Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World Resort
Industry Theme parks and resorts
Founded October 1, 1971 (1971-10-01)
Founder Walt and Roy Disney
Headquarters Lake Buena Vista, Florida, U.S.
Key people
George Kalogridis (President)
Parent Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
The Walt Disney Company
Website Official website

The Walt Disney World Resort is an entertainment complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida. The resort is the flagship destination of Disney's worldwide corporate enterprise. Opened on October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World is the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an attendance of over 52 million people annually.[1]

The resort is owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a division of The Walt Disney Company. It was initially operated by Walt Disney World Company. The property covers 27,258 acres (43 sq mi; 110 km2), housing twenty-seven themed resort hotels, nine non–Disney hotels, four theme parks, two water parks, several golf courses, a camping resort, and other entertainment venues. Magic Kingdom was the first theme park to open in the complex, in 1971, followed by Epcot in 1982, Hollywood Studios in 1989, and the most recent, Animal Kingdom in 1998. Designed to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955, the complex was developed by Walt Disney in the 1960s. "The Florida Project", as it was known, was intended to present a distinct vision with its own diverse set of rides. Walt Disney's original plans also called for the inclusion of an "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow" (EPCOT), a planned community intended to serve as a test bed for new city living innovations. After extensive lobbying, the Government of Florida created the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special government district that essentially gave The Walt Disney Company the standard powers and autonomy of an incorporated city. Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966, before construction began. Without Disney spearheading the construction, the company created a resort similar to Disneyland, abandoning experimental concepts for a planned community.

History

Spaceship Earth, the icon of Epcot.

Planning and construction

Conception

In 1959, Walt Disney Productions began looking for land to house a second resort to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955. Market surveys at the time revealed that only 5% of Disneyland's visitors came from east of the Mississippi River, where 75% of the population of the United States lived. Additionally, Walt Disney disliked the businesses that had sprung up around Disneyland and wanted more control over a larger area of land in the next project.[3]

Walt Disney flew over a potential site in Orlando, Florida – one of many – in November 1963. After witnessing the well-developed network of roads and taking the planned construction of both Interstate 4 and Florida's Turnpike into account, with McCoy Air Force Base (later Orlando International Airport) to the east, Disney selected a centrally-located site near Bay Lake.[4] To avoid a burst of land speculation, Walt Disney World Company used various dummy corporations to acquire 30,500 acres (48 sq mi; 123 km2) of land.[4] In May 1965, some of these major land transactions were recorded a few miles southwest of Orlando in Osceola County. In addition, two large tracts totaling $1.5 million were sold, and smaller tracts of flatlands and cattle pastures were purchased by exotically-named companies such as the "Ayefour Corporation", "Latin-American Development and Management Corporation" and the "Reedy Creek Ranch Corporation". Some are now memorialized on a window above Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom. The smaller parcels of land acquired were called "outs". They were 5-acre (2 ha) lots platted in 1912 by the Munger Land Company and sold to investors. Most of the owners in the 1960s were happy to get rid of the land, which was mostly swamp at the time. Another issue was the mineral rights to the land, which were owned by Tufts University. Without the transfer of these rights, Tufts could come in at any time and demand the removal of buildings to obtain minerals. Eventually, Disney's team negotiated a deal with Tufts to buy the mineral rights for $15,000.[5]

Working strictly in secrecy, real estate agents unaware of their client's identity began making offers to landowners in April 1964 in parts of southwest Orange and northwest Osceola counties. The agents were careful not to reveal the extent of their intentions, and they were able to negotiate numerous land contracts with some including large tracts of land for as little as $100 an acre.[6] With the understanding that the recording of the first deeds would trigger intense public scrutiny, Disney delayed the filing of paperwork until a large portion of the land was under contract.[7]

