By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 06:36 EST, 30 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:36 EST, 30 April 2013 . It's the sort of fantasy world that children's dreams are made of. But as these wonderful pictures show just how Disney world was built, the dream is definitely a reality. These archive photographs show the incredible amount of work that went into building Walt Disney's sprawling Florida playground. Today's Kingdom counts four major Disney theme parks, two water parks, six golf courses and a shopping and dining complex. Scroll down for video . The Magic Kingdom is pictured slowly starting to take shape - with the famous castle and its turrets clearly seen as the avenues are built around it . Some 9,000 workers were involved in the two-year construction effort. They produced an entertainment paradise around lakes, forests and meadows . Walt Disney wanted a much larger area than Disneyland's 450 acres to develop a total resort - and in 1964 the team purchased nearly 28,000 acres from more than 100 property owners . In 1967 a flurry of work began, including the development of a 45-mile network of water-control channels . And it all began with the Disney founder's dream in the early 1960s to provide a kingdom for those is east of the United States to come and be entertained. By 1963 the Disney planning team had chosen Florida because of its clement weather conditions, which meant that the park could open all-year-round and the state had already been ranked first in tourism among all states. Orlando was chosen because of available land and its prime location at the crossroads of major traffic arteries and dynamic growth. Walt Disney wanted a much larger area . than Disneyland's 450 acres to develop a total resort - and in 1964 the . team purchased nearly 28,000 acres from more than 100 property owners - . costing nearly $5.5 million. Another 2,000 acres have been added since, . according to the brand. In . 1965 Walt publicly announced his ambition to build the unique . entertainment and vacation centre and eventually a way of life found . nowhere else in the world - this was embodied in his EPCOT centre - . Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Choo choo! Workers created fantasy lands and even built an internal infrastructure that meant visitors could travel round the extensive entertainment complex . The road to paradise: Walt Disney envisioned a sprawling entertainment complex, and a community that would change the way people lived . Orlando and its clement weather was picked for the destination so that visitors could visit the magical place throughout the year . More than 700million visitors have visited the four theme parks and huge Disney complex - and for many children, it's a dream come true once they visit . Up until his death in December 1966, Walt developed his ideas, directed planning outlined his philosophies for the new complex. In 1967 a flurry of work began, including the development of a 45-mile network of water-control channels. Construction for the ambitious project began in April 1969 after an opening date was set for October 1, 1971. Some 9,000 workers were involved in the two-year construction effort producing an entertainment paradise around lakes, forests and meadows. During the final 18 months before opening, one million guests visited the Walt Disney World Preview Center where models, drawings and motion pictures explained details of the vast development. Total cost of the project by opening was $400 million. Clearly the hard work was worth it, as today the four Disney theme parks have welcomed more than 700 million guests. The Magic Kingdom as it is today: Years of hard toil and a huge vision produced the well-known theme park, which is known the world over .
Walt Disney envisioned a huge entertainment complex - and a new way of life .
Work began in the 1960s, after 28,000 acres was purchased to create the fantastic parks .
More than 700million visitors have experienced the four theme parks .
By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 06:36 EST, 30 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:36 EST, 30 April 2013 . It's the sort of fantasy world that children's dreams are made of. But as these wonderful pictures show just how Disney world was built, the dream is definitely a reality. These archive photographs show the incredible amount of work that went into building Walt Disney's sprawling Florida playground. Today's Kingdom counts four major Disney theme parks, two water parks, six golf courses and a shopping and dining complex. Scroll down for video . The Magic Kingdom is pictured slowly starting to take shape - with the famous castle and its turrets clearly seen as the avenues are built around it . Some 9,000 workers were involved in the two-year construction effort. They produced an entertainment paradise around lakes, forests and meadows . Walt Disney wanted a much larger area than Disneyland's 450 acres to develop a total resort - and in 1964 the team purchased nearly 28,000 acres from more than 100 property owners . In 1967 a flurry of work began, including the development of a 45-mile network of water-control channels . And it all began with the Disney founder's dream in the early 1960s to provide a kingdom for those is east of the United States to come and be entertained. By 1963 the Disney planning team had chosen Florida because of its clement weather conditions, which meant that the park could open all-year-round and the state had already been ranked first in tourism among all states. Orlando was chosen because of available land and its prime location at the crossroads of major traffic arteries and dynamic growth. Walt Disney wanted a much larger area . than Disneyland's 450 acres to develop a total resort - and in 1964 the . team purchased nearly 28,000 acres from more than 100 property owners - . costing nearly $5.5 million. Another 2,000 acres have been added since, . according to the brand. In . 1965 Walt publicly announced his ambition to build the unique . entertainment and vacation centre and eventually a way of life found . nowhere else in the world - this was embodied in his EPCOT centre - . Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Choo choo! Workers created fantasy lands and even built an internal infrastructure that meant visitors could travel round the extensive entertainment complex . The road to paradise: Walt Disney envisioned a sprawling entertainment complex, and a community that would change the way people lived . Orlando and its clement weather was picked for the destination so that visitors could visit the magical place throughout the year . More than 700million visitors have visited the four theme parks and huge Disney complex - and for many children, it's a dream come true once they visit . Up until his death in December 1966, Walt developed his ideas, directed planning outlined his philosophies for the new complex. In 1967 a flurry of work began, including the development of a 45-mile network of water-control channels. Construction for the ambitious project began in April 1969 after an opening date was set for October 1, 1971. Some 9,000 workers were involved in the two-year construction effort producing an entertainment paradise around lakes, forests and meadows. During the final 18 months before opening, one million guests visited the Walt Disney World Preview Center where models, drawings and motion pictures explained details of the vast development. Total cost of the project by opening was $400 million. Clearly the hard work was worth it, as today the four Disney theme parks have welcomed more than 700 million guests. The Magic Kingdom as it is today: Years of hard toil and a huge vision produced the well-known theme park, which is known the world over .
28,000 acres from more than 100 property owners . centre and eventually a way of life found . road to paradise: Walt Disney envisioned a sprawling entertainment complex, and a community 700million visitors have visited the four theme Construction for the ambitious project began in