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Disneyworld Facts

Disneyworld Facts
Disneyworld is a world famous Disney theme park and resort in Bay Lake, Florida that opened in 1971. Disneyland, California opened in 1955, and Walt Disney saw the Florida park as an opportunity to expand his dream and create something larger and closer to the majority of the population in the United States. 43 square miles of land was purchased and plans for the park were created. Walt Disney died in 1966 before construction began, so Walt's brother Roy Disney oversaw the construction of the project. Disneyworld opened in 1971, making nearby Orlando one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. Today more than 17 million people visit Disneyworld.
Interesting Disneyworld Facts:
Disneyland is also known as Walt Disney World, but its official name is the Walt Disney World Resort.
Walt Disney announced plans for Disneyworld in 1965. He died in 1966, of lung cancer complications.
The construction of Disneyworld began in 1967.
Roy Disney died in 1971, the same year that Disneyworld opened.
Disneyworld opened on October 1st, 1971, to approximately 10,000 visitors.
When it opened, Disneyworld had Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, Disney's Polynesian Resort, and Disney's Contemporary Resort.
In the rest of the 1970s Disneyworld added Disney's Village Resort, The Golf Resort, Discovery Island, Walt Disney Village Marketplace, and Disney's River Country.
In the 1980s Disneyworld added Walt Disney World Conference Center, Epcot Center, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's MGM Studios, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, and Please Island.
In the 1990s Disneyworld added Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort, World Swan, World Dolphin, Port Orleans Resort French Quarter, All-Star Music Resort, World Speedway, Animal Kingdom, All-Star Movies Resort, and many more.
In the 2000s Disneyworld added Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Pop Century Resort, Art of Animation Resort and many more.
Disneyworld is the size of two Manhattans.
Cinderella Castle was originally going to be built with an apartment inside for Walt Disney, but because he died it was made into a hotel room.
Since it opened in 1971 Disneyworld has closed three times because of approaching hurricanes. It closed in 1999 for Floyd, 2004 for Frances, and again in 2004 for Jeanne.
The largest theme park in Disneyworld is Animal Kingdom, which covers 43 acres. It contains more than 3,000 species.
When Disneyworld opened in 1971 admission was only $3.50. Today the admission is approximately $100.
People have lost some odd items at Disneyworld, including a prosthetic limb and glass eye. They were later claimed by their owners.
Disneyworld has more than 270 buses to take park visitors around the extensive grounds.
At Christmas there are more than 1500 trees decorated to celebrate the season.
There are more than 62,000 people working at Disneyworld. They are referred to as 'cast' instead of employees.
Some of the attractions at Disneyworld have closed over the years including Discovery Island (1974-1999), Disney's River Country (1976-2001), and Walt Disney World Speedway (1995-2015).
Disneyworld's 4 theme parks Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, are in the top 25 most visited theme parks in the world.


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