A former Disney cast member has shared an unbelievable story from the early days of Disneyland Resort—a time when rules were looser, security was lighter, and the idea of a personal car driving into Disneyland Park and down Main Street, U.S.A., wasn’t as unthinkable as it is today.
A Rare Sight on Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Park
Main Street, U.S.A., is the beating heart of Disneyland Park, designed to transport guests back to a simpler time inspired by Walt Disney’s childhood in Marceline, Missouri. While the street is typically bustling with visitors, the only vehicles allowed today are parade floats and the vintage Main Street Vehicles, like the Omnibus and Horse-Drawn Streetcar.
But back in 1981, one Disney cast member took advantage of an unusual loophole—driving their own car down Main Street, U.S.A., and parking it right in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
One Disney Cast Member’s Unforgettable Stunt
In a recent Reddit post, user u/SilverArtNW revealed how they managed to pull off this now-impossible feat.
That time I parked my car in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle…
That time I parked my car in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle…
byu/SilverArtNW inDisneyland
“I had always wanted to have a picture of my car inside the Park,” they wrote. “And on a Tuesday when it was closed & empty, except for maintenance and security, I drove my ’77 Celica from the backlot, down Main Street, parked and snapped this photo.”
At the time, Disneyland Park closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during the off-season, meaning the park was often empty except for maintenance crews and a handful of employees. This rare downtime gave some cast members unique opportunities, like this one-of-a-kind photo op.
How Did They Get Away With It?
While driving a personal vehicle through Disneyland Park would be unthinkable today, the former cast member explained that it wasn’t as big of a deal back then.
“Back in my days there, 77-81, supervisors routinely drove their own vehicles into the park on the days it was completely shut down,” they wrote. “So me driving past the side gates from inside where I was parked for work was not noticed, except for maybe a curious security guard.”
But even in 1981, there were rules, and the Disney cast member had to think quickly when confronted by security.
“I explained to security when they came up to me that I was contributing to an article in the DisneyLine, the employee newsletter, about employee parking,” they said. “The photo was for that article. No more questions asked.”
Disney Fans React
When Disney Parks fans came across the story, many were shocked that this kind of stunt was ever possible.
“Imagine this happening today, you’d be banned from all Disney locations in addition to terrorism charges from driving through the park with 50,000 guests there,” u/President_Zucchini joked.”
“Can’t believe you could actually do this,” said u/bbk34.
Are you a current or former Disney cast member? In the comments, share your favorite magical memories with How to Disney!
