My 25th Birthday Cake

My 25th Birthday Cake
Tony Caggiano

Well, perhaps that is not entirely true. It was not my own personal birthday cake, but since I too was officially presented to the public way back in 1971, I have always felt as though each and every Walt Disney World “Birthday” celebration is also a celebration of my very own.

Who can forget (although I know some out there would like to) the 25th Anniversary transformation of Cinderella Castle into an 18 story Pink Birthday Cake which decorated The Magic Kindgom from October 1, 1996 through January 31, 1998?

Now, as I mentioned, I realize that there are those members of Disney World fandom who still have nothing complimentary to say about the castle “Cake” makeover, but whether a fan of it or not, no one can deny it was an impressive undertaking. To transform what is arguably the most recognizable building in the world, certainly the most oft photographed, into a candy laden, iced and sprinkled, 188 foot birthday cake was a feat only the mind of an Imagineer could bring to life.

The “Cake” had its fans and its critics. Among the “critics” were the multitude of couples who cancelled their Disney Fairytale Weddings due to what they considered an eyesore in view of their dream wedding. As a fan of the Cake, and someone who had their wedding at Disney World, I might have to agree that it would have detracted from the view on that, one of the most special days of my life. As a guest at Walt Disney World, who was in fact celebrating his own 25th Birthday in 1996, I was quite impressed and enjoyed the “Cake” immensely.

Perhaps it was the 20 shades of Pepto-Bismol Pink that put others off, either way a look at the statistics behind what it took to pull it off, should be impressive to all:

400 Gallons of paint in multiple shades of pink covered in colored “sprinkles”
26 candles, which ranged in height from 20 to nearly 40 feet tall.
16 two foot tall candy stars
16 five foot tall “gummi” bears
12 five foot tall gumdrops
4 six foot tall Life Saver stacks
30 three foot tall lollipops
50 two foot tall gumballs
Over 1000 feet of inflatable pink and blue “icing” to “top it off”

So, I suppose the best way to put is that I was then, and remain today, a HUGE fan of the concept, if not necessarily the total execution of the overlay. (Pink is simply NOT my color I suppose). I even went so far as to grab a little piece of the cake for myself to enjoy in years to come…In the end was quite frankly, I think it was one of those things that could only happen at Disney.