REMEMBER... OPENING OCT. 1971

We conclude this week's countdown of Walt Disney World anniversary milestones with... a countdown. This time, it's the ticking clock for construction crews and Imagineers putting the finishing touches on the Magic Kingdom park for its grand opening, a date emblazoned on the face of Cinderella Castle for all to see. (All photos ©Disney)

Although an initial groundbreaking ceremony had taken place in 1967, quite a bit of preparation had to be done to the land before actual work could begin. Construction started in earnest on May 27, 1969, with just over two years to go before the big day. The pictures you see here represent the final weeks and months leading up to the opening.

In the photo above, City Hall is nearly complete, and the Victorian woodwork is being added to the front of the Emporium. Below, the towering pylons at the entrance to Tomorrowland await their final paint and tile. Trees have been planted along the waterway, fresh sod is being laid and a wooden mock-up of a Plaza Swan Boat is placed in the canal to test for clearances (although the actual attraction wouldn't be ready to open until May 1973).

In this next shot, we see the famed Liberty Tree. This 100+ year old southern live oak was identified on the south end of Walt Disney World Resort property, and then transplanted to Liberty Square. Steel rods were drilled through the center of the tree, allowing it to be lifted onto the truck by crane, driven slowly to the Magic Kingdom and lowered into place. The holes left by the rods were then sealed, allowing the tree to survive and thrive.

Our last shot today offers a peak into Fantasyland, where Dumbo is almost ready to fly. This is the original 10-arm Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction, which was replaced by the current 16-arm version in the early-90s. Look closely at the photo, and you can also spot one of the Skyway towers and the palm trees surrounding the lagoon for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

As we prepare to embark upon the celebration of Walt Disney World's 40th year, Dumbo the Flying Elephant is under construction once again... this time as part of Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland. The circus big top is already going vertical, and Dumbo will soon fly east to his new home, set to debut in 2012.

Flashback: Magic Kingdom Dedication Day

Before the Magic Kingdom celebrated any anniversaries, the park hosted a big blowout for its grand opening and dedication. The first guests had entered the gates on October 1, 1971, but the official opening ceremonies didn't happen until October 25. The pomp and circumstance that day included a 1500-voice choir singing "When You Wish Upon a Star," an immense balloon release (a tradition which Disney stopped in the late-80s out of concern for the environment), and The Music Man composer Meredith Wilson leading a parade of characters, performers and 1076 trombones up Main Street, U.S.A. (All photos ©Disney)

Walt Disney's brother and business partner, Roy O. Disney led the ceremony with the reading of the dedication:

Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney... and to the talents, the dedication and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring joy and inspiration and new knowledge to all who come to this happy place... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn... together.

When Walt Disney passed away in December 1966, Roy was preparing to retire. Land had been purchased and preliminary plans made for what was then known as The Florida Project, but in Walt's absence, no one knew what might become of it all. To his immense credit, Roy stepped up, postponing retirement to lead Walt Disney Productions through this trying time, with the goal of seeing The Florida Project through to completion.

His first move was to change the name of the project from the proposed Disneyworld to Walt Disney World, to help ensure the public would never forget this was Walt's greatest dream. Roy dedicated the park to his brother in October 1971 and died just two months later. He never got that retirement, but he did earn our eternal gratitude.

The Blaine Gibson-sculpted statue, "Sharing the Magic," on Town Square in the Magic Kingdom is a tribute to Roy O. Disney and his unfailing support in making dreams come true.

Flashback: 15 Years of Magic & Tencennial

"It's been 15 years, and we're having a party.

Here at Disney World, there's a party all year long!"

Kicking off in 1986, the Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary Celebration was marked with a brand new parade and fabulous prizes. The premiere weekend, held for thousands of press and invited guests October 2-5, also coincided with a celebration of the bicentennial of the United States Constitution. Guests visiting the Hall of Presidents signed copies of the Constitution, renewing their commitment to that enduring document, and it was during this time that the authentic replica of the Liberty Bell was added to the park's Liberty Square.

Inspired by the Gift Giver Extraordinaire, which had been such a success during the Disneyland 30th anniversary in 1985, Walt Disney World celebrated by giving gifts to guests who entered the Magic Kingdom. Every 15 seconds, all year long, guests were surprised with vouchers for presents ranging from buttons to T-shirts, and once a day, someone walked away with a new car!

Among other features, the 15 Years of Magic Parade introduced the Crystal Castle float, a unit which continues to play a part in Magic Kingdom parades 25 years later. There was even a limited-run 15th Anniversary float added to the Main Street Electrical Parade that year.

