When Walt Disney World Resort turned 15, a giant topiary birthday cake marked the occasion in the Hub right in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park.
This seven-foot-tall cake measured 41 feet in circumference and featured more than 11,000 live plants. The “15” candle on top was 30 inches high and made from Scarletta begonias – sure beats the wax kind I blew out as a kid. The topiary cake was changed with the seasons as chrysanthemums were installed for Thanksgiving and poinsettias for Christmas.
But the showcase of the celebration was the introduction of the WDW-GGM (Walt Disney World Gift Giver Machine). This computer awarded birthday gift surprises to guests entering the park every 15 seconds. A variety of prizes such as birthday visors, birthday pins, Walt Disney Pictures videos, Annual Passes and beach towels were awarded daily, and every day one lucky guest won a 1987 Chevy Cavalier. Winning guests received a voucher to order the car (or an S-10 pickup truck, their choice) at their hometown Chevrolet dealer. Any guesses on the value of a 1987 Chevy Cavalier?
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I had a car like that and it was dubbed The Bassmobile!
Love this post! I remember winning a pin at Magic Kingdom on the last family trip we took to WDW. Maybe you can add in a photo of the EPCOT Center cake. Great memories!
I wish I could have gone during the 15th aniversary. I did get to go for the 25th. They had decorated the castle to look like the Candyland castle it was pink. Very cool.
I was a ticket taker at the Magic Kingdom entrance during the fifteen year celebration. It was a lot of fun giving out all those prizes. I even got to give tbe car away twice.
Like David, I still vividly remember the song from the 15-year celebration. “15 years of magic, 15 years of fun … 15 years of wonder, we’re gonna party with everyone.”
I was only 7 years old on that visit, yet I still remember that tune.
Remember Nate, you said we were clueless, not us.
I can’t wait to be down there at the end of October to see what is in store for the 40th party. I was down for the 20th, 25th, 30th, and 35th.
The “15 Years” logo is still one of the best-designed logos Disney has ever done.
We’ll be there in Oct. Can’t believe it’s been 40 years since WDW happened! What did people do before that? I remember my best friend(now sister-in-law) was there for the opening in 1971- I was so jealous! We’re taking my grandson this time for his first visit!
What a step back in time – the spaceship earth is timeless, but the car in front instantly dates the image.
@Kristine – that’s awesome, contrats on winning the car!
@Nate – can’t wait to see your posts about the 40th. Looking forward to living vicariously through the blog…
I won the Chevy Cavalier! I was a teenager and the whole experience was unbelievable. I was in the daytime parade and the entire day was so exciting. 🙂
Awesome!
I turn 40 on the 11th so I asked for season pass. Which I got on mother’s day. So I will be celebrating there that week. I was there for the 25th that was cool I took my daughter for the first time. But it doesn’t seem like they are doing anything special. 🙁
Of all the parades at MK over the years, the 15 year one was the BEST!!!!
I remember winning a pin. What I remember even more is my dad let a kid go in front of him and that kid won the car…
Is this a clue?!? We will be there on October 1st to find out!!
No, no clue. I’m clueless.
I’m just sharing fun history.
Would love to hear of what is planned for the 40th!!!!
in 1987 the caviler had 24 differnt packages you could order form the factory.. The least expensive was the C27 package which was the 2 Door coupe with a 4 Cyl. retail was $7,255. The most expensive was the E67 package which was a RS convertable coupe which retailed for $14,106
We were there!! Our first year at Disney, I can still remember the music of the parade,
‘Come on everybody rapping to the beat put your hands up, we’re having a party!! Fifteen years The partys just begun!!’
I have a video of the parade and often the song gets stuck in my head “Fifteens years, we’re having a party” it was a great time to be a kid
I’m sure the 40th will be even bigger!
Can’t wait to see what Disney has planned.
OMGosh, this was the year we went to spend our Honeymoon. Even though we had gotten married in 85′, we had to wait for a proper honeymoon because my husband was in school etc. We camped at Fort Wilderness, and up until our first full family trip in 2009, it was my favourite trip. I won a visor, and I have napkins, and all my tickets that didn’t win lol Disney to me is a place that truly trasends everything that is good in the world. It is the place to go as a single, couple and family, my heart warms thinking of every trip I ever took there. laa laa laa 15 years.. Were having a party, ( thanks David for the remind) I am going to have to dig out my album from that trip now.
How about telling us what’s in store for the 40th?
😉
Look at that sweet ride! HAHA! I still remember the parade song… “…15 years… we’re having a party, at Walt Disney World…”
That looked very tastfull, much better then the castle cake and the Epcot wand I remember. What will they think of next, a big blue hat in front of the Chines Theatre in the Studios?
Just kidding.
I always find it special when they give a “birthday party” for the park, it´s the egnolagment of the love I have for the park.
The real question is: What is Disney doing for the 40th anniversary?
Hi James. I’m told from my sources over at Magic Kingdom Park that there are fun surprises planned, but that they will stay a surprise until October 1.
My first (of many) trips to WDW was during the 15 anniversary celebration, I was 10. My little 5 year old brother was one of the lucky recipients of the prizes they were awarding at the gates. He won a pin, and I was so mad because I had let him go in front of me in line!! But that jealousy vanished immediately after I entered the parks!!
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