The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World TV Special--with Ads as aired on NBC October 29, 1971

[@thomaseikeland6805]

This was taped on October 23 1971, and I was in the band. Played baratone, and am very proud to have been a part of something wonderful. I will be there this year, 2021 on Oct. 23 to walk the route again. Can't wait. Gives me chills.

[@x-fun3149]

IRL fatelike foreshadowing

[@julumarie]

Amazing!

[@gc4644]

I was there 2 days later on October 25th, I can still remember & feel the excitement!

[@widescreennavel]

That is so awesome! Peace!

[@TjarkDProductions]

That's awesome!

[@tanmangin]

I was in the chorus on the balcony in front of the castle that day. We were mostly local high school kids that auditioned at our schools to get in. They gave each of us books of tickets. Back then tickets were A thru to E for the better rides. I had enough tickets to come back with my parents and siblings. It was an amazing experience!

[@WorkerBeeSupply]

That's so awesome!

[@emitch9213]

My mother and sister were driving back from Jacksonville to Clearwater. Disney World posted a soft GRAND OPENING sign. They turned off the interstate to enter on the very FIRST DAY of Walter Disney's dream come true. When they finally returned home, I hadn't expected such a joy of two telling us of Fantasyland. My mother was so touched in tears. A very tough business woman met her child. My sister and I were back in the car the next day to Disney World. What a joy to walk into Mr. Disney's vision and see his pal, Mickey Mouse, keeping all in good care just as Mr. Disney would want LEFT behind for all. Thank you for your dreams, Mr. Disney. 💖🧚🏼‍♀️

[@Wig4]

Also cool : The Magic Kingdom was CHEAP to enter in those first 5-6-7 years... The park still worked with the separate attraction coupon system. One could enter the park to enjoy sightseeing and all entertainment, with just the very cheap "general entrance" ticket, which included the transportation system, and a few "Complimentary attractions" (From which the Main Street Walt Disney story theatre, and also "If you had wings") The main parking lot had a fee of 50cent , parking at the hotels was free. Can anybody imagine this, ... Today ??? HAHA

[@MeowMeow_95_]

Girl watchu smoking I want some 😂😂😂😂

[@shropgel]

That is so lovely. Thank you xxxxx

[@iTiffanyi]

This is one special that really needs to be on disney plus. I can't believe tomorrow is the 50th anniversary for this wonderful place! ❤❤❤

[@angelyoungheart3851]

it will be on October 29th 2021 Next Friday

[@anthonysansiveri6893]

It's a shame that Walt Disney didn't get to see the opening of this park. However during that opening ceremony, I'm sure he was smiling down from heaven saying, "My dream came true."

[@Jay_7700]

It really is, but I bet he is really happy

[@mikemancini313]

Thankfully, his brother Roy Disney opened the park before he died 2 months later.

[@Seroxm13]

Yeah, that's so sad! I wish he was there at the Grand Opening and that there were pics of Walt at WDW.

[@frechstudios3129]

Here’s an interesting thought that they teach here at Disney World: some think Walt never saw it but he really did…long before us, he saw it and built the blueprints for it.

[@Kay1im3nade]

Walt Disney didn’t make it to the park in Florida after he passed away

[@michaelharbuck7847]

Wow julie andrews singing just wow

[@rochestas]

I’m sorry, but there’s no better way to open this special other than Julie Andrews singing When You Wish Upon a Star. You could open with fireworks over the castle and it still couldn’t compare to her timbre and phrasing. She’s absolutely spellbinding!!

[@davidkettelle403]

@ rochestas One thousand times agree!

[@angelyoungheart3851]

and it all started with Glen Campbell singing 1st though. but i see what your saying.

[@shawnokeefe1580]

Bob Hopes words about this being just the beginning sure was true!

