Walt Disney World’s Economic Impact Readers Theater Script | Grades 9-12

From swampy swath to $100‑billion tourism engine—this Readers Theater invites students backstage at Walt Disney World’s 1971 debut, unmasking how one theme park reshaped Florida’s economy, labor landscape, and environmental policy for decades to come.

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• Grade bands: 9-12
• Characters: 12
• Word count: 3100

Perfect For

• Economics of tourism units
• Corporate social responsibility debates
• AP Human Geography case studies

(a single PDF with links to Google Docs/Slides, if print format is preferred you can download from your Google Drive to word/pdf/ppt/etc)

What’s Included

• Student script (~3100 words, 10–12 scenes, DOCX/PDF/Google Doc)
• Teacher guide (~12–15 pages, DOCX/PDF/Google Doc)
• Student worksheet (~20–25 Google Slides)
• Self‑graded Google Forms quiz (20+ questions)

Teacher’s Script Summary

• Scene 1: Walt’s land purchase & vision.
• Scene 2: Magic Kingdom opens 1971.
• Scene 3: EPCOT cultural showcase 1982.
• Scene 4: 1984 labor strike over wages.
• Scene 5: Wetland controversy in 1990s.
• Scene 6: 2023 DeSantis vs. Disney dispute.
• Scene 7: Tourism multiplier effect.
• Scene 8: Disney World in 2025 stats.
• Scene 9: STEM & cultural programs.
• Scene 10: Reflections on economic power.

Standards Alignment

SS.912.A.7.12; SS.912.A.7.14; SS.912.G.5.5; SS.912.E.2.8; SS.912.CG.4.3; SS.912.E.2.9; RI.11-12.1; RI.11-12.2; RI.11-12.3