disney4life2008
Well-Known Member
Where are the orange Groves today?
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60 Minutes: Florida Before WDW (1972)
- Thread starter Animaniac93-98
- Start date
Where are the orange Groves today?
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
Agreed. If only they could come up with a way of not having horrendous traffic jams whenever there's a car crash (including minor ones that still seem to attract 20 police cars and shut all lanes down
)
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
There's a lot near Haines City about 35 minutes south of Disney World for one.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I think that was a little misleading because it implied that Disney cleaned out the orange groves to build WDW. They did do that when they built Disneyland, but, most of the WDW property was either swamp or cattle land. I'm sure there were a few orange trees around the property though. What they were referring to was that the land within the vicinity of WDW was being bought up to build commercial or residential tracks needed to support WDW. There was a lot more money to be made selling the property then trying to force oranges to grow year after year. Huge groves exist close to the area, just not as many. I remember my first visit in 1983 driving on Rte 27 and seeing mile after mile of Oranges and Grapefruit still on the trees. A few years later they had the fruit fly problem and took out most of the groves back then along the same area. Many are still there though.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
This should have been called "Central Florida before WDW".
Sorry, I'm a Walt Disney fan.. but I'm also a huge Henry Flagler fan. It could be called a mild obsession..but I prefer the term "fan".
There's a lot more to Florida than Orlando, and because of Flagler's efforts and success, people were flocking to parts that they have never been before. He opened up a whole different kind of "world" to us.
Anyway..back to the topic at hand.. sorry for the diversion.
Sorry, I'm a Walt Disney fan.. but I'm also a huge Henry Flagler fan. It could be called a mild obsession..but I prefer the term "fan".
There's a lot more to Florida than Orlando, and because of Flagler's efforts and success, people were flocking to parts that they have never been before. He opened up a whole different kind of "world" to us. Anyway..back to the topic at hand.. sorry for the diversion.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
Fun fruit fact- Florida avocados have less fat than California avocados.
Kylo Ken
Local Idiot
That was an extremely interesting piece. It's amazing what the price of progress really is.
I live less than two miles from MK (I can see Wishes at night, hear the WDWRR and ferry boats from home) and I drive by Orange groves every day. I still see swamp lands and have tons of lakes in town. Life on this end is still slow and you forget that you're next to one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. I think there is definitely a yuge misconception with the areas surrounding Disney. It's definitely not all hustle and bustle all the time.
I live less than two miles from MK (I can see Wishes at night, hear the WDWRR and ferry boats from home) and I drive by Orange groves every day. I still see swamp lands and have tons of lakes in town. Life on this end is still slow and you forget that you're next to one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. I think there is definitely a yuge misconception with the areas surrounding Disney. It's definitely not all hustle and bustle all the time.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Just a guess, but, I would guess that you live to the west of WDW. That area has amazed me with it's very slow development. From about 1 mile west of the World Drive entrance, along Rte 197 it seems almost barren of anything. In fact, I stayed out that way on my 1983 visit, just about 2 miles from Rte 27 and it seemed to me that it was more developed back in that time, then now. However, from the main gate along 197 to downtown Kissimmee and I-4 to Orlando is where most of the development happened. Just my perception, but, it seems to me that the interchange between I-4 and 197 is constantly under construction. I don't remember a time in all my visits when that exit was not cluttered with construction trailers and equipment. It's been someone perpetual job site for 35 years.
larryz
I'm Just A Tourist!
A lot of that land is still considered aquifer recharge zone and building is restricted on it, especially in Polk County (just the other side of US 27).
Kylo Ken
Local Idiot
Sorry but I am awful with my bearings. I am over in Windermere so I would take Reams Road to get to MK and come in through Center Dr. This area is starting to get developed but it's mostly planned communities. There are no hotels or anything in the area. I don't foresee a lot of commercial development here for tourists (meaning hotels).
Grimley1968
Well-Known Member
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing, OP. It was neat to see a little of the "pre-WDW" central Florida still remaining in some of that footage. I'd guess that's long gone now. It makes me wonder about what would have happened if Disney had never come to Florida. I think Orlando would still have become urbanized, though with a much less tourism-focused economy. Its status as a major crossroads for a heavily populated state would have just about guaranteed that, but it surely would have been a very different, and probably more gradual, sort of growth.
As bad as traffic can be in central Florida, though, I wonder if it would be worse if Orlando had become the city it is now without WDW's nearby presence. There has to be some pressure from WDW, Universal, etc. to keep traffic flowing smoothly (at least to their locations), which might not exist in other major cities.
As bad as traffic can be in central Florida, though, I wonder if it would be worse if Orlando had become the city it is now without WDW's nearby presence. There has to be some pressure from WDW, Universal, etc. to keep traffic flowing smoothly (at least to their locations), which might not exist in other major cities.
Dads 2 Boys
Well-Known Member
You want cash grab involving tolls.....Come to NY.
disney4life2008
Well-Known Member
I have lived in NYC. That is a cash grab but it makes sense there.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
No, that was the fashion in the early 80's. This was at the end of February. It was pleasant, but, not really what would be called unbearably hot. However, like ourselves, he may have left home a few days earlier when it was -22 degrees F. If it was 75 that would have been quite the contrast in temperatures.
DfromATX
Well-Known Member
That was the style back then. I have a photo of my dad in 1980-something wearing short shorts like that.
DfromATX
Well-Known Member
Well, I was thinking of the humidity that kills my hair and all the tourists (even though I'm one too).
disney4life2008
Well-Known Member
Did you purposefully mean to say "yuge?" lol
I live on the east side of Orlando and I agree. The worst parts of Orlando are in fact, around WDW and the i-4 tourist corridor but if you know how to navigate, its not impossible. Orlando is stunning and I love leaving my house in the morning and seeing turtles, fish, etc. all right out my door. Of course, I live next to a swamp and a huge lake
Kylo Ken
Local Idiot
I sure did
That's the Jersey coming out. I agree with everything you've said. Yes we do sit in traffic and it can be a mess but it's definitely not only that in the area. I live over in Windermere so I'm surrounded by lakes and conservation areas. My backyard faces a conservation area which houses God only knows what type of wildlife haha.Yes you still hear MK over here but again, you wouldn't believe you were right next to one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Personally, I love living in the Orlando area as well.I've lived in various cities around the country in my life and the one thing that seems to hold true is that in any city with any type of large tourist draw the crime and yuck factor seems higher nearer the tourist draw than if you go away from it, whether it is an amusement park, a casino or simply a huge mall... Tourist traffic doesn't just draw in the nice visitors is also always draws the unsavory type as well.
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
They are rather few and far between. Also, the true orange groves have gotten smaller. Beware of all of those tourist traps along the interstates!