Disney World’s Dedication Day: Brotherly Love and a Little Mouse Live On 50 Years Later
Fifty years ago on this 25th of October, Roy O. Disney stepped up to a podium with Mickey Mouse by his side. He overlooked a crowd of 40,000 people, smiling up at him in the Florida sun. After three straight days of celebration and joyous ruckus, a hush now fell across the Magic Kingdom.
The time had finally come to dedicate the park – to entrust his brother Walt’s dream – to the people it was dreamed up for in the first place: you and me. The people who cherish Walt’s creations, and in doing so, pursue his ideal of making the world a happier place.
Today, MouseEarsTV would like to celebrate this momentous 50th anniversary of Disney World by going back in time to Disney World’s dedication day, to mingle the celebration of the past with this celebration of the present.
And of course, have all of the Walt feels in the process.
Finishing What Walt Started
Before Disney World could be dedicated, it needed to be built.
Walt had been dreaming of an unnamed “Florida Project” for some time. It was going to be like Disneyland, but even better. Swampland in Orlando had been purchased for the project, and even though it didn’t seem like the best habitat for a mouse, Walt’s grand imagination had already transformed the bogs into a magical paradise, perfect for his buddy Mickey.1
But then. . .
When Walt went to the hospital for what should have been a routine surgery on an old neck injury. But instead, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and told the prognosis was not good. He had six months, maybe two years left if he was lucky.2 Either way, it wouldn’t be enough time for him to complete the “Florida Project.”
Roy visited Walt’s hospital room often.3
As he sat by his little brother’s bedside, probably talking about Walt’s dreams for the future – for Walt always insisted on looking forward – Roy must have been reminded of how they had founded the Disney Brothers Studio, because that had happened in a hospital, too.
Back in 1923, Roy had been terribly sick with tuberculosis, but Walt came to visit him, chipper as ever, chattering away about cartoons and waving around an offer from a producer. As if he and Roy were sitting in an office, not on a sterile bed, surrounded by the stench of sickness. As if he and Roy were ready to get to work – because they needed to get to work.
It was just the kind of medicine Roy needed to get back on his feet.
But now, as for Walt. . .he’d done so much for so many people. He had earned a rest.
A week after his little brother passed away, Roy O. Disney stood before a room full of Disney Company executives and staff and said,
“We are going to finish this park, and we’re going to do it just the way Walt wanted it. Don’t you ever forget it. I want every one of you to do just exactly what you were going to do when Walt was alive.”4
Oh, and by the way, he’d come up with a name for the park – Walt Disney World.5 Extra emphasis on the Walt.
The Dream Realized: Walt Disney World’s Dedication Day
(Photo: Florida Memory)
Roy put off his own retirement and worked diligently for the next five years, raising $400,000, to bring Walt’s dream to life.6 The Magic Kingdom opened without debt, and was more brilliant, more vibrant, and more beautiful than anyone could have imagined. (Well, Walt had imagined it, of course.)
“Without Roy, [Walt Disney World] wouldn’t have happened…Everyone else was so in awe of Walt that they could not step forward and take his place. It took a Disney to do it and that was Roy,” said then-marketing director Jack Lindquist.7
Walt Disney World opened to the public on October 1st, but the real grand opening took place over the course of three festivity-filled days: October 23rd to 25th, 1971. Roy Disney was there, but he was careful to stay out of the limelight. Just as he had for years and years, Roy pushed the focus toward his baby brother and his imagination which now dazzled the world.
When a reporter did manage to track him down, Roy told them in a soft-spoken voice,
“My job all along was to help Walt do the things he wanted to do. . .Today is my brother’s day. I want them to remember my brother today.”8
Roy O. Disney
And remember Walt they did – and remember Walt we still do, as fondly as ever, 50 years later. Don’t worry, Roy. We won’t forget.
During that first dedication celebration, Walt’s dream was met with thunderous applause, television coverage, starry-eyed families, and Hollywood stars, too.
