For 50 years , the Magic Kingdom has been our magical escape . Whether it ’ s immersing ourselves in our favorite Fantasyland fairy tales , swashbuckling with pirates in Adventureland , exploring the caves of Tom Sawyer Island , or dreaming of the future over in Tomorrowland , we ’ re always being transported to some other place when we visit , as if by magic .
But we also know the true history of Magic Kingdom comes from the hard work of Imagineers , architects , landscapers , designers , construction workers , writers , artists , and more . In honor of all they did to turn our dreams into reality , let ’ s take a look behind the curtain at the construction of the Most Magical Place on Earth .
TOP LEFT : Main Street , U . S . A ., under construction at Magic Kingdom Park in 1971 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista , Fla . ( Disney )
TOP RIGHT : Cinderella Castle under construction at Magic Kingdom Park in 1971 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista , Fla . ( Disney )
MIDDLE LEFT : Dumbo the Flying Elephant under construction in 1971 at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista , Fla . ( Disney )
MIDDLE RIGHT : Haunted Mansion under construction at Magic Kingdom Park in 1971 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista , Fla . ( Disney )
BOTTOM LEFT : Pirates of the Caribbean under construction at Magic Kingdom Park in 1973 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista , Fla . ( Disney )
BOTTOM RIGHT : Big Thunder Mountain Railroad under construction at Magic Kingdom Park in 1980 at Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista , Fla . ( Disney )
BACKGROUND : Welcome to Magic Kingdom . PHOTO BY JUDD HELMS