WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION! Beginning October 1, 1996, and lasting through December 31, 1997, Walt Disney World celebrates 25 years of magic and fantasy. Here's a glimpse of the activities and special events planned for the coming year! CASTLE CAKE The "working name" is the Cinderella Castle Cake Transformation Project. To those visiting the Magic Kingdom since mid-July, it's "Hey! They're painting the castle pink!" So, what's it take to change a 25 year-old landmark into a huge birthday cake? Here's the recipe: 430 gallons of pink paint Apply to most flat portions of castle. add purple, blue, yellow, pink, green, orange and red sprinkles. 18 ramp candles Place around perimeter of forecourt stage. 8 large candles Place on castle, top off with a "25", then add the following garnishes: 16 Candy Stars (foam), 62 Gum Drops (foam), 2 Life Savers (foam), 30 Lollipops (foam), 4 Gum Balls (inflatable), 1 Candy Stick (inflatable), 3 Candy Stacks (inflatable), 1 small candle, with rose (inflatable), 2 Life Saver turrents (inflatable), 1 duplex candle, with rose base (inflatable), 1110 feet of inflatable icing, Once the transformation is complete (sometime around September 27), the "birthday castle" will be the centerpiece for the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary festivities through December 31, 1997. REMEMBER THE MAGIC PARADE Twenty-five years of magical Disney memories for millions of Walt Disney World past guests are wrapped up in the brand new 25th Anniversary Parade, performing daily for the next 15 months in the Magic Kingdom. Beginning Oct. 1, this parading musical spectacle themed to Remember the Magic is a special salute to returning Walt Disney World visitors. Hundreds of them will join more than 100 Disney performers to become part of the show each day. The "Remember the Magic" parade is an entirely new kind of street-theater performance with a "stop-action" twist. Six giant floats (up to 55 feet long and 22 feet high) roll down Main Street, U.S.A., each afternoon loaded with famous Disney characters and surrounded by dancers and colorfully costumed performers singing the 25th anniversary theme song, "Remember the Magic." Suddenly the music stops, each unit pausing in its own staging area while performers and Disney animated stars flood the street to perform multiple musical galas. Each float plays its own theme song with music drawn from the Disney classic it represents. Chosen in advance from among returning guests along the parade route, selected audience members dance out onto the street to play special roles in the performance. Each anniversary parade float has a different interactive performance experience for guests. The lineup includes: "Remember the Magic" Theme Float - Disney "royalty" ride at the head of the parade in this sparkling castle float carrying Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy, Minnie Mouse and Chip 'n' Dale. Beneath a glittering archway, Cinderella rides with Prince Charming. Mickey waves from an 18-foot high turret on the float adorned with more than 500 pounds of glitter. Up to 12 selected guests will ride with the characters. At each of the performance stops, 14 court dancers led by the Fairy Godmother in royal ball attire will dance with other guests to the music of "So This is Love," "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," and other Disney originals. The Little Mermaid's Undersea Float - A coral backdrop sets the scene for the red-haired mermaid and her musical friends, including Sebastian as director of an underwater band. Reefs of coral and playful seahorses disguise jets spurting water along the sides of the float in time to the "Under the Sea" theme song. At each stop, guests will join a conga line led by a dancing starfish and South American samba dancers. Beauty and the Beast Float - Lumiere leads the way riding inside a rotating giant punch bowl. He is surrounded by all the other "Be Our Guest" performers of the enchanted dining room -- knives, forks, spoons, saucers, magnum bottles of champagne and twirling cakes. On a separate float, Belle and the Beast appear on a stone bridge in the royal garden. The dining hall dancers bring a score of guests on stage to join Cogsworth the clock in a merry waltz to the music of "Be Our Guest." Aladdin's Treasure Float - Guests will have the magical chance to conjure up a giant blue genie that rises 20 feet above a sea of gold and jewels. Aladdin, Jasmine, Jafar and harem dancers direct the performance as up to 30 guests join in the fun playing "Genie Says." Scimitar warriors led by the dancing Magic Carpet and a pair of harem camels surround the float. Music themes include "Prince Ali" and "One Jump Ahead." The Lion King - Full-grown Simba rides high on Pride Rock beside other favorite characters from the famous movie. Rafiki stands toward the back waving his mystical walking stick while Zazu flies overhead. Guests will beat out happy messages on jungle drums along the sides of the float while Simba and his friends, Timon and Pumba, continue a rousing chorus of "Hakuna Matata." Dancers marching beside the float include gazelles, zebras and elephants. Music includes "I Just Can't Wait to Be King." Enchanted Forest -- Largest of all, the 55-foot-long finale float depicts a fantasy garden filled with favorite Disney heroes and heroines. Snow White and Dopey, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Pocahontas and Meeko and surprise performers from recent Disney films will be in the garden setting. Grandmother Willow smiles and winks from the center of the float. Snow White's wishing well and fountain send water leaping into the air. A magic castle rises up to 30 feet above the float, which sends daytime fireworks skyward for the finale. As the parade closes, 22 other characters lead guests in a grand waltz to "When You Wish Upon a Star" and other favorite Disney songs. In all, hundreds of Disney past guests will be invited each day to dance and play with the characters during their performance stops. Each stop will provide three minutes of fun and photo opportunities for other family members as friends and relatives "remember the magic." "The idea is to give our past guests a chance to do more than just watch - to make new memories by participating in a uniquely Disney event," says Ron Logan, senior vice president of Walt Disney Entertainment. "We've been wanting to try this kind of stop-action parade for many years." Along with transforming Cinderella Castle into a giant birthday cake, the 25th Anniversary Parade is a major element of the 15-month celebration which will offer former Walt Disney World guests a chance to relive memories of prior visits and enjoy special activities in all of the parks and resorts. Another daily feature in the Magic Kingdom will be a 25th Anniversary Musical Stage Show. Past guests from every state will take part in the show in front of the Castle Cake featuring Disney characters and favorite songs from Disney films. Remember the Magic Parade, at a glance: Six giant floats (up to 55 feet long and 22 feet high) More than 100 Disney performers and famous Disney characters First-ever Walt Disney World parade featuring "stop-action" and guest participation Parade length: 15 minutes First Walt Disney World parade to shoot fireworks from a float "Remember the Magic" Theme Float features 500 pounds of glitter "Enchanted Forest" Finale Float decorated with 1,000 pounds of foliage Songs include "Remember the Magic" theme song, "So This is Love," "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," "Under the Sea," "Be Our Guest," "Prince Ali," "One Jump Ahead," "Hakuna Matata," "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," "When You Wish Upon a Star."