It’s been over 60 years since Walt and Roy O. Disney announced Walt Disney World Resort was coming to Florida. The “Florida Project” was announced at a press conference with Florida Governor Haydon Burns in what is now the Thornton Park District of Downtown Orlando. To honor Disney’s history and future with Florida, the Thornton Park District has unveiled a new commemorative plaque at the site of the Florida Project press conference.
Florida Project Plaque
A dedication ceremony was held with community members, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle as the plaque debuted at the very same building Walt and Roy first announced their initial vision for what would become Walt Disney World.
“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,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “With this plaque, we honor more than a historic announcement. We honor a relationship, with both Walt Disney World and our Orlando Main Streets, that bolsters our economy, strengthens our neighborhoods and defines our identity.”
Writing for Disney Parks Blog, External Affairs Director Tajiana Ancora-Brown said, “It is such an honor for us to have the Thornton Park District dedicate this plaque to Disney, forever linking our earliest days in the state to the vibrant community that surrounds us. We could not be more grateful for our Florida family.”
Walt Disney World spans almost 30,000 acres in Central Florida, nearly twice the size of Manhattan. It is the largest single-site employer in the United States with 80,000 cast members. Disney leads the industry in employee retention at a rate of over 80% and an average tenure of 12 years.
Disney also supports thousands of small businesses. Disney Parks Blog states one out of every 32 jobs in Florida can be attributed to Disney.
Since opening in 1971, Walt Disney World has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in support to local nonprofits, schools, and other organizations who help our neighbors in need. Cast members have spent more than 170,000 hours giving back as Disney VoluntEARS in 2025.
More than 60 years after that historic day in Thornton Park, Disney continues to invest in Florida. This includes impending updates to the theme parks like Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom; The Magic of Disney Animation and a Monsters, Inc. land at Hollywood Studios; and the largest expansion of Magic Kingdom with Cars and Villains-themed lands.
“We thank the city of Orlando and the Thornton Park District for honoring this important part of our shared history,” Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle said. “This commemorative plaque celebrates our past and reflects the bold vision we need for the future.”
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