What Year Did Disney World Open?
What year did Disney World open? It’s a question millions of visitors to the park have asked, as well as being on the minds of those who one day hope to visit.
The Walt Disney World Resort officially opened on October 1, 1971 and the park’s actual dedication took place on October 25. And for trivia fans, we have the name of the very first guest to set foot inside the park on that officious day: William Windsor, Jr. was the resort’s first guest!
What Year Did Disney World Open?
We have some other fascinating factoids that potential visitors to the remarkable resort will want to know before making a once in a lifetime trip to the Magic Kingdom.
When the park debuted on Friday October 1, 1971 around 10,000 visitors traveled to Orlando, Florida, to see first hand the magnificent grand opening of Walt Disney World. At that time visitors were able to traipse across 107 acres and see Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Tomorrowland, Main Street USA, and interact with about 5,500 Cast Members.
What Year Did Disney World Open To the Public?
By the end of its first month in operation the park’s total attendance was around half a million guests. In its debut year, the day after Thanksgiving saw an incredible 50,000 guests visit the Magic Kingdom.
But when it first opened, the planners were hoping that crowds would be small and not overwhelming. Two days before Walt Disney World opened the Florida Highway Patrol issued a statement that as many as 300,000 people might show up but the crowd was estimated to be limited to 10,000.
What Year Did Disney World Open Is a Question Asked By Many
William Windsor, Jr. and his family from Lakeland, Florida were the first guests to enter the park. They slept in their car the night before at a roadside rest stop and when they arrived Mickey Mouse escorted William, his wife Marty and their two sons Jay and Lee into the park. At the same time reporters flocked around the Windsor family asking questions while the Disney Dixieland band played “It’s a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.”
Later the Windsors were part in the Main Street parade and were allowed to ride in an antique fire engine along with Mickey Mouse and Debbie Dane, Walt Disney World’s first Ambassador.
Later a grand opening celebration was launched that spread out over three days. It started on October 23 and VIP’s like Bob Hope, Julie Andrews, Rock Hudson, Jonathan Winters, Annette Funicello and Fred MacMurray appeared that day to launch the festivities.
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Photos credit: Deposit Photos
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