Early rumors and speculation about the land purchases assumed possible development by NASA in support of the nearby Kennedy Space Center, as well as references to other famous investors such as Ford, the Rockefellers, and Howard Hughes.[7] An Orlando Sentinel news article published weeks later on May 20, 1965, acknowledged a popular rumor that Disney was building an "East Coast" version of Disneyland. However, the publication denied its accuracy based on an earlier interview with Disney at Kennedy Space Center, in which he claimed a $50 million investment was in the works for Disneyland, and that he had no interest in building a new park.[7] In October 1965, editor Emily Bavar from the Sentinel visited Disneyland during the park's 10th anniversary celebration. In an interview with Disney, she asked him if he was behind recent land purchases in Central Florida; Bavar later described that Disney "looked like I had thrown a bucket of water in his face" before denying the story.[7] His reaction, combined with other research obtained during her Anaheim visit, led Bavar to author a story on October 21, 1965, where she predicted that Disney was building a second theme park in Florida.[7] Three days later after gathering more information from various sources, the Sentinel published another article headlined, "We Say: 'Mystery Industry' Is Disney".[7]

Walt Disney had originally planned to publicly reveal Disney World on November 15, 1965, but in light of the Sentinel story, Disney asked Florida Governor Haydon Burns to confirm the story on October 25. His announcement called the new theme park "the greatest attraction in the history of Florida".[7] The official reveal was kept on the previously-planned November 15 date, and Disney joined Burns in Orlando for the event.[7]

Roy Disney's oversight of construction

Walt Disney died from lung cancer on December 15, 1966, before his vision was realized. His brother and business partner, Roy O. Disney, postponed his retirement to oversee construction of the resort's first phase.

On February 2, 1967, Roy O. Disney held a press conference at the Park Theatres in Winter Park, Florida. The role of EPCOT was emphasized in the film that was played. After the film, it was explained that for Disney World, including EPCOT, to succeed, a special district would have to be formed: the Reedy Creek Improvement District with two cities inside it, Bay Lake and Reedy Creek, now Lake Buena Vista. In addition to the standard powers of an incorporated city, which include the issuance of tax-free bonds, the district would have immunity from any current or future county or state land-use laws. The only areas where the district had to submit to the county and state would be property taxes and elevator inspections.[3] The legislation forming the district and the two cities was signed into law by Florida Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. on May 12, 1967.[8] The Supreme Court of Florida then ruled in 1968 that the district was allowed to issue tax-exempt bonds for public projects within the district, despite the sole beneficiary being Walt Disney Productions.

The district soon began construction of drainage canals, and Disney built the first roads and the Magic Kingdom. The Contemporary Resort Hotel and Polynesian Village were also completed in time for the park's opening on October 1, 1971.[9][10] The Palm and Magnolia golf courses near Magic Kingdom had opened a few weeks before, while Fort Wilderness opened a month later. At the park's opening, Roy O. Disney dedicated the property and declared that it would be known as "Walt Disney World" in his brother's honor. In his own words: "Everyone has heard of Ford cars. But have they all heard of Henry Ford, who started it all? Walt Disney World is in memory of the man who started it all, so people will know his name as long as Walt Disney World is here." After the dedication, Roy Disney asked Walt's widow, Lillian, what she thought of Walt Disney World. According to biographer Bob Thomas, she responded, "I think Walt would have approved." Roy Disney died at age 78 on December 20, 1971, less than three months after the property opened.[11]

Admission prices 45 years ago in 1971 were $3.50 for adults, $2.50 for juniors under age 18, and one dollar for children under twelve.[9]

Recent history

Much of Walt Disney's plans for his Progress City were abandoned after his death, after the company board decided that it did not want to be in the business of running a city. The concept evolved into the resort's second theme park, EPCOT Center (renamed Epcot in 1996), which opened in 1982. While still emulating Walt Disney's original idea of showcasing new technology, it is closer to a world's fair than a "community of tomorrow". Some of the urban planning concepts from the original idea of EPCOT would instead be integrated into the community of Celebration much later. The resort's third theme park, Disney-MGM Studios (renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2008), opened in 1989, and is inspired by show business. The resort's fourth theme park, Disney's Animal Kingdom, opened in 1998.

George Kalogridis was named president of the resort in December 2012, replacing Meg Crofton, who had overseen the site since 2006.

