Orlando Honors the Historic Site Where Walt Disney Changed Florida Forever
Sixty years ago, a quiet corner of downtown Orlando became the launchpad for one of the most transformative announcements in American entertainment history. This week, the City of Orlando officially honored that legacy by unveiling a commemorative plaque in the Thornton Park District — marking the exact site of the former Cherry Plaza Hotel where Walt and Roy Disney announced "The Florida Project" on November 15, 1965.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle attended the ceremony, which Dyer called a "full-circle moment." In his remarks, the Mayor captured the significance perfectly: "Walt and Roy Disney didn't just announce a theme park in 1965. They announced a partnership with a community."
The Day That Changed Everything: November 15, 1965
To understand the weight of this plaque, you have to travel back to the mid-1960s, when Central Florida was a sleepy region of orange groves and cattle ranches. Behind the scenes, something extraordinary had been unfolding under the codename "Project X."
Seven Disney officials had been secretly acquiring vast tracts of land in Orange and Osceola counties through a web of shell companies with names like "Bay Lake Properties" and "Reedy Creek Ranch." Over nearly two years, they assembled a stretch of land twice the size of Manhattan — roughly 27,000 acres — at an average price of less than $200 per acre. The locals had no idea who was buying or why.
The mystery deepened until October 21, 1965, when Orlando Sentinel reporter Emily Bavar broke the story hinting at the buyer's identity. By then, land speculators had already poured $6 million into surrounding properties, hoping to cash in on whatever was coming.
Standing Room Only in the Egyptian Room
On November 15, 1965, at 2:00 p.m., the truth was finally revealed. In the Egyptian Room of the Cherry Plaza Hotel, a banner featuring Mickey Mouse proclaimed "Cherry Plaza Welcomes Walt Disney." Florida State Troopers escorted Walt and Governor Haydon Burns through corridors packed with enthusiastic onlookers.
Approximately 700 governmental and civic leaders packed the room in what became the largest press gathering in Florida history at that time. Walt and Roy Disney sat at the front table alongside Governor Burns, who introduced Roy as "the financial genius of Walt Disney Productions."
Walt was characteristically visionary yet coy about details. When asked about the investment amount, he grinned and replied: "A heck of a lot," deferring to Roy on financial specifics. But his ambition was unmistakable. He told the crowd this would be the largest project his organization had ever undertaken, famously declaring:
"Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland… the blessing of size."
Walt explained that he had surveyed the Eastern seaboard for a full decade before choosing Florida, citing the available land, year-round climate, and strategic freeway access. He estimated planning would take a year and a half, followed by another year and a half of development — three years total. He spoke not only of theme parks but of a "model community" showcasing innovation in urban living, technology, and design — the seed of what would eventually become EPCOT.
A Vision Realized Without Its Visionary
Tragically, Walt Disney would never see his Florida dream come to life. He passed away on December 15, 1966 — just thirteen months after the announcement — from circulatory collapse related to lung cancer. He was 65 years old.
His brother Roy, determined to honor Walt's vision, oversaw the massive construction effort. On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World opened its gates to the public. Roy insisted the resort carry his brother's full name — "Walt Disney World" — so the world would always know it was Walt's dream. Roy himself passed away just two months later, on December 20, 1971.
The Impact: By the Numbers
What began as a bold announcement in a hotel ballroom has grown into an economic powerhouse that reshaped an entire state:
- Walt Disney World spans nearly 30,000 acres — nearly twice the size of Manhattan
- It is the largest single-site employer in the United States, supporting 80,000 cast members
- The resort boasts an industry-leading 80%+ employee retention rate with an average tenure of 12 years
- One in every 32 Florida jobs is attributed to Disney
- Disney has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to nonprofits and community organizations since 1971
- Cast members logged 170,000+ volunteer hours in 2025 alone
Looking Forward: The Next Chapter
The dedication ceremony wasn't just about the past. Disney also highlighted an ambitious slate of upcoming expansions that echo Walt's original spirit of always pushing forward:
- Tropical Americas at Disney's Animal Kingdom
- The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios
- A new Monsters, Inc. land at Hollywood Studios
- Major Magic Kingdom expansion featuring Cars and Villains-themed lands
As Mayor Dyer noted at the ceremony, the partnership between Disney and Orlando that began in that hotel ballroom sixty years ago has never stopped evolving. From a secret land deal involving shell companies and orange groves to a resort that welcomes tens of millions of visitors each year, the story of Walt Disney World is really the story of a dreamer who saw potential where others saw swampland — and a community that believed in the dream.
This article summarizes and expands upon reporting originally published by Tajiana Ancora-Brown on the Disney Parks Blog on March 6, 2026. All photos courtesy of Disney Parks Blog / The Walt Disney Company. Additional historical details sourced from MousePlanet and the Orlando Sentinel archives.
