Forever Disney

The frustration of the first Disney amusement park took its toll on Roy, but, as always, not on Walt. The imaginative executive made plans for "a park far grander than Disneyland...one that might cost $100 million" (276). That is a lot of money, and it's hard to believe Roy agreed to doing all the financing. Then again, the Disney brothers had already gone through a lot of conflicts pertaining to money, and, evidently, they have always come through. The Florida Project definitely did not unfold itself easily. Even three years could not hold all the things that needed to be attended to: "clear the dense growth, drain and refill lakes, build forty miles of canals, erect the Magic Kingdom and three large hotels, and perform thousands of other necessary tasks" (328). Despite these difficulties, construction was successful; Walt Disney World opened on October 1, 1971, and was a wondrous achievement for the Disney company.

Walt Disney World clearly was not titled as such for no reason. Roy named it so everyone would recognize "the creative genius behind all that the Disney company had accomplished" (316). After diagnosed with lung cancer, Walt died on December 15, 1966, which had a humongous impact on, ideally, everyone: "executives below Walt and Roy were uncertain as to how to proceed...[the nation] had not been prepared for it" (298-299). Not only had the studio lost its great conductor, but America lost a most loved icon. Roy continued to lead the company with the same force, but on December 20, 1971, Roy suffered a terrible brain hemorrhage. Unfortunately, Roy died "in the shadow of his renowned brother" (339). Luckily, we recognize how both creative and cunning minds started an everlasting presence that still lives in everyone today, dearly remembered for its glorious achievements.

~ Outside Reading #6

Thomas, Bob. Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire. New York: Hyperion, 1998.
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