Orlando is a region that has attracted and amazed visitors for generations. Full of charm, magic and excitement, people all over the world head to Orlando in search of unique experiences and unforgettable memories.

But how did Orlando become the theme park capital of the world? We take a look through the history of the region, from its earliest beginnings to its development into one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.

The Birth of Orlando

The creation of Orlando dates back to the 1830s and a settlement known as Jernigan, but the name Orlando appears to have originated during the 1850s. By the time it was officially recognised, the humble town had a population of 85 people, a far cry from the 280,000 that live in the city hub today!

The name of Orlando’s origin is unclear, but there are a few fascinating legends. One popular (although unfounded) belief relates to the resting place of a soldier named Orlando Reeves. Another story dictates that Orlando was named after one of the protagonists in the Shakespeare play ‘As You Like It’.

Orlando remained a relatively rural location for much of its early history. However, during the 1870s it experienced a golden age thanks to its production of citrus fruit, a tradition still prevalent today.

America’s Resort

Orlando quickly became a notable place to visit, with records of it being popular with visitors dating all the way back to the early 1900s. A surge in interest following the Industrial Revolution saw land prices skyrocket, leading to the rapid expansion of urban areas. While, like much of America, it struggled during the Great Depression, Orlando had established itself as a place for tourism and conventions.

When a second airport was built in Orlando in the 1940s, it firmly established itself as “Florida’s Air Capital”, further attracting visitors. An economic boom in the 1950s saw the region’s population and economy grow even further. Orlando branched into different industries, spurred by the creation of a NASA launch centre that still attracts visitors to Orlando today. However, tourism would always remain the number one pull, thanks predominantly to one man.

The Creation of Walt Disney World

Walter Elias Disney would go on to truly transform Orlando, but his journey into tourism didn’t start here. Already a successful cartoon animator, he envisaged a park in which children and adults could have fun together. In 1955, the first Disney park opened in Anaheim, California. Initially built over 160 acres, it is still in operation today and was considered a success. A few years later, he put into action plans to open a second park, with a view of it being a larger, more immersive experience than the first.

After settling on Orlando as his next location, the Walt Disney World Company began secretly buying up vast swathes of unused land. Initially, locals believed the land grab was something to do with NASA’s nearby Kennedy Space Centre. However, in 1965 it was revealed that a second Disney park was to be built in Orlando, with officials calling it “the greatest attraction in the history of Florida”.

Walt Disney himself passed away around one year after the park’s announcement. However, his brother, Roy Disney, oversaw construction of the park, ensuring it stayed true to Walt’s image. In 1971, Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park opened its doors to an incredible fanfare; entry tickets cost just $3.50 on opening day! Soon after, Roy declared the expansive land be called Walt Disney World, in memory of his visionary brother.

The Tourism Boom in Orlando and SeaWorld

Approximately 20 million people visited Walt Disney World during its first two years, as the city underwent a massive tourism drive led by the park.

One of the reasons why Walt Disney purchased so much land in Orlando was to avoid rival businesses surrounding the park, as had happened to Disneyland. This is why Walt Disney World is located in a relatively sparse region of Orlando. However, the subsequent interest in the area still attracted a string of rival parks to Orlando.

One of the first rivals to Disney World was SeaWorld. Like Walt Disney, their story also began outside the region. The original SeaWorld opened in San Diego in 1964 and was first envisioned as an underwater restaurant before becoming a marine wildlife park. Two years after the launch of Disney’s Magic Kingdom, SeaWorld opened another location in Orlando with more of a theme-park atmosphere.

The Growth of Walt Disney World and Epcot

Despite the competition, Walt Disney World continued to expand at a rapid pace into the park we know and love today.

In 1974, Discovery Island opened, which was the precursor to the modern Animal Kingdom. Walt Disney World Village opened a year later, an open area that would go on to become Disney Springs. The second major park arrived in 1982 with the opening of the EPCOT Centre.

EPCOT is an acronym, meaning ‘Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow’. Created by Walt Disney, his vision was a future-inspired, fully-functioning city with accommodation, businesses and amenities. This original concept can still be seen in Magic Kingdom by riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.