[@angusrock1563]

Ahhhhhh, the good old days! I remember watching it on TV

[@dollysherman9990]

Makes me tear up all these wonderful actors are just about all gone now. There was a sweetness to these days that is gone now too. I was in middle school when they opened and remember it so well. The excitement was wonderful!!

[@AlexanderDeLuca]

women couldn't have credit cards until 3 years AFTER this video

[@gc4644]

My family went on October 25 1971, I was 9 years old, I can still remember the extreme excitement I felt when I got out of the car in the parking lot of wdw, and the magic I felt walking thru the park that day. Sadly that magic feeling is gone, wdw just doesn't have that same feeling it did in the 70s..

[@hanksballoons]

Sweetness... Like Bob Hope and his innuendo about meeting teen girls in Adventure Land...

[@MeowMeow_95_]

I feel like people in any era have this romanticized version in their mind of growing up. But I must say…. The 70s was a place 😂

[@annien.1727]

@@gc4644 Don't say that. The magic feeling is NOT gone! Not at all! The magic WILL return to WDW, and I'm going to make that happen! Once I get to work at Disney, I'm going to bring that beautiful magic feeling you had back! That's a promise!

[@rach5516]

Julie is fabulous, she is a national treasure 💗💕🌟

[@chrisb3976]

When You Wish Upon A Star starts playing and onions automatically appear. It doesnt matter whos singing it. The song is that awesome. Also while shes singing they roll the clips of the CLASSIC Disney animated movies :D

[@christiansadventures1751]

I love Julie Andrew’s. Such an amazing actress

[@smith9808]

Magic Kingdoms design around the lake with the monorail loop is what makes it so special. No place like it in the world and doubt there ever will be. So glad Walt bought the amount of land he did!

[@GloryInWonderland]

3:50 you can see how sad Julie got for a moment, talking about Walt Disney’s Final Dream and knowing that he never got to see it.

[@BAKER22-l4u]

Lol. Didn't get to see it? Lol..Of course he DID!! He got the best view from Heaven

[@richardespinoza2839]

Actually his final dream was the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow! Magic Kingdom was just a lobbying trick to win over florida legislators!

[@GabitaOh]

I can't believe in 1971 Julie Andrews was my age. She looked AWSOME, and still does.

[@jclelache7694]

She is beautiful - inside and out!! 🥰

[@doloreshuntoon7698]

Yeah. I must say.

[@davidn1105]

I was also there that day - playing one of the trombones. The band stretched from the RR station to the castle ! We had never heard a sound like that. I still cry every time I hear “ Wish upon a star”

[@MichaelComia]

HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY WALT DISNEY WORLD!

[@philiprichards2010]

I agree with you a very merry 50th anniversary to Walt Disney World!.

[@dapolarbear]

This aired on my birthday 1971! On Oct 29 2021 I plan to be in MK celebrating our 50th birthday! Wearing my big button saying I'm celebrating my 50th and taking a selfie in front of the 🏰!

[@wakeywarrior]

You and me both, unfortunately I’m in UK and can’t get there.

[@merrittratliffzardouz3715]

I was there too! My birthday: October 28th!

[@julumarie]

This is one of greatest things I ever did see. 🥰

[@sophiakiedrowski587]

Happy 50th anniversary Disney World! Thanks for all the magic and memories!

[@mainstreetartcorner1536]

You bet!

[@francoismonferran9031]

That very first song by Glenn Campbell is so gorgeous! And then there's Dame Andrews who's beyond words! It is not HD but such a terrific visual and sound quality! 49 years ago, almost half a century!! Hard to believe! Thank you so very much for the video!

[@mainstreetartcorner1536]

You're welcome. Our tape is actually the best quality out there, direct from the master sent out to tv stations for the broadcast in 1971!

