As we count down the days this week to the next Destination D event, this time honoring the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort, I thought it would be fun to look back on anniversary celebrations over the past 40 years.
Aside from Disneyland's 10th anniversary in 1965, the large-scale celebration of Disney Parks anniversaries was most in vogue during the 1980s and 90s. Today, Disney acknowledges each anniversary with smaller events and collectible merchandise, saving the big blowouts for significant milestones (such as Disneyland's 50th in 2005). The last major celebration at Walt Disney World kicked off in October 1996 for the 25th anniversary. (All photos ©Disney)
The 25 Years of Magic celebration was marked by the debut of the Cinderella Castle Cake, a remarkable transformation of the Magic Kingdom park icon into an enormous, candy-colored confection. The castle cake continues to be as controversial today as it was then. I, for one, actually liked it. To see it in person was an unbelievable experience. While it made me smile every time, I also understood why others didn't care for it. It was perhaps too dramatic a departure from the classic castle image, and for those visiting Walt Disney World on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, it just wasn't what they expected to see.
What guests that year did enjoy, however, was the new Remember the Magic parade. Featuring a gospel-inspired theme, the parade introduced a new concept to the park, show stops. For the first time in Magic Kingdom history, the parade came to a stop at points on the route, and guests were invited into the street to take part in the celebration.
The 25th anniversary was also treated as a reunion of sorts. Every guest who had ever visited the Magic Kingdom was invited to return for the celebration. At the 25th Anniversary Welcome Center on Main Street (in the current home of Town Square Theater), guests could check in and receive a special badge identifying the year of their first visit. Mine proudly proclaimed: 1978! New to Walt Disney World? You got a First Visit badge, the precursor to the celebration buttons common today.
The Welcome Center included a sneak preview of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, set to open at the conclusion of the 18-month-long anniversary celebration. At the time, 25 Years of Magic was the longest and most successful campaign the Walt Disney World Resort had ever seen.
For those of you who will be celebrating Walt Disney World's 40th at Destination D this weekend, be sure to look for me. I'll be at several of the presentations during the day and at times volunteering in the merchandise area of the Contemporary Resort Convention Center, so come say, "Hello!" I look forward to meeting you!
If you would like to attend Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th, tickets are still available at this link.