Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966, during the initial planning of the complex. After his death, the company wrestled with the idea of whether to bring the Disney World project to fruition; however, Walt's older brother, Roy O. Disney, came out of retirement to make sure Walt's biggest dream was realized.

No, Walt Disney was not alive for the opening of Walt Disney World. Walt passed away on December 15, 1966, at the age of 65, nearly five years before the resort officially opened to the public on October 1, 1971. However, Walt was deeply involved in the secret land acquisitions in Florida (the "Project X" phase) and the conceptual design of the resort, particularly his vision for EPCOT (the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). Following his death, his brother Roy O. Disney came out of retirement to oversee the construction and ensure Walt's dream was realized. Roy famously insisted that the resort be named "Walt Disney World" so that everyone would know it was his brother's vision. Roy passed away only three months after the park opened, having successfully inaugurated the Magic Kingdom and the first two resort hotels. Today, the "Partners" statue in the park serves as a reminder of Walt's foundational influence on the Florida project.