[@summerz8867]

Awesome for Glen 🎵💞😽

[@michaelharbuck7847]

In the movie Troy Hector brother tells his father he knows every inch of his kingdom. Disney world is the kingdom I know in much the same way. I have vacationed there three times a year since 1975. I have so many memories that come from so many different eras. I was born in 1970 so this is too early for me to see and fully understand thanks for showing us this

[@ratatouillepaul4175]

Happy 50th Disney world

[@abbyiswatching2046]

"What are you trying to say , Margaret?" "...divorce...lawyer..."

[@BAKER22-l4u]

STOP SMOKING CRACK

[@charliered420]

This was the final appearance of Herbie #5 from The Love Bug, the cut apron car. This was Disney's most used car, appearing in multiple early 70s Disney films. Also cool that this car reunited with Buddy Hackett and Chick Hearn. And I gotta love that "spoon in the road" joke

[@patrickhausenfleck9045]

I was fortunate ..recently to come upon a 1969' preview folio/program booklet of Walt Disney World...and incredibly it still retained all of its Zerox paper work going into depth about Contributers.

[@r.j.etrogames]

1:22:32 Immense happiness just radiates from this whole thing. It's simply one of the most beautiful moments. That castle always gets me chocked up. I'm 20 years old: seeing it in person can drive you to tears. It represents joy in it's purest form. It just sits there and represents the childlike wonder and imagination that many adults seem to lose as they grow old. The whole thing was just perfectly christened. It shows the ultimate dream, completed in it's most pristine form.

[@davidkettelle403]

As an aside to a great program on this DW opening, I was also really struck by the US Steel commercial. That was a really great commercial! For me, It brought up positive thoughts and emotions on American can-do-it-iveness I hadn’t had for a long time. We need more like this showcasing and highlighting American manufacturing again. Did anyone else get the same from seeing this USS commercial? You just could never get the same thing from a commercial about Facebook or Amazon...

[@albertpeterson5585]

...remember, this was just after the end of fully sponsored programs, like the GE Hour, hosted by Ronald Reagan; first paid commercials were either 60, 90, or 120 seconds.

[@angelyoungheart3851]

At United States Steel We're Involved

[@hanksballoons]

Until they moved much of their operation to Central Europe

[@albertpeterson5585]

@@hanksballoons ...just bought a few steel mills there; stiff management ruined the industry here.

[@albertpeterson5585]

...from the park dedication speech... “Walt Disney World is tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney … and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place … a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn - together.” - Roy O. Disney

[@carolsworld6146]

Oh Glen everything that starts with you is magical

[@kiwikiwi2483]

Happy 50th Disney World! Love ya!

[@BilgePump]

I remember watching this when i was a kid. We were so poor we knew better to even ask if we could go. I made sure as a adult that wasn’t the case for my kids. ✈️ 🌈🕶⛱

[@melisunstable6804]

This is a piece of history that could've possibly been lost if not recorded. Thank you to whoever recorded this. You've truly saved such an important piece of history

[@PeruvianPotato]

Pretty sure this was a massive televised event but nonetheless still amazing that it survives 50 years later

[@ThePirateprincess23]

Here we are 50 years later, and they are still just getting started ❤️⭐️🎂. Also, Bob Hope's tribute to Walt Disney is pure gold.

[@albertpeterson5585]

...remember, Disneyland will never be finished; not as long as there's imagination and innovation in the human spirit - Walt Disney ... applies here, too.

[@laurawestman7853]

“But perhaps his greatest achievement is he made children of us all” 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

[@angelyoungheart3851]

ive watched this ive lost count how many times. im so fascinated every time i watch it though.

[@nioxianlerma9201]

I lived in Kissimmee when they just opened .And I lived by 192 when it was just a 2 lane road and they were constructing SR 535 behind old Vineland road .Every thing here was rual.There was 2 traffic lights at Kissimmee and when they open traffic was never ending.The I4 was backed up for miles and there was nothing around I4 then just Kissimmee and Orlando that was 15-20 miles away from Disney world

[@jr4bz]

This is straight gold. So thankful for the time machine capabilities of KZbin.

