Image copyright Disney.
Compiled by Blake
Originally posted October 1, 2011 as part of 40 Days at 40.
Today is the official 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort! Celebrating its 40th birthday today are the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and the monorail.
It was quite the big to-do today at the Magic Kingdom. A special parade kicked off the day with 40(ish) of the most classic of the classic Disney characters. The parade was appropriately done 1970's style, with no floats--just characters and performers. The parade marched to the beat of several vintage parade tunes from previous Magic Kingdom processions, including my personal favorite "Remember the Magic." Following the parade was a special ceremony at Cinderella Castle, featuring a sing-along of "When You Wish Upon a Star." Other festivities throughout the day included art signings, birthday cupcakes, and a special 40th anniversary edition of the Guidemap. In just a little while, Wishes will close out the day with a very special birthday finale. Our correspondent Haley tweeted all day of the park's events, which will be highglighted in an upcoming pictorial. Be on the lookout for it soon!
In the meantime, several readers sent in their favorite Walt Disney World memories to share on this happiest of birthdays. They speak for themselves in just how magical this resort is to its Guests.
From Melissa:
For me, Walt Disney World is an escape from everyday worries and hardships, where my entire family can have fun together. I have many memories over the years, especially from the early 1970's when I lived in central Florida and the Magic Kingdom was barely opened. Visit after visit I would always wear the same hat--it was fairly large and was big enough to shade my whole face. I bought several "versions" of the hat over the course of several visits, but it was alwyas the same style. I had my name embroidered on the back each time and Cast Members would always call me by my name. I kept forgetting that my name was on my hat and I thought it was so neat that they knew my name. I also remember one time when my mother was taping the parade. Tigger came up out of nowhere and scared her so bad! When watching the tape you can see the picture shake for a few seconds as my mom composes herself.
Now I get to watch the magic unfold for my children and see their faces light up as they experience Walt Disney World in the same way that I once did, the same way I do to this day.
From John:
Just so you know, your question renewed several pleasant memories of time spent at DW-- Everything from the overall excitement of expectation of approaching the park entrance to little specifics such as enjoying each munchkins’ wide-eyed enthusiasm. Other “things”: Hurricane Jeanne and how well Disney handled the situation (not to mention my son sleeping through his watch and how excited we were when we saw folks coming from the direction of the food court with their coffee mugs indicating the place was open). Also, that show featuring the on-screen turtle that interacted so well with the audience --- that breakfast where my other son turned beet-red when trying to explain his theory of the English (as from the island) having bad teeth to someone that happened to be English — and Hoop-Dee-Doo Revuew dinner and ---- and ----
From Jeff:
The smell of fresh popcorn when you enter main street says to me... We did it!!! We are really here!!!!
Cinderella Castle under construction. Image copyright Disney.
From Haley:
For my 16th birthday my mother asked me rather I would like to have a sweet sixteen party or go to Disney for a week! Of course, I picked going to Disney for a week! My birthday falls in that horrid tourist time of the week after christmas right up until everyone goes back to school from winter break, but I was determined to be at the Magic Kingdom on my birthday! So despite the crowds we went. The weather was perfect and the crowds weren't too bad right up until New Years Eve. That night a cold front blew in and dropped twenty degrees in less than two hours. Everyone knows that when it goes from 75 to 55 in a matter of hours in Florida the out come is not going to be good and in this case it wasn't. The next morning I woke up sick and not feeling well. So as it began to get closer to my birthday I began to get even more sick and less involved in special things my mom had planned for me.
On my birthday we ate at Chef Mickey's and I was not feeling it at all, but I still wanted to go because my mom said there was something special waiting for me. After we ate our meal the restaurant started playing their special birthday song and then next thing I know Mickey Mouse is bringing out my cake to be shaped like himself. It was something I had always wanted to happen. Even though I was sick, it still meant the world to me to be at the place I truly love with the people I love!
From Doug:
Hi Blake. Funny Story. In 1976, me and my police partner (Hal) went to Florida to visit the Boston Red Sox at their Spring Training site in Winter Haven. Since we were so close we decided to go to DW. My favorite was Pirates of the Carribean but you should have seen us riding through "Its A Small World"! Two big old lugs barely fitting in the little car! I can still hear that tune in my head 35 years later!
From Kenny:
From Scott:
Last year, on a trip with 16 family members, some of us decided to go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. On certain nights, the Magic Kingdom is only open to holders of tickets for the party, which consists of special shows and parades, and numerous locations throughout the park offering free cookies and hot chocolate. Ordinarily, these parties are heavily attended. However, on the night we went, it had been an abnormally cold day and there was a high chance of rain.
