Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
56
than 60 new industries moved to the area
in 1959. But even the most optimistic
Orlando boosters couldn't foresee the glo-
rious future that was the city's ultimate
destiny.
THE DISNEY DECADES In 1964, Walt
Disney began secretly buying millions of
dollars worth of Central Florida farmland.
As vast areas of land were purchased in lots
of 5,000 acres here, 20,000 there—at
remarkably high prices—rumors flew as to
who needed so much land and had the
money to acquire it. Some thought it was
Howard Hughes; others, the space pro-
gram. Speculation was rife almost to the
very day, November 15, 1965 (“D” Day
for Orlando), when Uncle Walt arrived in
town and announced his plans to build the
world's most spectacular theme park (“big-
ger and better than Disneyland”). In a
2-year construction effort, Disney
employed 9,000 people. Land speculation
reached unprecedented heights, as hotel
chains and restaurateurs grabbed up prop-
erty near the proposed park. Mere swamp-
land sold for millions. The total cost of the
project by its October 1971 opening was
$400 million. Mickey Mouse escorted the
first visitor into the Magic Kingdom, and
numerous celebrities, from Bob Hope to
Julie Andrews, took part in the opening
ceremonies. In Walt Disney World's first 2
years, the attraction drew 20 million visi-
tors and employed 13,000 people. The
sleepy citrus-growing town of Orlando
had become the “Action Center of Flor-
ida,” and the fastest-growing city in the
state.
Additional attractions multiplied faster
than fruit flies, and hundreds of firms
relocated their businesses to the area. Sea-
World, a major theme park, came to town
in 1973. All the while, Walt Disney World
continued to grow and expand, adding
Epcot in 1982 and Disney-MGM Studios
(now Disney's Hollywood Studios) in
1989, along with water parks; more than a
dozen “official” resorts; a shopping, din-
ing, and entertainment district; camp-
grounds; a vast array of recreational
facilities; and several other adjuncts that
are thoroughly described in this topic. In
1998, Disney opened yet another theme
park, this one dedicated to zoological
entertainment and aptly called Animal
Kingdom.
Universal Orlando, whose Universal
Studios Florida park opened in 1990,
continues to expand and keep the stakes
high. In late 1998, it unveiled a new enter-
tainment district, CityWalk, and in 1999,
it opened Islands of Adventure, a second
theme park including attractions dedi-
cated to Dr. Seuss, Marvel Comics, and
Jurassic Park. Also in 1999, it opened the
Portofino Bay Hotel, a 750-room Loews
property. In 2001, the curtain went up on
the Hard Rock Hotel, and in summer
2002, the Royal Pacific resort opened as
Universal announced plans to add two
more hotels to the property in the next
decade (plans that have thus far gone
nowhere).
SeaWorld, too, got in on the action
when it opened its $100-million sister
park, Discovery Cove, in 2000. Now visi-
tors have the chance to swim with dol-
phins even in landlocked Orlando.
While the tourist economy suffered for
almost 2 years after the September 11,
3
Liquor Ain't Quicker
Fun Facts
The “Wet/Dry” battle in Orlando continued until 1998, when the city removed
“Blue Laws” that restricted the sale of liquor on Sunday within the city limits.
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