Cast member shares nearly 50 years of memories working at Disney World

ORLANDO, Fla. — We’re a little less than six months away from the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World.

A select group of cast members are excited to celebrate five decades with the company.

One original cast member said she has 49 years under her belt and is hoping for a call back to hit 50.

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If you visit Kathy Carter’s home, she’ll happily share her magical memories as a Disney cast member; moments with princesses, families and fellow cast members.

“I love going to work every day,” Carter said.

She is currently furloughed, but her costume is pressed and ready.

“Tell them I’ll go back and do anything except drive a bus,” she said.

She’s been here since the beginning.

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As a child she saw a motorcade pass by and said, “We were out on the playground all these black limousines went by.”

It was Nov. 15, 1965, when Walt Disney announced he would change Orlando forever.

Carter visited Magic Kingdom with a friend two weeks after opening.

Later, when a Disney recruiter visited her high school, “I was like, ‘oh, I have to go to that interview,’” she said.

Dec. 15, 1971 was the start of a lifelong career.

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She started as a server at Town Square Cafe, now Tony’s Town Square Restaurant.

Right before the pandemic, an injury required her to move from full-time to part-time cast member.

That’s why after 49 years, she’s still not back to work.

See the full report in the video above.

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