Walt Disney World: The New Standard
Even though most think of Walt Disney World when they hear Walt Disney, the company got its start in animation. The most famous creation of the Walt Disney Company is Mickey Mouse. By using Mickey Mouse as the mascot, Walt Disney was able to convey messages and elicit emotions from audiences around the world. Walt’s transition from animation to theme park design was inspired by a family trip to a carnival. While his daughters rode the carousel, Walt reflected on the grounds that surrounded him. He noted the poor conditions and the lack of family-friendly entertainment. These observations would be the seeds to what would become California’s Disneyland.
As Walt Disney animators continued to pioneer music, film, and TV, Walt Disney was exploring other avenues. He wanted to provide safe, wholesome family entertainment to all ages. Upon completion of Disneyland, Walt continued to seek better a design for his ‘land of make believe.’ His restless pursuit of perfection gave rise to one of the most famous places on Earth:
In 1964, Walt Disney began secretly buying millions of dollars worth of Central Florida farmland. Some thought it was Howard Hughes; others, the space program. Speculation was rife almost to the very day, November 15, 1965, when Uncle Walt arrived in town and announced his plans to build the world's most spectacular theme park. In a 2 year construction effort, Disney employed 9,000 people. The total cost of the project by its October 1971 opening was $400 million. Mickey Mouse escorted the first visitor into the Magic Kingdom, and numerous celebrities, from Bob Hope to Julie Andrews, took part in the opening ceremonies. In Walt Disney World's first 2 years, the attraction drew 20 million visitors and employed 13,000 people. The sleepy citrus-growing town of Orlando had become the ‘Action Center of Florida,’ and the fastest-growing city in the state. (Frommer’s, 2016)
When Walt Disney began planning Disneyland and later Disney World, he relied on his most creative staff to assist in novel project designs. He termed these members ‘imagineers.’ “Imagineers are the creative force behind the iconic Disney attractions and experiences” (Disney Careers, 2016). Walt Disney knew that greatness could not be achieved alone and insisted all major rides and attractions utilize a team of imagineers. Each imagineer brought ideas that contributed to the development of iconic rides such as the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.