Walt Disney World and Magic Kingdom celebrate 40th Anniversary; Commemorative merchandise
The white and gold foil-like T-shirt was not on our interest list, but grabbed up by many. Photo Rori Paul
With the excitement of 40 years of Magic from Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World offered up a limited amount – and limited supply – of commemorative merchandise for those on hand. Sadly, they didn’t have too much stock and things sold out fast. Nor were they very prepared for what they surely had to know would be high interest. Yet, for those of us there, getting a hand on something special was important enough to try.
For much of 2011 Walt Disney World has offered up a range of merchandise for folks to buy, from t-shirts to magnets, baseballs to hats, all found throughout the park and resorts.
On October 1, 2011 though, at Magic Kingdom (and we would later learn, the resort hotels we stopped at) there were two t-shirt offerings along with special occasion pins.
Not interested in pins, we heard about and saw the wrist band distrubution, “sold out” by 5 am, we were told by one young man who arrived at 6 am. The line was long and we were also told they’d go on sale to the anyone in line at 12 noon. No idea if there were any left, but we were stunned by people who moved through line, scarfing up arms full of these “I was there” kind of pins. Why – we all were asking in line – would you want to buy a pin on something like EBay – where we were certain these were heading – if you hadn’t been there?
A fun map from the park open years brings back a nastalga from my childhood. Photo Rori Paul
So too were shirts being scooped up. One rumor from someone we talked to, was that one lady had grabbed up an arm full of t-shirts. Some were grabbing a dozen or more, leaving those in line waiting for the shirts to be slowly handed out – one at a time from four bags at a stocking run – why there were no limits on purchases. You’d hate to think they’d have to, but this was a run like none I’ve seen.
But we were lucky, read the crowds and got in early and quick and walked out with a black 40th t-shirt each. The stylish garb has a subtle 40th on the front with a larger emblem on the back.
We passed by the white T’s with the gold foil-like front. While Tink made it cute in one way, it’s tacky nature turned us off.
My 40th Anniversary waits to play in my baseball mitt. Photo Rori Paul
As this 40th was something special to me, we also added to our collection the 40th baseball I’d seen for months around the park. I’d wanted to buy it that day at Magic Kingdom and wouldn’t you know it, they ran out. We located two left at Downtown Disney, so I grabbed up one. A visit to Epcot for Food and Wine demonstrated refilled bins and shelves of everything including the baseballs.
A final fun addition to the 40th celebration was the button they were handing out to a lucky-few as you walked through the front gates. I almost passed the one woman by who was was acting like she was judging who she’d even give it to. But we each got ours and a friendly and knowing smile was shared by those who had them later in the day, a small club of people. Even after our WDW fun we hit the grocery store to pass by a hand-full of us all nodding and smiling at this little group of “insiders.” That may end up being my favorite of all we grabbed up this memorable day.
The black 40th T-shirt with the simple, front logo, the button and my baseball are a fun and wonderful reminder of a memorable day, 40 years of memories, and all sorts of new ones. Photo Rori Paul
