Walt Disney Weird: Zany Moments in History
Happy Anniversary, Walt Disney World! On October 1, 1971, Magic Kingdom opened its gates to guests as the Vacation Kingdom of the World. I thought it’d be fun to reflect on some weirder moments from Magic Kingdom’s history, especially after the popularity of our Weird Disneyland: 60 Years of Zaniness post.
Much like Disneyland, there are some bizarre, funny, and sometimes downright odd things that Walt Disney World has presented in the form of attractions, parades, and entertainment throughout the years. Rather than cramming all of the parks into one post, this one will focus solely on Magic Kingdom. After all, “Barbie Birthday Party” at Epcot ’94 probably is deserving of a post all its own!
I’ll add the standard disclaimer that this list of oddities is presented to celebrate the way Magic Kingdom has changed and evolved, not to mock it. I think the items on this list (mostly short-lived entertainment) reflect the eras from which they came, and it’s fascinating to view the 1970s, 80s, and 90s through a Disney lens. Sure, a couple of these things might be cringe-worthy today, but they are a product of their time–and how many ‘flavors of the month’ today will be cringe-worthy in a few decades?
Anyway, before we dig into the list, I want to thank some of the historical resources out there that have chronicled the history of Walt Disney World. Particularly helpful for background research on this post were Archivist Nate Rasmussen’s “Disney Days of Past” series on the Disney Parks Blog, and Progress City Primer by Michael Crawford. Other sources are linked to throughout the post, and are worth a read.
Pooh for President – Sensing weakness in McGovern and President Nixon, Pooh decided to toss his hat in the political fray, with an…uh…interesting(?) presidential campaign in 1972. This ranks as one of Disney’s more bizarre publicity efforts, mainly because of the promotional effort and level of detail that went into Pooh’s Presidential campaign.
Primarily a Disneyland event (where Pooh ran in ’68, ’72, ’76, and ’80), in 1972, Pooh’s formal nomination occurred at Walt Disney World. There, Pooh received the Demo-Pooh-blican Party bid (as voted on by kids who entered a promo at Sears), and was announced at the forecourt of Cinderella Castle. Tigger served as his press secretary, and via press releases, several policy positions (that mirrored real-life politics) were released. His platform included disclosing the “Bear Facts,” a promise to put “hunny in every pot,” a “battle to ‘lick’ the high price of ice cream cones,” and other proposals aimed at earning the youth vote. Pooh again ran for President in 1976, and this time he had his own theme song, “Winnie the Pooh for President,” sold as a single at Sears stores.
Even though this was clearly a cute event aimed at kids, it’s interesting how Disney rounded Pooh’s bid out with details that border on satirizing modern political campaigns. There’s an absurd undertone to all of this that (to me, at least) distinguishes it from the optimism of Hall of Presidents or American Adventure, even though those two attractions are aimed at decidedly older audiences. In tone, this struck an almost Muppets-esque humor, but with the benign bear at its core, it still seems completely innocent.
America on Parade – The Pooh for President campaign was such a rousing success that 3 years later, America on Parade debuted in Magic Kingdom to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States. In several regards, there was nothing bizarre or weird about this: it was an incredibly ambitious salute to all nations but mostly only America, and there were some great designs in there. In fact, the parade was produced in co-production with Disneyland in order to distribute the costs of the elaborate production between the parks, and two copies of the parade were built–and run–simultaneously on each coast as both a daytime and nighttime parade. (It performed some 600+ times in Magic Kingdom during its 2 year run!) In addition to the parade and other in park offerings, Disney produced a television special and America on Parade book.
There were also some elements of America on Parade that, in retrospect, were pretty bizarre. Like wall carpet, something that seemed groovy in the 1970s, but later seemed weird. There was a sandwich float, television float, giant rocking chair float, and giant turkey float. That’s just naming a few! A prime example of the odd characters in this parade were the 8′ tall walking dolls known as the “People of America,” which would later serve as the inspiration for Chucky, and give rise to the whole sub-genre of “Puppet Horror.” (Actually, the idea behind them seemingly was resurrected later with the World Showcase dolls in EPCOT Center…but that’s another topic for another post!)
Scat Cat’s Jazz Band – Today we have Sonny Eclipse–and before him, Michael Iceberg–serenading Magic Kingdom guests with cosmic tunes on stage at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. Before either of them, and before the restaurant was even called Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, Scat Cat’s jazz band from The Aristocats performed on the same stage at the Plaza Pavilion in Magic Kingdom in the 1970s.
What’s weird about this is that these meet & greet characters were, presumably, performing live music…or pretending to perform around real instruments. I know this is the norm with character shows in the parks, but it seems a bit odder to have characters that are supposed to be an actual band faux-performing (and in such close proximity to guests). The only photo and information about this entertainment are from the Disney Parks Blog. (There’s also this photo and this photo of the meet & greet characters roaming Fantasyland in 1972, but nothing else.) Anyone else recall seeing this trio perform? Was it as bizarre as what I’m envisioning?