On January 21, 2016, the resort's management structure was changed, with general managers within a theme park being in charge of an area or land, instead of on a functional basis as previously. Theme parks have already had a vice-president overseeing them. Disney Springs and Disney Sports were also affected. Now hotel general managers manage a single hotel instead of some managing multiple hotels.[12]

Timeline

Walt Disney (left) with his brother Roy O. Disney (right) and then-governor of Florida W. Haydon Burns (center) on November 15, 1965, publicly announcing the creation of Disney World.
Some popular Disney characters (from left to right): Goofy, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and Minnie Mouse can be found throughout the resort.
Year Event
1965 Walt Disney announces Florida Project
1966 Walt Disney died of lung cancer at age 65
1967 Construction of Walt Disney World Resort begins
1971 Magic Kingdom
Palm and Magnolia Golf Courses
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Polynesian Resort
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Roy O. Disney died at age 78
1972 Disney's Village Resort
1973 The Golf Resort
1974 Discovery Island
1975 Walt Disney Village Marketplace
1976 Disney's River Country
1980 Walt Disney World Conference Center
1982 EPCOT Center
1986 The Golf Resort is expanded and renamed The Disney Inn
1988 Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
1989 Disney-MGM Studios
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
Pleasure Island
1990 Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort
Walt Disney World Swan
Walt Disney World Dolphin
1991 Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter
Disney Vacation Club
Disney's Old Key West Resort
1992 Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside (Dixie Landings)
Bonnet Creek Golf Club
1994 Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
The Disney Inn is replaced by Shades of Green
1995 Disney's All-Star Music Resort
Disney's Blizzard Beach
Disney's Wedding Pavilion
Walt Disney World Speedway
1996 EPCOT Center is renamed Epcot
Disney Institute
Disney's BoardWalk Inn and BoardWalk Villas
1997 Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex
Downtown Disney West Side
1998 Disney's Animal Kingdom
DisneyQuest
1999 Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
Discovery Island closed
Hurricane Frances closed the resort for both Sept. 4 and 5.[13]
Hurricane Floyd causes the second closure on Sept. 15.[13]
2000 The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
2001 Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's River Country closed
September 11 attack caused all parks on property to evacuate early due to national safety concerns.[13]
2002 Disney's Beach Club Villas
2003 Disney's Pop Century Resort
2004 Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Hurricane Jeanne closed the resort for its third time on Sept. 26.[13]
2007 Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas
2008 Disney-MGM Studios is renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios
2009 Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Treehouse Villas
2011 Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort
2012 Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Phase 1 of New Fantasyland
2013 The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
2014 Phase 2 of New Fantasyland
2015 Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Downtown Disney is renamed Disney Springs
2016 Disney Springs finishes construction
Walt Disney World's 45th Anniversary
Hurricane Matthew forced the resort to close for its fourth time on Oct. 7.[13]

Location

Map of the resort as of May 2015
One of four arches welcoming guests to the resort.

The Florida resort is not within Orlando city limits, but is about 21 miles (34 km) southwest of downtown Orlando. Much of the resort is in southwestern Orange County, with the remainder in adjacent Osceola County. The property includes the cities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake which are governed by the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The 27,258 acres (43 sq mi; 110 km2)[14] site is accessible from Central Florida's Interstate 4 via Exits 62B (World Drive), 64B (US 192 West), 65B (Osceola Parkway West), 67B (SR 536 West), and 68 (SR 535 North), and Exit 8 on SR 429, the Western Expressway. At its founding the park occupied approximately 30,500 acres (48 sq mi; 123 km2). Portions of the property have since been sold or de-annexed, including land now occupied by the Disney-built community of Celebration. Now the park occupies 27,258 acres (43 sq mi; 110 km2),[14] about the size of San Francisco, or twice the size of Manhattan.

Attractions

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Typhoon Lagoon, one of two waterparks at the resort
View of Disney Springs and Characters in Flight

Theme parks

Water parks

Other attractions

Golf and recreation

Disney's property includes four golf courses. The three 18-hole golf courses are Disney's Palm (4.5 stars), Disney's Magnolia (4 stars), and Disney's Lake Buena Vista (4 stars). There is also a nine-hole walking course (no electric carts allowed) called Oak Trail, designed for young golfers. The Magnolia and Palm courses played home to the PGA Tour's Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. Arnold Palmer Golf Management manages the Disney golf courses.[17]

Additionally, there are two themed miniature golf complexes, each with two courses, Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland.[18] The two course at Fantasia Gardens are Fantasia Garden and Fantasia Fairways. The Garden course is a traditional miniature-style course based on the "Fantasia" movies with musical holes, water fountains and characters. Fantasia Fairways is a traditional golf course on miniature scale having water hazards and sand traps.[19]

The two course at Winter Summerland are Summer and Winter both theme around Santa. Summer is the more challenging of the two 18 hole course.[19]

Former attractions

Resorts

Of the thirty-four resorts and hotels on the Walt Disney World property, twenty-eight are owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. These are classified into four categories — Deluxe, Moderate, Value, and Disney Vacation Club Villas — and are located in one of five resort areas: the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Wide World of Sports, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs resort areas.

