By Yuurei Serai
History of the Disney World Theme Park
Disney World is a fantastic vacation destination. Larger than the original Disneyland park, Walt Disney World is composed of four parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.
The Beginning
In November 1961, Walt Disney visited Orlando, Florida and purchased property near Interstate 4. In 1966, development of Disney World began. When Walt died in 1966, Roy Disney oversaw the construction of Disney World.
The Grand Opening: Magic Kingdom and Epcot
Disney World opened October 1, 1971. Magic Kingdom was the first park to open, along with the Polynesian, Contemporary and Fort Wilderness resorts. In 1982, EPCOT Center opened. Epcot consisted of two parts: Innovations and the World Showcase.
The First Expansion: MGM Studios
Originally slated as a new pavilion for Epcot, Disney's MGM Studios opened May 1, 1989. The "pavilion" spanned over 135 acres and consisted of a mini-Hollywood movie set. Imagineers suggested it become a new theme park. In 2008, Disney's MGM Studios underwent a name change and became Disney's Hollywood Park.
Expansion Two: Disney's Animal Kingdom
In April 1998, the largest Disney park opened. Animal Kingdom is 500 acres wide and serves as a conservation park.
The Resorts
When Disney World opened in 1971, there were only three resorts: Fort Wilderness resort and Campground, the Contemporary Resort and the Polynesian Resort. Currently, there are twenty-three resorts. Each resort was built during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
Resources
About the Author:
Yuurei Serai began freelancing in 2008 when she wrote an ebook for Experian. She has written for Purdue University's "Chronicle" newspaper as well as for various websites. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and a Master of Fine Arts in literature and composition from Purdue University.
Photo Credits:
Qian Yan, J.T Halon
