Two cast members from Walt Disney World's opening day are still working there 55 years later
Disney spotlighted Frank and Earliene, two cast members who started at Walt Disney World on its opening day, October 1, 1971, and still work there 55 years on. The resort is also marking the anniversary with a new merchandise line of shirts, hoodies, hats, Minnie ears, backpacks and tumblers.
Two cast members who started on Walt Disney World's opening day in 1971 are still working there 55 years later. Disney spotlighted Frank and Earliene as the resort reached its 55th anniversary on October 1, alongside a new collection of anniversary merchandise.
Key Details
- Opening day: Magic Kingdom welcomed its first guests on October 1, 1971
- Milestone: 55 years, reached on October 1, 2026
- Who: Cast members Frank and Earliene, both hired for opening day
- Also new: A 55th anniversary merchandise collection
Frank and Earliene have worked at Walt Disney World since opening day
Both cast members began the day the resort opened, and both still work for Disney today.
- Frank's role today. He is an Entertainment Readiness Manager with Disney Live Entertainment, the Disney division that produces the parks' shows and parades.
- Earliene's role today. She is a merchandise hostess at Disney's Contemporary Resort, the A-frame hotel the monorail runs straight through.
- An opening-day hotel. The Contemporary opened in October 1971 as one of Walt Disney World's first resort hotels, alongside the Polynesian.
- Who reported it. Disney shared the pair's story for the anniversary, and Orlando station WFTV Channel 9 carried it.
Both started the same day Magic Kingdom welcomed its first guests, so their careers cover the resort's whole history, from a single theme park to the four theme parks and two water parks guests visit today.
The 55th anniversary merchandise collection
Disney is marking the milestone with a new merchandise line built around everyday pieces.
- Apparel. The collection includes shirts and hoodies commemorating Walt Disney World's 55th anniversary.
- Hats and ears. Hats and Minnie ears are part of the line, the ears being the parks' best known souvenir.
- Bags and drinkware. Backpacks and tumblers round out the product types Disney has named so far.
Prices and store locations for the 55th collection are still unannounced
The report names the product types but leaves out what shoppers need to plan a purchase.
- No prices yet. No price was given for any piece in the anniversary collection.
- No store list. The report does not say which parks, hotels or shops carry the line.
- First names only. Disney shared only Frank's and Earliene's first names and did not say what jobs they held in 1971.
Our take. With prices and a store list still unannounced, ask at the first merchandise shop you pass before planning a day around one anniversary piece, since the collection spans six product types and no single location has been named.