[@wolfspear04]

Happy 50th. Really enjoying this film!

[@tammyekilcrease5323]

This brings back so many memories, my family and I went to Disney World In 1974 and I was. just a kid but I remember everything about it.. 😁

[@Claudia215]

This video is a national treasure 😩🥰❤️

[@MarionMarchetto_Author]

Thank you for sharing this. We honeymooned there in 1972 and this brought back so many wonderful memories.

[@mainstreetartcorner1536]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jc1701]

Funny this popped up in my list today. I’m watching this nice video in my Disney bay lake tower room.

[@mainstreetartcorner1536]

Have fun and be safe. Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@elliot6605]

Does anyone else hope that Julie Andrews hosts any 50th-anniversary party that Disney has planned?

[@bunniesbunniesbunnie]

I hope the whole park is closed if we're still fighting covid tbh

[@JewelRiders]

is that bc of her role at Disneyland's 50th?

[@melvingeloneck3344]

@@bunniesbunniesbunnie The Covid Virus doesn't mean everything MUST shut down and we MUST all stay home.

[@albertpeterson5585]

You'll find out tonight at 8pm on ABC

[@tommyanomaly6193]

She's really up there in age now

[@Waterboyofsuperman]

I’d heard of how big that parade was but the visual power really comes across, even 50 years later on video. Really impressive how that all came together.

[@wendyb457]

Wow. Thank you!

[@mainstreetartcorner1536]

You're welcome!

[@albertpeterson5585]

...and I should know, because I used to work there (former cast, travel services.) ...one other thing; U S Steel provided all the materials and assisted in the design of the utilidors and The Magic Kingdom, as well as the Contemporary Resort and Polynesian Village.

[@hiridavidfeign]

Just an astonishing document of NBCDisney culture circa 1971. It's so great to see the park in its earliest incarnation. So many great stars... even Jodie Foster! My jaw literally dropped watching that parade that never ends. This was so enjoyable to watch and remember my family's first visit that year. Thanks so much.

[@TheFLguy75]

Good catch. Jodie Foster at 54:55 . It is amazing how well she spoke at such a young age.

[@Sueb18631]

Thanks for posting this!! Very cool, a real slice of history! Interesting to see Henry Fonda hawking ViewMasters...

[@mainstreetartcorner1536]

Our pleasure!

[@doloreshuntoon7698]

I wonder if "The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World TV Special" be released on DVD. If so, it'll also feature classic retrospective TV commercials from Eastern Airlines, GAF and United States Steel. My favorite part of the TV special was Mickey Mouse waving goodbye to his TV viewers out there while he was on the balcony of Cinderella's castle right before the very next commercial break. He was also on the cover of those local TV guide magazines, not those national ones you buy at the checkout counter of the local grocery stores or supermarkets or even subscribe by mail. It brings back memories, don't you know. "The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World TV Special" was followed by "The Funny Side TV Special" (that was hosted by Gene Kelly among others) and then the local news report. Thanks for the memories!!!

[@mainstreetartcorner1536]

Since Disney only had the rights to air the special once, they probably will not release it on DVD or Disney+ sadly, which is why we wanted to make sure people were able to see it!

[@flakethefox9005]

50 years later and the magic still shines!

[@MeowMeow_95_]

Not really… the company is struggling bad. Even firing their current CEO Bob Chapek.

[@hustledude]

Not really, Disney’s gone totally to hell in recent years

[@PeruvianPotato]

I wish that were the case man

[@DaveFisher-cq2dr]

11:19 absolutely beautiful Julie Andrews, you shall be remembered long after you're gone

[@throughtheenchantedportal6617]

Wow what a treasure! Thank you for posting!

[@mainstreetartcorner1536]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@isabellebrant6057]

This is lovely to see - to compare everything u see now to 1971 - they would never see it coming... I just realised the music at 28:06 onwards is the piece for the whales in Fantasia 2000

[@cobaltmidnightoilamp6748]

Julie Andrews was a beautiful woman back in the day. 🌹 Glen Campbell was ever so handsome with gleaming straight white 😁 teeth.

