ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE

Original 1971 logo
(Walt Disney Productions -The Walt Disney Company)

From:

Walt Disney Productions
500 South Buena Vista
Burbank, California

February 2, 1967


WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES
PLANS FOR A WHOLE NEW "DISNEY WORLD"
DEVELOPMENT NEAR ORLANDO, FLORIDA


At a meeting attended by legislative, civic and industrial leaders representing all of Florida, Walt Disney Productions today announced plans for a whole new "Disney World" to be constructed on a 43-square mile parcel of land sixteen miles southwest of Orlando, Florida.

Basic elements of the proposed development include a new amusement theme park similar to the world-famous Disneyland in California; a series of theme motels surrounding and compatible to the theme park development; outdoor sports centers for golf, tennis, boating, camping, and other recreational activities which will take advantage of and preserve the natural beauty of the area; an Industrial Park covering about 1,000 acres, planned as a "showplace to the world of American industry"; a Jet Airport of the Future offering service to private and executive planes, commercial charters and freight carriers; an Entrance Complex to receive and service the millions of visitors expected annually; and an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, planned for 20,000 permanent residents.

The entire development is expected to cost at least $600 million. Land clearance, drainage and other construction activities will commence on the 27,400-acre Disney property as soon as the corporation's legislative proposals are passed by the Florida State Legislature. The invitational presentation, which began at 2:00 P.M. (EST) in the Park East Theatre, Winter Park, Florida was held under the auspices of the Orange and Osceola County delegations to the Florida State Legislature.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Paul Helliwell, senior partner in the firm of Helliwell, Melrose & De Wolf, Florida counsel to the Disney organization. After introducing the Disney executives and special guests, Helliwell turned the meeting over to General William E. Potter, Disney's vice-president in charge of administration-Florida project.

Potter, who described the meeting as "one of great significance to central Florida and to vacation-minded families throughout the world," introduced a 25-minute color motion picture, the last film to be completed by Walt Disney. In the film, Disney presented details of the many attractions planned for Disney World, but gave special emphasis to his hopes and dreams for "EPCOT," the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, which will be a central attraction in the proposed new, total environment.
Designed to serve an initial population of 20,000, EPCOT will be a living showcase for the creativity of American industry. In its endless task of depicting urban life 25 years into the future, EPCOT will never be completed but will always be introducing, testing and demonstrating new ideas and new technologies.

"Our Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow will always be in a state of becoming," said Disney in the film. "It will never cease to be a blueprint of the future, where people actually live a life they can't find anywhere else today."

Thus, the goal of this balanced working community will be to establish new standards of design, never borrowing from patented modes of living.

"I don't believe there's a challenge anywhere in the world that's more important to people everywhere than finding solutions to the problems of our cities," continued Disney. "But where we begin? Well, we're convinced that we must start with the public need. And the need is not just for curing the old ills of old cities. We think the need is for starting from scratch on virgin land like this, and building a community that will be a prototype of the future."

Concluding his film presentation Walt Disney said, "With the technical know-how of American industry and the creative imagination of the Disney organization, I'm confident we can build a living showcase that more people will talk about and come to look at than any other area in the world."

Following the motion picture presentation, General Potter introduced Roy O. Disney, President and Chairman of the Board of Walt Disney Productions.

Roy O. Disney emphasized that although the film dwelt upon the city of EPCOT, the new amusement theme park and its surrounding motels, will also be a highlight of the development. "Our theme park will be similar in many ways to Disneyland in California, and will build upon the experience we have had there as hosts to more than 60 million people," said the corporation President.

"Of course, a project of this size and scope will take several years to bring to completion," said Disney. "In fact, we are currently planning its construction in phases. "However, our corporation is dedicated to making Walt Disney's dream a reality, but it cannot be done without the help of you people here in Florida," continued Mr. Disney.
"We must have a solid legal foundation before we can proceed with Disney World. This foundation can be assured by the legislative proposals we are presenting to the next session of the Florida legislature," he concluded. "If these requests are granted, I believe that we can make the new theme park a reality by 1971."

Disney then introduced Mr. Don B. Tatum, vice-president and administrative assistant to the President of Walt Disney Productions, who gave specific details regarding these legislative proposals.

Tatum then Introduced Florida's Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. who offered his wholehearted support to this new project, and then detailed the economic growth Disney World will bring to Florida.

"During its initial construction phase and first ten years of operation, Disney World will directly generate $6.6 billion (B) in measurable economic benefits for the State of Florida as a whole," said Kirk, summarizing an independent study of the project conducted by the firm of Economic Research Associates.

"Of this $6.6 billion estimate, $3.978 billion will result from expenditures by new tourists attracted to the state by Disney World. Another $2.26l billion of this total represents payrolls for new jobs created, and approximately $414 million (M) represents monies to be spent for construction materials and equipment," said Governor Kirk during his presentation. Following a brief question and answer period, Governor Kirk and Roy Disney flew to Jacksonville to tape a half-hour televised report to the people of Florida, scheduled for statewide broadcast in color from 7-7:30 P.M., that evening. The program was scheduled to feature Walt Disney's Florida Film, which had been shown publicly for the first time during the invitational presentation in Winter Park.

February 2, 1967 Press release
(Walt Disney Productions - The Walt Disney Company)