Have Your Heard About Disney’s Duck Races?
Back in 2008, Cast Members working in Fantasyland at Disneyland Resort came up with an idea for a quirky event that would become a long-anticipated yearly tradition. The cast-exclusive rubber duck race and decoration competition in the iconic “it’s a small world” attraction! Originally the duck races were solely for cast members who worked at “it’s a small world.” before being extended to the entire resort. It would eventually spread to theme parks around the globe.
Tamarah Mack, a Fantasyland retail manager who played a pivotal role in making the duck races a resort-wide event!
We are also pleased to say that on June 9th (15 years after its inception) the cast member Duck Races made its Disneyland Paris debut. The date was particularly important because it was Donald Duck’s birthday! To pay homage to the origins of the Duck Races, cast members at Disneyland Paris were asked to decorate their ducks with a theme representing one of Disneyland Park’s original five lands: Main Street, U.S.A, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland, and their very own Discoveryland.
The event was a roaring success. Marine, a cast member of the Disneyland Paris Live Events team was the winner of the Fantasyland category. She decorated her rubber duck with a hand-knit design complete with a cast member costume including a nametag.
Over at Disneyland Resort, 1,000 ducks raced around “It’s a small world” at Disneyland Park. Stacy Wise, a horticulture manager placed first and decorated her duck to look like Ludwig Von Drake. It was her first year of participating.
The amount of talent on display on both sides of the pond when it comes to duck decorating was impressive. Avi Wilk, a Pixar Pier attractions cast member took home the top spot in the “Most like Donald Duck” category with his “Angry Donald Duck.”
Alicia Roberts a retail cast member won the category for Most Disney Themed with a duck inspired by the Disney100 Celebrations and featuring her favorite Disney baddie – Maleficent.
Alica also won the Favorite Attraction Design category for her Alice in Wonderland teacup design.
Not only are the Duck Races loads of fun, but this cast member event is also raising money for nonprofits. Proceeds in the past have gone to Toy For Tots, Make-A-Wish, and Goodwill Orange County.
This year proceeds will be donated to My Day Counts, a nonprofit organization that offers employment preparation and community integration activities to program members.
Over at Disneyland Paris, the profits from this year’s rubber duck sales were donated to a local charity. La Maison de Tom Pouce helps vulnerable-soon-to-be and recent mothers and their children.
There couldn’t have been a more perfect way to celebrate Donald Duck’s birthday party! We can’t wait to see what incredible creations cast members come up with next year!
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