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Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary Festivities At The Magic Kingdom, Special Castle Celebration, Cupcakes, Enhances Wishes Fireworks and More – Photos and Video

Hi everyone!

Yesterday we enjoyed celebrating Walt Disney World’s 40th Anniversary at the Magic Kingdom! There was a “40 Magical Years” banner welcoming us as we entered through the security gates (below, right), and one hanging from Cinderella Castle – in this picture, behind the Partners statue featuring Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse (below, right).

  

There was quite a crowd for the festivities with many arriving as early as 6:00 am to acquire wristbands to purchase limited edition merchandise (below, left). The Main Street Philharmagic took to the stage to play a few songs (below, right).

  

There was a special parade that featured the theme songs from different celebrations (such as Remember the Magic, from Walt Disney World’s 25th Anniversary). Characters also were part of the parade, from Mickey and Minnie to the Mayor of Main Street USA (below, left). We had a great view of Cinderella Castle from where we were standing (below, right).

   

Dale, Daisy, Donald, Mickey and Minnie are part of the stage presence, and the Fairy Godmother watches from above (below, left). Cinderella waves as she stands with Prince Charming (below, right).

 

Signs signifying the different celebrations were part of the parade, and on the stage (below, left and right). Mickey Mania, the 15th anniversary – remember when they gave out a car each day? – and the Tencennial were represented. There was also a sign for the Mickey Mania parade.

 

It was 40 years ago when Walt Disney World officially opened. The once top secret “Florida project” was the dream of visionary Walt Disney. “We’ve grown by leaps and bounds since then,” Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton (below left) told guests assembled in front of the Castle Saturday. “But the fact remains that this place, as it appeared on October 1, 1971 was the last great vision of one of the world’s greatest dreamers.”

 

It was nice to see the Fairy Godmother (below, left) in the character lineup! Many of the princesses were part of the event, along with their corresponding other half. Belle (below, right) listens to Meg Crofton while The Beast holds her hand.

  

Minnie Mouse (below, left) escorts Magic Kingdom Vice President Phil Holmes (who was a ticket-taker on opening day) to the stage. “It was all about the E ticket,” Holmes recalled. He also referenced the ongoing expansion of Fantasyland. “That will be another part of our legacy that goes on and on,” he said.

  

The Dapper Dans help close out the presentation with a mass sing-along of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” (below, left) as special daytime fireworks erupt around Cinderella Castle! (below, right)

 

Characters and performers take a few more moments to linger on the stage (below, left). The fabulous Dapper Dans wave to the crowd (below, right).

  

Mickey and Minnie wave to the crowd as they exit the stage (below, left), while Donald and Daisy hold hands as they walk off. After the event, we headed to the Diamond Horseshoe building, to see how the line was for merchandise. Guests had waited hours to buy items, a friend waited over 5 hours to pick up a few pins!

 

Video #1 – Magic Kingdom 40th Anniversary Celebration, Full Presentation, Walt Disney World 10/1/11 – Walt Disney World turned 40 yesterday and the Magic Kingdom offered a character parade and Castle forecourt presentation that included remarks from Park President Meg Crofton and Vice President Phil Holmes, a sing along with The Dapper Dans and special daytime fireworks!

Denise and I enjoyed an orange slush after experiencing our first opening day attraction of the day, the Enchanted Tiki Room (below, left). This is a tradition of mine going back to the 1970’s, I have many photos of myself over the years enjoying them outside the Sunshine Tree Terrace! We didn’t get to try a 40th Anniversary cupcake, the desserts were sold out about an hour after they went on sale – but a friend did buy 2 of them (below, right).

  

The Grand Marshalls for the parade were guests who’d been at the Magic Kingdom on opening day (below, left). Mickey and Minnie wave to the crowd from their Celebrate a Dream Come True  parade float (below, right).

  

Our friend Steve joins his girlfriend Tammy for the day, as they dress in retro 70’s garb (below, left). One interesting thing to note – she designed the gorgeous guidemaps for the 40th event (below, right). There were also buttons given out.

  

The guidemap opens out into a Magic Kingdom opening day park map (below, left). The Orange Bird (below, right) makes an appearance as well!

  

I took a couple of screen shots showing the 180 degree perimeter fireworks of the special Wishes presentation  (below, left), and Denise brought a tripod to the middle of Main Street USA for pictures from that location (below, right).

 

Here is another screenshot (below, right) from the video I shot atop the Main Street Train Station. And when we left the park, we headed to Disney’s Polynesian Resort – where we found the talented artist Jody Dailey (below, right)! He spent nearly half of an hour talking with us – he (and Kevin Kidney) are two of the nicest people you’d ever meet. It was the perfect ending to a magical day celebrating with so many good friends!

  

For many more great photos, please check out MouseSteps latest update HERE!

Get ready for Halloween (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party’s 2003 – 2010 Available) 2011 Edition Available Now!

Jeff Lange’s Trick or Treat 8 (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2011)

Jeff Lange presents this all-new DVD from the 2011 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World!

Featuring: Br’er Rabbit’s Laughin’ Place Candy Patch, The Headless Horseman, Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, Happy HalloWishes Fireworks, Villains Dance Mix and Mingle, Not So Scary Party Scenes, Haunted Mansion at Midnight and more!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information

or to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Trick or Treat vol 1 – 8 (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties 2003-2011) – Click HERE

Halloween Time at Disneyland (Mickey’s Halloween Party 2010)

Jeff Lange’s Disneyland Trick or Treat (Mickey’s Halloween Party 2010)

Jeff Lange presents this all-new DVD from the 2010 Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland!

