A plaque has been placed on the downtown Orlando building where Walt Disney made history with his 1965 announcement that included plans to develop Central Florida.
Those strolling around Lake Eola can take a short detour to see a sign marking the date when Disney’s Florida Project (later known as Walt Disney World) was unveiled.
“The Disney brothers didn’t just announce a theme park, they announced a partnership with our community who is ready to dream bigger for the future,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said during a brief ceremony Thursday night.
“And there’s no denying that that partnership forever changed the trajectory of Orlando, growing the sleepy Central Florida town into a global destination now known around the world for its imagination, innovation and opportunity,” Dyer said.
On November 15, 1965, Walt Disney, his brother Roy, and Florida Governor Haydon Barnes entered the Egyptian Room at the Cherry Plaza Hotel for a press conference. Mysterious land purchases and speculation in southwest Orlando have come to an end. The nine-story building, located between Central Boulevard and Lake Eola, currently houses MAA Parkside Apartments, World of Beer and other businesses.
Walt Disney Archives Manager Steve Vannini said Thursday that it was the largest press conference in Florida history at the time.
“Walt was getting calls from all over the country saying, ‘Can we have our own Disneyland?’ And Walt said there’s no more Disneyland,” Vanini said. “But eventually he started thinking, what if a Disneyland-style project was the catalyst for something bigger, where there was a lot of land available, a great climate, great tourism?”
The company’s archives reportedly contain some artifacts from the day of the announcement, including media handouts and film.
“Very few people realize that when Walt was at this meeting, he had yet to set foot on Walt Disney World property,” Vanini said.
“He knew it off the top of his head, but still look at the confidence he and Roy had,” he said, referring to the flight over the property.
“It wasn’t until the next morning that we could actually see it on land,” Vanini said. “Some of the early days of this property actually remain, such as the no trespassing sign on the Bay Lake property.”
Cherry Plaza’s Egyptian Room previously hosted community gatherings such as proms, political rallies, spelling bees, and fashion shows produced by the fur manufacturer Label, which still operates on Orange Avenue. Its capacity varied between 600 and 1,200 people, according to the report. The space used to be in the hotel’s convention center, but it’s been gone for decades.
The hotel was also famous for hosting President Lyndon B. Johnson during his 1964 election campaign.
“Walt, Roy and Governor Burns would all be proud of what we accomplished here together,” said Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahr, who unveiled the plaque with the help of Mickey Mouse.
“We hope this plaque not only celebrates our history, but also serves as a reminder of what we can achieve when we have a bold vision and work on it together,” Vale said.
The plaque incorporates a photo of the brothers present at the press conference and references Roy’s role in continuing the plan despite Walt’s death approximately a year after the announcement. Walt Disney World opened in 1971 and currently employs approximately 80,000 people in the region.
Disney World at 50: Walt’s announcement drew a large crowd, but details were thin
The nameplate is located near the entrance on the east side of the building. The project was a partnership between Disney and the Thornton Park District as part of the Orlando Main Street Program.
“As a relatively young city, it is important that we pause to celebrate and preserve the moments that have shaped us,” City Commissioner Patty Sheehan said. “The stories on this site and the things published here are part of the foundation of who we are today.”
Orlando area attractions over the years: Tourism Timeline
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