Advertisement

Disney World marks 40th anniversary

Thousands of guests watch as fireworks and confetti close the celebration ceremonies for Disneyland's 50th anniversary at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom near Orlando Fl. (UPI Photo/ Marino-Cantrell)
Thousands of guests watch as fireworks and confetti close the celebration ceremonies for Disneyland's 50th anniversary at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom near Orlando Fl. (UPI Photo/ Marino-Cantrell) | License Photo

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Disney World says it will wrap up the festivities marking the 40th anniversary of the Florida park's opening with an extended fireworks show Sunday.

Scores of visitors have been packing Disney World all weekend as part of the anniversary celebration of its opening day on Oct. 1, 1971.

Advertisement

There was plenty of commemorative merchandise to be snapped up by souvenir hunters, and the park's guidebook was patterned after the original park map issued in the 1970s, the Orlando Sentinel said.

Saturday's big event was a mass sing-along of the classic "When You Wish Upon a Star" at Cinderella's Castle.

Park President Meg Crofton and Vice President Phil Holmes also made brief remarks that saluted the past and also the future, symbolized by the ongoing expansion of Fantasyland. "That will be another part of our legacy that goes on and on," said Holmes, who was a ticket-taker on the first day.

Latest Headlines