Ray Bolger, of Scarecrow fame in The Wizard of Oz, attended the dedication and said, “It’s a beautiful beginning to [Walt’s] dream,” and raspy-voiced character actor Andy Devine chimed in, “Actually, I feel Walt is here. And he probably has the best seat in the house.”9
In fact, Walt’s touches, lovingly carried out by Roy, could be seen in everything.
The World Symphony Orchestra, made up of musicians from 60 countries, was hired to play “It’s A Small World (After All)” – the theme of unity and peace at the heart of Walt’s ride, It’s A Small World. The orchestra also played Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” perfect for small-town farm-boy Walt, as well as a resounding rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever,” because Walt dearly loved America.10
When dusk fell and stars began to twinkle overhead, the first Electrical Water Pageant cascaded across the Seven Seas Lagoon in a sparkling display like nothing that had been seen before. Featuring both real and fantastic creatures of the deep, the parade used Walt’s favorite creative formula: bridging the gap between fantasy and reality to create something truly wonderful.
At the Grand Finale, characters – Mickey and Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald – paraded proudly down Main Street. Each one was a product of Walt’s imagination, now sprung to life in celebration of their benevolent creator.
A choir of 1,500 singers lifted up their voices in the harmonious strains of “When You Wish Upon A Star,” ushering a modest Roy Disney to the podium with the words, When you wish upon a star, Your dreams come true. . .
With the fading echo of the last chorus and thousands of balloons drifting off into the ether, Roy stood before a plaque and gently waved Mickey Mouse, his brother’s mouse, to his side.
50th Anniversary Celebration: Remembering Roy & Walt
“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. May Walt Disney World bring joy and inspiration and new knowledge to all who come to this happy place… a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn—together.”
Walt Disney World Dedication day Plaque
With those words, Roy released Walt’s dream into the hands of the people.
He must have felt a great sense of accomplishment, but also relief, as he stepped back from the podium and out of the spotlight once again. When asked why he took on his brother’s “Florida Project” in the first place, Roy told a reporter, “I didn’t want to have to explain to Walt when I saw him again why the dream didn’t come true.”11
Just a few months later, with the knowledge, the dream had come true, and that Walt’s name and legacy were secure, Roy passed away – probably eager to tell Walt the good news.12
Today, the memory of their joint accomplishment, in the form of Walt Disney World, is being celebrated in all four Disney parks. (And like the actual opening vs. grand opening in 1971, this 50th anniversary celebration actually began a few weeks ago on October 1st!)
There are new light shows to illuminate both the night sky and Disney-bound hearts in each park, 150 new mouthwatering food items, limited edition Disney trading pins, special décor (including an upgraded look for Cinderella’s castle), a new song called “The Magic is Calling,” and 50 golden Disney character statues scattered throughout the parks.13
While you should definitely do a Disney Fab 50 sculpture scavenger hunt at some point (the celebration continues until April), we’d recommend, on this 50th anniversary of Disney World, visiting two older sculptures. You’ll find them in front of Cinderella’s Castle and in the center of Town Square, respectively.
The first is that of Walt Disney holding Mickey’s hand because that’s where it all started – with this man, his adorable mouse, and a pocketful of dreams.
The second – because he would insist you see Walt first – is Roy O. Disney. He is sitting on a bench with Minnie Mouse, who is also holding his hand. But there’s something important about that handhold. Disney Legend Blaine Gibson, who came up with the statue said,
“[Roy] is holding her hand underneath so he is supporting it, just like he always supported Walt’s dreams.”14
What makes Walt Disney World so truly magical is that it was built, and dedicated, with love.
From all of us here at MouseEarsTV, we wish you the Happiest and Most Heartfelt 50th Anniversary of Disney World!!
And thank you, Walt and Roy, for everything.
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
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Additional Resources in Print
2. Quinn, Rees. 2014. Disney. Newbury, New Hampshire: New Word City, Inc.
3. Gitlin, Martin. 2010. Walt Disney: Entertainment Visionary : Entertainment Visionary. Essential Lives. Edina, Minn: Essential Library.
