If you have been following along from the start, you may be wondering why The Vision Years start with 1958 when The Dream Years also include 1958 and on. The reason for this is because I feel that 1958 is the year when Walt first thought about creating a whole "new" Disneyland somewhere else in the United States. I believe that the thought & creation of Walt Disney World warrants me to break these years down separately and not include them on the previous pages.
After all, the creation of Walt Disney World opened Disney to a whole new world! Because of these reasons, I start The Vision Years back in 1958 where Walt began dreaming of acres upon acres of land to build his dream of both an entertainment world and a future world. Walt did not live long enough to physically see Walt Disney World or EPCOT, but his final years were concentrated on these two projects and I feel that they should be presented to you exclusively. I hope you understand. Thanks!
1958
1959
1961
1963
November, 1963
1964-1965
November 15, 1965
1965-1966
1966
September 19, 1966
October, 1966
October 29, 1966
November, 1966
November 30, 1966
December 5, 1966
December 14, 1966
December 15, 1966
1967-1971
October 1, 1971
October 25, 1971
December, 1971
December 20, 1971
Walt commissions Economic Research Associates to find the most favorable location in the East for another Disneyland. They give Walt a place: Florida. It confirms Walt's thinking that Florida has good year-round weather and that it would be a perfect place. The only drawback thought at first was Florida's lack of population but Walt wasn't concerned, stating that they would just have to draw people from
all over the world to come to the Florida site.
Two more surveys by the Economics Research Associates are conducted. One survey to determine the best place within the state of Florida and another to evaluate the possibility of a "City of Tomorrow" to surround the theme park. The research suggests Palm Beach as the most favorable location. Walt did not like the idea too much because he did not want the theme park near the ocean, did not want to compete with beach atmosphere and did not want the park to be subjected to humidity and hurricanes.
Walt orders another survey to determine an ideal location for the next amusement park. Ocala is the #1 choice, Orlando is #2. The Florida project is put on the side due to Walt's involvement with the New York World's Fair.
Walt requests a third evaluation of the
Florida site because previously they had overlooked an important future route of the Florida freeway system. As a result, Orlando becomes the ideal location.
Walt takes a flight from Burbank, CA across the United States and back. Walt & his party stop in St.Louis, where civic leaders want Disney's aid for a riverfront park to rejuvenate the city. There is too much financial risk and not enough land. The party then travels to Niagara Falls, where Disney is asked to join a development on the Canadian side. Cold weather and long winters are detrimental to business. A site around Washington, D.C. is rejected for the same reason. The party travels to Florida, flying over the coast so Walt
could confirm his decision of not wanting to build a park along the ocean. They travel inland to Orlando, circling over the forests & swamps. They then stop off in New Orleans on the way back to Burbank where they are notified that President Kennedy had been assassinated. On the gloomy and sad flight home. Walt states that Orlando is the place. Walt and Roy agree to buy enough land so that they would avoid the visual negativity surrounding Disneyland.
Robert Foster, secretary and general counsel of Disneyland, is assigned to acquire the Florida land in a quiet manner. If it were known that Walt Disney was the land buyer, the prices would soar high. Mr. Foster searches through Ocala, Orlando and Lakeland newspapers for land offerings.
Roy Disney and several executives travel to Florida, leaving Walt behind for fear that he would be recognized. They all register under fake names and survey some areas during their visit. Walt is notified of some large parcels of land being available and gives the approval to pursue them.
Mr. Foster along with a state-wide
experienced real estate dealer narrow their choices to three areas, one of which Walt does not like due to colder weather. Of the remaining two properties considered, one is an Osceola City property owned by a state senator. The other property, in which Disney centers its focus on, is in Orange County and involves three major areas, owned by different groups of people. The Orange County property is acquired and Disney also acquires the Osceola City property as insurance in case the Orange
County property purchase falls through.
Walt could not resist seeing the Florida property himself and travels there with a few executives. He views the land by air and while looking over the land, feels pleased and confident that they have made the correct choice.
Rumors circulate in Orlando about who is buying all the property. Some say it is Disney, while others feel it is McDonnell-Douglas or Ford Motor Company.
By October 1965, less than 300 acres remain to be acquired.