While all of the Deluxe resort hotels have achieved a AAA Four Diamond rating, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is considered the highest tier flagship luxury resort on the Walt Disney World Resort complex.[20]

On-site Disney resorts

Name Opening date Theme Number of rooms Resort Area
Deluxe resorts
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeApril 16, 2001African Wildlife preserve1,307Animal Kingdom
Disney's Beach Club ResortNovember 19, 1990Newport Beach cottage576Epcot
Disney's BoardWalk InnJuly 1, 1996Early 20th Century Atlantic and Ocean City378
Disney's Contemporary ResortOctober 1, 1971Modern655Magic Kingdom
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & SpaJuly 1, 1988Early 20th century Florida867
Disney's Polynesian Village ResortOctober 1, 1971South Seas492
Disney's Wilderness LodgeMay 28, 1994Pacific Northwest, National Park Service rustic729
Disney's Yacht Club ResortNovember 5, 1990Martha's Vineyard Resort621Epcot
Moderate resorts
Disney's Caribbean Beach ResortOctober 1, 1988Caribbean Islands2,112Epcot
Disney's Coronado Springs ResortAugust 1, 1997Mexico, American Southwest1,915Animal Kingdom
Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French QuarterMay 17, 1991New Orleans French Quarter1,008Disney Springs
Disney's Port Orleans Resort – RiversideFebruary 2, 1992Antebellum South2,048
Value resorts
Disney's All-Star Movies ResortJanuary 15, 1999Disney films1,920Animal Kingdom
Disney's All-Star Music ResortNovember 22, 1994Music1,604
Disney's All-Star Sports ResortApril 24, 1994Sports1,920
Disney's Art of Animation ResortMay 31, 2012Disney and Pixar animated films1,984Wide World of Sports
Disney's Pop Century ResortDecember 14, 200320th century American pop culture2,880
Disney Vacation Club
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortAugust 4, 2009Modern428Magic Kingdom
Disney's Animal Kingdom VillasAugust 15, 2007African safari lodge708Animal Kingdom
Disney's Beach Club VillasJuly 1, 2002Newport resort282Epcot
Disney's BoardWalk VillasJuly 1, 1996Early 20th Century Atlantic City530
Disney's Old Key West ResortDecember 20, 1991Early 20th Century Key West761Disney Springs
Disney's Polynesian Villas & BungalowsApril 1, 2015South Seas380Magic Kingdom
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & SpaMay 17, 20041880s Upstate New York resort1,320Disney Springs
The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & SpaOctober 23, 2013Early 20th century Florida147Magic Kingdom
The Villas at Disney's Wilderness LodgeNovember 15, 2000Pacific Northwest181Magic Kingdom
Cabins and campgrounds
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and CampgroundNovember 19, 1971Rustic Woods Camping800 campsites
409 cabins
Magic Kingdom
Residential areas
Golden Oak at Walt Disney World ResortFall 2011Varies450 homesMagic Kingdom

On-site non-Disney hotels

Hotel name Opening date Theme Number of rooms Owner Area
Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort HotelNovember 21, 1972None325Best WesternHotel Plaza Boulevard, close to Disney Springs
Doubletree Guest Suite ResortMarch 15, 1987229Hilton Hotels Corporation
Wyndham Lake Buena VistaOctober 15, 1972626Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Walt Disney WorldNovember 23, 1983787Hilton Hotels Corporation
Holiday Inn in the Walt Disney World ResortFebruary 8, 1973323InterContinental Hotels Group
B ResortOctober 1, 1972394B Hotels & Resorts
Buena Vista Palace Resort & SpaMarch 10, 19831,014Blackstone Group
Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World ResortAugust 3, 2014450Four SeasonsMagic Kingdom
Bonnet Creek ResortVariousVarious, 3,000 totalHilton Worldwide, Wyndham WorldwideEpcot
Walt Disney World DolphinJanuary 1, 1990Seaside Floridian Resort & Under the Sea1509Sheraton
Walt Disney World SwanJanuary 13, 1990Seaside Floridian Resort & Under the Sea756Westin
Shades of GreenFebruary 1, 1994Upscale Country Club586United States Department of DefenseMagic Kingdom