Five years earlier, October 1981 saw the start of different parade in honor of the Walt Disney World Tencennial. Celebrating the resort's 10th birthday, Tencennial was the first anniversary celebration held in Florida. As they liked to say at the time, it was a party "a year long and a smile wide!"

The Tencennial Parade featured theme music adapted from the "Disneyland Is Your Land" song created for that park's 25th anniversary a year earlier. The parade included homages to each of the lands of the Magic Kingdom. It's song, "Walt Disney World Is Your World," also became the title and theme of a new stage show introduced that year.

Tencennial was a huge success, concluding with the October 1982 opening of EPCOT Center, and it paved the way for future anniversary celebrations in the Vacation Kingdom of the World. (All photos ©Disney)

Flashback: Surprise Celebration

We continue our look back at Walt Disney World anniversary celebrations today with a trip to 1991 and the 20th anniversary of the resort. The theme that year was Surprise Celebration, with surprise elements each day and new surprise features added as the year went on. (All photos ©Disney)

Ahead of the celebration kickoff, a group of cast members gathered in front of the railroad station at the Magic Kingdom for an official anniversary photo. I was there that day and lucky enough to be chosen to take part in the photo. That's me, standing at the railing by the engine cab in the Haunted Mansion butler costume. Look around in the photo, and you'll also discover several costumes from the park's past which are no longer in use today: the yellow vest of the Diamond Horseshoe server, the original It's a Small World sailor outfit, the old mustard yellow Fantasyland lederhosen, the red and white with mouse ears from Mickey's Starland and the blue-clad crew of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (there are several of those guys at the upper right).

Roger Rabbit played a big role in the celebration of the 20th. Still riding high on the success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Disney's newest star led the Surprise Celebration Parade. He also popped up "unexpectedly" in shows across the park to surprise guests with prizes, ranging from 20th anniversary T-shirts to caps with plush Rogers affixed to the bill.

The Surprise Celebration Parade was a spectacular, Mardi Gras-inspired procession of colorful costumes, giant character balloons and (for the first time at WDW) stilt walkers. The parade made its grand debut the morning of October 1, 1991, immediately following a park rededication ceremony presided over by Michael Eisner and Roy E. Disney.

I was at the park on that day, as well, but this time as a guest. For the ceremony, I was standing under a large yellow balloon just to the left of the photo above. I had a great view... of the back of the dedication float. Even though I couldn't see well, it was impossible not to be excited by all the Disney Legends in attendance or to get choked up when Roy picked up the dedication plaque and reread the words his father had spoken on that very site 20 years earlier.

Another major element of the 20th anniversary celebration was the premiere of SpectroMagic, a new nighttime spectacular to replace the original Main Street Electrical Parade. My memories of SpectroMagic are of the crunch to get the parade ready on time. I recall working on the Jungle Cruise dock when our manager came down looking for people willing to pull some overtime helping out on the parade. The available shifts were either 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Brutal. I was willing to do it, though, for the chance to see something new up close and personal.

I was scheduled off the next day, so I chose the day shift. I spent those twelve hours backstage at the Magic Kingdom Production Center meticulously placing black tie-wraps on either side of every light bulb on the Silly Symphony float. The show's director wanted the lights in SpectroMagic to be precise, unlike the shaky lighting strands on the old parade. Whenever SpectroMagic makes its return to the park, look for those tie wraps, and think about all those Jungle Skippers (and other cast members) it took to get everything just right.

For me, the 20th Anniversary Surprise Celebration was my first big event as a Disney cast member. I've had the opportunity to participate in many more, even grander events since then, but the 20th will always hold a special place in my memory.

Flashback: WDW 25th Anniversary

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.

Flashback: Mulholland Madness

We finish our tour of Paradise Pier and Disney California Adventure with a look at a recently-extinct attraction, Mulholland Madness. Named for and inspired by Mulholland Drive, the scenic 50-mile stretch of road from North Hollywood to the Malibu Coast, this "wild mouse"-style coaster offered guests a twisting, turning ride much like portions of its famous namesake.

The face of the attraction was adorned with a gigantic, unfolded road map of Mulholland Drive. Depicted on the map was everything from Marilyn Monroe to a landslide on the Pacific Coast Highway. Of course, while traffic was jammed on the PCH and the Hollywood Freeway, everyone was freewheeling along Mulholland... so much so, that the cars of the ride even appeared to crash right through the map at one point! The map also included a nod to Alamo Rent A Car (operating sponsor of the attraction from 2004-2010) and an image of a swimming pool shaped like Mickey Mouse.

Each of the coaster cars on Mulholland Madness featured four bucket seats and its own custom paint job. There were hot rods and Woodies and even squad cars of the California Highway Patrol.

