FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Before the Gates Opened
Quiz about Before the Gates Opened

Before the Gates Opened Trivia Quiz


Walt Disney World is much more than a theme park or even a resort complex. Walt's magic took a lot of work and dreams. I hope you enjoy these aspects of Walt Disney World.

A multiple-choice quiz by Wdwfan. Estimated time: 6 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Entertainment Trivia
  6. »
  7. Coasters & Theme Parks
  8. »
  9. Walt Disney World

Author
Wdwfan
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
160,761
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
11 / 20
Plays
2292
Last 3 plays: makenna3 (5/20), Guest 192 (13/20), Guest 73 (19/20).
- -
Question 1 of 20
1. Before Walt Disney World opened, it had another name. Which one of these was the working name for Walt Disney World? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. Directly involved in the intial planning of Disney World was a planned city. Part of the reason the state of Florida gave Walt such a sweet deal was that this planned city would be at the hub of Walt's project. What was this city to be called? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. Upon Walt's death in 1966, who took the reins of the Florida project? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. We know that Walt Disney World opened on October 1, 1971 but when did construction begin on the property? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. Part of the deal with the Florida legislature was the creation of two municipalities and a single governing body over the entire property. What is the name given to the entire property for governing purposes? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. On the Walt Disney World property is a special 7,500 acre tract of land. What is this land used for? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. Since most of the land that Walt Disney World sits on was previously swamps and other unusable land, about how many miles of canals and levees were constructed to control the water level? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. Where did the Disney team get the fill dirt to raise the Magic Kingdom? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. For what reason was the Seven Seas Lagoon created? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. To cross the Seven Seas Lagoon you can take two forms of transportation. One form is by ferry and the other is by monorail. Before the 4 mile addition of the EPCOT run, how many miles of rails were there (this would include rails to the monorail barn, etc.)? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. Where does Walt Disney World get its power supply? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. What is Central Shops? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. In the construction of the Polynesian Resort and the Contemporary Resort, a particular construction process was used. What way of building these hotels was different? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. When the park opened, how many attractions were ready for guest use? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. Cinderella's castle was not only a literal but also a figurative centerpiece of Walt's Disney World. Combining two questions-how long did it take to build the castle and how many spires rise from the castle? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. Walt always intended Disney World to be a one stop vacation. Once a guest came onto the property, the goal was to keep them there until they went home. As mentioned above, the Contemporary Resort and the Polynesian Resort were original themed hotels. What were two other resort ideas in the initial plans? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. We all know that Disneyland in California is "The Happiest Place on Earth." What was Walt Disney World given as a slogan? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. How many cast members (employees) were required to operate the Walt Disney World property on opening day? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. Being the largest private construction project and having over 9000 construction workers, how much was the final estimated cost spent for phase one of the Walt Disney World project? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. Finally on October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World was ready to open for business. Disney officials anticipated 100,000 guests for opening day. In reality, about how many guests went throught the gates? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 17 2024 : makenna3: 5/20
Mar 12 2024 : Guest 192: 13/20
Mar 10 2024 : Guest 73: 19/20
Feb 06 2024 : kitter96: 17/20

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Before Walt Disney World opened, it had another name. Which one of these was the working name for Walt Disney World?

Answer: Disney World

Before Walt's death, the idea was for the Disney World name to show a greater size and depth than the previous Disneyland. After Walt's death on December 15, 1966, as a tribute to Walt, the name was changed. Roy Disney said, "Everybody knows the Ford car, but not everybody knows it was Henry Ford who started it all.

It's going to be Walt Disney World, so people will always know that this was Walt's dream."
2. Directly involved in the intial planning of Disney World was a planned city. Part of the reason the state of Florida gave Walt such a sweet deal was that this planned city would be at the hub of Walt's project. What was this city to be called?

Answer: EPCOT

Walt had been dreaming of EPCOT before the Florida project was even a twinkle in his eye. EPCOT, Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, was a vision that Walt believed would change the world. Florida understood that in order to realize Walt's dream of EPCOT, he would need special regulations and governmental authority on his property.

After much deliberation Walt was given most of what he asked for and the deal was struck to build the theme park first and then the planned community later.

As time would tell, Walt died and his futuristic city became a theme park. Today the community of Celebration is as close as Disney could get.
3. Upon Walt's death in 1966, who took the reins of the Florida project?

Answer: Roy O. Disney

Roy, Walt's brother, had been contemplating retirement for some time before Disney World was to begin. Upon Walt's death, Roy put his retirement on hold and took control. William Potter supervised the Florida project from the beginning. Dick Nunis was the chairman of the Walt Disney World Operating Committee. Joe Fowler was responsible for onsite construction of Walt Disney World.
4. We know that Walt Disney World opened on October 1, 1971 but when did construction begin on the property?

Answer: October 1965

Construction began with the clearing of 300 acres of land. High on the list was water management and environmental concerns. The work was put into high gear in 1967 after legislative answers had been confirmed. Site preparation for Magic Kingdom, resorts, entrance, and golf course began on May 30, 1967 with construction beginning in April of 1969.
5. Part of the deal with the Florida legislature was the creation of two municipalities and a single governing body over the entire property. What is the name given to the entire property for governing purposes?

Answer: Reedy Creek Improvement District

The Reedy Creek Improvement District has authority to build and maintain roads, drainage, solid waste collection, flood control, pest control, apply for bonds, public transportation, police, and other governmental duties. The government of the Reedy Creek Improvement District consists of a 5 person board of supervisors.
6. On the Walt Disney World property is a special 7,500 acre tract of land. What is this land used for?

