Magic Kingdom guests have a new reason to slow down while making their way through Main Street, U.S.A.
For more than three decades, Carol Stein has entertained Walt Disney World guests from behind a piano. Her Disney career has taken her to restaurants, resorts, festivals, and other entertainment venues across the property.
Now, she is bringing all that experience to one of Magic Kingdom’s most recognizable entertainment traditions.
Stein has officially become a featured pianist outside Casey’s Corner, beginning another chapter in a Disney career that stretches back to 1990.
A Familiar Disney Performer Takes on Something New
Stein may have spent decades performing for Disney, but she isn’t treating her latest assignment like just another stop.
“Casey’s Corner is such a joyful, high-energy place, and I’m thrilled to be part of it,” Stein said. “At the same time, it feels a little like the first day of school.”
She admitted that even an experienced performer can feel nervous when beginning something different.
Stein prepared for the move by learning new material and returning to older favorites she hasn’t had many chances to perform. At Casey’s Corner, guests can expect to hear the ragtime music traditionally associated with the location.
The move puts Stein in a particularly visible position. Casey’s Corner sits near the end of Main Street, U.S.A., just steps away from the hub surrounding Cinderella Castle.
That means guests don’t necessarily have to seek out her performances. They might encounter Stein while grabbing lunch, heading toward an attraction, or simply walking through the park.
More Than 35 Years of Disney Music
Stein’s musical background started long before Disney.
The Central Florida native began reading music at just two years old before eventually turning that passion into a career.
She joined Disney in 1990 and initially performed at Comedy Warehouse at Pleasure Island. From there, Stein became a familiar performer at several Walt Disney World locations.
Her career has included appearances at the Rose & Crown Pub and EPCOT festivals. She has also performed at the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Stein particularly enjoys music from composer Alan Menken, including selections from The Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996).
Still, her performances aren’t simply about playing recognizable songs.
Stein views music as a way to create personal moments with guests.
If someone is having a difficult day, she wants her music to make that person smile. If a guest already has a favorite song in mind, she enjoys being able to turn that request into part of their Disney memory.
Stein connects that approach to her favorite Disney character, Tinker Bell.
“Tinker Bell is sassy; she spreads joy, and pixie dust,” Stein explained. “That’s what I hope to bring to guests through my music.”
A New Chapter on Main Street, U.S.A.
Walt Disney World has changed tremendously since Stein first joined the company in 1990.
Her latest move, however, centers on one of the simplest forms of theme park entertainment: live music performed directly in front of guests.
There isn’t a complicated queue or reservation involved. Visitors walking through Main Street, U.S.A. can hear the piano, stop for a few minutes, and continue with their day.
For guests who have followed Stein’s career around Walt Disney World, Casey’s Corner provides another place to find the longtime performer.
For everyone else, it could become their introduction to someone who has spent more than 35 years making music at Disney World.
And after all that time, Stein still has something new to experience herself.
Casey’s Corner is now part of her long Disney story.
