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
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.”
