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| Continued from Page 5 ... But that was only the beginning. In 1965, Walt Disney turned his attention toward the problem of improving the quality of
urban life in America. He personally directed the design of an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, or EPCOT®,
planned as a living showcase for the creativity of American industry. Said Disney, "I don't believe there is a challenge anywhere in the world that is more important to people everywhere
than finding the solution to the problems of our cities. But where do we begin? Well, we're convinced 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 and building a community that will become a prototype for the future." Thus, Disney directed the purchase of 43 square miles of virgin land -- twice the size of Manhattan Island -- in the
center of the state of Florida. Here he master-planned a whole Disney world of entertainment to include a new amusement
theme park, a motel-hotel resort vacation center, and his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. After more than
seven years of master planning and preparation, including 52 months of actual construction, Walt Disney World opened to
the public as scheduled on October 1, 1971. Epcot Center opened on October 1, 1982. |
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