Cars and car culture were the principle design motifs on Mulholland Madness. Everything here contributed to the story, from the orange net fencing around the perimeter to the "Cast Members Only" sign made to resemble a license plate. Even the height stick looked as if it belonged on the side of a highway.

The use of road signs in the queue and load areas continued along the ride path as well, with the addition of billboards advertising things like Mulholland Drive-Thru Donuts and Mulholland Madness the movie, starring Teri Fide and Rolly Coasta.

Mulholland Madness closed in October 2010, to be re-imagined as Goofy's Sky School. The new attraction is set to debut this summer.

The district of Paradise Pier which included Mulholland Madness, stretching from Burger Invasion to Dinosaur Jack's Sunglass Shack and roadside merchandise stand Souvenir 66, was intended as an homage to California's infatuation with the automobile. While these opening day features may have driven into history, the park is actually preparing to hit the gas on an even bigger tribute to cars, chrome and the "Mother Road" with the 2012 debut of Cars Land.

Guests visiting Disney California Adventure now can get a sneak peek at the new land under construction. The wall in front of the project has been dressed as oversized postcards, touting some of the new attractions and destinations opening next year. Among my favorite details on the wall: perforations between the cards and the price tag!

Beach Culture

Paradise Pier pays homage to the grand beachfront amusement parks of the past. While the amusement aspects of the district may be the most obvious, the beach is represented here as well. Billboards like the one pictured above show us that stretch of sand "Between Sea and Sky" which, although not a part of the park we can visit, is very much a part of the story.

Beach details abound, even in the subtlest form. Take this drinking fountain, for example. It's modeled after a beach side shower. Notice the nozzles near the top? They're perfect for washing off the sand and salty water.

Until recently, the beach setting was even more prominent. Nestled in the grove where the Boardwalk met the shore was Pizza Oom Mow Mow, a quick service restaurant facility dedicated to California's surf culture. Pizza Oom Mow Mow, the name inspired by a popular tune from the '60s, closed in September 2010, but it's never too late to look back and enjoy some of the story details that were.

Pizza Oom Mow Mow was designed as a surf shack, a hangout on the beach that served as HQ for groups of surfer dudes and dudettes, celebrating California's "endless summer." This was the perfect place for late-night beach parties, late morning sleeping in and a climb to the rooftop tower to watch for incoming swells on the water.

Of course, you couldn't have an homage to California's period surf culture without Tikis. A pair stood guard at the door, and there was even a little guy behind the counter, munching on a slice of pepperoni. There was tons of detail here, from beach chairs and towels to bikes, boards and vintage California beach postcards. Even the menu contributed to the storytelling with offerings like the Big Kahuna Hawaiian Pizza and Pipeline Pizza Salad.

The music of the Beach Boys and other icons of beach culture permeated the space, where you could always find a place to stow your board (at one time, there was even a pink one labeled "Annette") or check the local surf conditions.

The surf shack of Pizza Oom Mow Mow had apparently been expanded over the years, enclosing areas which had once been part of the exterior of the building. Here, the surfers had painted the garage door with an airbrushed mural of an old Woodie station wagon and used their collection of hubcaps, mirrors and license plates as decoration.

In another corner of the restaurant, there was even a nod to classic beach and surf movies of the 1960s, including the Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello romp, Beach Party.

Pizza Oom Mow Mow wasn't alone in its affinity for beach culture. This stretch of Paradise Pier also featured Reboundo Beach, another boardwalk-style game of skill, and the S.S. rustworthy children's play area (read more about that here).

In the end, all this surf culture didn't quite jive with the new vision of Paradise Pier as a turn-of-the-20th-century amusement zone. The area that once encompassed the pizza restaurant (as well as nearby Burger Invasion), game and playground is being redressed as a beautifully-landscaped garden district, featuring re-branded restaurants Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and Paradise Garden Grill. Look for these to make their debut this summer.

Flashback: Maliboomer

Maliboomer was an opening day attraction in Paradise Pier at the Disney California Adventure park. As part of that area's tribute to the classic oceanfront amusement parks of California, Maliboomer emulated one of the most popular features from the carnival midways in those parks, the game known as the "high striker."

Maliboomer was actually a "vertical catapult"-style ride, featuring three 180-foot high towers that launched Guests straight up at dizzying speed. To create the look of the "high striker," the attraction was enhanced with light and sound effects, point value graphics along the sides of the towers, and giant bells at the top, just like those that would ring in the game when a strong man would strike his mallet hard enough to reach the top of the pole.

While Maliboomer was named for the city of Malibu, one of California's most popular beach destinations, the Maliboomer itself never found such popularity. Alas, the sun set on the Maliboomer on September 6, 2010. As Paradise Pier was being reimagined as a Victorian-era seaside park, the giant towers no longer fit.