Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is, as of today, 51 years old. Despite being around for decades already, Disney World has not lost its sparkle as it remains to be one of the most popular theme parks and tourist attractions not just in Florida, but in the United States as a whole.
The refurbished Cinderella Castle rises above Bay Lake at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World on the first day of reopening, in Orlando, Florida, on July 11, 2020.
Much has happened and much has changed since the Disney World opened in 1971. As we look back to that day, here are five things you might not know about the opening as well as abut the park itself:
1. Tickets Cost $3.50 During Opening Day
Can you imagine paying just $3.50 to enter the magical Disney World?
Well, if you were around on October 1, 1971, that was exactly the price you literally had to pay to get in, according to an article by Distractify.
2. The First Guest of Disney World
The opening of Disney World attracted an official total of 10,422 guests. This number has been disputed, according to Distractify as "Florida Highway Patrol had estimated that crowds would reach upwards of 300,000."
The first person to enter Disney World is William Windsor Jr., who entered the park along with his wife and two children. For this to be possible, the family had to sleep in their car overnight.
"As the first guests, the Windsor family was part of postcards and photographs that were used and part of the first Disney World parade," Benzinga says in its article. As the first guest, Windsor Jr. won a lifetime pass too.
3. Walt Disney Did Not Get to See Disney World Open
It is probably the understatement of the century to say that Disney World is the fruit of Walt Disney's vision. However, he did not get to see the park open. This is because Walt Disney died in 1966, which is five years before the opening of Disney World.
Instead, his brother Roy took charge of the construction of the park. He did not get to enjoy it long as he passed away merely five months after Disney World opened.
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4. Disney World Opening Day Attractions That are Still Here
Ever wondered which of the rides and attractions you see in Disney World has been there since 1971? Well, Insider has provided a list.
Included in this list are Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, and the Walt Disney World Railroad. Needless to say, these rides and attractions have gone through renovations as the years and decades went by.
Here's another trivia you might not know: Magic Kingdom was not ready for guests during Disney World's opening.
5. Disney World Closed Down Only 8 Times in Its History
What would it take to close down Disney World? Apparently, a terrorist attack, several hurricanes, and a pandemic could.
According to the article by Benzinga, six hurricanes have caused Disney World to temporarily close down. These are Hurricane Floyd in 1999; Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances, and Hurricane Jeanne, which all took place in 2004; Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and Hurricane Irma in 2017.
The September 11 terrorists attacks in 2001 also caused Disney World to close down temporarily. Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic put park operations to a halt for a while.
Read Also: Disney's Splash Mountain Ride History: From 'Song of the South' to 'Princess and the Frog'