During a press conference at the studio, an Orlando Sentinel reporter asks Walt if Disney was purchasing the land. Walt states that he would rather not say. The next day, Robert Foster, while visiting the Orlando site, reads an Orlando Sentinel's headline: "We Say It's Disney." Walt makes the decision to announce the land acquisition.
Disney purchases 27,000 acres of Florida at $5,000,000. With the news out that Disney is purchasing the land, the remaining land's price tag goes from $183 per acre to $1000 per acre.
A press conference is held at the Cherry Plaza Hotel in Orlando. The Governor of Florida, Haydon Burns, introduces Walt Disney as "the man of the decade, who will bring a new world of entertainment, pleasure and economic development to the State of Florida." He terms Roy Disney as "the financial wizard of Walt Disney Productions." Walt explains to the press about his relationship with Roy over the years. He also explains for the first time publicly, his idea of a city of the
future, as well as his views on the future of schools and teaching.
Walt sets up a Florida Project planning
committee at WED. It includes himself, Marc Davis and Joe Potter.
Because his planners feel that the design of the new theme park should mimic that of Disneyland, Walt does not have to focus entirely on the theme park. He feels he should concentrate his thinking on the City of Tomorrow.
Walt's focus on the City of Tomorrow becomes a major one. He wants it to include all possible scientific advances. He requests from Joe Potter to research labs, factories, research centers and foundations. Walt reads all he can on city planning. He orders a survey on model cities. The survey reveals that of the 125 new cities built in the U.S. by the mid 1960's, only a few could be considered successful. Also, some big corporations had planned to create model cities but none evolved. Walt is not discouraged by these past results and seeks freedom to develop a model city without interference.
Walt, while at lunch with his WED staff, explains what the model city would be all about: "What we're talking about is an experimental prototype community of tomorrow. What does that spell? E-p-c-o-t. EPCOT. That's what we'll call it: EPCOT!"
Walt's health begins to deteriorate. His old polo injury grows worse, causing Walt pain in his back and left leg. He also has facial pain as well as a sinus problem, requiring weekly treatments. He also develops a kidney ailment, causing him to check into a hospital for examinations.
Walt becomes even closer with his family. He and Roy grow closer and work together in greater harmony.
Roy wishes to retire but Walt, as usual, talks him out of it. Roy postpones retirement.
Walt is honored by having three elementary schools in the United States named after him. During ceremonies at one of the schools, Walt invites the whole school to be his guest for a day at Disneyland, requesting that it be done on a school day.
Walt visits WED on a daily basis, overseeing the Florida project as well as new developments at Disneyland.
Walt devotes more time to animation. He
starts a project based on the Rudyard Kipling stories."The Jungle Book" is written and Walt
contributes greatly during the storyboard sessions.
Walt continues traveling by the company
airplane to many U.S. cities. He surveys shopping centers to observe traffic flows and people's mannerisms. He also visits the site of the Florida Project. He is so happy about the abundance of land the company has purchased.
The Florida project is now referred to as "Disney World."
A new project, called Mineral King Valley, is started to build a ski resort. Walt is interested in skiing since he made a film called "Third Man on the Mountain" in 1958.
Disney offers the U.S. Forest Service, owner of Mineral King, $35 million to develop it into a ski resort. The offer is accepted. The federal government offers $3 million towards road constructions.
Walt and Governor Edmund G. Brown conduct a press conference announcing the Mineral King project, answering questions about the timing and nature of their plans.
Walt arrives at a Disney World planning meeting with a sketch of how the park should be set up, along with specific instructions about truck routes. Walt's sketch, called the Seventh Preliminary Master Plot Plan, remains as the basic pattern for developing Disney World.
A plan for governing Disney World is presented to Florida legislature and is passed.
Walt devotes most of his thinking to EPCOT.
Walt receives the American Forestry
Association award for "outstanding service in conservation of American resources."
Walt, in too much pain to postpone surgery, enters St. Joseph's Hospital for tests. X-rays reveal a spot on his left lung. The doctors tell Walt that surgery is necessary. A couple of days after leaving the hospital, Walt joins the board of Cal Arts where architectual plans for the campus are revealed. Surgery is scheduled the next week. After surgery, the surgeon tells Lilly, Diane & Sharon that the lung was cancerous and had been removed. The outlook is not good
and the surgeon gives Walt six months to two years to live. Lilly and their two daughters are stunned and are unable to accept the news. Walt, upon awakening from the surgery, tells Lilly that he feels like a new man, as good as new.