Totally Minnie – Speaking of bands, “Totally Minnie” was a 25 minute, high energy song-and-dance revue during which she, rad dancers, and other characters performed “Totally Minnie,” “Minnie’s Workout,” and other songs from her newest LP at the time. Wait…Minnie had an LP?! That’s right, and this totally outrageous album is actually still available for MP3 download.
This Magic Kingdom show was performed as a tie-in with ABC’s Totally Minnie TV Special (so the album makes a bit more sense), in which a nerd visits “The Minnie Mouse Center for the Totally Unhip,” where Suzanne Somers and other stars leads him through the steps of losing his nerdiness. (You can’t make this stuff up.) While the special was far from edgy, it seems like an effort by Disney to emulate trendy performers of the era like Madonna and Whitney Houston, and make Minnie “hip.” Like so many things from the 1980s, this show now has a ‘so bad it’s good’ vibe, if you’re into enjoying things ironically.
Mickey’s Starland Afternoon Show – Okay, so this one can’t really be filed under weird, but it was zany–and awesome. Pictured above is ~5 or so year old me, boarding the hype train to Mickey’s Starland (previously Mickey’s Birthdayland, and later Mickey’s Toyland for a Christmas…before finally being named Mickey’s Toontown Fair…before it was replaced by Storybook Circus). As I recounted in my 1985-2001 Retro Walt Disney World “Trips” Report, I remember going into Mickey’s Starland in 1989/1990 to see a new show called Mickey’s Starland Afternoon Show.
That show featured everyone’s favorite characters from the Disney Afternoon: Gummi Bears, Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers, DuckTales, TaleSpin, DarkWing Duck, Goof Troop, and Bonkers. You know, all of the brilliant, critically acclaimed masterpieces of television that any child of the late 1980s and early 1990s fondly remembers. Mickey’s Birthdayland/Starland/Toontown had a lot of stuff like this throughout its history (the Afternoon Show later morphed into Mickey’s Magical TV World), and as the “temporary” land (that lasted 20 years!) in Magic Kingdom home to Mickey & friends, it was pretty easy for Disney to shoehorn this type of thing into the giant circus tents.
Cinderella “Castle Cake” – For the 25th Anniversary, someone had the bright idea of decking out Cinderella Castle as a giant pink birthday cake. The castle cake proved incredibly divisive, with its detractors coming up with plenty of derogatory terms for it (my favorite being the “Pepto Bismol Castle”), and many Disney brides of the nascent “Disney Fairy Tale Weddings” division (launched only one year earlier) angered that the regal castle they wanted in the backdrop of their photos had been transformed into something garish.
I’ll say something that’s almost heresy among Disney fans: I liked the Castle Cake. Mind you, I was 10 years old when I saw it, and not exactly the best judge of theme or tastefulness. (My idea of style then was knee-high socks and TMNT shirts.) Even today, I remain nostalgic for the Castle Cake as a short-lived overlay. I totally get why others find it abhorrent, but my memories of it are fond, and I’d love the chance to photograph it.
Not everything can be a home run, but these were some neat, products of the 70s/80s/90s, right? While I lived through and saw several of these, I still think it would be fun to time travel and revisit some of the more bizarre moments in Walt Disney World history. (The sign of a true Disney geek: somehow has the ability to time travel, and uses it for Disney purposes! 😉 )
We’re planning future installments of this series, including a part 2 for Magic Kingdom fairly soon, so if you have any odd suggestions, please share them in the comments!
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Your Thoughts
What do you think of these ghosts of Magic Kingdom past? Any weird happenings you recall from Walt Disney World? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
Everything in life in 1976 (I was in 1-2nd grade) was geared toward our bicentennial- parades, furniture, tv shows, crafts in school. I remember loving the parade. I also have a memory of the Scat Cats playing while we ate. I remember liking them and they were fun to watch. That was in the days of E tickets- so everything was busy, but not mobbed. We had to buy extra tickets at a booth because we wanted another E ticket attraction. We visited family in Florida every year and got to fo Disney one day. It was always the best day out of the entire year for me growing up.
Thank you so much for this post! I really enjoyed reading this!
I polled my kids. They both LOVE the pink “Candyland” Castle. 🙂 I’m a bit fond of it myself actually…
I never thought about those horrified brides whose whose expensive wedding pictures were “ruined” by the Cake Castle. HaHa!!!!!
I suppose I’m a jerk, but i love thinking about that!!
I was there during the Castle Cake layover. I remember not being able to look at the castle without getting nauseous. Something about the hue of pink they used actually cause a physical reaction in me. (Sorry Tom!)
