphalt, so the official grand opening was saved for Oct. 25. That day Roy O. Disney stood beside Mickey Mouse and read the dedication aloud. “Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney,” it begins. It ends with a wish for “a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn together.”
Roy Disney Made Sure Walt Disney World Carried His Brother’s Name
Roy’s determination to finish the project was remarkable considering its enormous scale. Walt had announced plans for a Florida resort in 1965, but died the following year before construction could begin in earnest. Roy stepped in to oversee the development, working to turn his younger brother’s ambitious ideas into reality. Unlike Disneyland, which had opened as a single theme park in California, Walt Disney World was designed as an entire vacation destination, complete with hotels, transportation, recreation, and entertainment. Roy lived just long enough to see the first guests arrive and the resort officially dedicated in his brother’s honor.
The name itself was Roy’s doing. FOX 35 Orlando reports that he named the project Walt Disney World on May 30, 1967, to honor his brother’s vision. Roy had postponed his own retirement to see the work through. He died on Dec. 20, 1971, less than two months after he read that dedication. Walt had imagined even more for the Florida property, and Kurt Russell has shared his memories of Walt Disney’s unfinished dream. The resort is marking its 55th anniversary with a retro merchandise collection. WDW News Today reports that the line leans on vintage Mickey artwork and nods to the original 1971 opening. It also carries a Walt Disney quote that suits the occasion. “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
Walt Disney World’s Opening Day Looked Very Different
Visitors arriving at the Magic Kingdom in 1971 found six themed lands, including Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland, and the new Liberty Square. Familiar attractions such as the Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, and “it’s a small world” were already welcoming guests, but some of today’s biggest rides hadn’t been built. Space Mountain wouldn’t open until 1975, and Pirates of the Caribbean didn’t arrive in Florida until 1973. Guests also used ticket books containing coupons labeled A through E, with the coveted E-tickets reserved for some of the park’s most elaborate experiences.
The experience extended well beyond the castle. Families could stay at the futuristic Contemporary Resort or the tropical Polynesian Village Resort, both connected to the Magic Kingdom by monorail. The Polynesian opened with 492 rooms, while the Contemporary featured an enormous A-frame building with the monorail passing directly through it. At night, guests could watch the Electrical Water Pageant, which debuted during the resort’s grand-opening celebrations. Fifty-five years later, those original hotels and several opening-day attractions remain reminders of the resort Roy helped bring to life.
