Disney World at 50: Dedication ceremony provided star power at Magic Kingdom

Disney4me · October 27, 2021

Disney at 50: In late October 1971, Disney threw a three-day dedication celebration with flown-in star power from Hollywood.

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Actor Fred MacMurray and his wife gather with others for the dedication ceremonies of Walt Disney World in October 1971. User Upload Caption: (File / Orlando Sentinel)

Oct. 1, 1971 is considered the opening date for Walt Disney World. That’s the first day Magic Kingdom was open to the public, to paying customers. But later that month, Disney threw a three-day dedication celebration, complete with flown-in star power from California.

About 30 celebrities attended, including Bob Hope, master of ceremonies for one event at the Contemporary. Among his jokes: “Now I know where the Goodyear Blimp goes in mating season.”

Also: “And just think, it all started with a gentle mouse, a band-tempered duck and seven mixed-up dwarfs.”

The Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Evening Star newspapers tracked the movements of the celebs, several of whom had the late Walt Disney on their minds.

“Actually, I feel Walt is here. And he probably has the best seat in the house,” character actor Andy Devine said.

“It’s a wonderful beginning of his dream,” Ray Bolger said of Walt and the new world.

Actor Fess Parker, from television's Davy Crockett, enjoys a drink while gathering with others for the dedication ceremonies of Walt Disney World in October 1971. (File / Orlando Sentinel)

One reporter noted that most stars were not dressed extraordinarily. An exception was actor Fess Parker. The man who played Daniel Boone arrived in a “mid-calf and collared mink cape around his shoulders.” Parker was 6-foot-6. He was asked if it was real fur.

“Well, I’m not sure,” he said, “but it’s somethin’ from off the ground.”

Former Mousketeer Annette Funicello exited the plane with a knitting kit and wearing a “two-tone brown, three-piece hot pants outfit” plus a Jacqueline Susann fertility symbol on a chain around her neck.

Actor Fred MacMurray and his wife gather with others for the dedication ceremonies of Walt Disney World in October 1971. (File / Orlando Sentinel)

Among the other stars in town for the dedication were Fred MacMurray, Rock Hudson, Robert Stack, Walter Brennan, Hugh O’Brien, Greg Morris, Jonathan Winters, Agnes Moorehead, Cesar Romero, Sebastian Cabot and Johnny Whitaker.

Meredith Wilson of “The Music Man” fame led a band of 1,076 musicians down Main Street, where Julie Andrews also taped a segment for a network TV special.

“Miss Andrews spent five hours under a broiling sun to film her section of the program,” the Sentinel reported. (She didn’t complain, the newspaper said.)

Julie Andrews performs in front of Prince Charming Regal Carrousel in the Magic Kingdom. (NBC / NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Once the actors were released into the theme park, autograph hounds followed them with mixed success. Morris was surrounded by fans while inside Hall of Presidents. Hudson reportedly wasn’t signing that day.

“I asked Mr. Hudson for his autograph on the Skyride and he said ‘No, thank you, not today’,” Sandy Powers of Orlando told the Sentinel. She eased her hurt, the paper said, by explaining that Hudson “didn’t look as good in real life as he does on television.”

Disney officials were on the scene, too, including Tommie Wilck, personal secretary for Walt Disney for the last eight years of his life.

“Everything is so great. I think it’s just what he ordered,” she said. “This is so much bigger than Disneyland. So much bigger!”

On Oct. 25, 1971, Roy O. Disney dedicated the theme park and declared that it would be known as "Walt Disney World" in his brother's honor. In his own words: "Everyone has heard of Ford cars. But have they all heard of Henry Ford, who started it all? Walt Disney World is in memory of the man who started it all, so people will know his name as long as Walt Disney World is here." (File / Orlando Sentinel)

Roy Disney, Walt’s brother and chairman of Walt Disney Productions, spoke at the dedication ceremony near Magic Kingdom’s entrance, flanked by Mickey Mouse. Roy Disney came out of retirement after Walt died in 1966 for the Florida project.

“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 Disney said.

Within two months, Roy Disney had died as well.

Conductor Meredith Wilson, best known for writing the book, music, and lyrics for the 1957 hit Broadway musical The Music Man, leads the band for Walt Disney World's dedication ceremony in October 1971. (File / Orlando Sentinel)

1971 by the numbers

The Orlando newspapers also ran off a slew of numbers in the buildup to the dedication of Walt Disney World.

$400 million was listed as cost of Walt Disney World
75,000 visitors came to Magic Kingdom over the 3-day dedication
52,000 balloons were released after the dedication ceremony
16,000 people attended the dedication ceremony
12,000 was the capacity of the parking lot
500 white pigeons were released over Town Square as a symbol of hope for world peace
276 trombonists were part of the 1,076-piece marching band, which played “Seventy-six Trombones”
142 members from 60 countries were part of the World Symphony Orchestra, directed by Arthur Fiedler
50 cents was the parking fee
$22 to $40 was the range of hotel rates at Disney World at the Contemporary and the Polynesian Village
$6.50 got visitors a guided tour, which included Magic Kingdom admission, “six major adventures” and a personal tour guide