Orlando Unveils Commemorative Plaque at Site of Original Disney World Announcement
The city of Orlando and Walt Disney World leadership gathered in the Thornton Park District in Orlando on March 5 to dedicate a new commemorative plaque marking the exact location where Walt and Roy O. Disney first announced the “Florida Project” to the world more than 60 years ago.
The ceremony, held at the site of the former Cherry Plaza Hotel (now the MAA Parkside building), featured Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle. The event served as a full-circle moment, linking the global tourism destination’s humble beginnings to its current status as the world’s most visited theme park resort.
On Nov. 15, 1965, the Disney brothers joined then-Governor Haydon Burns at this downtown site to unveil their vision for a massive enterprise in Central Florida. That announcement transitioned Disney’s secret land acquisitions—often referred to as “Project X”—into a public commitment that would eventually transform the state’s economy.
“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 during the unveiling. “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 began as a vision for roughly 30,000 acres has grown into a massive economic engine. According to data provided by Disney, Disney’s presence in Florida now accounts for a significant portion of the state’s workforce and revenue:
- Largest Single-Site Employer: Walt Disney World supports 80,000 cast members.
- Job Creation: One out of every 32 jobs in the state of Florida is attributed to Disney operations.
- Workforce Stability: Disney reports an industry-leading employee retention rate of over 80%, with an average tenure of 12 years.
- Small Business Support: Beyond its direct workforce, the resort partners with thousands of Florida-based small businesses to sustain its daily operations.
The plaque, which is part of the Orlando Main Streets program, serves as a permanent reminder of the 1965 press conference. Jeff Vahle, President of Walt Disney World, noted that the dedication honors both the history and the future of the company’s relationship with the region.
“It is such an honor for us to have the Thornton Park District dedicate this plaque to Disney,” Vahle said. “It forever links our earliest days in the state to the vibrant community that surrounds us.”
The plaque reads:
“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.
