Magic Kingdom: 47 years and the pixie dust still brings the Disney magic

47 years ago, Magic Kingdom opened the gates and sprinkled guests with pixie dust. The classic Disney theme park still spreads the Disney magic to every princess.

Magic Kingdom brings fairy tale dreams to life for Disney fans. As the iconic theme park celebrates 47 years, the focal point of Walt Disney World continues to sparkle and shine. While new attractions might try to lure the Disney fans to other Walt Disney theme parks, the nostalgia, grandeur and favorite Disney characters make this theme park a must-visit.

Whether you arrive via monorail or by boat, those first steps up to the Disney signage shows that this theme park isn’t just about thrill rides and theme park food. Going to Magic Kingdom is about making memories. From that first time a child sees the opening celebration by Cinderella’s castle to the last glimmer fireworks in the sky, this Disney theme park is about capturing the moment.

Cinderella Castle-Evening Sept. 1990. Photo Credit: Walt Disney World News

Thinking back to my first Disney experience, I remember staring at Cinderella’s Castle and thinking that every little girl is special. While I might not have been wearing a tiara or princess dress, that storyline about a girl who eventually has a happy ending is uplifting. Although people can debate the worthiness of a fairy tale ending, the idea of wanting, and achieving more, is a good thought to instill in children. Why should anyone settle for just ok?

Today, as I look at that same castle, my perspective might not be as bright. Of course, not everyone has a fairy tale happy ending. Still, as I walk through that iconic castle there is a little glimmer of hope, desire and wish to achieve more. While I do not wish for the new adult Disney princess makeover, I do feel as if I have been touched by a little pixie dust, which is what this Disney theme park is all about.

Even looking at the many rides at Magic Kingdom, these attractions aren’t meant to get your heart pounding, adrenaline pumping or cause extreme thrills. They are meant to make you feel a little childlike. No, It’s A Small World isn’t a technological marvel. It is older, somewhat corny but it offers a clear, uplifting message. Everyone might be from a different country, but deep down everyone is the same. Couldn’t the world today use a little bit of that simplicity?

The new home for visiting royalty in the Magic Kingdom, Princess Fairytale Hall photo provided by Walt Disney World News (Ali Nasser, photographer)

In a way, this Disney theme park is more for the adults passing on a memory to their children. For many parents today, they grew up with this Disney theme park. They remember their first time that they could ride Space Mountain or maybe they even have their first set of Mickey ears. As they bring their children through the gates, they are remembering a simpler time, their own childhood.

Disney offers an escape for a few hours. Under that tunnel and beyond that train track, the world is different. Imagination and make-believe is celebrated. Differences aren’t so dividing. Everyone seems happier.

Of course, more and more people want changes. Some rides have disappeared. Other rides have become more politically correct. New, more thrilling rides are on the horizon. More current Disney characters find their place alongside the perennial favorite. Updates are plentiful. Without change, this theme park would become a caricature. That scenario would never be wanted or tolerated.

Then again, even with these changes, the heart of this iconic Disney theme park remains untouched. Whether you stand in the shadow of Cinderella’s Castle or plunge down Thunder Mountain, the pixie dust that was scattered 47 years ago still offers its glitter and luster. While you might not see the remnants on your sleeve as you leave, those little flecks of happiness remain in your memory.

When was the last time that you had a little Magic Kingdom Disney magic in your life? Do you have a special place in your heart for the Disney theme park that turned 47 this week?