[@patrickrancourt4782]

U-MATIC-LY WONDERFUL !!!!! Respect 70's !!!!

[@beautiflyEX]

And can you believe it 50 years Walt Disney world has been open

[@kynnedihughes8406]

My mom is a Disney travel agent so we usually take a lot of trips to Disney, super excited because we have 4 months until we go to our 5th trip!

[@drewski1535]

0:21 3:23 Great opening start by Glen Cambell, then followed by Julie Andrews the way she rode on that monorail with such elliegance and class, and of course, her singing voice Walt Disney World's opening had the best talents to help bring life and excitement for everyone who got the opportunity to experience and explore at it's opening day Happy Anniversary Walt Disney World

[@Shamsithaca]

AHH the quality is amazing!!!!! thank you

[@Darklord666123]

Watching this during the 50th Anniversary of WDW! (1971 - 2021) Happy 50th Walt Disney World!

[@MarcosDemiato]

So wonderful, so modern for that time, if it was recorded in 4k it would still be a hit today.

[@michaelrocky4571]

WOW I didn't know the monorail was there from the beginning. I went in 1989 and it only travel around to the Magic Kingdom and it didn't go around Epcot like it does now.

[@tommy-qr2hq]

happy birthday wdw!

[@ryancordle3625]

Am I the only one who plays this when I'm "addictively" about to plan a disney trip???

[@toonalootown2331]

4:58

[@toonalootown2331]

4:58

[@ryancordle3625]

This followed promptly by full house the house meets the mouse !

[@DERPADDYAUSBREMEN]

Da krieg ich Gänsehaut! ♥️❤️

[@hustledude]

Back when the Disney company had class

[@rah62]

29:13 Agnes Moorhead in the front row, and I believe that's Cesar Romero on her left.

[@AndrewsMagicandMore]

Hard to believe all this about WDW occured 50+ years ago! BTW, the uploader deserve bonus points for preserving the commercial breaks as well.

[@justinmiddleton8818]

Crazy to think that WDW turned 50 this year, i'm going to be going along with my family and other relatives who live around there next month while the Christmas celebration is in full swing. Definitely looking forward to it as i've wanted to go back for several years now and this couldn't have been a better time. Happy 50th B-day to Walt Disney World!!!!!

[@iangarrett3308]

Walt Disney World turns 50 this year?! WOW hard to imagine, I was just a baby around 1971 when it opened!! My first visit to Disney World was 1979-1980, I remember when Kissimmee St. Cloud was just a sleepy little town, and Highway 441 was known as "Motel Alley" because of Disney World and Sea World. Now a half century later, Kissimmee is now a suburb of Orlando, so much has changed over the decades!!!

[@chrischula3135]

I first visited Disney World in 1983,again in 1989,2007, 2015 and 2021

[@XJCherokeeBear]

My Mom was There on Opening Day, She Saw Bob Hope & Sebastian Cabot.

[@trent9789]

I’m about to cry. I love Disney so much

[@reachmeanthony]

I really almost did omg

[@angelyoungheart3851]

i cried when the balloons were flying in the 1971 sky and the choir singing. SO MAJESTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@oldsoldier8139]

And so it began. The great beginning the worlds greatest vacation destination

[@anje93061]

This is where I found this beautiful "Today is mine" for the first time. :')

[@Brittney.Alexis]

I not gonna lie. The end gave me chills

[@srfy287]

I'd like to say it folks.I've been to Walt Disney World twice and I live in Southern California.Once you've been to walt disney world you forget that disneyland is even there that shows you how much better while disney world is but I guess you have to appreciate disneyland for being the original

[@DaveFisher-cq2dr]

3:45 who better than Julie Andrews to host that unforgettable event, I'll bet Julie still remembers that event even to this day

[@jennifertimberlake6522]

Who else misses when commercial breaks were this short? Now commercial breaks take almost half the show also these commercials actually go along with the show where as now they have nothing to do with the show

[@cmvogt5951]

Happy 50th Anniversary to Walt Disney World from Yesterday.

