It was one of last times Walt would address the public.  On October 27, 1966, Walt stood in front of an enormous mural of maps, pictures, and artist’s renderings of what he deemed his ultimate legacy – The Florida Project.

Walt recorded a 25 minute film introducing plans for what was then known simply as Disney World.    It was vast, he explained – twice the size of Manhattan – and was to include his own vision for a planned city, known as EPCOT.

The video was primarily a solicitation attempt.  Disney’s pitch to encourage various corporations to help financially, and in the development, creation, and building of EPCOT.  He asked for their best technology and ideas, with a promise they would always be on display as the City moved into the future.

Walt passed away less than 2 months later.   Roy Disney would come out of retirement to see the ambitious project through to completion.  Roy, of course, dubbed the site ‘Walt Disney World’, in memory of his brother and his legacy.

You can see the mock studio, maps, and artists renderings at One Man’s Dream, the magnificent walk-through at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  The full version of the EPCOT film can be found on Disney DVD – Walt Disney Treasures – Tomorrowland.  If you’re saving pennies for your next visit to Disney, you can watch it for free on YouTube.

 ”Everything in this room will change time and time again as we move ahead.  But the basic philosophy of what we’re planning for Disney World is going to remain very much as it is now.”