My first trip to Disney was in May of 1997. I was in Kindergarten. And honestly, I wouldn’t know until my mid-20s, that during my first trip, that Walt Disney World was going through a controversy. And oh man, I wish I could have been a sentient adult at the time.
Most people, including myself, will say “Happy Birthday” to the Magic Kingdom on October 1st. In 1971, the first major Disney Park on the east coast was opened to the public. 
And for their 25th anniversary in 1996, Disney put into effect putting 400 gallons of pink paint on Cinderella castle. Transformed into a giant birthday cake, the face of Walt Disney World was unrecognizable under layers of faux icing, gumdrops, candy rings and giant birthday candles (25 candles with a 26th for another successful year to come). You can tell they put a lot of effort into making the castle a true memory maker for this celebration. Let’s face it, being a quarter of a decade old is pretty memorable.
Alas, this was a disappointment for many first-time guests, and returning guests were appalled by the gaudy show that would run for 15 months into January of 1998. Disney’s celebration choice was dragged across the ground and is remembered as a massive mistake in Disney Park history. I swear I hadn’t seen more than a few people who remembered the castle fondly during the 25th Anniversary. Many couples actually postponed/ canceled their weddings at the Magic Kingdom until the castle was renewed back to blue and gray.
My need to write this came from watching an Offhand Disney Video about Disney’s Worst Mistakes that included the celebration for Stitch’s Great Escape, and also a giant Chicken Little head in Disney’s California Adventure, the latter actually being something I really don’t think I ever heard about either.
Let’s be fair, as a child, you really don’t see the bad in things like the castle being a cake. But honestly, as an adult, what is my opinion now? Do I think it’s as big of a mistake as Disney fans from the mid-90s did?
I can say it with a resounding, no. Honestly, there are things about it that do make me wonder what they were thinking, but over 20 more years since then, I really do not see it as the biggest mistake. Is it gaudy and weird? Yes, I will admit that. But is it an infringement on me as a Disney fan? Not at all. I can tell you that as a lover of pink and pastel colors, I am still not upset by this. And I am so happy to have this as my first memory as a kid at Disney.
Disney has made more mistakes in the past 10 years than this, I must say. Getting rid of amazing rides, theming areas after properties that I am not sure I can get behind (YET!), and leaving Tommorrowland in the past are much bigger issues to me, than to slap some paint on the castle. If anything, I say they really did leave a mark on Disney history, whether for good or bad.
I loved this castle. I will say that fully as an adult that this was an amazing idea, a great feat of work for them to do this. It remains also a risk they took to create a unique experience for a year that would probably otherwise be forgotten. I haven’t forgotten it. And honestly, I might not remember the trip vividly, but it truly did kick my love for Disney and the parks into reality. And another stunt like this in the future would actually be amazing and fun.
Hey, less than 10 years until Walt Disney World is gonna be Over the Hill. I don’t think the pink is needed, but I’d love to see the inflatable icing and candles on a blue frosted castle cake!
Cheers!
Snow xoxoxo
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