Walt Disney World’s origins trace back to a single press conference held in Orlando, Florida, on November 2, 1965. Now, the Thornton Park District has placed a permanent commemorative plaque at the exact building where Walt and Roy O. Disney stood alongside Governor Haydon Burns to unveil plans for what they called the “Florida Project,” the ambitious undertaking that would eventually become the most visited theme park destination in the world. The dedication ceremony, attended by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle, marks a full-circle moment between the resort and the city where its story in Florida began.
The Thornton Park District, part of Orlando’s Main Streets program, unveiled the commemorative marker at the building where the Disney brothers and Governor Haydon Burns held their November 1965 press conference announcing the so-called “Florida Project.” A dedication ceremony brought together community members, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle to mark the occasion.
“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,” Mayor Dyer said at the ceremony. “With this plaque, we honor more than a historic announcement. We honor a relationship that bolsters our economy, strengthens our neighborhoods, and defines our identity.”
What started as a press conference in downtown Orlando has since grown into a sprawling 30,000-acre complex in Central Florida, a footprint roughly twice the size of Manhattan. Walt Disney World is now the largest single-site employer in the United States, with 80,000 workers on staff and an employee retention rate above 80 percent. The average cast member stays for 12 years, three times longer than the national workforce average, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The resort’s reach extends well beyond its own gates. Disney estimates that one out of every 32 jobs in Florida is connected to its operations, through direct employment, vendor relationships, and the tourism dollars that flow into surrounding communities. Since opening in 1971, the company says it has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to local nonprofits, schools, and community organizations. Cast members also logged more than 170,000 volunteer hours across Florida in 2025.
New construction is ongoing across the property. Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, a Monsters, Inc. land at Hollywood Studios, The Magic of Disney Animation, and an expansion of Magic Kingdom featuring Cars and Villains-themed areas are all currently in development.
“This commemorative plaque celebrates our past and reflects the bold vision we need for the future,” Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle said.
The plaque sits at the same Thornton Park address where that original announcement took place, tying the resort’s earliest days in Florida to the neighborhood that has grown alongside it.
Orlando Marks the Spot Where Walt Disney World Was Born
Thornton Park Walt Disney World Plaque:
“HERE IN FLORIDA, WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL WE NEVER ENJOYED AT DISNEYLAND … THE BLESSING OF SIZE.” – WALT DISNEY
ON NOVEMBER 15, 1965, THE CHERRY PLAZA HOTEL BECAME THE STAGE FOR A MOMENT THAT WOULD FOREVER CHANGE CENTRAL FLORIDA. FOLLOWING MORE THAN A YEAR OF SPECULATION BY THE PRESS AND FLORIDIANS, WALT DISNEY AND HIS BROTHER ROY O. DISNEY UNVEILED THEIR “FLORIDA PROJECT.”
HUNDREDS OF REPORTERS JOINED CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS TO HEAR THE VISIONARIES DESCRIBE INITIAL PLANS FOR A VAST NEW ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISE, LARGER AND MORE AMBITIOUS THAN DISNEYLAND® PARK IN CALIFORNIA. WALT SPOKE OF BUILDING NOT ONLY A THEME PARK, BUT ALSO A “MODEL COMMUNITY” THAT WOULD SHOWCASE INNOVATION IN URBAN LIVING TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN.
ALTHOUGH WALT DISNEY PASSED AWAY JUST OVER A YEAR LATER, HIS DREAM LIVED ON THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF HIS BROTHER ROY AND THE TALENTS AND DEDICATION OF THE ORGANIZATION THEY ESTABLISHED. TODAY, THIS SITE OF THE FORMER CHERRY PLAZA HOTEL STANDS AS A REMINDER OF THAT HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT. IT WAS HERE THAT WALT DISNEY’S VISION FIRST TOOK PUBLIC FORM IN FLORIDA – A VISION THAT CONTINUES INSPIRING MILLIONS OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND REMAINS CENTRAL TO ORLANDO’S STORY.
PRESENTED BY:
THORNTON PARK DISTRICT ORLANDO MAIN STREETS AND THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY 2025
