Long before FastPass, Magic Bands, or after-hours events, Walt Disney World was already finding creative ways to make guests feel special — including an entire week dedicated to older visitors. Senior Citizens Week at the Magic Kingdom was a real thing, and in May 1973, guests 55 and older were treated to discounted tickets, live entertainment, and a front-row seat to some exciting new park additions. If you’ve never heard of this piece of forgotten Disney history, you’re in for a treat!
The May, 1973, Walt Disney World News shared information about events happening in the Magic Kingdom during the month of May.
Yes, from Monday, May 9, 1973 through Sunday, May 13, 1972, the Magic Kingdom featured Senior Citizens Week! (Also notice that the Magic Kingdom operating hours were 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Memorial Day weekend. Think about: no extra magic hours or VIP events!
What was Senior Citizens Week? Read on!
Special Events, New Attractions Await You In The Magic Kingdom
May days are special fun days at Walt Disney World, so you couldn’t have picked a better time to enjoy the Vacation Kingdom. There’s a new World of entertainment spectaculars for May, topped by the Grand Openings of two brand new Magic Kingdom attractions.
The Key to Youth is Imagination During Senior Citizens Week at Walt Disney World!
The excitement begins May 7-13, when the Magic Kingdom rolls out the red carpet to those guests 55 and over during Senior Citizens Week. Seniors …and everyone…will be sure to enjoy special daily band concerts, plus a great Salute From Youth, presented by the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, May 13 at 2 pm in the Forecourt of Cinderella Castle.
All Senior Citizens are eligible to purchase special-value Senior Citizens tickets for only $4.95. These tickets are available by advance sale only, and enable Seniors to enjoy one full day’s unlimited use of all Magic Kingdom attractions. Remember, tickets are available by advance sale only, and may be purchased both at Walt Disney World and at area Maas Brothers, Sears and Greyhound offices.
In case you were wondering, the two brand new Magic Kingdom attractions were the Walt Disney Story and Tom Sawyer Island. Both were new for 1973.
Also, the fact that senior citizens were able to purchase a single admission that included unlimited use of the Magic Kingdom attractions was interesting. Even before Disneyland opened in 1955, the ticket books were the standard in most amusement parks for experiencing the rides and attractions. In 1961, Six Flags Over Texas offered one of the first Pay-One-Price models that is the standard for today.
The Winter 1972/1973 Disney News Magazine shares the following chart for ticket book prices:
The $4.95 senior ticket with unlimited use of all Magic Kingdom attractions was quite the bargain! Since there were no roller coasters (Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad) and most attractions were family-friendly, there were very few restrictions for senior citizens (not many attractions that had health warnings).
Senior Citizens Week at the Magic Kingdom is a wonderful reminder that Walt Disney World has always gone the extra mile to welcome guests of every age. From the $4.95 all-inclusive ticket to the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony performing at Cinderella Castle, it was a truly special moment in park history — one that many guests may have long forgotten. Do you have a family member who visited Walt Disney World in the early 1970s? We’d love to hear their memories in the comments below! And if you enjoy uncovering these forgotten gems from Walt Disney World’s past, be sure to browse more posts in the WDW Bits & Pieces series — there’s always another surprising story waiting to be told.
Do You Know Anything More About Senior Citizens Week at Disney?
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