The birth of Disney's Magic Kingdom

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Story highlights
Master craftsman hand-carved Chester Wise Many details Magic Kingdom
His pictures show Disney's vision under construction
(CNN) Kelly Wise Valdes Did not think twice about visiting the Magic Kingdom When She Was a Child.

Her grandfather, Chester "Chet" Wise Helped build the Disney park starting in 1969 and continued to work there up to he retired in the late 1980s. Her grandmother, Elizabeth Wise, aussi Worked at the park. They Lived up to it right by Chet Wise died in 2002 Valdes visited so often.
After her grandmother died in 2012, Valdes Was Given a box of pictures That She Did not up to examine She Was packing to move last March.
What she found Was a treasure trove: her grandfather HAD taken Dozens of pictures of the Magic Kingdom under construction, Often from High Above. Valdes Told CNN the story of These magical pictures.
What was your grandfather's job?
My grandfather, Chet Wise, Was a master craftsman and woodworker Who handcrafted Many of the architectural details of the Magic Kingdom in Orlando icts During construction. He Was a patient and meticulous perfectionist In His craftsmanship.
Walt Disney HAD beens very Particular in the details of everything in the original Disneyland Park in California, and Disney ALTHOUGH already HAD Passed away prior to the Magic Kingdom's opening, the legacy continued.
Thousands of construction workers Were There DURING THE Magic Kingdom construction. Disney Kept A small handful of These master craftsmen and made 'em full-time Disney employed, and my grandfather Was one of the chosen few.
My grandmother, Betty Wise, aussi Worked at the Magic Kingdom as one of the executive administrative assistants Who Helped set up the executive offices. My grandparents Worked there up to Their retirement in the mid-1980s. They Belonged to the "Golden Ears Club," a group of active Disney withdrawn.
Why Did They live on Disney property?
My grandparents Were one of 10 families Actually Lived That is Disney property, Disney needed Because a handful of residents in order to Incorporate Lake Buena Vista as an actual city back in the early 1970s.
These employed Were handpicked, and my grandparents on Disney property Lived up to my grandfather Passed away. It was so close to the Magic Kingdom fireworks That I Could See from Their forehead When I was a kid.
What Was visiting Disney like for you as a child?
I was born in 1967 and raised in Jacksonville, about 130 miles from Orlando, and my Earliest memories of my grandparents always included Disney. I never regarded it unusual That They Lived in a small community and They Were one of a FEW Disney citoyens. It just Seemed like a normal thing to me.
I remember running through the Magic Kingdom Towards Space Mountain and wanting an autograph from Mickey Mouse. My grandfather Would Point out things along the way. "I built this. I Made That."
Why Did your grandfather take pictures thesis?
I Believe That Were Many of These pictures specific to the architectural things he Personally Worked on. I remember telling us _him_ That he crafted the detailed and intricate woodwork around the windows in the train station at the front of the park. He aussi DID Elaborate all the woodworking for windows on Main Street, Cinderella's Castle and Pinocchio's Village. He hand-built everything.
Why are these pictures special?
I think There Were Many stock pictures That Were Were staged and released by Disney That Depict the building During That Time period. Purpose May there not be a great deal of amateur candid photographs from this time. So many people Kept repeating That They HAD never seen pictures like thesis before.
My father and I are not sure que la Construction crews Were allowed to take pictures, but my grandfather Was a little mischievous. And if you think of the logistics of it, Would not it be easy. In 1971 Did not people-have small cell phone cameras. My grandfather Had a wide, heavy 35-millimeter camera, qui I have, and He Was working on high scaffolding. Some de son pictures from up high show the vastness of the whole building site.