50 Years of Magic: WESH 2 Celebrates Disney World's Golden Anniversary

>> RIGHT NOW ON "CHRONICLE," IT -- >> THIS IS WHEREHE T PLANNING IS TAKING PLACE FOR OUR SO CALLED PROJECT. >> IT WAS THE PROJECT THAT HAD ALL OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BUZZING AND, FIVE, DECADES LATER, CONTINUES TO CAPTIVA.TE >> WALT DISNEY WORLD IAS TRIBUTE TO THE PHILOSOPHY AND THE LIFE OF WALTER ELI DASISY.NE >> FROM ONE MAN’S DREAM TO MAKING THE DREAMS OF MILLIONS COME TRUE. AS THE THEME PARK CELEBRATES ITS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY, WE’RE TAKING A LOOK BACK AT ALL IT TOOK TO CREATE THIS KINGDOM AND WHO -- >> WALT DISNEY SAID THAT OUR PRODUCTS WOULD NEVER BE COMPLETE AS LONG AS THERE WAS IMAGINATION . >> WALT’S VISION HAS KEPT EVOLVING THROUGH THE YEARS. >> SO WE’RE HERE ON MAIN STREET. HOW DIFFERENT DOES IT LOOK TODAY VERSUS ON OPENING Y?DA >> PLUS, YOU’LL MEET SOME OF THE VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE O'W’VE BEEN ALONG FOR THIS INCREDIBLE URJONEY SINCE THE BEGINNING. >> I HAVE NO WAY TO EVEN FATM THAT IT’S BEEN 50 YEARS, IT CERTAINLY DOESN’T FEEL LIKE 50 TO ME. STWE TO CHRONICLE: >> 50 M:JI. I’M JIM PAYNE. WELCOME TO CHRONLE, IC50 YEARS OF MAGIC AND THE PLACE WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE. FOR 50 YEARS NOW, FAMILIES HAVE FLOCKED TO CENTRAL FLORIDA TO SEE A MAN ABOUT A MOUSE, CATCH A GLIMPSE OF A PRINCESS AND BASK IN THE MAGIC THAT HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH THIS KINGDOM. AS THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF WALT DISNEWOY RLD IS CELEBRATED IN SO MANY INCREDIBLE WAYS, WE E ARTAKING THE NEXT HOUR TO DO A LITTLE LOOKINGAC B FROM THROWBACK FOOTAGE OF THE 1970’S TO THE HISTORY MADE HERE OVER THE DECADES, JUST LIKE WALT DISNEY WORLD, WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. STOP FOR AEC SOND AND JUST LISTEN. THE SOUNDS OTHF E CROWDS MEDIX WITH MUSIC OF A HOMETOWN PARADE. WHATEVER YEAR IT WAS WHEN YOU FIRST WALKED THROUGH THO UNMISTAKABLE FRONT GATES, THE EXPERIENCE IS DESIGNED TO BE AS MUCH MAGICAL AS IS IT FAMILIAR. MAIN STREET, USA. BUT HOW DID ALL THIS WINUPD HERE ON A PATCH OF LAND THAT WAS A MIX OF SWAMP, COW PASTURE, AND ORANGE GROVE? IT IS TRUE THAT, ISON ME SENSE, THE STARS HAD TO ALIGN FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA TO END UP THE HOME OF WALT DISNEY’S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT, BUT WHAT MANY PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE IS THAT LONG BEFORE MOVIES AND MICY MOUSE FLORIDA HAD A SPECIAL HOLD ON WALT DISNEY’S ARHE ALONG A LONELY STRETFCH CENTRAL FLORIDA HIGHWAY IN THE OCALAN NATIONAL FOREST, TUCKED IN THE BACK OF THE OLD CEMETERY, ARE WALT DISNEY’S ROOTS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. THIS 1880’S GRAVE MARKER FOR CHARLES AND HENRIETTA CALL MARKS THE RESTING PLACE OF WTAL DISNEY’S GRANDPARENTS. >> THOSE DISNEY ROOTS GO DEEP. THAT IS SOMETHI TNGHAT HELPED INFORM HIS LIFE STORY. >> WELCOME TO A LITTLE BIT OF FLORIDA HERE IN CALIFORNIA. THIS IS WHERE THE EARLY PLANNING IS TAKING PLACE FOR OUR SO-CALLED DISNEY WORLD PROJECT. >> BY THE TIME THIS RECORDING WAS RELEASED IN 1966, THE GROUNDWORK FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD HAD BEEN LAID. FOR YEARS LEADING UP TO THIS, THE WALT DISNEY CORPORATION DHA BEEN SECRETLY ACQUIRING LANIND CENTRAL FLORIDA. >> IT WAS A CONFLUENCE OF A LOT OF LAND AT THE RIGHT PRICE, WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THE RIGHT KIND OF PRODUCER BEHIND IT THAT ULTIMATELY LEADS TO EVERYTHING THAT WE GET TODAY. >> THEY USED ALIASES AND CODE NAMES, SHELL AND DUMMY CORPORATIONS, LIKE PROJECT WINTER, PROJECT X, PROJECT FUTU,RE TOP SECRET MEETINGS, ABSOLUTE CONTROLS ON INFORMATION, EVEN FORMER SPIES. IF WORD LEAKED THAT WALT DISYNE WAS BUYING UP HUGE TRACTS, PRICES WOULD SHOOT SKY HIGH, DOOMING THE PROJECT. 18 MONTHS OF SECRECY TO BUY UP 27,400 ACRES OF STLYMO SWAMP MORE THAN HALF THE SIZE OF WASHINGTON, D.C. IN 1965, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL BROKE THE NEWS THAT WALT DISNEY WAS THE MYSTERY BURYE IN ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTY. AND THEN HE SAID, MY GOD, THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON. THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH TSEHE PEOPLE, HIDING THEIR NAMES, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WE ARE SELLING THIS TO. MARY’S FAMILY SOLD THE BIGGEST PARCEL TO LTWA DISNEY, 12,500 ACRES THAT BECAME MAGIC KINGDOM AND HALF OF EPCOT. HER FATHER WILLINGLY SIGNED A LAND DEAL, HAP TOPY BE RID OF THE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS. >> IT WAS A SUNDAY MORNGNI AND HE STARTED EXPLAINING WHAT HAD BEEN HAPPENING WITH THIS LAND HE WAS SELLINANG D DID NOT KNOW WHO THE BUYERS WERE. >> THEY MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF PLANS FOR A NEW DISNEY COMPLEX IN FLORIDA. >> THREE WEEKS LATER AT A NEWS CONFERENCE FEATURING GOVERNOR BURNS,ALT W DISNEY CONFIRMED THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, DISNEY’S INVOLVEMENT, BUT LITTLE ELSE. >> THE PLANS YOU SEEOD TAY ARE SIMPLY A STARTING POINT. WE ARE THINKING ABOUT DISNEY WORLD. EVERYTHING IN THIS ROOM MAY CHANGE AS WE MOVE AHEAD. BUT THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY OF WHAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR DISNEY WORLD WILL REMAIN VERY MUCH AS IT IS RIGHT NOW >> THE LAND NEEDED TO BE TRANSFORMED, 10 MILLION CUBIC YARDS MOVED. WORKSER DUG CANALS, MAKING EVERY 20,000 OF 24,000 ACRES WORKABLE. BAY LAKE, NOW SEVEN SEAS LAGOON, WAS DRAINED. THE SAND AT THE BOTTOM WAS SPREAD ALONG THE SHORES TO MEAK BEACHES, THE DIRT AND MUCK TRUCKED TO BE THE FOUNDATION FOR CINDERELLA CASE TLAND THE MAGIC KINGDOM, CONCEALING AN ELABORATE TUNNEL SYSTEM MOVING PEOPLE DAN GOODS ELEVATING THE ELEGANT ATTRACTIONS. AT CONSTRUCTION’S PEAK IN 1970, THEN VACATION KINGDOM WAS THE LARGEST PROJECT IN THE UNIDTE STATES, WITH OVER 8000 WORKERS ON SITE. >> IT’S TRULY A REMARKABLE FEAT OF ENGINEERING THAT THEY WERE ABLE TACO COMPLISH. AND THAT ALL STEMS FROM THE REUSE AND RECLAMATION OF AOT L OF THAT LAND. JIM: WALT DISNEY WORLD HAS IT'’ -- HAS ITS OWN PLANS ABOUT GOVERNMENT, RULES ABOUT ZONING, WATER CONSERVATION AND FODLO CONTROL, EMERGENCY SERVICES. BUT MOST CRITICAL TO ITS SUCCESS -- LOCATION. CKBA THEN, IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. >> T ICHANGED EVERYTHING AND WE WERE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND IT HAS BE AEN FUN, FUN 50 YEARS. HAVING DISNEY RIGHT HERE. >> WE KNOW WHAT OUR GOSAL ARE. WE KNOW WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH. WE BELIEVE IT IS THE MOST EXCINGTI AND CHALLENGING DESIGN WE HAVE ERVE TACKLED. >> O 1960 SIX, WALT DISNEY PRODUCE THIS VIDEO. WHEN LEAK >> >> -- IN 1966, WALT DIEYSN DIES AT AGE 65. >> WALT DISNEY NEVER LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO SEE WALT DISNEY WORLD COMPLETED. DID HE SAY MUCH NEARING THE END OF HIS LIFE ABOUT THAT OR ABOUT THE LEGACY OF HIS LIFE’S WORK? >> IT IS SOMETHING HE WAS PROUD OF, THAT THE PEOPLE HE HAD TRAINED, THE CAST MEMBERS THAT HAD BROUGHT IN WERE ALL WORKING TOWARD THAT SAME GOAL. I THINK THE WALT DISNEY WORLD PROJECT SPECIFICALLY HAS HIS NAME ON .IT IT SAYS WALT DISNEY WORLD. THAT WAS A CHOICE BYIS H BROTHER, ROY DISNEY, WHO KNEW THAT THIS IDEA WAS SOMETHGIN THAT WAS UNIQUE TO HIM AND THE WAY IT WAS EXECUTED, NOBODY ELSE COULHAVED DE,ON SO WHOSE NAME WOULD BE MORE FIT? >> IT BRINGS JOY AND INSPIRATION AND NEW KNOWLEDGE TO ALL WHO COME TO THIS HPYAP PCELA, A MAGIC KINGDOM WHERE THE YOUNG AT HEART OFLL A AGES CAN LGHAU AND PLAY AND LEARN TOGETHER. >> EVERYBODY KWSNO ABOUT THE RIDE. HOW IS IT DIFFERENT TODAY? >> FROM DUMBO TO CINDEREL’A'S CASTLE, HOW MUCH HAS CNGEDHA AND WHAT HAS STAYED THE SAME IN THE LAST FIVE DECADES? TAGALONG ON OUR VI TRIP OF THE MAGIC KINGDOM TO GET THE SCOOP. AND LATER, WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE THERE ON OPENING DAY. >> ALL YOU COULD SEE WAS THE CASTLE AND YOU WOULD KEEP FOCUSING ON THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE CAMERAS ARE ON, PEOPLE ARE TAKING PICTUS AREND YOU DO NOT WANT TO SCREW UP. >> HOW DISNEY PUT LOCALS FRONT AND CENTER AT THE PARK’S PREMIER WHEN 50 YEARS OF MAGIC RETURNS. ♪ >> DID YOU KNOW THE FEDAM SUITE IN CINDERELLA CASTLE AT DISNEY WOD RLWAS ORIGINALLY BUILT TO BE AN APARTMENT FOR WALT DISNEY? BUT PASSING AWAY BEREFO DISNEY OPENED T,HE SPACE BECAME AN AFTERTHOUG,HT USED FOR STORAGE OR OFFICE SPACE. THEN IN 2000 SIX, THEY UNVEILED CINDELLAER SUITE, WITH A NIGHT’S’S GIVEN AWAY AT RANDOM TO GUESTS, OR AN EXCLUSIVE SPACE RFO VIPS, AND IT HAS REMAINED THAT WAY TO THIS DAY. JIM: WELCOME BACK TO 50 YEARS OF MAGIC. AS MUCH AS WALT DISNEY WANTED EVERY TRIP BACK TO FEEL LIKE A HOMECOMING, HE WANTED DISNEY WORLD'’ INNOVATIOTON BE ENDLESS. WE SET OUT TO SEE WHAT HAS CHANGED AND WTHA HAS STAYED THE SAME FROM 1971 TO NOW. WE FOUND OUT IT IS HARD TO TELL. >> HAVE A ODGO TIME. >> WE WANTO TCONSERVE HER GUESTS THAT MAGIC -- CONSERVE FOR OUR GUESTS THAT MAGIC THEY FELT THE FIRST DAY THEY VISITED. >> THE MISSION TO MAKE EVERY VISIT WALK DOWN MORYME LANE, BUT A LOT HAS CHANGED SCEIN 1971, SO HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THE MAGIC AND EMBRACE THE MODERN? >>BRACE THE MODERN? WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE CALL THIS CENTER STREET. >> I FOUND OUT WITH A PRIVATE TOUR OF DISNEY’S MOST ICONIC SPS.OT >> HOW DIFFERENT DOES IT LOOK TODAY? >>ON R IS ONE OF DISNEY WORLD’S AMBASSADORS, EMPLOYEES WHO CAN POINT OUT HIDDEN GSEM AROUND DISNEY, INCLUDING THE MODIFICATIONS MEAD SINCE 1971. ETH FIRST WE ENCOUNTERED HAPPEN SO ELYAR IN DISNEY’S EXISTENCE THAT YOU MIGHT NOT REALIZE IT IS A CHANGE. >> RIGHT HERE AT THE CONFECTIONARY, AT THE VERYOP T YOU’LL SEE ROY O DISNEY’S WINDOW. >> THE WINDOWS THAT LINE MAIN STREET ARE ETCHED WITH NAMES, A NOD TO THE KEY PEOPLE WHO HEEDLP WALT’S DREAM BECOME REALITY. ORIGALINLY, ROY’S NAME WAS NOT SLATED FOR SUCH PROMINTEN PLACEMENT. >> OUR IMAGINEERS DECIDED TO GIVE HIM ONE OTHF E FIRST WINDOWS THAT OUR GUESTS WILL SEE WHEN THEY COME IN AND REALLY TO PAY HOMAGE TO ALL THE WONDERFUL WORKS THAT HE’S DONE FOR HIS BROTHER. IS SUBTLE BUT IT’S STILL RIGHT IN THE FRONT. >> NOW, IT WASN’T JUST THE STOREFRONTS, BUT THE THOROUGHFARE ITSELF WENT THROUGH QUITE THE RENOVATION. WE HAVE ANOTHER BIG CHANGE ON MAIN STREET. >> YEAH. >> AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS VINTAGE FOOTAGE FROM 1971, MAIN STREET HAD A COUPLE OF SIDE STREETS WHERE FAMILIES WERE MET WITH STREET PERFORMERS AND BARBERSHOP QUARTETS. TODAY, ONE OF THOSE SIDE SEETSTR IS GONE. >> TSHI STREET USED TO HAVE A DUPLICATE BEHIND US OVER HERE, SO WE CALL THIS CENTER STREET, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MAIN STREET, USA, AND