![]() Foster, Disney’s assistant secretary and legal counsel who would ultimately spearhead the land acquisition effort.īut how was one of the most famous companies in America, led by one of the nation’s most famous men, going to purchase thousands of acres and not raise eyebrows? Conveniently, key figures on Disney’s land acquisition team had counterintelligence experience and connections, which they used to obscure the company’s presence in Florida. Five days after returning from the Florida trip, Walt and Roy called a meeting with their most trusted executives. Walt and Roy didn’t waste time plotting how they’d acquire their desired plot. As they prepared to land back in California, all Walt managed to say was, “Well, that’s the place-central Florida.” The rest of the trip was spent in complete silence. There, the group found out that JFK had been assassinated in Dallas. Walt and the team's excitement was quashed when the plane landed to refuel in New Orleans. The roads gave access from every direction, and connected with major arteries all the way up the eastern seaboard. ![]() While circling the area, Walt saw something that caught his attention: the intersection of the Sunshine State Parkway, Interstate 95, and Interstate 4. Before flying home to California, Walt ordered their plane to fly low above the areas they surveyed. In 1961, Price made his recommendation: somewhere in central Florida.Īfter hearing various proposals for various tracts, Walt decided he’d travel out to survey the central Florida landscape himself. He contracted the services of Buzz Price, an economist who helped Walt choose the location for Disneyland, to determine the ideal location for this new, massive undertaking. Disney’s Florida dream would be dead and buried before they even broke ground.īut before Disney could start buying up property, Walt needed some potential sites. ![]() If their plans somehow got out, property prices would likely skyrocket as they did in Anaheim.
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