Orlando Honors the Original Walt Disney World Announcement Site with Historic Commemorative Plaque

The Thornton Park District in Downtown Orlando has unveiled a commemorative plaque at the site where Walt and Roy O. Disney announced the Florida Project in November 1965 — the ambitious vision that grew into the largest theme park destination in the world. The dedication ceremony brought together Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle to mark more than six decades of partnership between Disney and the state of Florida.

More than 60 years after Walt and Roy O. Disney stood in what is now Downtown Orlando's Thornton Park District to announce the Florida Project, the neighborhood has unveiled a commemorative plaque at the historic site. The ceremony honored the 1965 press conference that set in motion the creation of the world's most visited theme park destination.

A Ceremony Connecting Past and Present

The plaque was unveiled at the very building where Walt and Roy Disney joined Florida Governor Haydon Burns in November 1965 to announce the "Florida Project" — a bold promise to bring happiness, innovation, and economic opportunity to the state. The dedication ceremony brought together Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle, along with community members, for what Dyer described as a recognition of a lasting partnership.

"Walt and Roy Disney didn't just announce a theme park in 1965. They announced a partnership with a community that was ready to dream bigger about its future," Mayor Dyer said. "With this plaque, we honor more than a historic announcement. We honor a relationship, with both Walt Disney World and our Orlando Main Streets, that bolsters our economy, strengthens our neighborhoods and defines our identity."

Disney's Economic Footprint in Florida

What began as the Florida Project now spans nearly 30,000 acres in Central Florida — roughly twice the size of the island of Manhattan. Walt Disney World is the largest single-site employer in the United States, supporting 80,000 cast members with an industry-leading employee retention rate above 80% and an average tenure of 12 years — approximately three times the national average.

Disney also supports thousands of small businesses throughout Florida, with one out of every 32 jobs in the state attributable to the company's economic activity. Since opening in 1971, Walt Disney World has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in support to local nonprofits, schools, and community organizations. In 2025 alone, Disney cast members logged more than 170,000 hours of volunteer service as Disney VoluntEARS.

Active Investments Shaping the Next Chapter

Disney's investment in Florida is ongoing. Projects currently underway include Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios, a Monsters, Inc. land at Hollywood Studios, and the largest-ever expansion of Magic Kingdom featuring Cars and Villains-themed lands.

"We thank the city of Orlando and the Thornton Park District for honoring this important part of our shared history," Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle said. "This commemorative plaque celebrates our past and reflects the bold vision we need for the future."

What This Means for Disney Fans and Florida

The commemorative plaque in Thornton Park serves as a permanent marker of a moment that reshaped Central Florida — and, ultimately, the global theme park industry. As Disney continues expanding Walt Disney World with billions in new investment, the plaque is a reminder that the ambition powering those projects traces back to a single announcement made in a building that still stands in Downtown Orlando. Visitors to the Thornton Park District can now visit the site and see the plaque that anchors Disney's Florida story to its geographic origins.