Josh D’Amaro Shares Inspiring Picture of Disney World Before Grand Opening

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Josh D'Amaro Cinderella Castle

Credit: Disney/ IG: @joshdamaro

Walt Disney World President Josh D’Amaro has spent his resort’s closure frequently turning to Instagram to share inspiring and personal messages to all of his Disney-loving followers, Guests and Cast Members alike. On Thursday, May 14, he shared a vintage picture of Cinderella Castle before Walt Disney World’s grand opening in 1971.

Here is what he wrote:

Here is a #ThrowbackThursday post inspired by a note I received recently from our first WDW Ambassador, Debby Dane Brown. She shared a photo of herself and Mickey on the Cinderella Castle balcony, many months before the Resort’s official opening in 1971. She said when this photo was taken, work on the Castle was not yet finished. When I checked in on some of our Magic Kingdom Cast Members recently, we thought it would be cool to show Debby what she looks like in Cinderella Castle today! Our Castle now quietly stands ready for the day when we’re able to welcome everyone back to our Kingdom. Until then, please take care of yourselves.

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Here is a #ThrowbackThursday post inspired by a note I received recently from our first WDW Ambassador, Debby Dane Brown. She shared a photo of herself and Mickey on the Cinderella Castle balcony, many months before the Resort’s official opening in 1971. She said when this photo was taken, work on the Castle was not yet finished. When I checked in on some of our Magic Kingdom Cast Members recently, we thought it would be cool to show Debby what she looks like in Cinderella Castle today! Our Castle now quietly stands ready for the day when we’re able to welcome everyone back to our Kingdom. Until then, please take care of yourselves. #TBT #DisneyMagicalMoments #DisneyCastLife #WaltDisneyWorld #MagicKingdom #MagicHasaName #StayStrong

A post shared by Josh D'Amaro (@joshdamaro) on

It is possible to see a striking resemblance to Cinderella Castle of 1971 and Cinderella Castle today. Just as it was in the picture, the Magic Kingdom centerpiece sits unfinished, waiting for guests. Before the parks closed, it was surrounded by cranes with its makeover currently underway waiting for its guests to return.

Cinderella Castle then and now
Credit: Josh D’Amaro via IG: @joshdamaro

As of now, the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida is still closed and there is still no official reopening date set for the Magic Kingdom and the other theme parks and resort hotels. Only the shopping and dining district, Disney Springs, has a reopening date set. Its phased reopening will begin on Wednesday, May 20 with several third-party restaurants opening that day and Disney-owned businesses expected to begin reopening on May 27.

Related: Every Disney Springs Restaurant That Will Be Reopening May 20

This is just the latest message from the Disney World President. D’Amaro has gone out of his way to go back into the vacant parks to send more special messages. He returned to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to wish the park a very happy 35th birthday. He wished everyone a Happy Star Wars Day from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and he gave a very special shoutout to the Cast Members left keeping the park in pristine condition.  

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