For years Walt Disney dreamed of building a "little family park" where parents could take their children for a day of fun. Walt felt it was possible to build a themed park with a pleasant, clean atmosphere and fun attractions that the whole family could experience together.
Walt Disney said... "You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world . . . but it requires people to make the dream a reality".
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida employs one of the largest work forces ever that are designated in one locale. During peak times it ranges between 55,000-60,000 which is about half of the Disney employees worldwide.
Walt Disney wanted to create a magical place where families could come and have an enjoyable G-rated time. To make sure things remained wholesome for families, alcohol is not sold in the Magic Kingdom.
Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom is set during the turn of the century, while the park's futuristic Tomorrowland is given the look of a city like those imagined by sci-fi writers and moviemakers from the 1920s and 1930s
Walt Disney said... "At Disney, we go about our work in a businesslike way but we feel that work can be fun and that we can all be friendly and cheerful while we are doing the things that we are assigned to do".
There are no lost children at Walt Disney World, there are only lost parents. The philosophy behind this is that when a child becomes separated from their parents, they are often afraid that their parents will be upset with them. When you tell them that it is not they who are lost, rather their parents, it helps to calm the situation until mum and dad are found.
Walt Disney World does not sell chewing gum. At other amusement parks visitors often find themselves scraping gooey gum from their shoes. Walt Disney didn't want guests to be bothered with this nuisance so gum is not sold at its theme parks.
Each night when Walt Disney World Resort closes, the maintenance begins. At the beginning of every day the parks look like they did on opening day. Not only does this make the guest experience better but it also creates a better atmosphere for the cast members (the name for all Disney staff).
To help keep the trees and greenery constant in the parks, there are trees "behind the scenes" that are similar in size and looks. These trees are kept as replacements and can be switched after hours before the next day's opening.