Former resorts

Proposed resorts

Disney's Magical Express

Guests with a Disney Resort reservation (excluding the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin) that arrive at Orlando International Airport can be transported to their resort from the airport using the complimentary Disney Magical Express service, which is operated by Mears Destination Services, as Disney Transport is not allowed to transport guests off resort property. Guests can also have their bags picked up and transported to their resort for them through a contract with BAGS Incorporated on participating airlines.

Attendance

Magic Kingdom, the world's most visited theme park

In 2014, the resort's four theme parks all ranked in the top 8 on the list of the 25 most visited theme parks in the world; (1st) Magic Kingdom - 19,332,000 visitors, (6th) Epcot - 11,454,000 visitors, (7th) Disney's Animal Kingdom - 10,402,000 visitors, and (8th) Disney's Hollywood Studios - 10,312,000 visitors.[22]

Year Magic Kingdom Epcot Disney's Hollywood Studios Disney's Animal Kingdom
2008[23] 17,063,000 10,935,000 9,608,000 9,540,000
2009[24] 17,233,000 10,990,000 9,700,000 9,590,000
2010[25] 16,972,000 10,825,000 9,603,000 9,686,000
2011[26] 17,142,000 10,826,000 9,699,000 9,783,000
2012[27] 17,536,000 11,063,000 9,912,000 9,998,000
2013[28] 18,588,000 11,229,000 10,110,000 10,198,000
2014[29] 19,332,000 11,454,000 10,312,000 10,402,000
2015[30] 20,492,000 11,798,000 10,828,000 10,922,000

Operations

Employment

When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, the site employed about 5,500 "cast members". Today, Walt Disney World employs more than 74,000 cast members,[31] spending more than $1.2 billion on payroll and $474 million on benefits each year. The largest single-site employer in the United States,[32] Walt Disney World has more than 3,700 job classifications. The resort also sponsors and operates the Walt Disney World College Program, an internship program that offers American college students (CP's) the opportunity to live about 15 miles (24 km) off-site in four Disney-owned apartment complexes and work at the resort, and thereby provides much of the theme park and resort "front line" cast members. There is also the Walt Disney World International College Program, an internship program that offers international college students (ICP's) from all over the world the same opportunity.

Transportation

The Walt Disney World Monorail System provides free transport across the resort.

The Walt Disney World Resort is serviced by Disney Transport, a complimentary mass transportation system allowing guest access across the property. The Walt Disney World Monorail System, provides free transportation at Walt Disney World. The system operates on three routes that interconnect at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), adjacent to the Magic Kingdom's parking lot. A fleet of Disney-operated buses on property, branded Disney Transport, is also complimentary for guests.

Disney Transport also operates a fleet of watercraft, ranging in size from water taxis, up to the ferries that connect the Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Disney Transport is also responsible for maintaining the fleet of parking lot trams that are used for shuttling visitors between the various theme park parking lots and their respective main entrances.

Corporate culture

Walt Disney World's corporate culture uses jargon based on theatrical terminology.[33][34] For example, park visitors are always "guests", employees are "cast members," rides are "attractions" or "adventures", cast members costumed as famous Disney characters in a way that does not cover their faces are known as "face characters", jobs are "roles", and public and nonpublic areas are respectively labeled "onstage" and "backstage".[33][34]

Twin town

As part of a competition run by Disney for 2010, Walt Disney World has an unofficial twinning (sister city) with Swindon, England, since 2009.[35][36] Rebecca Warren's submission to the competition granted Swindon to be the twin town of Walt Disney World, which is famous for its intersection with six roundabouts. Warren and the mayor of Swindon were invited to a "twinning" ceremony, where a plaque revealing the connection will be placed.[37]

