It was 40 years ago today (well, actually tomorrow) that Mickey and the gang lowered the drawbridge on Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom. The Florida resort doesn't have a blowout celebration planned (as it did for its 25th anniversary or as Disneyland did for its 50th birthday bash), but it will be presenting a special character-packed parade, a sing-along stage show, and an anniversary-themed fireworks show on Saturday.
When Walt Disney World first opened in 1971, the man behind the mouse wasn't there to see the place that bears his name. Although he died in 1966, Disney was involved in purchasing the vast property and planning the resort. "Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland...the blessing of size," Disney said after he announced the project in 1965. "There's enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine." Initially, the resort offered the Magic Kingdom theme park, which was a knockoff of Disneyland, three hotels, a campground, and a shopping area. Fulfilling Disney's vision, it has grown considerably in its four decades and now offers four theme parks.
While the resort's growth has slowed the past few years, the original Magic Kingdom park will get a major expansion starting in 2012 with a slew of new Fantasyland attractions and features. Farther down the road, the company recently announced that a new land based on "Avatar" is in the works for Disney's Animal Kingdom. Thankfully, the ideas, imagining, and plans continue. Happy birthday Disney World.
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Photo: Roy O. Disney and Mickey Mouse at the grand opening of Disney World in 1971. Disney. Used with permission.
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