Walt Disney World 55th Celebration Moment Held at Cinderella Castle

By WDWMAGIC Staff · Thursday October 1, 2026 9:20am ET · "Magic Kingdom"
Walt Disney World 55th Celebration Moment Held at Cinderella Castle
Walt Disney World's 55th anniversary kicked off with a castle stage moment at Magic Kingdom, where resort president Joe Schott addressed guests alongside Mickey, Minnie, and a dozen other characters.

Walt Disney World marked its 55th anniversary today with a Magic Kingdom celebration moment at Cinderella Castle. President of Walt Disney World Joe Schott walked out onto the castle stage just before 9am to speak to guests.

Schott was joined by a group of characters as a crowd filled the area in front of the castle. Watch the video below to hear comments from Joe.

Characters appearing on the castle stage incouded:

  • Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
  • Donald Duck and Daisy Duck
  • Goofy and Pluto
  • Cinderella and Prince Charming
  • Jasmine and Aladdin
  • Rapunzel and Flynn Rider
  • Tiana and Naveen

Message in My Disney Experience

Walt Disney World also posted an anniversary message in the My Disney Experience app today. It is signed by Schott and thanks guests for including Walt Disney World in their lives.

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Much better presentation than the 50th, which is sad.
↩ replying to jrhwdw
Celebration completed. ✅

Move on folks, nothing else to see here. 😟
Nice and understated. The stickers are a neat touch as well.
What dozen characters, it’s just Mickey, his friends, and the princesses…, I mean they weren’t going all out which backfired five years ago (don’t @ me), but…, the 45th one day festivities had an abundance of pals out in the castle on this day ten years ago, why are still going with the cheap and lazy, cost cutting, COVID-era, most marketable route, even though some of their movies were successful (at least Hollywood Studios made up for it for their awesome promo shot)
Wow. that is almost as impressive as the 50th celebration... Such a difference from how they have celebrated the milestones at Disneyland.... I remember Disneyland's 35th Had a giant machine at the entrance gates and every 35th person through the turnstiles got a gift of some sort...I can't even imagine todays management ever allowing something like that to happen...lol Maybe nowadays every 35th Guest would get an extra charge on their bill for the day.....
I think I would rather they had not even mention it than what they did, they sure have lost all sense of show and presence.
Honestly though, they just did the 50th (however poorly it was done), then the Disney 100. It feels like we just finished celebrating anniversaries. 55 is cool, but it's not some mega number for them to push a ton of capital into marketing. The 60th will be a bigger push with all the new rides and lands open. 55 is just a milestone for having a 5 at the end of the number, but nothing really more.
A milestone is a milestone... I am glad they gathered cast members for that incredible photo. They need to celebrate more often and better...the Covid-addled 50th cannot be their new standard....
Did they mention who are the Magic?
↩ replying to ToTBellHop
I feel certain they will....lol
↩ replying to ToTBellHop