WHERE WE HAVE OUR EMPORIUM, IT IS CONNECTED. >>R EMPORIUM, IT IS CONNECTED. THE REASON -- TRAFFIC CONTROL OF CROWDS. >> WE MADE IT MORE EFFICIENT FROM OUR GUESTS TO FLOW. >> JUST A SHORT FLIGHT AWAY FROM MAIN STREET, YOU REACH A DISNEY CLASSIC. AND THE LITTLE ELEPHANT WENT THUGROH A BIG CHANGE TOO THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT. >> WHAT YOU SEE TODAY IN DUMBO -- >> MELISSA VALIQUETTE, WHO HAS THE DREAM JOB OF RUNNINGHE T MAGIC KINGDOM, FILLED ME IN ON WHAT’S DIFFERENT WITH DUMBO. >> ORIGINALLY, DUMBO WAS JUST ONE RIDE, BUT IT WAS SO DEMANDED , SO POPULAR AMONG CHILDREN AND ADULTS, THAT WE KNEW WE HAD TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY. AN D SO WHAT YOU SEE TODAY AND IN DUMBO IS A DOUBLE DUMBO. >> WITH THE RIDE REALLY TAKING OFF, DISNEY HAD TO FIND A WAY TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING LINES, AND IN 2012, THIS REAL-LIFE BIG TOP WAS ADDED WHERE LITTLE ONES CAN PLAY WHILE WAITING BEFORE BOARDING THEIR FAVORITE FLNGYI FRIEND. >> SO YOU’RE ENTERTAINED THE WHOLE TIME UNTIL IT’S YOUR TIME TO RIDE. >> HOW YOU RIDE THE RIDES AND EVEN ENTER THE PARK HAS DRASTICALLY CHANGED SINCE 1971. TODAY, YOU BUY A PARK PASS THAT’S EMBEDDED IN A WRIST BAND OR EVEN ON YOUR SMART PHONE. BUT WHEN DISNEY FIRST CAME TO TOWN, ENTRY INTO THE MAGIC KINGDOM WAS FAIR STYLE. >> YOU WOULD PURCHASE A TIETCK BOOK. >> LIKE THIS ONE WE FOUND AT THE AT THE ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL HISTYOR CENTER. FROM THE TEA CUPS TO THE CAROUSEL, YOU HAD TO BUY A TICKET FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL RE.ID IT WAS LIKE THAT UNTIL 12.98 ON OPENING DAY, AN ENTIRE TIETCK BOOK COST JUST $4.5. TODAY, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF PASS, YOU ARE PAYING WELL OVER $100. AND BEFORE FAST PASSES OR THE NEW JEANNIE PLUS, THOSE TICKET BOOKS HAD TIERS TOO. >> THE E TICKETS WERE THE KIND OF HIGHEST LEVEL. THIS IS WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO GET YOUR ACTUAL ROLLERCOASTER RIDES LIKE SPACE MOUNTAIN AND 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. AND THEN L DEVEL ADVENTURES DAN C AND B D ANA. >> DISNEY WORKED ITS MICAG MAKING CHANGES TO ITS STORYBOOK LAND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. IT ALSO MADE SOME TWEAKS BINDEH THE SCENES. >>E WARE IN THE WALT DISNEY WORLD COSTUMING SPACE. >> DISNEY’S COSTUME DESIGN MANAGER, MICHAEL SENDEK, TOOK ME INSIDE THEIR SHOP. THIS IS AN OPERATION THAT WOULD MAKE FAIRY GODMOTHER’S JAW DROP. >> IT IS HERE THAT THE VARUSIO TESAM ARE CREATING THE MAGIC FOR OUR CAST MEMBERS THAT WORK IN THE PARKS. ONE THING THAT’S CHANGED OVER TIME AS THE FABRIC WE’VE UTILIZED TO CREATE THESE GARMEN.TS >> IT LOOKS THE SAME BUT FEELS DIFFERENT. >> EXACTLY. THIS IS TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN INTENT FMRO 1971, BUT THE FABRICATION IS UPDATED FOR TODAY, AS WELL AS THE FIT OF SOME OF OUR GARMENTS TO ACCOODMMATE ALL OUR MEMBERS AS WELL AS POSSIBLE. >> DISNEY IS NOW USING RECYCLED FABRIC, COSTUMES ARE LHTIGER, AREA- - AIRY, BETTER ACCOMMODATING HOT OR HUMID DAYS. >>COMMODATING HOT OR HUMID DAYS. WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT FOR THE GARMENTS AS WELL. >> MOST ENCHANTING OF ALL IS CINDERELLA’S CASTLE. >> AND SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST. NO TRIP TO THE MAGIC KINGDOM IS COMPLETE WITHOUT TAKING IN DISNEY’S MOST ICONIC LANDMARK. >> A SYMBOL OF WHILE DISNEY WORLD. >> WHEN DISNEY WORLD FIRST OPEN THEED GATES,HE T GRAYS AND BLUES BLENDED IN WITH THE BACKDROP. CINDERELLA’S CASTLE HAS GONE THROUGH QUITE THE GLOW UP. DAY,TO IT HAS UNDERGO ANE MASSIVE MAKEOVER, SPIS OFRE BLUE, SPLASHES OF PINK AND SHIMMERING GOLD RIBBONS AND FLEX TO TOP IT OFF. >> THE BEST HIGHLIGHT IS THE IRIDESCENT COLORS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE 50TH ANNIVERRYSA CELEBRATION. >> THE CASTLE HAS HAD MANY LOOKS OVERHE T YEARS, AND THAT WOULD HAVE MADE WALT BROWN. HE WANTS -- HE WONCE SAID THE PARK WOULD NOT BE COMPLETED AS LONG AS THERE WAS IMAGINATION LEFT IN THE WORLD, AND IT IS CLEAR THERE IS NO SRTHOAGE OF MAGIC. STILL AHD,EA LIVING THE DISNEY LIFE FOR 50 YEARS. WE WILL INTRODUCEOU Y TO CAST MEMBERS WHO DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO MAKING THE MICAG HAPPEN AT DISNEY WORLD, INCLUDING SO MMEOMENTS KNOWN CAN FORGET -- MOMENTS NONE CAN FORGET. >> THERE ARE SO MANY MOMENTS IT IS HARD TO PICK. >> SO WE PICKED FIVE, THE BIGGEST POP CULTURE MOMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AT THE MTOS MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH WHEN 50 YEARS OF MAGIC CONTINUES. THERE IS NO DENYING THE VISION AND FORESIGHTF O WALT DISNEY IS WHAT MADE ALL THAT FALLS UNDER THE DISNEY UMBRELLA POSSIB,LE BUT WITHOUT ALL ITS PEOPLE, DNEISY WOULD BE JUST ANOTHER THEME PARK. IT IS THE CAST MEMBERS WHO BRING EVERY ASPECT OF THIS TO LI.FE IT IS A PLACE SO SPECIAL THAT THERE ARE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE GATES OPENED IN 1971, 5 DECADES AGO. JASON GUY TALKED WITH FEW OF THESE GOLDEN GUYS AND GALS ABOUT WHAT’S KEPT THEM HERE FOR 50 YEARS. ♪ >> AS WALT SAID, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CREATE THE MOST AMAZING PLACE AND WE HAVE DONE THAT, BUT AT THE END OF THE D,AY IT IS THE 70,000 CAST MEMBERS WHO BRING IT TO LIFE EVERY DAY. >> AND FOR 50 YEARS, THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN HAVE BEEN BRINGING