Most Magical Story on Earth: 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World

Believe it or not, Magic Kingdom Park opened on Oct. 1, 1971. Walt Disney World Resort was born of impossible dreams.

This year marks 50 years of magical moments at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It's the most amazing place on earth!

Now you can be immersed in shimmering EARidescence and experience special touches during this incredible 18-month celebration, from embellishments on Cinderella Castle to décor throughout the theme parks and beyond. 

‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration’ will last 18 months.

 

“Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney. And to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true.” - Roy O Disney

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort, ABC presented a spectacular television event, "The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World," taking viewers on a historical journey spanning half a century and beyond at Walt Disney World in Florida. 

"It is a thrill to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World and the extraordinary cast members and Imagineers who bring the resort to life every day and create magical moments for our guests," Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement for FoxNews.

Walt Disney came up with a new concept, the theme park, and it connected deeply with visitors.

A back in time the resort has come to represent the pulse of American leisure and has served as a backdrop for life’s milestones both big and small, public and private.

Walt Disney’s vision for the “Florida Project” begins with Disneyland and the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. After an imaginative and expansive design, a unique land acquisition process, and an innovative construction period, Walt Disney World celebrated its opening in 1971. It featured a theme park dubbed the Magic Kingdom.
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Over the next five decades, the park grew into an entertainment complex that includes four theme parks, two waterparks, golf courses, a shopping destination, and 27 resort hotels.

As Walt Disney World consistently grew and evolved through the five decades that have followed, certain themes keep reverberating: there’s an appreciation for nostalgia, a joy in fantasy, a hunger for discovery, and an unending hope for a better tomorrow. 

"As we look to the next 50 years and beyond, we are inspired to continually reinvent the way we tell stories and to use technology to immerse guests deeper into the story worlds they love so much," says Bob Chapek for FoxNews.