Discover how it was possible for one of Walt Disney’s greatest wishes to come true even after his death in 1966
In life, Walt Elias Disneyhe was able to fulfill several dreams, but ended up leaving, due to cancer, on December 15, 1966, without seeing one of them taking shape: the opening of Walt Disney World — even so, his brother, and co-founder of the company, Roy O. Disneymade a point of making the desire to Walt reality for more than half a century.
How did this happen?
When Walt left, Roy he put aside his desire not to be a public figure to take on the role of president of Walt Disney Productions that previously belonged to his brother and, a week after the death of Waltcalled a meeting to define the new steps for the park project that the brother would like to be completed in Florida, United States.
In addition to giving up private life, Roy postponed the retirement he wanted at age 73 and, in November 1968, resigned his position at the company to “concentrate his efforts on finalizing financing plans for the massive Walt Disney World project,” as explained in a “News” press release. from Walt Disney World” shared by the brand’s official blog.
From then on, Roy was seen in Florida constantly during the construction period, in order to ensure that the project continued as planned, and, as much as he was responsible for keeping the idea alive and completing the theme park, Roy he wanted his brother to get all the credit for the execution.
I think he wanted to make sure… that it was really Walt’s project, and maybe he was sensitive to the fact that Walt was gone now and we were opening without Walt here, so that there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings. [A decisão] it was probably out of complete altruism to ensure no one thought there was another Disney involved. That was Walt’s. That was Walt Disney World. At least that’s how I interpret it,” said Card Walker, former president of Walt Disney Productions in a 1973 interview.
Thus, previously thought to be called Disney Word, Roy insisted that the park be named Walt Disney Word. “I fought him because of it. ‘Disney World’ was a better title for the market. But he said, ‘No, Card, I want it that way.’ Then boom! We said, ‘Okay. And that.’ And that was the end of it,” he recalled. Walker.
As a result of the brothers’ efforts, Walt Disney World was finally opened, and even though Walt couldn’t be there to enjoy his dream come to life at the opening ceremony, Royresponsible for the speech, made a point of having the Disney figure who most resembles his brother’s spirit nearby: Mickey Mouse.
Roy Disney stood at the microphone in front of a crowd of guests ready to give the dedication speech at the opening ceremony. Suddenly he turned and looked around, and I heard him say quietly, ‘Someone go find Mickey for me. We don’t have Walt anymore, and Mickey is the closest thing we have left to Walt.’ Mickey appeared and Roy promptly began his speech, with Mickey proudly at his side”, recalled John Hench in the book ‘Designing Disney’.
The park opened on October 1, 1971, and this year marks 53 years since it became the realization of one of Brazil’s greatest dreams. Walteven after his death.
Source: Recreio