WALT’S DREAM TO LIFE. >> WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE IS WHAT WE DO. >> I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH A HANDFUL OF DISNEY’S MOST RARE CAST MEMBERS, THOSE WHO’VE EARNED THEIR 50 YEAR PINS. THEY WORK IN ALL AREAS OF THE PARKS FROM SELLING SOUVENIRS TO MAINTAININGHE T RIDES, CREATING LIVE ENTERTAINMT OREN INTERACTING WITH GUESTS. ONE EVEN RUNNING THE PAR.KS THESE ARE SOME OF DISNEY WORLD’S ORIGINAL CAST MEMBS.ER >> IT IS 50 YEARS. WHY AM I STILL HE?ER I LOVE IT JUST THAT MUCH. >>LOVE IT JUST THAT MUCH. THEY HAVE SIMIL SARTORIES, NOT IMAGINING AT THE START THEY WOULD HAVE STAYED FOR SO LONG. PAM NOW WORKS BOOKING PRIVATE EVENTS, BUT SHE’S HELD MANY JOBS OVER THE YEARS. >> OF COURSE, NEVER INTENDED TO STAY 50 YEARS, I CAN SAY THAT UP FRONT. I PROMISED MY DAD I WOULD LYON WORK SIX WEEKS FOR CHRISTMAS MONEY. AND HE SAID, OK, SIX WEE, YOU ARE OUT. AND IT TOOK ME A WEEK TO TALK HIM INTO IT. AND I ALREADY HAD SIGNED UP RFO ORIENTATION THE FOLLOWING DAY, AND MY MOM SAID, IF YOU EVER COME ON TIRED, OR YOU EVER COME HOME AGGRAVATED, THAT WILL BE YOUR LAST DAY BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO WORK RIGHT NOW ANYWAYS, SO 50 YEARS LATERI, NEVER CAME HOME TIRED, AND I NEVER WAS AGGRAVATED. >>NE O OF THE REMARKABLE CAST MEMBER STORIES I ENCOUNTERED, GEORGE KALOGRIDIS. HE TOOK A SERVER JOB IN 1971T A THE CONTEMPORARY RESORT TO PAY FOR COLLEGE. A FEW YEARS LATER, AS HE WAS FINISHING UP AT UCF WITH A DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY AND MOVING UP WITH DISNEY, HE BEGAN TO REALIZE HE WAS PART OF SOMETNGHI BIG. >> IT WAS IN 1976, AND I WAS AN ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR ON INMA STREET. AND IT WAS DURING CHRISTMAS,ND A I HAD THE OPENING SHIFT. AND I WALKEDCR AOSS MAIN STREET RIGHT OVER THERE BETWEEN COKE CORNER AND THE ICE CREAM SHOP. AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON INMA STREET AND ALL THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WERE ON MAIN STREET AND THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC WAS PLAYG.IN AND I AM JUSTIKE, L MY GOD, LOOK AT THIS. YOU KNOW, HOW COULD I BE PAROFT THIS, NUMBER ONE, AND THK OFIN WHAT HAS BEEN CREATED HEREN I THE MIDDLE OF THIS SWAMP. >> IN HIS 50 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY, GEORGE MOVED UP THAT LADDERLAND, ING THE TOP RUNG AS THE PRESIDENT OF DISNEY DRLWO FROM 2013 TO 2019. NOW HE IS A GLOBAL AMBASSARDO FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD’S 50TH ANNIVERSY. KALOGRIDIS WAS ON HAND AT CINDERELLA CASTLE TO DEDICATE STATUES OF MINNIE AND MICKEY MOUSE TO HONOR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE CAST MEMBS.ER THE 50TH CELEBRATION FOR CTAS MEMBERS MIGHT BE MORE OF A REUNN.IO >> THEY BECOME YOUR FAMILY. >> BUT WHAT IS IT ABOUT DISNEY THAT KEEPS PEOPLE AROUND FOR SO LO?NG >> THERE IS NOWHERE THAT YOU WORK AT WALT DISNEY WORLD THAT’S NOT VE BRYUSY, WHETHER YOU’RE A GUEST FACING ROLE OR IN A SUPPORT ROLE. IT’NOT S ABOUT WORKING HARD. IT’S REALLY ABOUT KNOWING TTHA AT THE END OF WHATEVER IT IS YOU’RE DOING, THERE’S A SMILE, THERE’S SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING FOR A GUEST, AND YOU WERE PART OF THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOUR ROLE IS. AND THAT’MAGIS AND THAT -- I’M NOT SAYING IT DOESN’T EXIST YWANHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, BUT IT EXISTS IN ABUNDANCE HERE. AND THAT’S WHY PEOPLE LEOV WORKING HERE. >> CAST MEMBERS TELL ME THEY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES GIVEN TO THEM FOR CAREER ADVANCEMT.EN >> IF YOU GET TO THE POINTN I ANY JOB WHERE YOU’RE LIKE, WHY? THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT A DIFFENTRE FIELD. >> KATHY HAS WORKED IN HOTEL RESERVATIONS, HELPED OPEN RESORTS, SOLD EDUCATIOLNA PROGRAMS, AND MORE IN ORDER TO FIND THE JOB SHEOS MT ENJOYED. >> IF YOU’RE NOT HAPPY WHEREOU Y ARE, THERE’AS WHOLE -- LITERALLY A WHOLE WORLD THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM. >> THERE’S SO MANY OPPORTUNITSIE FOR GROWTH. I JUST ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE EXCITED ABOUT DOING SOMETHINGRG EAT WITH TIRHE VES, COME TO DISNEY. >> FORREST WOULD KNOW. HE’S MOVED THROUGH THE ENTERTAINMENT SIDE OF THINGSO T OVERSEE COUNTLESS PARK-BASED PROGRAMS AND EVEN THE SPECTACULAR CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION.AL WHATEVER THEIR ROLE, ALL OF THESE GOLDEN CAST MEMBERS CHERISH KEEPSAKES THEY’VE COLLECTED THROUGH THEIR CAREERS. >> I JUST LOVE DISNEY. >> REMINDERS OF THEIR HARD WORK SPRINKLED WITH PIXIE DT.US >> PIXIE DUST IS THE WORD WE’VE USED FOR YEARS . >> WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN TO CAST MEMBERS? >> IT IS THAT YOU STILL ARE EXCITED ABOUT DISNEY AND EVERYTHING DISNEY HAS TO OFFER AND EVERYTHING THAT EYTH REPRESEN ANDT, SO YOU STILL WANT TO SPRINKLE PIXIE DUST AND MAKE EVERYBODY’S DAY FEEL FABULOUS. THE>>Y’LL EVEN DO IT WHEN THEY’RE OFF THE CLO.CK >> ONCE IN A WHILE, I WOULD GO OUT TO THE PARKS ON A FREE DAY, DAY OFF, AND SOMETIMES I WOULD PICK A NICE OLDER COUPLE OUT OF THE OUT OF THE LINE AND GET THEM IN FOR FREE. AND SO THEY REALLY APPRECIATED TH.AT >> IT IS ALMOST CONTAGIOUS HOW THESE CAST MEMBERS ALL SPEAK OF THEIR MAGICAL 50-YEAR CAREERS AT DISNEY WOR.LD >> THE GROWTH IS BEYOND ANYTHING THAT WE PEHO FOR, BUT IT’S EVEN BETTER AND IT JUST KEEPS GROWING. >> AND THEY BELIEVE THE NEXT0 5 YEARS WILL BASE MAGICAL, OR MAY MORE, WITH A NEW GENERATIONF O CAST MEMBERS. >> BECAUSE IT’S IN OUR DNA. IT’S NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO SIT ON OUR LAURELS. >> IT KESEP GROWINGND A THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE THIS ON EAH.RT >> DISNEY WAS COMMITTED TO BEING REALLY A GOOD NEIGHBOR. >> WHAT STTEARD WITH WTAL CONTINUES WITH AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEARS. WHAT A PHILOSOPHY OF PHILANTHROPY HAS MEANT TO CENTRAL FLORID NEXT ON CHRONICLE: 50 YEARS OF MAGIC -- MAGIC. >> GET READY TO REVEL IN MEOR DISNEY NOSTALGIA. >> IT IS A THROWBACK. IT’S LIKE I WAS RIGHT HERONE OCTOBER, 1970 ONE. >> A WITNESS TO HISTORY. WE’RE DIVING INTO THE MEMORIES AND MEMORABIA LISTILL ON HAND FROM DISNEY’S FIRST DAY IN BUSINESS 50 YEARS AGO. >> IT IS CLOO TO GO BACK AND SEE HOW WAS WHEN IT CAME OUT. >> AND CREATING A COMMUNY.IT >> DISNEY WAS COMMITTED TO BNGEI A GOOD NEIGHBOR. AND IN THOSE EARLY DAYS, WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO VOLUNTEER. >> HOW CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS OURIFLSHED THANKS TO DISNEY’S DEDICATION TO LIFE OUTSIDE THE PARK GAT. WESH 2 CHRONICLE: 50 YEARS OF MAGIC CONTINUES RIGHT W.NO JIM: WELCOME BACKO T CHRONICLE: 50 YEARS OF MAGIC. IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, IT IS HARD TO FIND SOMEONE THAT HASN’T EXPERIENCED SOMETHING DISNEY. BUT IT’S ALSO HARD TO FIND A SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN OUR COMMUNITY OR LOCAL CHARITY THAT HASN’T BENEFITED IN SOME WAY FROM THIS BEING THE CENTER OF THE DISNEY UNIVERSE. STEEPED DEEP IN DISNEY CULRE IS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, THAT SPECIAL CULTURE THAT STARTS ALONG MAIN STREET USA AND RADIATES FAR AND WIDE AND SOAL GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IT CALLS HO. ♪ DISNEY’S SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY CAN BE TRACED BACK TO, YOU GUESSED IT, THE GUY WITH HIS NAME ON GATE. IN THE 1930’S, WALT DISNEY STARTED VISITING CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL OFTEN WITH BELOVED CHARACTERS ITOW.N TODAY, DISNEY GIVES BACK IN A MYRIAD OF WAYS. >> SO IN OUR CASTLE OF MIRACS,LE EVERY CHILD, THEY WRITE THEIR NAME ON A GOLD STAR. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE STAR FAIRY SWOOPS DOWN AND GATHERS ALLUP THE STARS AND PUTS THEM ON THE CEILING OF THE CASTLE. THIS IS GIVE KIDS THE WORLD. 89-WHIMSICAL ACRES OF JOY AND ENCOURAGEMENT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA WHERE FAMILIES WHIT SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN SEE WISHES COME TRUE FREE OF CHARG FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, 176,000 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE KNOWN HAPPINESS BECAUSE OF THIS PLACE. >> WE CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN EVERY MONDAY SO THEY CAN GO TRICK OR TREATI.NG WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS EVERY THURSDAY. SANTA IS HERE. WE MAKE IT SNOW ON THE AVENUE AND GIVE OUT TOYS. >> AND MAYBE THE BIGGEST WISH COME TRUE IS WHEN THE KIDS GET TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WOR.LD THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH GIVE KIDS THE WORLD IN ITSELF IS A DAMRE COME TRUE. FROM THE FINANCIAL TO THE EXPERIENTIAL, WHEN THE KIDS VISITING WANT TO GO TO DISY,NE THE PARK GETS THEM RIGHT IN, AND RIGHT TO THE FRONT OF EVERY LINE, FOR FE.RE >> AND THERE’S SO MYAN INCREDIBLE STORIES ABOUTOW H CAST MEMBERS HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND AND THERE’S ONE THAT JUST STICKS WITH ME. IT IS A LITTLE GIRL NAMED CADENCE. WELL, SHE’D GONE TO DISNEY THE FIRST DAY AND SHE DISCOVERED CHURROS. WELL, THAT BECAME THE LOVEF O HER LI.FE AND SO HER DREAM, THEN, WASHE S WANTED TO EAT CHURROS, AND WAVE TO MINNIE MOUSE AT THE 3:00 PARADE. SO SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL ORDER, RIGHT? BUT WE HAVE ALL BEEN TO THE 3:00 PARADE. NOW THIS IS THREE PANDEMIC RIGHT, FINDING A FRONT OF THE RURAL AREAS VERY DIFFICULTHA T -- DIFFICULT, SO THEY WERE IN THE SEA OF PEOPLE AND THEY WERE JUST SHE WAS EATING A CHURRO AND A CAST MEMBER SPOTTED HER GIVE KIDS THE WORLD BUTTON AND USHERED THEM TO THE FRONT. AND THERE SHE WAS SITTING EANGTI HER LITTLE CHURRO. AND MINNIE MOUSE COMES BY,ND A SE GETS TO WAVE AT MINNIE MOUSE. LATER, SHE’S GONE. THE NEXT DAY, THE FAMILY WOKE UP AND ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS TO GO BACK AND FIND THAT CAST MEMBER AND THANK HIM FOR MAKIN HER WISH COME TRUE. BUT IF THAT CAST MEMBER HAD’' SPOTTED A BUTTON -- AND HITAD BEEN JUST AS EASY FORIM H IN ALL THEOS THRON OFGS PEOPLE TO JUST DO NOTHI,NG JUST KEEP THE CROWD UNDER CONTROL -- BUT HE DID NOT. >> CAST MEERMBS CREATE MORE THAN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES AT THE PARKS, THEY DO IT TIN COMMUNITY TOO ROTHUGH THE VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM. SINCE 1983, THIS PROGRAM HAS GIVEN HUNDREDS OF LOCAL CHARITIES CRITICAL MAN-HOURS AND RESOURCES. DISNEY EMPLOYEES HAVE GINVE COUNTLESS HOURS TO CAUSES LIKE, FEEDING THE HURYNG WITH SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA AND BUILDING BACKPACKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL WITH A GIFT FOR TEACHING. THE CATALOG OF ORGANIZATNSIO HELPED IS TOO LONG TO LIST. >> I HAVE A BUNCH OF THESE. >> IN 1964, GENE COLUMBUS WAS A STAND-IN ACTOR IN THE DISNEY MOVIE THE MISADVENTUREOFS MERLIN JONES. AND EON MORNING WHILE GETTING COFFEE, HE HAD A CHANCE ENCOUNTER THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE. >> I GOT MY COFFEE AND I PUT IT ASIDE AND I WAS PUTTING STUFF IN IT. AND THE GUY THAT GOT IN LINE BEHIND ME, I TURNED AROUNDND A LOOKED AT HIM. HE PUT HIS CUP DOWN AND SA,YS HELLO. I’M WALT DISNEY. AND HE STARTED ASKINMEG QUESTIONS -- WHERE I WAS FROM. TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF WHAT I SAID TO M.HI BUT I CALLED HIM MR. DISY.NE AND HE SAID, CALL ME WAL T. GENE DECIDED THAT DAY TO HCHIT -- >> GENE DECIDED THAT DAY TO HITCH HIS WAGON TO WALT DISNE’'S STAR RISING TO TOP MAN IN CHGEAR OF HUGE PRODUCTIONS FOR DISNEY AND HIRING THOUSANDS OF CAST MEMBERS AS MANAGER OF ENTERTAINMENT STAFFING. GENE WAS ALSO A DECISIONAK M IN WALT DISNEY’S CHARITY AND PHILANTHROPY, DECIDING WHO GETS WET AND H MOWUCH. >> I’D TALKED ABOUT WHERE WE NEEDED THOSE DOLLARS TO GO AND I WOULD BE THE FIR TSTO SAY, YEAH, IT WOULD BE NICE FOR US TO GET THE ARTS, BUT IF THEY’RE FEEDING PEOPLE, CLOTHING THEM, GIVING EMTH A PLACE TO SLEEP, THAT’S A MUCH HIGHER PRIORITY. BUT ONCE THEY ARE THE,ER WE WOULD LIKE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GO IN AND FEED THEIR SPIRITS. GOD MADE SOME OF US STRO TNG HELP THOSE THAT ARE N,OT AND THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY REMIND OURSELVES. OUR LITTLE EFFORT CAN HAVE AIG B RESULT. A LITTLE GIVING FROM US TO SOMEBODY THAT HAS NOTHING COULD BE HE.UG >> IT’S A PHILOSOPHY STRAIGHT FROM WALT DISNEY HIMSELF. >> WE HOPE WE CAN BUILD SOMETHING TTHA COULD COMMAND THE RESPECT OF THE COMMUNITY. >> A TRULY GIFTED MAN WHOAS W ALWAYS SEEKING OUT GUESTS AN D CAST MEMBERS AND ALL KINDS OF REGULAR PEOPLE GENUINELY AND INTENSELY FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY HAD TOAY S. >> THAT IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR WHOLE BUSINESS, CATERING TO THE FAMILY. >> DID WALT DISNEY EVER TALK ABOUT WHY HE SOUGHT OUT PEOPLE AND SO MUCH AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THEY THOUGHT? >> SURE. WALT WAS VYER AWARE OF THE FACT THAT HE NEEDED TO LISTEN. HE WAS A VERYOO GD LISTENER, PERHAPS MORE THAN ANY OTHER TRAIT. HE WAS SOMEONE WHO REALLY LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC. HE LISTENED TO THE PEOEPL COMING TO DISNEYLAND, THE PEOPLE SEEING HIS FILMS. THAT ALLOWEDIM H TO BUILD HIS PARK, TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO BETTER, SO IT IS NATALUR THAT PEOPLE LOOK TO HIM AS AN INSPIRATIONAL SOURCE, AND PROBABLY W,HY TODAY, WE STILL DO THE SAME. >> ITS I A PIECE OF HOW DISNEY INTEGRATED INTO THE CENTRAL PORTAL LIFE. >> WE ARE TAKING YOU BACK TO THE FIRST YSDA OF DISNEY WORLD IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. PIECES OF HISTORY HELPING TO RKMA THE THEMEPARK’S ANNIVERSARY. IT IS NEXT ON STW 2 CHRONICLE: 50 YEARS OF MAGIC. ♪ >> DID YOU KNOW DISNEY DESIGNED A CHARACTER JUST FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA? MEET THE ORANGE BIRD. THEY DESIGNED HIM FOR THE FLORIDA CITRUS COMMISSION. IN EXCHANGE, THE GROUP SPONSORED THE ENCHANTED ROOM AND SUNSHINE TREE TERRACE IN ADVENTURLAND. THE FEATHERED MASCOT CALLED MAGIC KINGDOM HOME FROM 7119 THROUGH 1986. THEN, IN 20,04 ORANGE BIRD REEMERGED AT TOYKO DISNEYLAND. FINALLY, IN 2012, ORANGEIRD B RETURNED TO THE SUNSHINE STATE AS PART OF THE RESTORED SUNSHINE TREE TERRACE. >> FROMHE T PINS TO THE YEARS, DISNEY COLLECTABLES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG DEAL. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY, MORE RARE ARTIFACTS ARE GETTING THEIR MOMENT IN ETH SPOTLIGHT, TINY TRINKETS TO SENTINEL COSTUMES, EVEN MILLION DOLLARRO PPS. MARLEI MARTINEZ GOT TO SEE THEM UP CLOSE AND FOUND THE STORIES BEHIND EACH ARE EVEN MORE VALUABLE. >> WHEN DISNEY WLDOR DUTEDEB ON OCTOBER 25, 1197 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUNSHINE STATE, 15-YEAR-OLD TERRY LINDSEY WAS IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL. >> ON OPENING D,AY I WAS PART OF THE 1076-PIECE BANDHA TT MARCDHE UP MAIN STREET. ALL YOU CAN SEE IS THE CASTLE. AND AGAIN, EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS TAKING PICTURES AND IS HAPPY AND ENJOYING THE DAY, AND THAT WAS MAGIL.CA >> AS A CENTRAL FLORIDA NATI,VE TERRY WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY HIGH SCHOOL MUSICIANS THAT DISNEY RECRUITED FOR THE GRAND OPENING. HE PLAYED TRUMPET FOR LAKELAND SE NIOR HIGH SCHO.OL >> FOR EVERYBODY. >> A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS BRASS PLAYER TERRY HELD ONTO -- BRASS PLAYER. >> UNIT WOULD HAVE REALIZED GOING BACK HOW MANY PEOPLE NEVER WOULD HAVE A CHANCE LIKE THAT. >> NOW HES I HELPING BRING THESE HISTORY BOOKTOS LIFE BY PRESERVING HIS UNIFORM THAT WAS DOCUMEEDNT IN THE ORIGINAL OPENING CELEBRATION SCRIPT. >> THEY WOULD ACTULYAL STAPLE IT. >> '> ’S DONATION GOING TO THE ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER. AS ORLANDO’S HOMETOWN MUSEUM, IT IS COMPILING A DISNEY WORLD COLLECTION AND TERRY’S BAND VEST AND HAT ARE THE CROWN JEWELS. >> TSHI IS THE BEST ARTIFACT WE HAVE. >> COLLECTIONS MANAGER WHITNEY BROADAWAY EXCIDLTEY SHOWED ME THE HISTORY CENTER’S TREASURE CHEST OF DISNEY ARTIFACTS. >> THE MASTER EVENTS SCRIPT, PROCEDURES AND ITINERARY, AND A FIRST YEAR MAP. >>RST YEAR MAP. BUT ONE OF WHITNEY’S FAVORITES -- >> IT IS A PIECE OF HOW DISNEY INTEGRATED WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA LIFE. >> IT WASN’T JUST MARCHING BANDS DISNEY SCOUTED IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. CHECK THISUT. O THIS RECRUITMENT FLYER DISNEY POSTED IN LOL CAHIGH SCHOOLS IN THE EARLY 1970’S. THE EXCITEMENT IN THOSE EARLY DAYS WAS PALPABLE. >> CENTRAL FLORIDA AND DISNEY WERE LITERALLY BASKING IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT. >> LINES STRETCHED FROM-4 I TO MAINSTREET BECAUSE DISNEY WAS COMING TO TOWN >> WE HAVE A LOCATION IN FLORIDA. >> IT TALKS TO THE FERVOR THAT DISNEY COMING TO TOWN WAS KIND OF INJECTING INTO THE LIFESTYLE HERE IN THE 1970’SND A LATE 1960’S. >> DISNEY MEMORABILIA ISN’T JUST FOR MUSEUMS. OWNING A PIECE DISNEY HISTORY IS THE DREAM OF COUNTLS ESDISNEY FANATICS. >>UNTLS ESDISNEY FANATICS. THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE DISNEY COLLECTION. >> BUT NONE RIVAL JOEL MAG.EE >> I HAVE THE LARGEST DISNEY RLDWO AND DISNEYLAND PROP COLLECTION IN THE WORLD. OH MY GOSH. >> AND HE GAVMEE A PRIVATE TOUR. >> THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST ICONIC PIECE WILL EVER BE AS FAR AS DISNEY IS CONCERNED. >> AND THEY WERE THERE ON OPENING DAY? >> THESE WERE THERE ON OPENING DAY. >> THIS, ONE OF OY NLFOUR ORIGINAL HITCHHIKING GHOST DISPLAYS. FROM THE HAUNTED MANSION RE. >> YOU WOULD SEE THESE GHOSST IN THE MIRROR AND IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THEY WERE NEXTOT YOU. OF COURSE, THEY WERE NOT. IT WAS SMOKE AND MIRRORS, BUT THESE WERE THE UNITS BEHIND THOSE MIRRORS. >> DCHITED FOR DIGITAL VERSIONS, JOEL BROUGHT THESE BACK TO LE.IF THESE HITCHHIKING GHOSTS ARE ONE OF JOEL’S PRIZE POSSESSNSIO -- JOEL’S PRIZE POSSESSIONS, VALUED AT MORE TH A MANILLION DOLLARS. >> SPEAKING OF A HAUNTED MANSION , THIS IS THE STATUS PANEL. >> JOEL ALSO HAS THEID RE’S ORIGINAL CONTROL PANEL. >> YOU CAN HEAR EVERY PIECE OF THE HAUND MATENSION RIDE WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON. >> WE ARE IN THE CORRIDOR OF DOORS. NOW WE ARE IN THE ATT.IC >> HE HAS A KNACK FOR RESTORING DISNEY’S OLD HAUN.TS INCLUDING THIS CLASSIC. >> THE MONORAIL WILL BE DEPARTING MOMENTARILY. >> THIS IS A COCKPIT CHAIR FROM ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MONORAILS ON OPENING DAY. TALK ABOUT A BLAST TO THE PAST. >>LK ABOUT A BLAST TO THE PAST. I REMEMBER, BECAUSE I RO DE THIS IN ABOUT 1098 AND IT WAS COOL TO RIDE INHE T FRONT WITH THE DRIVER. >> FROM A HALLW LAYINED WITH VINTAGE COSTUMES TO A PERSONAL MUSEUM DECKED WITH POSTERSND A PROPS, TS HIIS ONLY A THIRD OF JOEL’S ENTIRE COLLECTION. WHY DID YOU WANT TO DO THIS? >> I NEVER GOT TO GO TO SNDIEYLAND OR DISNEY WORLD WHEN I WAS A KID. I HAD A GREAT CHILDHOOD, THOUGH, BUT WHEN I WTEN AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. IT WAS ENCHANTING, ANDO T RIDE THE SKYWAY AT THE TIME -- IT IS BACK, SO THAT'’ EXCITING -- BUT IT IS GOING BA TCKO THAT TIME. WE LIKE TO GO BACK TO REVISIT TH E HAPPIEST TIMES OF OUR LIFE, AND WITH DISNEY WOR,LD WE CAN GO AND DO IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT IS STLIL THERE. >> SHARE IS WHAT JOEL PLANS TO DO. HIS COLLECTION IS HITTING THE RO AD FOR A CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR, AND AT THE END OF THAT T THE FINALE, A GIANT OPTION. >> PEOE PLASK, WILL YOU MISS IT? OF COURSE. >> JOEL SAYS IT WILL BE BITTERSWEET, BUT NO MATTER WHERE THE ARTIFACTS END UP, ALL ROADS LEAD BACK TO THE MEMORIES AND THAT’S WHAT COLLECTORS LIKE JOEL AND TERRY HOLD ONTO AS DISNEY CELEBRATES THIS GOLDEN MILESTONE. WHENEVER YOU DO GO BACK TO THE PA,RK DO YOU RECALL THAT FIRST DAY? >> WNHE DISNEY IS HOLDING MICKEY’S HAND AND THAT KIND OF THING IN A CIRCLE, SO WHEN I GO BACK, IT IS A THROWBACK,T I SHI LIKE I WAS RIGHT HERE ON OCTOBER, 1971. IT MAKES ME FEEL A LOT OLDER, BUT I WOULD NOT TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD. >> UNFORGETTABLE IS WHAT DISNEY WORLD IS ALL ABOUT. >> IT IS IN NATIONAL POLITICS, IN MUSIC,N I SPORTS. SOME REALLY PIVOTAL MOMENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THIS ROOM. >> THE TOP POP CULRETU MOMENTS TO PLAY OUT AT DISNEY, AND WE HAVE THEM FOR YOU NEXT. >> CHECK OUT THIS MAGICAL MOMENT IN DISNEY HISTORY. IN 26,01 DISNEY’S WORLD OF SPORTS PLAYED HOST TO THE SECOND EVER INVICSTU GAMES, BRINGING WOUNDEDTH ALETES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE UNITED BY SPORT, A PASSION PROJECT OF PRINCE HARRY, WHO CAME TO PRESIDE OV THEER GAMES. WOUNDED WARRIORS REPRESENTING 14 COUNTRIES COMPETED. THIS WAS NOT ROYALTY’S FIRST TRIP TO OUR MAGIC KINGDOM. MORE ON THAT IS COMING RIGHT UP. >> DISNEY SHA CHOREOGRAPHED MANY MOMENTS, TBU SOMETIMES, IT BECAME THE BACKDROP FOR REAL HEADLIS.NE >> THERE ARE SO MANY EXCITING THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AT WALT DISNEY WORLD OVER THE YEARS, IT IS HARD TO PICK ONE. >> WE HAVE PICKED THE TOP FIVE. DISNEY WORLD’S FIRST FOOTNOTE IN HISTORY CAME TWO YEARS AFTER IT OPEN,ED NOVEMBER 17, 1973. >> PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON WAS THERE SHORTLY AFTER WATERGATE AND WAS GIVING A SPEECH TO THE PRESS AT ONE OF THE BALLROOMS. THERE WAS A QUESTION AND ANSWER SECTION AFTER AND HE BLURTED OUT -- >> I AM NOT A CROOK. >> AND THAT BECAME HUGE IN THE AMERICAN LEXONIC AND A BIG POP CULTURE MOMENT. >> EVEN PEOPLE WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RICHARD NIXON PROBAYBL KNOW "I AM NOT A CROOK." MOST PEOPLE, HOWEVER, DO TNO REALIZE THAT WAS UTTERED ON THE GRNDOUS O WALT DISNEY WORLD. >> PEOPLE HAVE GOTO TKNOW -- >> YEARS LATER, IT WAS THE BACKDROP FOR HEADLESIN AGAIN, AND A BREAKUP THAT ROCKED ROCK ' ’N’ RLOL IN DECEMBER OF 1974, THE END OF THE BEATLES. >> THE WRITING WAS ALREADY ON THE WALL BY THE LATE 1960’S. >> BOB THOMPSON IS A POP CULTURE EXPERT AND PROFESSOR AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. HE SAYS THE BREAKUP OF THE BEATLES UNRAVELED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT BY DECEMBER OF 1970 FOUR, PAUL, GEORGE DAN RINGO HAD ALL SIGNED THE PAPERWORK DISSOLVING THE PARTNERSHIP. >> AND THEY ONLY NEED ONE MORE SIGNATURE, JOHN LENNON. WHERE DOES HE HAPPEN TO BE WHEN THE DOCUMENTATIONS ARRIVE? THE POLYNESIAN RESORT IN NONE OTHER THAN DISNEY WORLD. SO WHILE DISNEY WORLD DIDN’T CAUSE THE BREAKUP OF THE BEATLES, THE OFFIALIC LAST CHAPTER IN THE BREAKUP OF THE BEATLES ACTUALLY HAPPENED WIIN SIGHT OF THE MAGIC KINGDOM. >> CELEBRATIONS,OT N BREAKUPS, ARE MORE DISNEY’S STYLE, SO LET’S GET THE PARTY STARTEDITH W OUR NEXT TOP MOMENT FROM 1987. >> I AM GOING TO DISNEY WORLD. >> WORDS THAT HAVE NOW BEEN FIVE UTTERED BY EVERYONE FROM MISS AMERICA TO REALY ITTV STARS. IT ALL BEGAN IN EARNEST WITH SUPER BOWL 21 P MVQUARTERBACK PHIL SIMMS AFTER THE NEW YORK GIANTS BEAT THE BUFFALO BIS.LL >> THE STORY GOES HEAS W PAID, SOME REPORTS SAY $50,000, OTHERS $75,000. >> WHEN I HEARD HIM SAY THAT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO COLD. -- SO COOL. YOU KNOW, DISNEY WORLD MEA ANS LOT TO NOT ONLY ME, BUT YOUR KIDS AND THE WHOLE WORLD. >> THAT VERY NEXT YEAR, AHEAOFD SUPER BOWL 22 IN 1988 DOUG WILLIAMS, QUARTERBACK FOR WASHINGT,ON D.C.’S TEAM, WAS APPROACHED. >> THE NIGHT BEFORE, ONE OF THE LADIES WHO WORKED FOR DISNEY AT THE TIME CAMTOE ME AND SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WIN,OU Y KNOW, YOU, WE WANT YOU TO YSA THIS. AFTER THE GAME, YOU KNOW, WALKING OFF THE GAME PEOPLE WAS AROUND ME. AND I HAD MY HELMET UP IN THE AIR. THE ONLY THING I WAS WORRIED ABOUT WAS THE FACT THAT WE WAS THE WORLD CHAMPION, AND NOTHGIN ELSE MATTERED, THEN I LTFE SOMETHING HIT ME ON THE LEG. SHE WAS A SHT ORLADY. AND SHE SAID, HEY, DISNEY WORLD, DISNEY WOR.LD AND I LOOKED DOWN, AND I JUST TURNED AROUND AND SAID, HEY, I’M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD. >> IN 2020, DISNEY STEPPED BACK INTO THE SPORTS ARENA HELPING TO GIVE THE NBA A BUBBLE TO PLAY THEIR SEASON AMID THE CODVI PANDEMIC. >> HAD WE KNOWN WHAT WWEREE ASKED TO DO AT THE TIME, I AM NOT SO SURE WE WOULD HAVE SAID WE COULD DO IT BECAUSE THEREAS W SO MUCH UNKNOWN. WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW ATHA T TIME -- OR NO ONE DID -- HOW THE VIRUS WAS TRANSMITTED. >> FROM JULY THROUGH OCTOBER, 22 NBA TEAMS PLAYERS, COACHES AND AFSTF LIVED, WORKED AND PLEDAY AT DISNEY WORLD’S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS, COMPLETING THE 2019-2020 REGULAR SEASON, THE NBA PLAYOFFS AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. >> THE SEASON IS OVER, THIS STHIORIC CHAMPIONSHIP. >> THE SEASON CONCLUDED WITH ZERO CASES OF COVID-19 IN THE BUBBLE. FARON KELLEY IS THE CEVI PRESIDENT OF DISNEY SPORTS. >> THERE WAS A DOCUMENTARYN O ABOUT THE DAY SPORTS STOPPED. AND I WATCHED IT, AND IT HAD FOOTAGE FROM THE BUBBLE AND ATWH WE DID HERE. AND AT THAT MOMENT, IT HITE THAT WE HAD REALLY -- WERE PART OF HISTORY. >> DISNEY’S NEXT DEFINING POP-CULTURE MOMENT HAS TO DO WITH A PRINCESS. NOT THE ONE FROM THIS CAST BUTLE A REAL-LIFE PRINCESS, POSSIBLY THE MOST FAMOUS WOMAN IN THE WORLD AT THE TIME. >> IN 1993, DIANA, PRINCESS DIANA BROUGHT HER TWO BOYS FOR THEIR FIRST VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, AND OF COURSE, THEY WTEN TO DISNEY WORLD AS A FAMILY, THE THREE OF THEM. >> PRINCE WILLIAM WAS 11 AND HARRY WAS ONLY 8. THE INTERNATIONAL PAPARAZZI AT THE TIME, ANXIOUS TO GET A PICTURE OF THE ROYALS WHO WERE AT THE PARK LESS THAN A ARYE AFTER PRINCESS DIANA AND PRINCE CHARLES ANNOUNCED THEIR SEPARATION. >> OTHER PAPERS ARE SPECULATING >> THE BUZZ AROUND THEIR VISIT, DOMINATED THE LOCAL NEWS TOO BACK THEN. >> IT WAS REALLY QUITE A THRILL. >> IT MADE A BIG IMPACT ON WALT DISNEY WORLD BECAUSE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD SAY IF THEY CAN HAVE SUCH A GOOD TIME, I WOULD GO THERE TOO. >> OF ALL THE FAMOUS VISITS TO DI SNEY AND MOMENTS THAT HAVE UNFOLDED ALONG MAIN STREET, THERE SEEMS TO BE ONTHATE PEOPLE REMEMBER BEST, THR EIOWN. >> MILLIONS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS AT DISNEY WOR,LD BUT THE MAIN EVENTS WERE NOT RECORDED. THEY ARE EVENTS YOU HAVE TO LOOK INTO PEOPLE’S PHOTO ALBUMS. YOU HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR MEMORIES. A BIG STORY HAPPENS AT DISNEY WORLD EVYER DAYNOT, THE STORIES THEY GET REPORTED. FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD, IT IS THE BIGGEST, SOMETIMES HAPPIEST MEMORY OF THEIR LIFE. >> THAT IS WHAT 50 YEARS OF MAGIC IS ALL ABO.UT ♪ >> DISNEY IS MAKING SURE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO EXPERIENCE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CAN, WITH FESTIVITIES RUNNING THROUGH THE SPRING OF 2023. FOR THE LATEST ONHA WT THE CELEBRATNSIO MIGHT ENTAIL WHEN YOU ARE HERE, HEADED TO SHWE.CO M. FROM THE ENTIRE CHRONICLE TEAM, THANKS FOR WATCHING A MAGICAL NITGH -- FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A MAGICAL NIGHT.