Disney, Orlando & Kissimmee

Orlando started out as a lawless cow town - it had more in common with Dodge City and its gun fights, cattle rustling and gambling than with neighbouring towns in Georgia or the Carolinas. It was not until the later part of the 1800s and the arrival of the railroad that the area started to change - the cattle rustlers moved out and citrus plantations began to dot the landscape. World War II brought another change to the area when the Army Air Corps set up training facilities at the Orlando Municipal Airport and in the town of Pine Castle - over the next few years the bases trained more than 10,000 men and women. After the war, Pinecastle Air Force Base changed its name to McCoy Air Force Base and became home to a squadron of B-52s of the Strategic Air Command. Orlando continued to contribute to the defense of the country and in 1956, Glen L. Martin Company - later to become Lockheed Martin, the space and defense conglomerate which built both Pershing and Patriot missiles in the area - relocated to the city.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN...
Orlando undoubtedly has the honour of being the theme park capital of the world, loved by families old and young. The magic started with a secret mission early in 1963 when Walt Disney sent his brother and other close friends out across the country to find a location on which to build his make believe land. They travelled in secrecy under assumed names for fear of people finding out that Disney was looking to buy land, thus causing the price to rocket. Having considered several other locations, including the Smoky Mountains and Niagara Falls, Walt decided on Central Florida where the land was cheap, used only for grazing livestock. After purchasing 27,443 acres or 43 square miles under several different companies for a cost of $5 million, on the 15th November 1965, Walt Disney held a press conference announcing his plans to the world. A few days later, the land surrounding Disney’s was offered for sale at $80,000 per acre!

HOW THE FANTASTIC DISNEY DREAM HAS GROWN...
With the project being so large, it was to be completed in several phases, with two hotels - the Tempo Bay Resort Hotel and the Polynesian Village Resort - along with Magic Kingdom forming phase one. The construction of Disney World began in April 1969, moving on apace with the opening day set for October 1st, 1971. Sadly Walt Disney passed away before he could see his dream completed and it was in his honour that his brother renamed it Walt Disney World. Epcot, the city of the future, was opened 11 years later in October 1982, followed by Disney-MGM Studios in 1989 and finally Animal Kingdom in 1998. During this time Disney also added two water parks - Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach - along with the Downtown Disney shopping area and Pleasure Island, before Walt Disney World was completed ...or is it?

THRILLING RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS FOR ALL AGES...
Universal Orlando soon joined Disney, opening Universal Studios Florida in May 1990, based on their successful theme park in Los Angles, but abandoning the back-lot tram in favour of a more traditional multi-attraction theme park design. Universal’s Islands of Adventure followed in 1999, with its state of the art rides and attractions that thrill visitors of all ages. With these two parks, Universal has established itself as one of the most innovative companies within the theme park world.

SWIM WITH DOLPHINS AND LEARN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT...
SeaWorld Orlando was opened in 1973 and is the world's premiere marine adventure park with 200 acres of world-class shows, thrilling rides and unforgettable animal encounters. Owned and operated by the Anheuser-Bush company, SeaWorld has continued to innovate with new state of the art rides such as Kracken, and its continuing commitment to education and environmental projects. Sited across the road from SeaWorld is its sister park Discovery Cove, where guests can swim with dolphins and learn all about the marine ecosystem.

SOMETHING FOR THE SHOPAHOLIC...
The Orlando area is a shopper’s paradise with many shopping malls, outlet stores and flea markets to suit all budgets. For those looking for something different, be sure to stop by Old Town in the evening where you can wander down through the shops, terrify yourself on the sky coaster or just soak up the atmosphere and admire the classic cars on show at the Saturday Night Cruise.

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