Walt Disney discusses his plans for his "Disney World" resort in Florida, which would have more room for projects than Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

Part of the official dedication ceremonies included a nighttime performance of 140 musicians representing some of the world's major symphony orchestras under the baton of legendary Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler. An all-too-brief highlight is shown before the music tone changes. We go from Classical to Country Comedy and the Country Bear Jamboree. Such was the popularity of this show that the Bears were soon doing double duty in Anaheim (where, sadly, they were recently retired). A side note: as a six-year-old seeing them for the first time at Disneyland in 1978, my mom recalls that I laughed uncontrollably when Big Al sang "Blood in the Saddle" and that effect rubbed off on others in the audience. No doubt this has been the reaction through the years of many who are watching Big Al and the other bears for the first time. It is with the Country Bear Jamboree that Glen Campbell introduces the first of several segments which showcase specific attractions that were exclusive then to the Magic Kingdom. Then, as now, there has been a misconception that the park was "just another Disneyland." Indeed, both parks share a lot of the same attractions but there are many differences and the program tries to make that point in a subtle way. It must have worked, as about 10 million guests visited in the first year of operation.

The next segment is another highlight of an attraction that debuted with Walt Disney World. From an empty Liberty Square, Campbell sings "Wherefore and Why (Early Morning Rain)," then takes us to discover a truly unique presentation: The Hall of Presidents, which featured some of the most extensive use of Audio-Animatronics to date. Only Abraham Lincoln had a speaking role amongst the presidents until being joined by Bill Clinton in 1993. Since October 2001, George W. Bush has the honor of the additional speaking part.

From Liberty Square it's on to part two of our Fort Wilderness comedy. Poor Margaret continues to be totally bent over and limp. The family has set up a nice little campsite where Winters has summoned everyone for a "pow-wow." Sill oblivious to his wife's condition, he suggests a game: he will play William Tell as Margaret stands 50 to 75 yards away with an apple on her head. He recalls they tried that before at home but it wasn't successful: "I forgot to put the rubber tip on last time. She had some kind of headache, didn't she?" This terrifies poor Margaret and she flees off into the woods. It looks like they'll be playing a new game: "We're gonna track down Mommy!"

A couple of nighttime spectaculars designed specifically for the opening celebrations proved so popular that they were continued indefinitely. They're still going strong. The Polynesian Luau celebrates the culture of the South Pacific with a bountiful feast and festive music and dance. The Electrical Water Pageant is a parade of floating structures around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Each float is about 1,000 feet long with lights that blink off and on to represent real and mythical creatures. This is all set to a synthesizer soundtrack. Sound familiar? The Main Street Electrical Parade is its land-based counterpart, first appearing at Disneyland in 1972. Dazzling fireworks cap off this segment, but "There's More" to come. In the literal sense, that is the name of the next song performed by an agile group of young performers who run and dance their way through completely empty areas of the park including The Crystal Palace Restaurant, Adventureland and a somewhat incomplete-looking Tommorowland. This is the weakest part of the special. You can't make a routine work with lyrics such as these:

So as you wander through this wonderland,
You'll find the wonders you never had planned
You think you've had it, you don't understand ...
There's more! And more! Much more!

It gets better:

You will get your money's worth
It's the biggest show on earth ...
So don't be an out and a bore (who me?)
Line up for fantasy's in store,
Until you're flat on the floor (you'll see!)
There's more! Much more! Lots More!
THERE'S MORE!

The composer of this disaster somewhat redeems himself later with another song that combines original lyrics and the music of "It's a Small World." Julie Andrews sings about "The Wonderful World of Love" in the Magic Kingdom. This time there are a few guests scattered about in Fantasyland as Andrews is surrounded by children in "Small World"-type costumes and a few of the Disney Characters. One important attraction in the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland during its early years was the Mickey Mouse Revue, an Audio-Animatronics show that featured a selection of some of the best loved Disney songs, with the orchestra conducted by Maestro Mickey himself. It closed in 1980 and moved to Tokyo Disneyland, which opened in 1983. Recently it was announced that Mickey and the gang will return in a new show called "Mickey's PhilarMAGIC," which is set to open in 2003.

Whereas Disneyland has its Autopia, the Magic Kingdom had the Grand Prix Raceway (now called the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway). Introducing the action in this segment is sportscaster Chick Hern, longtime radio voice of the Los Angeles Lakers. In competition are racing legends Bobby Unser, Mark Donahue, Jackie Stewart and newcomer Leonard "Buddy" Hackett. He has some extra help from everybody's favorite Volkswagen Herbie! Who wins? We never find out as Buddy and Herbie get stopped in their tracks by -- an unusually large spoon?! "That's funny, there's supposed to be a fork in the road!" Actually Buddy, it isn't.

Jonathan Winters then returns once more in the guise of a backwoods character named Carl Crackler. He tells of an interesting encounter that just occurred. A man had come running by looking for his wife who had taken off from their campsite. Ol' Carl isn't of much help as his "tracking dogs" Jesse and Cudcher are not good for much tracking due to sinus conditions. Besides, Carl is more interested in telling swamp jokes. Just as we don't learn of the racing outcome, we never find out about poor Margaret.

As the program winds down, Andrews returns to perform the aforementioned song and Bob Hope talks about Walt's legacy (also mentioned earlier). This leads directly into a special parade up Main Street U.S.A. of characters and performers followed by 1,076 musicians under the direction of "Music Man" Meredith Wilson. In a stark contrast to how a parade is often presented on TV, there is no celebrity commentary here. The images speak for themselves. One can't help but be totally moved when a choir of 1,500 voices sings "When You Wish Upon a Star" culminating in a release of thousands upon thousands of colorful balloons heading into the sunny sky of that October day more than 30 years ago. You know that Walt was looking down and smiling his approval.

Roy O. Disney and Mickey Mouse dedicate Walt Disney World on October 25, 1971. Roy's speech was not included in the broadcast.

October 1, 1971, only brought about 10,000 visitors causing the most cynical critics to deem Walt Disney World a failure. At the end of the month, the total attendance was around 400,000. The day after Thanksgiving alone brought 50,000 guests through the Magic Kingdom turnstiles. Roy had realized the success of carrying out Walt's last great dream, a success that would grow as Walt Disney World quickly became the Number One vacation destination in the United States. Sadly, two months after the opening celebrations, on December 20th, 1971, Roy Oliver Disney died after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 78.

From Disneyland in 1955 to Walt Disney World in 1971 to that resort's expansions through the years and the addition of Disney theme parks around the world, significant milestones have been marked with star-studded television specials and lots of press coverage. These are EVENTS because the Disney name on a park or resort signifies something special and above the ordinary. The public has come to expect nothing but the highest quality from a Disney property. Sometimes that quality factor is questioned and rightly so. Walt himself set that standard. To expect anything less would be unacceptable to him.

Production Credits for The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
    Executive Producers: Ron Miller and Bill Walsh
    Produced and Directed by: Robert Scheerer
    Written by: Bill Walsh
    Consultant: Jim Loren
    Musical Director: Dave Grusin
    Musical Coordinator: Hal Hidey
    "There's More" & "Wonderful World of Love" by: Billy Barnes

More information on the creation and development of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World can be found in Bob Thomas's biographies "Walt Disney: An American Original" (Hyperion, 1994; originally published by Simon and Schuster in 1976) and "Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire" (Hyperion, 1998)

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- Essay by Bill Griffiths
  Photos ©Disney
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