Today marks the 55th anniversary of Walt Disney World, prompting a look back at predictions made by Look magazine in 1971. The magazine featured 31 facts, guesses, and quotes about the upcoming park scheduled for October 1971. In that era, President Richard Nixon was in office, the federal minimum wage stood at $1.60, and Walt Disney had passed away five years earlier. The publication included two full-page ads for bourbon and ten for cigarettes without any health warnings. Orlando was described as transforming into a wealthier but potentially more dangerous city. Mickey Mouse was 42 years old when the issue was published. The park anticipated 8 million visitors in its first year, with daily capacity reaching up to 45,000 guests. A typical day at the park was expected to cost visitors $7.25. Technology was advanced, with computers used for animatronics considered more complex than those in the military. The magazine predicted the Country Bear Jubilee would be the most popular attraction. Disney had collected extensive data on its audio-animatronics before the park even opened. Creating the park required moving eight million cubic yards of earth, speculated to be the largest earth-moving project since the Hoover Dam. Many technological innovations were intended for the experimental EPCOT community. EPCOT was envisioned as a living blueprint for the future, with residents expected to live there by 1980 or 1981. The park reportedly had the eighth largest submarine fleet in the world, valued at $7.5 million. Environmental concerns were addressed, with plans for pollution-free vehicles and a trash system piping garbage to an incinerator. Scientists worried about ugly businesses surrounding the property. Disney purchased over 7,500 acres and set aside land as an animal sanctuary. The plan included five resorts, four motels, campgrounds, and trailer parks. Attendance at Disneyland showed nearly five adults to every child, a ratio Disney expected to repeat. Disney projected adding 50,000 jobs, $6.6 billion in income, and $343 million in taxes. Johnny’s Corner, the nearest general store, saw its sales triple due to increased traffic, with beer sales increasing fortyfold. Kissimmee was known as the cow capital of Florida before development. Women were not welcome at Brown’s Cafe, a popular spot in Kissimmee, where pool fees were charged. The population of Kissimmee grew from about 10,000 in 1965 to over 85,000 today.
Key Points:
- Richard Nixon was the President of the United States in 1971.
- The federal minimum wage was $1.60 an hour.
- Walt Disney had been gone for nearly 5 years.
- Disneyland had been open for almost 16 years when the magazine was published.
- Look magazine had 2 full page ads for bourbon and 10 full page ads for cigarettes, with no warning messages.
- Mickey Mouse was 42 years old in April of 1971.
- They were expecting 8,000,000 visitors in the first year of operations.
- Walt Disney said he had space enough in Florida to keep his team busy for 50 years.
- Disney projected up to 45,000 visitors each day on busy days.
- A day in Disney World was expected to cost visitors $7.25 each.
- There were 11 Computer Technicians on the Walt Disney World team programming the audio-animatronics.
- Eight million cubic yards of earth had to be dredged and moved to create the lakes and lagoons.
- Disney started removing rotting logs from a stream on property.
- More than 7,500 acres of land purchased by Disney was set aside to remain an undisturbed animal sanctuary.
- Vehicles within the park were to be propelled only by pollution-free compressed gas.
- Five Resorts, four motels, campgrounds, and trailer parks were planned in 1971.
- Disney was expected to add 50,000 jobs and $6.6 billion in income.
- Kissimmee was the cow capital of Florida before Disney World was built.
- The population of Kissimmee in 1965 was about 10,000, now over 85,000.