October 1 is always a big day for theme park fans. That's because it is the birthday of the biggest theme park resort in the world - Walt Disney World.
The Magic Kingdom opened 53 years ago today, on October 1, 1971. Then, 11 years later, Walt Disney World became a multi-gate resort with the October 1, 1982 opening of EPCOT.
While theme park fans celebrate these birthdays today, this October 1 is getting extra birthday attention because it is the 100th birthday of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He is the only U.S. president ever to reach a 100th birthday, and not only that.. his birthplace in Plains, Georgia happens to be closer to Walt Disney World than that of any other U.S. president. See, you know I could find a theme park hook to this, right?
Let's do one better. Long-time Theme Park Insider readers might remember that former President Carter appeared in one of my Cast Member Stories from back when I worked at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom: You never know whom you'll meet on a parade route.
By the way, there's a great documentary about Carter called Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President that I highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about the nation's 39th president.
Happy birthday, President Carter... and to Walt Disney World.
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"He's history's greatest monster!"
In seriousness, congrats President Carter.
More Carter trivia - one that reads like a superhero origin story. The future president had radioactive urine for six months after leading a team into a damaged nuclear reactor to fix it in 1952. (See https://www.military.com/history/how-jimmy-carter-saved-canadian-nuclear-reactor-after-meltdown.html )
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Here's something remarkable: President Carter was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 91 and survived it!