Before the Gates Opened Trivia Quiz

Answer: Disney World

Before Walt's death, the idea was for the Disney World name to show a greater size and depth than the previous Disneyland. After Walt's death on December 15, 1966, as a tribute to Walt, the name was changed. Roy Disney said, "Everybody knows the Ford car, but not everybody knows it was Henry Ford who started it all.

It's going to be Walt Disney World, so people will always know that this was Walt's dream."

Answer: EPCOT

Walt had been dreaming of EPCOT before the Florida project was even a twinkle in his eye. EPCOT, Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, was a vision that Walt believed would change the world. Florida understood that in order to realize Walt's dream of EPCOT, he would need special regulations and governmental authority on his property.

After much deliberation Walt was given most of what he asked for and the deal was struck to build the theme park first and then the planned community later.

As time would tell, Walt died and his futuristic city became a theme park. Today the community of Celebration is as close as Disney could get.

Answer: Roy O. Disney

Roy, Walt's brother, had been contemplating retirement for some time before Disney World was to begin. Upon Walt's death, Roy put his retirement on hold and took control. William Potter supervised the Florida project from the beginning. Dick Nunis was the chairman of the Walt Disney World Operating Committee. Joe Fowler was responsible for onsite construction of Walt Disney World.

Answer: October 1965

Construction began with the clearing of 300 acres of land. High on the list was water management and environmental concerns. The work was put into high gear in 1967 after legislative answers had been confirmed. Site preparation for Magic Kingdom, resorts, entrance, and golf course began on May 30, 1967 with construction beginning in April of 1969.

Answer: Reedy Creek Improvement District

The Reedy Creek Improvement District has authority to build and maintain roads, drainage, solid waste collection, flood control, pest control, apply for bonds, public transportation, police, and other governmental duties. The government of the Reedy Creek Improvement District consists of a 5 person board of supervisors.

Answer: Walt Disney World Conservation Area

In 1970 the Walt Disney World Conservation Area was established to permanently ensure that the land would not be developed.

Answer: 55

The water level along these canals and in the lakes is controled automatically to help with flooding and drought. These canals were constructed with the natural landscape so that the canals would look more normal.

Answer: Bay Lake

When dredging Bay Lake, the material found along the bottom was used to lift the Magic Kingdom an average of 14 feet. The area of earth used to create the Seven Seas Lagoon was also used but not in such great amounts. Under the material dredged from Bay Lake was found the white sand that covers the beaches of the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Answer: Seperation from the outside world

The land was originally too wet for construction so the idea was to dig it up so as to add to the illusion of leaving your day to day life behind. Walt was well known to have disliked the way Disneyland was distorted do to the hotels, shops, and restaurants outside of the gates.

The lakes were stocked with more that 70,000 bass. One of the Walt Disney World activities will take you fishing for these fish.

Answer: 10.7

The Disneyland monorail makes .8 mile trip as an attraction. At Disney World, Walt wanted the monorail to be a means of mass transportation. The monorail estimates 150,000 riders per day with about 50,000,000 riders per year. The original layout had a track with direct service to the Magic Kingdom and another track for the resorts. Future plans had the monorail traveling to the Disney Village but that idea never came to be although the track was extended to visit EPCOT and Future World.

Answer: On site power plant

Another aspect of independence and control comes from Walt Disney World's building of their own power station. Waste heat produced by the power plant is in turned used to heat water and heat rooms. Along with power, Disney also has maintenance buildings, food producing areas, clothing shops, laundry processors, a telephone company, sewer,and more. Disney wanted to be as completely self reliant as possible.

Answer: Where on site fabrication of products is done

Anything that was needed for the theme park as well as the rest of the resort could be built in this center. Some products are ride vehicles, trash cans, benches, signs, and wood work. Also contained in the Central Shops is the metal shop and machine shop. Next door to the Central Shops is a dry dock for the boats.

Answer: Rooms were built separate from the main buildings

The hotel rooms were constructed a few miles from the hotel site and trucked in. The rooms were then hoisted to the proper place and fitted into the frame. The rooms were complete. Bathroom fixtures, doors, pictures, and more were already in the rooms before the rooms were in the building.

Answer: 23

Interestingly, Space Mountain and the Pirates of the Caribbean were not part of opening day. Flight to the Moon was an attraction in Tomorrowland.

Answer: 18 months-10 spires

6 tons of steel was used in the construction of the castle. The spires were constructed away from the castle site and brought in to be attached. A common myth is that the castle can be taken apart as needed. Truth is that the spires are permenantly attached and have never been removed.

Answer: Venetian and Asian

Including Fort Wilderness, there were to be 5 resorts. Time and money resulted in 3 of the 5 being built.

Answer: The Vacation Kingdom of the World

The Florida slogan is more in line with Walt's vision of Disney World. In California he could only hold the attention of his guests while they were inside of his gates but in Florida he could hold their attention 24 hours a day. In Florida he hoped to erase the troubles he had in California.

Answer: 6200

Possible candidates were coming into Disney in droves. Estimates had only one in twelve applicants getting positions on property. By January of 1972, 8000 people were cast members.

Answer: $400,000,000

This estimate includes property, construction personel, construction materials, imagineering, etc.

Answer: 10,000

The opening ceremonies continued for the first month with strong numbers in the following months. Disney proclaimed the opening day numbers to be a blessing in that it gave cast members the chance to get things in proper order. Some media and others called the Florida venture a failure.