By June Sproat
The year was 1964 and someone was purchasing swampland in Central Florida for the "Florida Project." That someone was Walter Elias Disney and Florida Project was to become known as Walt Disney World.
Magic Kingdom
The first park to be built in WDW was The Magic Kingdom and construction began in 1968. The park officially opened in 1971 and the adult admission was $3.50. Cinderella Castle is the icon associated with this park and most visitors enter directly into Fantasyland through the castle.
EPCOT
Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) and originally called the EPCOT Center was the second theme park to open in WDW in 1982. Spaceship Earth, the giant golf ball like sphere, is the symbol of EPCOT and it's also an attraction!
Disney's MGM Studios
This park opened in 1989 and the name has since changed to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Visitors enter the world of Hollywood and can enjoy rides, tours, restaurants and much more, all having TV and movie themes. The image associated with this park is the giant Sorcerer Mickey Hat.
Animal Kingdom
Disney's Animal Kingdom opened in 1998 and has "lands" that are connected to a central hub called Discovery Island. The lands include: Africa, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Dinoland USA and Asia. The Tree of Life is the central figure of Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Water Parks
River Country was first water park to open at WDW in 1976. It was a part of the Fort Wilderness Campground and has been permanently closed. Typhoon Lagoon opened in 1989 followed by Blizzard beach in 1995.
About the Author:
June Sproat received her Bachrlor of Arts degree from Columbia College Chicago and has been published since 2007. She is the author of the young adult novel, “Ordinary Me” and short story, “Just Perfect”.
When she’s not writing, June fills her day as a technical specialist at a local community college.
