Fridays with Jim Korkis: Disney World at 50

By Dave Shute

Welcome back to Fridays with Jim Korkis! Jim, the dean of Disney historians, writes about Walt Disney World history every Friday on yourfirstvisit.net.

YOUR PERSONAL DISNEY LIBRARY (48)

By Jim Korkis

• Disney World at 50: The Stories of How Walt’s Kingdom Became Magic in Orlando from the Orlando Sentinel

This commemorative edition from the Orlando Sentinel is a treasure chest filled to overflowing with long lost lost gems of information and photos. As I’ve mentioned before, I expected several books to appear to celebrate Walt Disney’s World 50th anniversary, but I never expected this book and I was ectastic to add it to my personal collection.

Disney World at 50 is a beautifully put together 176 page hardcover book (with a dust jacket) produced by the staff of the Orlando Sentinel that has covered the creation and expansion of Walt Disney World for over fifty years. It was this same newspaper that first revealed that it was Walt Disney buying land in Florida, thanks to its reporter Emily Bavar.

The book features not only excerpts from her historic article but also a reproduction of the front page of the newspaper with the announcement and a full page photo of a smiling Bavar standing next to a smiling Walt at Disneyland in 1965. It always amuses me that the “girl reporter,” as she was described by the newspaper and elsewhere then, was actually forty five years old when she met and interviewed Walt.

Disney World at 50 is filled with excerpts from Orlando Sentinel newspaper stories giving the date and the reporter’s byline. Accompanying these excerpts are black-and-white and color photos from the archives of the newspaper, most never seen since their original publication.

While the majority of Disney World at 50 concentrates on the earliest days of Walt Disney World, there are article excerpts and photos of everything from the opening of the other parks to Pleasure Island to the impact of the coronavirus to a look at “coming attractions”.

In my own writing, I have often used vintage Orlando Sentinel articles for information, but this book includes some that I missed in my research. It was the Orlando Sentinel who revealed that the first costumed Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World was Doug Parks, who had to go through three auditions to get the role. That article is reprinted here along with a photo of Parks from 1971.

Disney World at 50 is filled with new stories as well as familiar stories from a different perspective. Just looking at the photos is a delight although in one shot, the staff seemed unable to identify on page ten Admiral Joe Fowler on the Florida property with Walt Disney–although it was able to identify a partial head shot of Joe Potter.

That is a very minor quibble and certainly mitigated by the two pages of full color photos of the famous 1965 press conference and color shots of the models of the never-built Persian and Venetian resort hotels among other treats. Even the obligatory construction photos of the Magic Kingdom are out-of-the-ordinary.

It is not just the photos but the quotes found in the articles that never appeared elsewere. In one article excerpt about the opening day of the Magic Kingdom, CEO Card Walker told the reporter: “If I had any regret, it is that a guy called Walt Disney wasn’t here to enjoy it.” Try finding that quote anywhere else in a book or article or website describing opening day.

Or in that same article, Walt Disney Productions president Donn Tatum telling the same reporter why Roy O. Disney was not present for the opening day ceremonies. Tatum said, “Roy had to leave because of a serious illness in his wife’s family. We are sorry he could not be here, and it is difficult to estimate when he will return.” Of course, he was there for the dedication ceremony two weeks later.

Such gems are scattered throughout the book that I give my highest recommendation. It is a charming and valuable addition to Walt Disney World history, and if you have any interest in Walt Disney World history it should have a prominent place on your shelf.

*  *  *  *  *

Thanks, Jim! Come back next Friday for more from Jim Korkis!

In the meantime, check out his books, including his new books Vault of Walt: Volume 10: Final Edition,   Kungaloosh! The Mythic Jungles of Walt Disney World and Hidden Treasures of Walt Disney World Resorts: Histories, Mysteries, and Theming, much of which was first published on this site.

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!

RELATED STUFF

• A Friday Visit with Jim Korkis