Following Walt Disney’s death, the company decided they did not want to get into the business of administering a city. Many discussions regarding EPCOT’s new purpose were held, with opinions split on whether it should be a cultural or technological showcase. In the end, they decided to build a combination of the two. EPCOT Centre cost around $1 billion to build, making it one of the most expensive building projects of any kind at the time.

Going to the Movies at Hollywood Studios and Universal

When designing Disneyland during the 1940s, one of Walt Disney’s initial ideas was to have it alongside the Walt Disney Studios in California. He noted that while people wanted to visit their offices, there was little to keep them entertained. As the site was too small, he transformed it into a separate park, Disneyland. During the 1980s, this basic idea of highlighting people’s love of films and cinema came back to life with the birth of the Disney-MGM Studios park, now known as Hollywood Studios.

Inspired by two rides first designed for Epcot, the new park was opened in 1989 as an ode to show business. It also featured functioning studios, although much of this has since been removed from the park.

During the new area’s construction, a rival park was being built close by. In 1986, MCA/Universal announced their own plan to open a theme park for the entertainment industry. One year after Disney-MGM Studios (and following copycat controversy surrounding the parks), Universal Studios Florida opened its doors.

Despite being clear rivals, both new parks found success. A few years later, Universal looked to expand its resort to turn it into a full-fledged vacation destination like Walt Disney World. In 1995, construction began on a new park, which would open in 1999 as Islands of Adventure. In the same year, they opened Universal CityWalk, an entertainment and retail district that remains one of the region’s go-to nightlife locations.

Modern Theme Parks and Attractions in Orlando

Despite the growing competition, more theme parks have continued to open in Orlando over the last few decades. In 1989, SeaWorld was sold to the owners of Busch Gardens, a theme park in nearby Tampa. They soon started to build rides in the marine park, such as the popular Journey to Atlantis, which opened in 1998. In 2000, they opened a sister park called Discovery Cove. SeaWorld announced its plans to build a water park in 2005, and Aquatica was opened to the public in 2008.

Aquatica wasn’t the first water park in Orlando, though. As you can imagine, Disney got there first with Typhoon Lagoon, which opened in 1989, while their Blizzard Beach park opened in 1995. Universal Orlando’s water park, Volcano Bay, is the newest, having been created as recently as 2017.

One of the biggest theme parks outside of those mentioned above is LEGOLAND Florida. The company had already opened multiple theme parks across the world, including one in California during the 1990s. LEGOLAND Florida was opened in 2011 and is currently the second-biggest LEGOLAND park in the world!

Away from the theme parks, The Wheel at ICON Park in Orlando was opened in 2015. The 400ft tall wheel at the heart of one of Orlando’s most popular locations, International Drive, has since become a must-see landmark for those visiting the area.

Meanwhile, the two biggest theme park names in Orlando continue to grow and evolve. In 2010, Universal Orlando unveiled The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Dedicated to the hit fantasy franchise, it is now one of Orlando’s most prominent attractions! In 2011, Disney announced plans for a world dedicated to the blockbuster film Avatar. Originally planned to be part of Hollywood Studios, Pandora eventually opened in 2017 in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Another popular film franchise was introduced into the Disney theme park world this year, with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios.

Upcoming Rides and Attractions in Orlando Theme Parks

Orlando’s attractions continue to develop, and plans are already in place for the major attractions going forward. In 2020, Epcot is set to undergo large-scale refurbishments, with the inclusion of new cultural experiences and rides. A Tron ride is currently under construction in Magic Kingdom, just one of a handful of new attractions expected over the next few years at Walt Disney World. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are also building new roller coasters, which are set to open next year.

There is also plenty of speculation about what the future may hold for the region’s attractions. A Jurassic Park rollercoaster is understood to be in development at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, while they have recently announced that they will be building an entirely new park over the coming years! Whatever happens, it’s clear that Orlando will continue to be an exciting place for people to visit for generations to come, just as it was for generations before.

If you’re looking at visiting Orlando, why not plan your trip with us? Here at Debbie’s Villas, we offer a range of properties in great locations, including villas for rent near Universal Studios Orlando, Walt Disney and many more. You can also purchase great value attraction tickets with our combo deals!