After an intense two years of construction and at a cost of more than $400 million (the equivalent of just over $3bn today), Walt Disney World opened on October 1, 1971, with Mickey Mouse leading celebrities like Bob Hope and Julie Andrews through the park entrance.

In the first two years, the attraction drew 20 million visitors and turned the sleepy citrus-growing town of Orlando into the "theme park capital of the world." The resort continues to introduce new rides and attractions, welcoming more than 50 million visitors each year.

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Read on for more incredible photos that show Florida's transformation from swampland to holiday paradise...

Fascinating then and now photos of Florida's best-loved attractions