Today is the last day Disney World will be open until the end of the month due to the Coronavirus outbreak (and we’re getting pretty emotional).
Cinderella Castle
While many guests will miss visiting the parks during this time, the Disney College Program participants are officially having to say goodbye. Along with other Disney programs, the Disney College Program is temporarily being shut down due to the park closures. And, while the kids in the programs have to bid farewell to the magic for now, they have all brought a little bit of their own pixie dust into Magic Kingdom today.
Since the Disney College Program participants will be leaving Disney World on March 18th, they decided to band together as one big happy family by wearing celebratory pins today. We’re totally crying, you guys…
College Program Pins
The pins we spotted all celebrated their last day as a part of their respective Disney Programs…
College Program Pins
…the Disney adventures they went on together…
College Program Pins
…and the memories and magic they created while they were a part of the Disney College Program.
Disney College Program Shirt
And, just like the participants gave so much to the guests and parks during their time in the programs, Magic Kingdom decided to return that magic! Multiple rides across the park let program members on attractions through the FastPass lines, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train,…
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
…It’s a Small World,…
it’s a small world
…Haunted Mansion,…
Haunted Mansion
…Splash Mountain (to make their last day a zip-a-dee-doo-dah one),…
Splash Mountain
…and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! There was also a dedicated line for them at the Mickey Mouse Meet-and-Greet at the Town Square Theater so they could give their best pal one final hug.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Although it might be bittersweet, we have to agree with Winnie the Pooh when he says: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” We’re sending all our love here at DFB to the Disney Program participants during this trying time!
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My wife and I are fighting the tears, trying to keep a brave face and praying that this closure will just be a hiccup in the history of our time as annual passholders. I’m sure we’re not alone as we sit and look back over the memories and smiles that Disney is responsible for. If nothing else this has made us appreciate all of the cast members and all their hard work even more. Every one of them needs to be made aware how much their smiles, waves and “Have a good night”s mean to thousands of people. Disney is for my family an anchor, my wife calls it a happiness anchor, and she couldn’t be more right.
Thank you to each and every person who has had the privilege of calling themselves a part of the Disney team for making our lives, my life so magical. We’ll see ya real soon.
I was a Disney CP in 2012/2013 . It was SO hard to come back home and say goodbye to the magic an to all the friends that I made over there. I was once on their shoes, so I can imagine how sad it is now. I´m sending all my love to the fellows DCP. To be honest , I think I´m still trying to get over my own college program. It was the most magical experince of my life. I used to be “friends with Winnie the Pooh” if you know what it means, so I couldn´t agree more when he says: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”