The threat of blustery conditions kept the crowds from coming, but it wasn't going to stop us! We donned our tackiest Christmas apparel (flashing silly hats, bright sweaters, candy-striped scarves, and glowing mouse ear pendants) and braced for the weather. The park was so barren that you could walk straight on to any ride. In fact, when we were told that there would be a 10-minute wait for the next showing of Mickey's PhilharMagic, we walked over to Dumbo, rode it twice, and still made the show on time. Some of us rode Space Mountain back-to-back to the point where they were beginning to feel queasy.
When my wife Heidi and I poked our heads into Cosmic Ray's to get some hot chocolate, Chip and Dale grabbed us by the arms and dragged us to the dance floor where, unbeknownst to us, they were in the middle of having a dance contest. Pitted against three other couples, who were very conservatively dressed compared to us, we shook our tail feathers to the Village People with reckless abandon. Our enthusiasm and attire yielded us copious amounts of applause from the audience, and we won the "Grand Prize." After all that dancing in all our layers in a well heated restaurant, our Grand Prize was probably the best tasting free bottle of water we have ever won.
As it happens, the foul weather never came, and the night ended up being about as nice as it could have been.
From Heidi:
Thank you to all our contributors! Happy birthday, Walt Disney World! Stay tuned late on in the week for a special pictorial of today's big doings.
Compiled by Blake; posted October 1, 2011.
On my birthday we ate at Chef Mickey's and I was not feeling it at all, but I still wanted to go because my mom said there was something special waiting for me. After we ate our meal the restaurant started playing their special birthday song and then next thing I know Mickey Mouse is bringing out my cake to be shaped like himself. It was something I had always wanted to happen. Even though I was sick, it still meant the world to me to be at the place I truly love with the people I love!
From Doug:
Hi Blake. Funny Story. In 1976, me and my police partner (Hal) went to Florida to visit the Boston Red Sox at their Spring Training site in Winter Haven. Since we were so close we decided to go to DW. My favorite was Pirates of the Carribean but you should have seen us riding through "Its A Small World"! Two big old lugs barely fitting in the little car! I can still hear that tune in my head 35 years later!
From Kenny:
My favorite Disney moment was It's Tough to Be a Bug at Animal Kingdom. It features Disney’s best-known and most popular character of all time (Flik) from the most successful and most loved* Disney/Pixar film of all time … A Bug's Life.
*Possibly opinionated...or is it?
*Possibly opinionated...or is it?
From Scott:
Last year, on a trip with 16 family members, some of us decided to go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. On certain nights, the Magic Kingdom is only open to holders of tickets for the party, which consists of special shows and parades, and numerous locations throughout the park offering free cookies and hot chocolate. Ordinarily, these parties are heavily attended. However, on the night we went, it had been an abnormally cold day and there was a high chance of rain.
The threat of blustery conditions kept the crowds from coming, but it wasn't going to stop us! We donned our tackiest Christmas apparel (flashing silly hats, bright sweaters, candy-striped scarves, and glowing mouse ear pendants) and braced for the weather. The park was so barren that you could walk straight on to any ride. In fact, when we were told that there would be a 10-minute wait for the next showing of Mickey's PhilharMagic, we walked over to Dumbo, rode it twice, and still made the show on time. Some of us rode Space Mountain back-to-back to the point where they were beginning to feel queasy.
When my wife Heidi and I poked our heads into Cosmic Ray's to get some hot chocolate, Chip and Dale grabbed us by the arms and dragged us to the dance floor where, unbeknownst to us, they were in the middle of having a dance contest. Pitted against three other couples, who were very conservatively dressed compared to us, we shook our tail feathers to the Village People with reckless abandon. Our enthusiasm and attire yielded us copious amounts of applause from the audience, and we won the "Grand Prize." After all that dancing in all our layers in a well heated restaurant, our Grand Prize was probably the best tasting free bottle of water we have ever won.
As it happens, the foul weather never came, and the night ended up being about as nice as it could have been.
From Heidi:
It was my first Disney trip and really did not know what to expect. I was 30 years old and only going because my husband spoke so highly of the place. We decided to go at Christmas. Needless to to say our trip was wonderful. There were so many great memories from that first trip (of course I have been back!) but one one stands out particularly to me. We went to see "Fantasmic!" It was so cold so that night that we were shivering in our seats. But when the show started it was like being transported into a different world. It was so exciting seeing the different characters of Disney that I had grown up with and there they were right in front of me. The best was when the fire played apart of the scenes. It so warmed all of us up and made us feel a part of the show. The crowd was so intimate for a show of that size it made us feel so connected. I really walked away from that show feeling special.
Roy Disney dedicates the Magic Kingdom in 1971. Image copyright Disney.
Thank you to all our contributors! Happy birthday, Walt Disney World! Stay tuned late on in the week for a special pictorial of today's big doings.
Compiled by Blake; posted October 1, 2011.
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