It was 54 years ago this week (October 1st) that Florida gained the attraction that has now come to define the state as Walt Disney World opened for the first time.
Initially, just one theme park (The Magic Kingdom) and a handful of hotels, the complex now embraces 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a huge shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, as well as literally dozens of hotels and resorts. It single-handedly transformed Orlando from a sleepy landlocked retirement community into one of the top 20 cities in America.
Along the way, many attractions within the parks have come and gone, including:
- Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
- Snow White's Scary Adventures
- Mickey Mouse Review
- Swan Boats
- The Tomorrowland-Fantasyland Skyway
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- Mission to Mars
- If You Had Wings
And many, many more!