See also

References

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  2. Niles, Robert (November 25, 2014). "Turner Classic Movies Steps in to Sponsor Disney World's Great Movie Ride". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Fogleson, Richard E. (2003). Married to the Mouse. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. p. 274. ISBN 978-0-300-09828-0.
  4. 1 2 Mannheim, Steve (2002). Walt Disney and the Quest for Community. Aldershot, Hampshire, England: Ashgate Publishing Limited. pp. 68–70. ISBN 0-7546-1974-5.
  5. Koenig, David (2007). Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World. Irvine, CA: Bonaventure Press. pp. 25–26. ISBN 978-0-9640605-2-4.
  6. "Disney Assembled Cast Of Buyers To Amass Land Stage For Kingdom". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mark Andrews (August 6, 2000). "Disney Pulled Strings So Mouse Moved In With Barely A Squeak". orlandosentinel.com. Tribune Newspapers. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  8. Thomas, Bob (1994). Walt Disney - An American Original. p. 357. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Disney World Florida opens next Friday". Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. UPI. September 27, 1971. p. 11.
  10. "Walt Disney World opens Florida gates". Lodi News-Sentinel. California. UPI. October 2, 1971. p. 10.
  11. "Backstage brain Roy Disney dies". St. Petersburg Independent. Florida. Associated Press. December 21, 1971. p. 10-A.
  12. Pedicini, Sandra (January 22, 2016). "Walt Disney World announces management reorganization". Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Walt Disney World closes for just fourth time ever as Hurricane Matthew nears". cnbc.com. CNBC. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  14. 1 2 Walt Disney World News Press Release on Resort Landscape Facts (2008) Archived July 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  15. Levine, Arthur (June 1, 2016). "Disney Springs: The story behind Disney World's former Downtown Disney". USA Today. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  16. Sandra Pedicini (June 30, 2015). "DisneyQuest closing at Downtown Disney". orlandosentinel.com. Tribune Newspapers. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  17. Jason Garcia (August 24, 2011). "Disney golf: Disney World to turn its golf courses over to Arnold Palmer — Orlando Sentinel". Orlando Sentinel. Articles.orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  18. Barnes, Susan B. (July 27, 2015). "Putt putt your way across the USA". Detroit Free Press. USA TODAY. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  19. 1 2 Adams, Emily. "Walt Disney World Mini Golf". USA Today. studioD. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  20. "Grand Floridian Construction Project". Laughing Place.
  21. "Treehouse Villas To Be Replaced By New Treehouses At Walt Disney World". Netcot.com. February 12, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  22. "Disney World's Magic Kingdom Tops The List Of The 25 Most Visited Theme Parks In The World". dwtickets.com. OrlandoTastic. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  23. "TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  24. "TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  25. "TEA/AECOM 2010 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  26. "TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  27. "TEA/AECOM 2012 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  28. "TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  29. Rubin, Judith; Au, Tsz Yin (Gigi); Chang, Beth; Cheu, Linda; Elsea, Daniel; LaClair, Kathleen; Lock, Jodie; Linford, Sarah; Miller, Erik; Nevin, Jennie; Papamichael, Margreet; Pincus, Jeff; Robinett, John; Sands, Brian; Selby, Will; Timmins, Matt; Ventura, Feliz; Yoshii, Chris. "TEA/AECOM 2014 Theme Index & Museum Index: The Global Attractions Attendance Report" (PDF). aecom.com. Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  30. "TEA/AECOM 2015 Global Attractions Attendance Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  31. "Disney donates $1 million to help those affected by Orlando massacre". 7 News Miami. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
  32. "Disney Profile". Hospitality Online. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  33. 1 2 Sehlinger, Bob; Testa, Len (2014). The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014. Birmingham, AL: Keen Communications. pp. 14–15. ISBN 9781628090000.
  34. 1 2 Mohney, Chris (2006). Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Walt Disney World. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, Inc. p. 115. ISBN 9780470089880.
  35. "Walt Disney World to become twin town of Swindon". BBC News Online. December 7, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  36. Gammell, Caroline (December 7, 2009). "Swindon twinned with Disney World". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  37. Dewayne Bevil (December 9, 2009). "Disney World taps "twin town"". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 8, 2012.

External links

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