Justin Muchoney from Penn. was inducted April 22, 2008 as the first-ever Chief Magic Official (CMO) for Disney Parks, as part of a joint search with CareerBuilder.com. Muchoney was crowned CMO in a special ceremony with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Muchoney was one of three CMO finalists who traveled to Walt Disney World to compete in a series of creative in-Park events including a stroller derby, where Donald disorganized guests’ strollers. In the second challenge, commentators provided play-by-play coverage as each finalist participated in a towel-folding “art” competition in Cinderella’s Castle Suite. Using a selection of noise-making equipment, finalists also had to generate the loudest crowd reactions down Main Street U.S.A. Additional events included a face-painting challenge and tests of overall Park knowledge.

A POTATO WITH A-PEEL: Eric Swapp, Principal Show Programmer for Walt Disney Imagineering, is “watched” closely by an Audio-Animatronics figure of Mr. Potato Head as he makes adjustments to the figure April 4, 2008 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The five-foot-tall figure of the famous Hasbro toy, which features the voice of Don Rickles, portrays a “carnival barker” in the soon-to-open “Toy Story Mania!” attraction at the Walt Disney World theme park. “Toy Story Mania!” is an interactive ride-through attraction that combines elements of a video game, “4-D” technology and interaction with stars from the Disney-Pixar film “Toy Story.” It is scheduled to open in summer 2008 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. The attraction is opening as part of Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration. (Kent Phillips, photographer)