The studio announces that Walt had undergone surgery to correct an old polo injury, but reports of the severity circulate.
After two weeks in the hospital, Walt is released and immediately returns to work. He accompanies his staff to the WED building to look at some work in progress. He talks about the Pirates of the Caribbean ride for Disneyland with Roger Broggie. He then speaks to Marc Davis, a long-time staff member who has been with Disney from the early-animated features. They go over some sketches of an Audio-Animatronic bear-band show for Mineral King. They join some other WED engineers in going over a mock-up of a moon-ride show and make some suggestions for improvements. Walt is feeling a little tired so he asks
Dick Irvine to drive him back to the studio. Walt walks to the door, turns to Marc Davis and says something he never said: "Goodbye Marc."
Walt returns to the studio for a few days to hold meetings and visit departments. Hazel George, Walt's long-time secretary, had a special relationship with Walt. She sent Walt a get well card while he was in the hospital, stating that she'd see him in the "Laughing Place," referring to a room that they would always meet to talk and laugh. Walt told Hazel that he had something to tell her but he couldn't bring himself to say the words. Instead, they hugged and cried.
During Thanksgiving dinner, Walt tells Ron
Miller that he would be turning over the picture-making part of the business over to Ron and the rest of the producers. Walt states that he will be focusing all his attention on EPCOT and Disney World.
Walt grows weaker and returns to St. Joseph's Hospital. He grows more concerned about his family's future so he asks his attorney to sell a block of Disney stock for Diane's benefit. He is worried about Diane & Ron's financial status. Family visits & small things please Walt, although he sometimes didn't want them to see him so weak.
Walt turns 65 years old but is too ill to observe it.
Lilly visits Walt and is encouraged by the strength Walt shows. Roy visits Walt at night and they talk about company matters, EPCOT and Disney World. Walt looks at the ceiling and points out the design at Disney World to Roy. Roy is also encouraged by Walt's appearance.
Walt Disney passes away at 9:30am. Sorrow
affects the whole world. Newspapers in every country report the loss of Walt. World leaders hail Walt and express their sympathy. The entire Disney organization is saddened. All workers, new and old, are touched by Walt's presence. Roy issues a statement describing everyone's loss. The funeral is private, something Walt has specified. He is cremated and only the immediate family is present for the service in Glendale. The family requests donations to the California Institute of the Arts instead of flowers. Walt wanted his illness to be kept quiet because he
felt the company's stock would drop. After Walt's passing, the stock actually rose ten points within a few weeks.
Roy takes charge of the company. He gets
acquainted with WED and orders no delay on the Disney World project. The film production end of the business would be run by a committee of workers who worked hand-in-hand with Walt.
Florida legislature passes the statutes, allowing the Disney World project to proceed towards completion.
Roy makes frequent trips to Florida, overlooking the project. He promises his wife that once he finish's Walt's dream, he would quit and let the younger guys take over.
Roy declares that the Florida project's
official name is "Walt Disney World." He states that it will include Walt's name so people will always know that this was Walt's dream.
Walt Disney World opens to the public.
Roy gives a speech about himself and Walt. Roy asks Lilly to come up to speak. He asks her "what would Walt think of it?" Lilly replies "I think Walt would have approved."
Roy now feels he can slow down and cut his duties in half. He discuses with his secretary about his plans to stay on the job for another 1½ years so he could reach the 50th year in pictures. He asks her to remain working with him and she agrees to assist him until he retires. As he left the office, he states to her that he may see her at the Disneyland Christmas Parade that weekend. Roy had been having exams for new glasses and complained about a fuzziness over one of his eyes. One day, Roy's wife and son found him dazed on the floor next to his bed. They rushed him to St. Joseph's Hospital.
Roy Disney passes away of a stroke. Don Tatum becomes chairman of the board and Card Walker becomes president of Disney. Both men worked with Roy after Walt's passing. Walt's son-in-law, Ron Miller, becomes executive producer.
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