A dream come true: Florida woman celebrates 106th birthday at Walt Disney World Resort

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY
·2 min read
8

A dream is a wish your heart makes, and Walt Disney World Resort made a 106-year-old Florida woman’s dream a reality this week.

Magnolia Jackson rang in her 106th birthday at the Walt Disney World Resort Wednesday, surrounded by family, friends, as well as Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, according to a Disney Parks news release.

Jackson was first enthralled with Disney after attending the Florida Blue Florida Classic last fall. A tradition among Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the Florida Classic is a college football game where fans watch the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats face off against the Florida A&M University Rattlers.

Magnolia Jackson (center), who wanted to celebrate her 106th birthday at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Jackson was showered in birthday wishes and admiration by Disney cast members and executives before she met Princess Tiana and visited EPCOT.
Magnolia Jackson (center), who wanted to celebrate her 106th birthday at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Jackson was showered in birthday wishes and admiration by Disney cast members and executives before she met Princess Tiana and visited EPCOT.

Born on March 14, 1918, Jackson lives near Gainesville, Florida and is the oldest living graduate of Bethune-Cookman University, one of the colleges featured in the Florida Classic.

Jackson attended the game this past fall, which also included a Disney halftime show featuring Mickey Mouse in his drum major gear, as well as Bethune-Cookman’s Marching Wildcats and FAMU’s Marching “100.”

Jackson loved the halftime show so much that she vowed to celebrate her birthday at Walt Disney World.

Meet and greet with Disney characters and gardening

While her actual birthday was Thursday, her wish came true a day earlier at Magic Kingdom, where she got to meet Disney cast members. There were birthday signs, tunes, balloons and a cake.

Loved ones cheered as she was wheeled into the party and greeted by Mickey and Minnie. They sang "Happy Birthday" to her, making her so excited that she joined in to sing.

Magnolia Jackson is warmly greeted Wednesday by Mickey Mouse and the Walt Disney World Ambassadors as she arrived at Magic Kingdom for the first time.
Magnolia Jackson is warmly greeted Wednesday by Mickey Mouse and the Walt Disney World Ambassadors as she arrived at Magic Kingdom for the first time.

"I have a ... very good feeling towards all of the boys and girls,” Jackson said during an interview at the party.

During her birthday extravaganza at Disney, she toured Magic Kingdom, shared some special moments with Princess Tiana and even got to do some gardening at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida woman spends 106th birthday at Walt Disney World Resort