I’m making it my goal to read every post you’ve ever written on here for 2017. I’m about a fourth of the way through. If it’s one thing I’ve learned so far is that you like to play practical jokes on your wife. 😉
I watched the Barbie Birthday Party video I’ve and over as a kid. I think it came free with a Barbie or something. So cheesy and so totally rad! Please cover the other parks!
First of all, given our choices in this year’s election, Disney should totally run a character as a candidate. I’m thinking Sheriff Woody as he already has some political experience as sheriff, and he can really bill himself as “the law and order candidate.”
I’ve been going to WDW at least once a year for my whole life, so I have vague memories of a lot of old, possibly weird shows. The one that stands out is a reboot (before people knew what that meant) of County Bear Jamboree to Country Bears Vacation Hoedown. The whole cast went on vacation and told of their adventures to covers of songs like “On the Road Again” and “Wish They All Could Be California Bears.” My dad absolutely hated it, but I thought it was cute. After a few years, the original version returned.
Ten years before the Castle cake, there was a very eighties-styled parade dedicated to the fifteenth anniversary (“Fifteen years, we’re having a party”). At the gate, they gave away a prize every fifteen seconds. My grandpa won free popcorn; my grandma really believed she would win a car (they gave one away a day, and the winner got to lead the parade).
There was also a television special for Mickey’s 60th birthday to kick off the opening of Mickey’s Birthdayland. Mickey was missing! John Ritter starred as host of a news program covering the story (“Day —- of Mickey watch”). He refused to shower until Mickey was found.
I second that Laura….Anyone or any character for that matter would be a huge improvement over the 2 running now, lol!
Amen to that! I had the same thought, except I’d nominate Mickey 🙂 I’m insanely curious if someone could do a poll and tally how many people actually write Mickey Mouse on their ballot (I know plenty of people who threaten to do it…) 🙂
I (also a child at the time) really enjoyed the birthday cake overlay on the castle, too.
Another weird castle transformation – remember when Stitch toilet papered the castle for the opening of his dreadful attraction, Stitch’s Great Escape?
There was also a corresponding computer program that you could install in which Stitch would come onto your screen at random and eat your desktop icons. A few times I left the computer on and speakers turned up and would be startled to hear him growling in the middle of the night!
My favorite post ever. I loved Totally Minnie, and had the shirt/poster in my room/.
I had recorded “Totally Minnie” off the tv (on our beta!) and watched that thing a million times. I recently found it on YouTube and as I was watching it my three year old came over and was totally engrossed by it! Definitely plenty of cringe worthy moments it’s true, but I had always loved the totally rad center for the terminally unhip, and the scene where the shopping girls turn into Minnie, and I admit I really enjoyed seeing it again!
Thanks. That was fun to read! While I wasn’t there for most of the events (we started going in 1992) we were there the year of the cake castle and I liked it as a temporary thing. I wouldn’t have wanted it to remain for years! I also remember taking our girls to see the afternoon show with Darkwing Duck and all the rest and remember it as a really good show.
Get out of my head! My husband and I are always saying that we need to work on making time travel a reality so that we can go back and experience all of the Disney awesomeness we missed or to just relive our favorite parts over and over (classic EPCOT Center!). Of COURSE you would use time travel for Disney purposes! And I loved the pink castle cake too!
I love graffiti in NY. Appreciate all art in the MOMA. I even love caricatures. I hated the castle “cake”. To me it felt like an historic building was defaced. Couldn’t wait until it was returned to normal.
Disney World was dedicated on October 25, 1971, my son’s birthday. The first stop on every trip was to the dedication plaque near the flag in MK. One of us would read the plaque aloud and then we’d have a moment of silence for the man whose vision created this wonderful place where families can have fun together.
My children and grandchildren are grown and have other interests now, but that first trip in 1973 so embedded itself into my emotional psyche, that I have returned every year since. Sometimes two or three times a year. Once, I even moved there, but that’s another story. People don’t understand what keeps bringing me back. Maybe they would if they read your article Tom. Or, maybe they wouldn’t. Either you get it, or you don’t. Keep writing Tom, and we’ll keep reading. Thanks.
I enjoyed this post. I love Disney World history, but didn’t know about several of these. I was reading your commentary on our road trip tonight. It made me laugh out loud and he had to know what was so funny.
I was also present for the divisive cake of ’96. I remember thinking it was awesome as a 15 year old. I photographed the castle against a stunning skyscape (the only good photo I’ve ever taken and prob by accident). I’ve talked about that cake often, but don’t think my husband has ever seen my photo. When I showed him tonight he said “uggh, what a monstrosity.” My 8 year old begged to see. Genuinely offended by my husband’s comment, he exclaimed, “that’s not ugly! It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!” I think the reactions they had are probably very representative of people who were close to their ages the year of the cake. I look back now and think “who’s great idea was that?”, but my 15 old self is so glad I got to see something so amazingly cool.