Answer: Walt Disney World Conservation Area

In 1970 the Walt Disney World Conservation Area was established to permanently ensure that the land would not be developed.
7. Since most of the land that Walt Disney World sits on was previously swamps and other unusable land, about how many miles of canals and levees were constructed to control the water level?

Answer: 55

The water level along these canals and in the lakes is controled automatically to help with flooding and drought. These canals were constructed with the natural landscape so that the canals would look more normal.
8. Where did the Disney team get the fill dirt to raise the Magic Kingdom?

Answer: Bay Lake

When dredging Bay Lake, the material found along the bottom was used to lift the Magic Kingdom an average of 14 feet. The area of earth used to create the Seven Seas Lagoon was also used but not in such great amounts. Under the material dredged from Bay Lake was found the white sand that covers the beaches of the Seven Seas Lagoon.
9. For what reason was the Seven Seas Lagoon created?

Answer: Seperation from the outside world

The land was originally too wet for construction so the idea was to dig it up so as to add to the illusion of leaving your day to day life behind. Walt was well known to have disliked the way Disneyland was distorted do to the hotels, shops, and restaurants outside of the gates.

The lakes were stocked with more that 70,000 bass. One of the Walt Disney World activities will take you fishing for these fish.
10. To cross the Seven Seas Lagoon you can take two forms of transportation. One form is by ferry and the other is by monorail. Before the 4 mile addition of the EPCOT run, how many miles of rails were there (this would include rails to the monorail barn, etc.)?

Answer: 10.7

The Disneyland monorail makes .8 mile trip as an attraction. At Disney World, Walt wanted the monorail to be a means of mass transportation. The monorail estimates 150,000 riders per day with about 50,000,000 riders per year. The original layout had a track with direct service to the Magic Kingdom and another track for the resorts. Future plans had the monorail traveling to the Disney Village but that idea never came to be although the track was extended to visit EPCOT and Future World.
11. Where does Walt Disney World get its power supply?

Answer: On site power plant

Another aspect of independence and control comes from Walt Disney World's building of their own power station. Waste heat produced by the power plant is in turned used to heat water and heat rooms. Along with power, Disney also has maintenance buildings, food producing areas, clothing shops, laundry processors, a telephone company, sewer,and more. Disney wanted to be as completely self reliant as possible.
12. What is Central Shops?

Answer: Where on site fabrication of products is done

Anything that was needed for the theme park as well as the rest of the resort could be built in this center. Some products are ride vehicles, trash cans, benches, signs, and wood work. Also contained in the Central Shops is the metal shop and machine shop. Next door to the Central Shops is a dry dock for the boats.
13. In the construction of the Polynesian Resort and the Contemporary Resort, a particular construction process was used. What way of building these hotels was different?

Answer: Rooms were built separate from the main buildings

The hotel rooms were constructed a few miles from the hotel site and trucked in. The rooms were then hoisted to the proper place and fitted into the frame. The rooms were complete. Bathroom fixtures, doors, pictures, and more were already in the rooms before the rooms were in the building.
14. When the park opened, how many attractions were ready for guest use?

Answer: 23

Interestingly, Space Mountain and the Pirates of the Caribbean were not part of opening day. Flight to the Moon was an attraction in Tomorrowland.
15. Cinderella's castle was not only a literal but also a figurative centerpiece of Walt's Disney World. Combining two questions-how long did it take to build the castle and how many spires rise from the castle?

Answer: 18 months-10 spires

6 tons of steel was used in the construction of the castle. The spires were constructed away from the castle site and brought in to be attached. A common myth is that the castle can be taken apart as needed. Truth is that the spires are permenantly attached and have never been removed.
16. Walt always intended Disney World to be a one stop vacation. Once a guest came onto the property, the goal was to keep them there until they went home. As mentioned above, the Contemporary Resort and the Polynesian Resort were original themed hotels. What were two other resort ideas in the initial plans?

Answer: Venetian and Asian

Including Fort Wilderness, there were to be 5 resorts. Time and money resulted in 3 of the 5 being built.
17. We all know that Disneyland in California is "The Happiest Place on Earth." What was Walt Disney World given as a slogan?

Answer: The Vacation Kingdom of the World

The Florida slogan is more in line with Walt's vision of Disney World. In California he could only hold the attention of his guests while they were inside of his gates but in Florida he could hold their attention 24 hours a day. In Florida he hoped to erase the troubles he had in California.
18. How many cast members (employees) were required to operate the Walt Disney World property on opening day?

Answer: 6200

Possible candidates were coming into Disney in droves. Estimates had only one in twelve applicants getting positions on property. By January of 1972, 8000 people were cast members.
19. Being the largest private construction project and having over 9000 construction workers, how much was the final estimated cost spent for phase one of the Walt Disney World project?

Answer: $400,000,000

This estimate includes property, construction personel, construction materials, imagineering, etc.
20. Finally on October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World was ready to open for business. Disney officials anticipated 100,000 guests for opening day. In reality, about how many guests went throught the gates?

Answer: 10,000

The opening ceremonies continued for the first month with strong numbers in the following months. Disney proclaimed the opening day numbers to be a blessing in that it gave cast members the chance to get things in proper order. Some media and others called the Florida venture a failure.
Source: Author Wdwfan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor DakotaNorth before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us