Biography | Donn Tatum — The Florida Gate He Opened as President of Walt Disney World

On 1 October 1971, Walt Disney World opened its gates in central Florida.

About 10,000 paying guests came, far below the crush officials had feared.

The New York Times reported the thin opening-day crowd the next morning from Lake Buena Vista.

Donn Tatum was already president of Walt Disney World Co.

An Orlando Evening Star account of the project's unveiling named him in that title while the first phase was still a figure on a page: $165 million to open, $300 million planned.

He was also president of Walt Disney Productions.

Roy O. Disney was still chairman.

The park that opened that Friday was the first piece of a resort Roy had insisted on finishing after Walt died in 1966.

Magic Kingdom came with two hotels and two golf courses.

Adult admission was $3.50.

Three weeks later, on 25 October, Roy dedicated the place to his brother.

Roy died on 20 December 1971.

The board then elected Tatum chairman and chief executive, the first person outside the Disney family to head the company.

The Los Angeles Times, citing the company's own account, tied that choice to a succession plan Roy had set in 1967.

A photograph in the State Archives of Florida, made around 1963, already shows Tatum standing with Roy on the raw Florida land.

The image is public domain through Florida Memory.

Tatum later served as the company's chairman until 3 June 1980.

English and Japanese reference accounts differ on whether he left the chief-executive title in November 1976 or carried both titles to 1980.

What is not in dispute is the Florida work.

He was the first president of Walt Disney World Co.

He helped see the swamp become a gate.

The pin is Main Street, U.S.A., the street every opening-day guest walked after paying that $3.50.

Photo: Donn Tatum (left) and Roy O. Disney inspecting the Florida property, circa 1963, Florida Memory / State Archives of Florida, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons