In the 1960s, Walt Disney had a dream: He’d turn a San Francisco-size swath of swampland and orange groves in central Florida into a version of utopia where childhood fantasies could spring to life. The Magic Kingdom opened on Oct. 1, 1971—50 years ago last week —beginning a fairy tale that’s panned out just as intended. Over the decades, Walt Disney World has lured millions of pilgrims to a place where dreams come true, not just for visitors but for employees, too.
In fact, there are no fans more devout than the people working at Disney’s four theme parks. Called “cast members,” they are ambassadors of happiness who delight in perpetuating a mythology that never breaks the fourth wall of the Cinderella Castle. In their minds, Tinkerbell is real, there are actual ghosts in the Haunted Mansion, and—most important—there is only one Mickey.
They gave me a chance to become part of their world as the parks staffed up in preparation for Walt Disney World’s golden anniversary, allowing me to discover exactly how the fairy dust is sprinkled on every guest experience. From shielding characters against overeager fans on Main Street, to making elaborate birthday cakes for hippos at Animal Kingdom, to practicing Be Our Guest cutlery choreography, here’s what I learned during a week working at the busiest resort on Earth.
1. No One “Plays” Cinderella, But She Has a Lot of Friends
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