[@albertpeterson5585]

...orchestra playing end of the 4th movement (The Appian Way) from Ottorino Respeghi's Pines of Rome.

[@Waterboyofsuperman]

At about 29:15 it looks like Agnes Moorehead seated next to Caesar Romero. Didn’t realize she was present, but I’d heard Mr. Romero was his typically classy and friendly gentlemanly self during this time at the park. Beautifully captured performance. The mix for an outdoor performance recorded on video is quite impressive imho.

[@chuckp5995]

I had the plesure of knowing one of the original Imagioneers. he passed away a few years ago but his home was full of inventions and the like. He had a proto type airplane half built in his extremely large living room. he helped design the monorail system but he never boasted of his accomplishments. He lauded at how much he loved Walt. It was a pleasure to know him.

[@ejcarter724]

Amazing quality 😍

[@USMC4341]

Hey, look! Footage of the last time the Monorail worked correctly! 😂

[@shropgel]

Excellent and enjoy those memories. So much better than photos xxxx

[@LadyDiXO]

Very nostalgic! Can’t wait to go back in the summer!

[@jeanlong567]

This is already better than the 50th anniversary and I’m 40 seconds in. Disney should be ashamed of themselves for what that day was or wasn’t

[@stevensuarez4843]

How so?

[@jeanlong567]

@@stevensuarez4843 what do you mean?? They didn’t do anything different for the actual 50th anniversary. Just merchandise and a couple decorations

[@mariotovar2173]

I remember catching, Only, the last 10 minutes of this televised Disney Grand opening when I was a kid.

[@BlueyandTeletubbiesFan01]

Happy 50th anniversary to Walt Disney World!

[@lukav7348]

Going to WDW for probably the 15th time in my life. Love it every time I go.

[@drewski1535]

Margaret looks like Edith Bunker 😂😂😂

[@JessMegJolly]

I highly recommend watching the opening day broadcast of Disneyland before watching this. Night and day.

[@markosborne6559]

Nobody holding up phones recording, just memories of what they see.

[@angelyoungheart3851]

i wanta go there SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@patsyuebele7908]

Beautiful opening to the opening of Disney in 1971. I feel it was much grander then the 50th celebrations

[@eddieannis9867]

Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary this year I will be there in summer and Fall

[@michaelharbuck7847]

I love disney any Era but I miss this one the most. You see this Era is my childhood memories. My happiest time of my life. The closest thing that comes to mind is when I turned 47 in 2017 and went to Disneyland for the first time

[@kuyanico6742]

Did remember the grand opening of Walt Disney World 1971 in Orlando Florida in 70s

[@FireDude13]

Wow... Can definitely see the heavy late 60's early 70's influence lol! I watched this when it was broadcast but can't remember a single second of it... Watching this show convinced my dad we should visit WDW, and we did. In 1972. Tomorrowland was finished by the time we got there lol. Julie Andrews was a great choice... and the orchestra. Though a little disappointed we got a few minutes of the orchestra and 10 minutes of the Country Bear Jamboree :D Any of you other old timers remember the ticket packets you bought for the rides? "A" tickets were the blah rides and the good stuff required an E ticket! If you used all your tickets you had to buy more... it was kinda like going to the county fair midway

[@albertpeterson5585]

1972, June; to get in, 3.50, 2.50 for kids; small, medium, and large ticket packs with multiple a b c d e tickets for 2 4 and 6; or you could purchase a ticket at the booth at the ride entrance; the King Sisters and Mel Torme at the Top of The World Lounge at the Contemporary Resort.

[@Trickstress_]

Did I cry at the end? Yup.