Featuring: Spooky Halloween Party Scenes, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade, Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy, Halloween Screams – A Villainous Surprise in the Skies Fireworks, Haunted Mansion Holiday and more!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information

or to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Halloween Titles (Including Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties 2003-2011) – Click HERE

All New Summer Releases – Disneyland Summertime 2011 and Magic Kingdom Summertime 2011

Jeff Lange’s Disneyland Summertime 2011

Join Jeff Lange as he brings the magic of Disneyland into your home with “Jeff Lange’s Disneyland Summertime 2011″!

Featuring the following 2011 summertime favorites: Entrance Scenes, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean with Blackbeard, The Magic, The Memories and You! plus BONUS: “Magical” A Fireworks Spectacular!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available

Jeff Lange’s Magic Kingdom Summertime 2011

Celebrate the summer of 2011 in style, as Jeff Lange brings you the newest offerings from Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom!

Featuring the following 2011 summertime favorites: Entrance Scenes, Haunted Mansion Interactive Queue, Haunted Mansion Ride, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Magic, The Memories, and You! plus BONUS: Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky Fireworks Spectacular !

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange’s Magic Kingdom Summertime 2010 (Featuring SpectroMagic, Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Show, Main Street Electrical Parade and more!)

Celebrate Spring – Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2011:

Jeff Lange Experiences: Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival 2011

Celebrate spring at one of Disney’s most anticipated events of the year: The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2011.

Experience these unique panoramic displays throughout Epcot’s Future World and all around World Showcase!

Running Time: 64 Min

For more information

or to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Experiences: Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival 2010, Jeff Lange Experiences: Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival 09, Jeff Lange Experiences: Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival 2008

Recent Releases – Frontierland Classics, Adventureland Classics and Liberty Square Classics:

Jeff Lange Remembers: Frontierland Classics

Take a trip back in time to experience classic Walt Disney World “Frontierland” attractions. This fifth volume in the series features the following: Splash Mountain (1992), Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade (2006), Country Bear Jamboree (1992), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (1997), Tom Sawyer Island (2006) and more!

Running Time: 65 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Fantasyland Classics

Also available

Jeff Lange Remembers: Adventureland Classics

Take a trip back in time to experience classic Walt Disney World “Adventureland” attractions. This fourth volume in the series features the following: Adventureland Tour (1992-1997), Jungle Cruise (1993), Enchanted Tiki Birds Tropical Serenade (1992), Pirates of the Caribbean (original version including Barker Bird 1992), Pirates of the Caribbean (1997) and more!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available

Jeff Lange Remembers: Liberty Square Classics

Take a trip back in time to experience classic Walt Disney World “Liberty Square” attractions. This third volume in the series features the following: The Hall of Presidents (Original Version – 1993), Mike Fink Keel Boats (opening day attraction – 1992), Haunted Mansion (original version – 1992), Haunted Mansion Bonus Ride (my final recording of the original version with some special surprises – 2006)!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Tomorrowland Classics

Epcot Center Historical DVDs – Available Now:

For fans of classic Epcot Center, I present my Epcot Center Historical Collection!

Click on any cover for more information

Holiday Treat 2010 DVD – Available Now:

Jeff Lange’s Holiday Treat 2010 (Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2010)

Seasons Greetings from Jeff Lange! Celebrate the holidays with this new DVD featuring the 2010 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World.

Features yearly favorites such as: “Cinderella’s Holiday Wish (Castle Lighting)“, “Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade“, “Holiday Wishes Fireworks – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season“, “Celebrate the Season Show“, Very Merry Party Scenes, and much more!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Walt Disney World Vintage Footage:

Jeff Lange DVD Presents: Bob Welbaum’s Walt Disney World 1986 DVD

 

Jeff Lange turns back the clock to 1986, where you will experience Walt Disney World through the eyes of Disneyana documentarian Bob Welbaum. This incredible vintage footage includes select narration from Mr. Welbaum, who shot this video before recording was commonplace.

Walt Disney World 1986 contains clips from the following: Walt Disney World Resorts, Original Disney Shopping Village, Epcot Center, Discovery Island, Magic Kingdom, Seven Seas Lagoon and much more!

Running Time: 65 Min

For more information

or to purchase this item, please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Fantasyland Classics and Jeff Lange Remembers: Tomorrowland Classics

Disneyland Vintage Footage (5 Volumes Available):

Jeff Lange Remembers Disneyland Classics Vol 5

Jeff Lange takes you on a trip back in time to experience classic Disneyland attractions. This fifth volume in the series features the following:

Aladdin’s Royal Caravan (1993), Disneyland Railroad(1992) including the burning settlers cabin, Big Thunder Ranch and more, Beauty and the Beast Show (1993),Pinocchio’s Daring Journey (1993), Alice in Wonderland (1993) andFantasy in the Sky Fireworks (1993)!

Running Time: 66 Min

For more information or to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Disneyland Classics Volume 1 – 4.

Click here to browse the JeffLangeDVD store.

As always, if you want to request a future DVD idea, Photo Memory topic or comment on anything, just drop me a line at suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com.