What began as an ambitious vision from Walt and Roy O. Disney more than 60 years ago has since grown into the largest and most visited theme park destination in the world. The story of Walt Disney World in Florida dates back to a November day in 1965.
The Disney brothers joined the state’s Governor Haydon Burns in what is now the Thornton Park District of Downtown Orlando to announce the “Florida Project” – a bold idea that promised to bring happiness, innovation and opportunity to the state.
Today, Walt Disney World welcomes millions of guests to Florida each year, fueling the state’s economy, creating jobs, and driving tourism that benefits communities beyond our gates. I’m excited to share that in honor of Disney’s history in the region and the bright future ahead of us, the Thornton Park District – a member of Orlando’s Main Streets program – has unveiled a new commemorative plaque at the site of the Florida Project press conference.
A Full-Circle Moment in Disney and Florida History
A dedication ceremony was held to celebrate this meaningful, full-circle moment for Disney in Florida. We gathered with community members, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle as the plaque debuted at the very same building Walt and Roy first announced their initial vision for what would become Walt Disney World.
“Walt and Roy Disney didn’t just announce a theme park in 1965. They announced a partnership with a community that was ready to dream bigger about its future,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “With this plaque, we honor more than a historic announcement. We honor a relationship, with both Walt Disney World and our Orlando Main Streets, that bolsters our economy, strengthens our neighborhoods and defines our identity.”
It is such an honor for us to have the Thornton Park District dedicate this plaque to Disney, forever linking our earliest days in the state to the vibrant community that surrounds us. We could not be more grateful for our Florida family.
Disney’s Impact Across the Sunshine State
What started as the Florida Project now spans nearly 30,000 acres in Central Florida. For reference, that makes Walt Disney World nearly twice the size of the island of Manhattan! With an ecosystem this massive, Disney has become a powerful economic engine for Florida, generating an influx of jobs, tourism and public revenue for the state.
In fact, Walt Disney World is the largest single-site employer in the United States, supporting 80,000 cast members. Disney currently leads the industry in employee retention at a rate of over 80% and an average tenure of 12 years. This means that cast choose to build lasting careers here, some staying three times longer than the national average (BLS).
Beyond our own workforce, Disney also supports thousands of small businesses, many who are local to Florida and employ additional workers. In total, one out of every 32 jobs in Florida can be attributed to Disney.
Walt Disney World is also committed to creating happiness and positive change for communities across the state. Since opening in 1971, we’ve provided hundreds of millions of dollars in support to local nonprofits, schools and other organizations who help our neighbors in need. Our cast play a big part in that impact too and spent more than 170,000 hours giving back as Disney VoluntEARS in 2025.
Honoring the Past While Looking to the Future
More than 60 years after that historic day in Thornton Park, Disney continues to invest in Florida. This includes work that is underway right now, like Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, The Magic of Disney Animation, and a Monsters, Inc. land at Hollywood Studios, the largest expansion of Magic Kingdom with Cars and Villains-themed lands and more.
“We thank the city of Orlando and the Thornton Park District for honoring this important part of our shared history,” Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle said. “This commemorative plaque celebrates our past and reflects the bold vision we need for the future.”
Disney’s growth in Florida means more new stories and experiences brought to life, greater prosperity for the region and new opportunities for guests, cast and neighbors alike. As we embark on these new adventures together, the commemorative plaque in Thornton Park is a reminder of the great story that Disney and Florida have written side by side over generations. After all, there really is a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.
