The Wonder Of Disney
The wondrous world of Disney began when an 18 year old artist,
Walter Elias Disney, had a fantasy. At the time, Disney was
working in Kansas City as a professional artist at the
Pesmin-Rubin Commercial Art Studio. In 1923, this amazing artist
produced a series of Alice Comedies for J.M. Wrinkler and this
creation led to the creation of Disney Studio. In fact, by 1923,
Walter created Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie in 1927 and this
character has not stopped entertaining children and adults
alike. Eventually, Steamboat Willie became fully synchronized
with sound.
For his first color cartoon in 1932, "Flowers and Trees", Walt
received the first ever Oscar awarded to an animated film. In
1932, another character as famous as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck
made his appearance.
The Mind behind the Magic
Today the concept behind Walter's creation is the most popular
holiday destination in the United States. Walt Disney wanted to
create a park where families with kids could have fun together.
Initial plans of Disneyland were to use 8 acres of land only,
but with the expansion of dreams, 8 acres were not enough.
Today, Disneyland, California is spread over 180 acres.
Construction of Disneyland began on July 21, 1954. The design
was something never done before. The plan included five
different lands - the Magic Kingdom.
- Main Street, U.S.A. was where people relive the typical turn
of the century city Main Street.
- Adventureland was an "exotic tropical place" in the remote
jungles of Asia and Africa.
- Frontierland was where people try to relive the pioneer days
of the American frontier.
- Fantasyland was created where classic stories of everyone's
youth became realities for youngsters of all ages to participate
in.
- Tomorrowland looked at the marvels of the future.
This $17,000,000 magical park, Disneyland, was opened on for
public on July 17, 1955.
With the success of Disneyland, Walt Disney had a vision of an
amusement park on a much bigger scale. He decided to have his
new Disneyland in the East. With a good year-round weather,
Orlando, Florida was selected to be the place. Initially, 27,000
acres of swampland was purchased in 1964-65, in Florida. Walt
Disney called this new park Disneyworld, which was later, after
his death, changed to Walt Disney World, by his brother Roy.
Like Disneyland, his plans for Disneyworld included the Magic
Kingdom. His plans also included the city of the future - which
he called an experimental prototype community of tomorrow
(EPCOT). He wanted EPCOT to display all possible scientific
advances. Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966, without seeing
Disneyworld and EPCOT. His brother, Roy Disney, ensured that
Walt's dream was completed and Walt Disney World opened to the
public on October 1, 1971.
Thanks to Walt Disney and his family, we have two great Disney
Parks in the United States to enjoy. Walter Disney was the man
behind the dream and his brother, Roy, continued manifesting the
dream. Today, Disney World, the second of the dream series, is
the most popular of all the theme parks in the world and covers
an area of 30,500 acres or about 47 square miles and Disney
Land, the first of the dream series, is also quite popular. The
dream of Walt Disney continues to spin The Magic of Disney and
will do so for many years.