The Happiest Place on Earth

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On November 15, 1965, at approximately 2:00 pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Cherry Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida, Governor Haydon Burns sat between the brothers Disney, Walt and Roy during a press conference. Opening the remarks, Governor Burns stated, “Walt Disney will bring a new world of entertainment, pleasure, and economic development to the state of Florida.”

Sources:

[Paladin]

I'm a native Floridian and grew up during this period. I was in military school in Deland, FL in 1971 when Walt Disney World first opened. The commandant of our school announced we would be going there by bus. You should have heard the cheers that aroused. The place had only been open a short while and half the rides did not work, but we had a blast. I can still hear "It's a small world after all" ringing in my ears almost 50 years later (Will somebody stop the music!). After we returned from our day trip, the commandant somberly announced the school would be closing due to a lack of funds. Such much fun and misery in a single day.

[badbiker]

My family started going to Walt Disney World (WDW) in Florida in 1997. My older (of two) daughter was five years old. My younger daughter was not even born yet. We went again in 1999 and eventually started going every year. In 2001 we bought into the Disney Vacation CLub timeshare and started going twice and sometimes three times a year. We took a bit of a break as our children grew up, moved out of our house and started lives, careers and families of their own. But, in February 2021, the 50th anniversary of the opening of WDW, we are going again. This time we are taking a couple of sons-in-law and a whole bunch of grand children. We love the place, our children love it, and we hope our grand children will love it as much as we do. It truly is the most magical place on earth for us. We sacrificed a lot for the chance to vacation there. My kids volunteered to skip birthday and Christmas presents so that my wife and I could put every extra cent into the WDW account. We spend an average of around $3000 on every trip. We are NOT wealthy people. We drive 10 to 20 year old cars. We live in a mobile home, not a big fancy house. We eat and dress modestly at home so that we can eat well at WDW and buy that ONE souvenir each year that we just can't live without. We have budgeted enough for 2021 so that everyone can wear a matching T-shirt. I know that to others this may sound like some kind of crazy obsession or something, but neither my wife nor I ever had the chance to do anything like this growing up. We are happy and proud to have been able to do this for our daughters and we look forward to watching the faces of our grandchildren as they discover the wonder of the place for themselves. Yes, we could have put all that money into something else, but this was what made us the most happy and we are thankful for Walt Disney's vision and the efforts of the Disney Company to make that vision a reality. The 2021 trip may have some restrictions placed on it due to COVID-19, but we are determined to go regardless and bring back some amazing memories.

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Happiness is not a goal...it's a by-product of a life well lived.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.”
― Pearl S. Buck

[johngibson]

I lived in Satellite Beach Fla. near Cape Canaveral from 1972-1976. I went to WDW 8 times I think. Magical. I was in elementary school at the time. Wow.

[isaaclee]

Can you imagine knowing your city turned down one of the most successful theme parks of all time?

[BlueGator]

Disneyland in California is called “the happiest place on earth”, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in a Florida is called “the most magical place on earth”

[stevenlouton]

I would have to say the happiest place on earth is my home but since this is talking about Orlando Florida and Disney World and I was born in Orange County, Orlando, Florida, for this video it’s one in the same for me I guess? Thanks for another awesome video Simon, keep up the great work.
Also just so it’s know, Disney is very close to Orlando, about 20 minutes from OIA in Lake Buena Vista boarding Kissimmee Florida. Closer to Kissimmee depending on the park. Kissimmee is just south and a tad west of Orlando on it boarder. So to make things easy, everyone says Orlando and they are pretty much right.
Trust me though, if you’re gonna come visit, don’t come here in the summer, come in the winter in the off season from tourist. Unless you like 100% humidity, 90-100 degree weather everyday with unbelievable thunderstorms almost 5 days a week in most cases. Come November or later, you’ll thank me.

[Zamzamthegreat]

Disneyworld is 'The Most Magical Place on Earth.' It is Disneyland that is 'The Happiest Place on Earth.' I only mention because your channel documentary emphasizes careful review and edits, so I figured I'd pitch in on this one :-)

[davekennedy]

The genuinely happiest, most contented place on Earth with the happiest citizens I just double checked and it's now sitting at number 2 with Finland in first. But Denmark has come out on top numerous times.

[servant]

Disney World could also be a megaproject. It's construction and building much of a 'city beneath the city' for infrastructure, maintenance, and places for cast to go 'out of the public eye' has always facinated me. I never worked there, just saw several articles at the time written about it. Yes, I was born just before Disney Land opened by a couple of years, and remember the opening of Disney World. Living in Texas, we didn't go there, but went to Six Flags over Texas 11 times the year it opened (being a young teen it was deemed a 'safe place' by parents).

[TheyStleMyUserName]

Greenfield Village is magical and anyone who is able to go should, especially on a weekend so you can see the reenactors

[GTLees]

The man had vision, not great business savvy at first, but did seem to learn from his mistakes. I remember watching The Wonderful World Of Disney as a kid every Sunday, it always began with Walt giving a message. We collected and watched and rewatched the Disney movie VHS tapes with out sons and now we've got Disney networks that I watch with my granddaughters. Poor ol' Walt didn't see the tip of the iceberg.

[Mondo]

My parents took us 4 kids to Disneyland the first year it opened in 1957. Although the day was long ago and a blur, my clearest memory is of the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile parked at the entrance.

[aaronberta]

We want a Simon Whistler convention!!! Come on man

[fvckyoutubescensorshipandt]

2:05 Burbank = a bunch of grouchy old farts that don't want Mickey Mouse or a bunch of kids on their lawn.

[frandovian]

the happiest place on earth is that one place we called "Home"

[Luke..luke..luke..]

You say it is the most happy place, but have you ever been to Tivoli in Copenhagen? It's believed to have been the inspiration for the Disney resorts.

[pamelamays]

Thank you for this one. I had suggested it for The Blaze. Well done!

[stevenmartinek]

Mr. Whistler was visiting Disney World when a piece of track fell off space mountain and Mr. Whistler's stupendous hearing alerted him to this fact. He then ran in the attraction, located the missing tracks and bridged them with his body at which the cars passed on top of him.Mr. Whistler saved many lives that day.