Row, Row, Row Your Canoe.

The year was 1963. Ray Van De Warker, who was a foreman at the Indian War Canoes attraction (now called the Davy Crockett Canoes) on the Rivers of America at Disneyland Park, saw a canoe filled with athletes racing around the River one day. And that was it. After speaking with another Cast Member, Ray started a tradition that celebrated its 50th year just last week.

The Disneyland Resort Canoe Races are races that Disneyland Resort Cast Members still compete in to this day with each team from different parts of the Park get to race around the Rivers of America for some intense fun and friendly competition. Since that first race back in 1963, the Cast Member canoe races have made its way to different Disney Parks all over the world in hopes that friendships would form and teamwork would grow.

We congratulate this year’s champions at the Disneyland Resort: Team OAR Lords with a time of 3:57 taking the title as winners of this, the 50th annual Disneyland Resort Canoe Race!

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Cast Members compete in the races before the Park even opens to the public…and for good reason! Do you think this is one of the cooler perks of being a Disney Parks Cast Member? Comment below!