Muppets add whimsical touch to WDW’s “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” celebration

Jim Hill

15 years ago

How do you get to The Walt Disney World Resort?

Well, according to the directions that Kermit the Frog was giving to Sweetums at yesterday’s “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” presentation at Epcot, you take the I-4 to 192 and then look for the cans.

Of course, it’s easy to understand why everyone’s favorite frog might have said that. Given that – for a few hours anyway – World Showcase’s old Millennium Village building was home to the Largest Canned Food Structure.

How big are we talking here ? According to the folks at the Guinness World Records (who authenticated this structure), 115,5237 canned goods were used to create larger-than-life versions of Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Pluto.

It took a team of Disney VoluntEARS four days and more than 500 “man hours” to put this 44-ton tribute to the spirit of giving together. And then it took less than an afternoon to tear the whole thing down, sort those cans, box them up and haul them all away.

But before that happened, Kermit the Frog got in a few shots at The Walt Disney Company. As this Muppet rolled into yesterday’s presentation seated on top of several boxes of canned peas, Kermit asked Sweetums to “… stop and make sure than we didn’t take out any Guests on the way
in. That would be awkward.”

And then – when Kermit offered up this additional pile of canned goods to Thomas Staggs, the new Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, saying that “ … maybe these cans can be added to The Largest Canned Food Structure. Something that could be built out front to add a little shade” – Staggs gestured to the can of peas right next to the Frog and said: “Oh, you mean like a canopy? Can o’ peas?”

As the audience groaned, Kermit turned to Tom and said: “Who writes your (jokes)? Fozzie Bear?”

All in all, the Muppets got a very strong reaction from those attending yesterday’s “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” celebration. Especially from a group of volunteers from New Orleans, who roared their approval when Kermit said “Who dat?”

Anyway … The Muppets’ old pal, Ty Pennington, came onstage for the big reveal of the World’s Largest Canned Food Structure. But instead of saying his usual “Move That Bus!” catchphrase, the
host of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” lead the audience in a chat of “Raise Those Balloons!”

Following a “Kodak Moment” (where everyone in the room who had a camera rushed to the front of the hall to try & get a shot of this impressive structure), the audience was then shooed out of
the old Millennium Village so that the real work could begin. Where 25 Cast Members would then direct 200 volunteers through the disassembling process. So that the thousands of cans of
black olives that were used to make Mickey’s head wound up in one set of boxes, while the hundreds of containers of Atlantic salmon that were used to construct Goofy’s face wound up in another set of boxes.

As for Kermit … The world’s most famous frog soldiered on through the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” press event. Doing dozens of interviews. Getting his picture taken with notables like
Mr. Staggs and Michelle Nunn, the co-founder of HandsOn Network (i.e. the organization that’s supporting The Walt Disney Company’s efforts to inspire one million people to perform volunteer service).

Speaking of which … Though the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program was only launched six weeks ago, Staggs was pleased to announce that more than 600,000 people in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada have already volunteered their services and/or signed up to take part in volunteer projects within their own communities.

“We (had) hoped (that “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” would) spark something truly special,” Tom continued. “But even we have been overwhelmed with the response.”

Getting back to yesterday’s ceremony … As Kermit made ready to make his exit, Staggs asked the Frog if he needed any help with all of his boxes. That maybe the new Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts could persuade a few Cast Members – some truck drivers, perhaps ? – to come out onstage and then help Kermit unload all those cans.

The Frog’s response? “We don’t really need truck drivers. We have Miss Piggy back there. She’ll be taking care of all the loading and unloading chores.”

Well, I don’t know if Miss Piggy actually unloaded any of those canned peas. But she and Kermit were definitely on hand later in the day, waving to the crowds from high atop their touring car. This “Disney’s Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade” parade unit – which normally rolls through the Magic Kingdom – made a special trip over to Epcot yesterday. So that the Frog &
the Pig could then lead off the Can Do Truck Can-voy.

Miss Piggy & Kermit rode ahead of a fleet of trucks that were emblazoned with the “Celebrate Volunteers” logo. And after these crammed-full-of-cans vehicles finished their tour around World Showcase Lagoon and then made a hard left just before the China pavilion, these trucks then headed out to make deliveries to food banks in Central Florida, Miami and Atlanta. With the hope of getting all of these canned goods – which represent approximately
70,000 meals – in the hands of needy families.

If after reading today’s story, you suddenly find yourself find yourself just like Kermit the Frog, all swept up by the Can Do spirit … Well, you can learn more about the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program by heading on over disneyparks.com. Which spells out all the details involved (EX: you must pre-register and sign up for an eligible volunteer opportunity. You must be at least 6 years old to participate in the program, etc.) with this very worthwhile effort.

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