Between April 1964 and September 1965, people in the Central Florida area were wondering who was buying up so much of the land near Kissimmee, 22 miles southwest of Orlando. The land was purchased by Walt Disney Productions using dummy corporations like M.T. Lott Real Estate and Reedy Creek Ranch Corporation. If it were made public that Disney was purchasing this land, the cost per acre would have significantly increased. Most of the land was purchased between $100 and $200 per acre. As a result of these land purchases, over 27,000 acres were purchased into what would eventually become Walt Disney World Resort.
On October 24, 1965, Orlando Sentinel editor Emily Bavar broke the news that Walt Disney was the mystery land buyer in Orange and Osceola Counties. The “We Say: Mystery Industry is Disney” headline might even be the most famous in Sentinel history. Three weeks later, in November 1965, Walt and Roy Disney 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 its gates. In honor of Disney’s history in the region and the bright future ahead, 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 dedication ceremony was held to celebrate this meaningful, full-circle moment for Disney in Florida. Disney officials gathered with community members, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle as the plaque debuted at the very same building where 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.”
Having the Thornton Park District dedicate this plaque to Disney forever links the earliest days in Florida to the vibrant community surrounding Walt Disney World Resort.
What started as the Florida Project in April 1964 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.
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 the workforce, Disney also supports thousands of small businesses, many of which 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 continues to be committed to creating happiness and positive change for communities across the state. Since opening in 1971, hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised in support of local nonprofits, schools, and other organizations that help our neighbors in need. Cast Members play a big part in that impact too, and spent more than 170,000 hours giving back as Disney VoluntEARS in 2025.
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. Disney continues to embark on these new adventures together, and 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.
What do you think of this new commemorative plaque at Thornton Park District in Florida? Let us know in the comments.
