Disney Studios or Universal Orlando?

Why are Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World (etc...) all built in Orlando, Florida?

• My family just got back from our trip to Florida, and my dad and i were wondering... WHY Orlando? What aspects did Florida have that made it a good place for all these tourist sites? Imagine Florida, years and years ago, when there was NO Disney World and Universal Studios there. Was it rural, a city, or whatever? Or was there already a good population, so a good amount of people would come to these sites? Or does it have to do with the agriculture and weather...? WHAT was it like before all this happened...?! I know, its a lot to think about...but its also interesting! I mean, NEW Disney World, NEW Sea World, and NEW Universal Studios (all in Orlando!) and BOOM! the population increases drastically! Thanks for answers :)

• Answer:

  I don;t know what you mean by NEW Disney etc. Disney World has been here for 40 years, followed by SeaWorld and Universal. Orlando was a medium sized agricultural city, mostly orange groves and processing plants and large cattle ranches. Also tourism has been here for well over one hundred years. Walt Disney personally selected the area, for many reasons - Fairly cheap available land - abt $300 an acre. Plentiful water supply - had to be on the east coast - Any area just a bit north of Orlando gets too cold to stay open all year. Also on or between three interstates. BTW $300 land now sells for over $1 million.