Randy Morris, the original pianist at Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom and a Walt Disney World opening-day performer, has passed away on October 25, 2026.
Remembering Randy Morris
Morris was among the performers who welcomed guests to Magic Kingdom when Walt Disney World opened on October 1, 1971. He played ragtime piano outside what was then known as Coke Corner, now Casey’s Corner, on Main Street, U.S.A.
A California native, Morris began his Disney career at Disneyland in 1970. At just 19 years old, he moved to Florida after accepting an initial three-month contract to perform at the new Walt Disney World Resort.
His music became part of the atmosphere of Main Street, U.S.A., entertaining generations of guests with lively ragtime melodies, traditional favorites, and Disney songs.
One of his most memorable performances came on October 1, 2021, when Morris returned to Casey’s Corner for Magic Kingdom’s 50th anniversary.
That morning, he performed Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag,” the same piece he had played at the location exactly 50 years earlier on Magic Kingdom’s opening day.
The appearance was particularly meaningful because live piano performances had been absent from Casey’s Corner for more than a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disney Parks took the opportunity to speak with Morris about his career at Walt Disney World and his hopes for the future of the company:
A Musical Legacy Beyond Magic Kingdom
Morris’s career extended well beyond the piano at Casey’s Corner.
An accomplished multi-instrumentalist with a passion for traditional jazz and banjo music, he performed with several musical groups throughout his career, including The Banjo Kings, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue, and The Riverboat Rascals aboard the Empress Lilly riverboat at Walt Disney World.
He also led a band at Rosie O’Grady’s, the historic Orlando entertainment establishment, and devoted time to collecting, archiving, and preserving recordings by influential banjo musicians.
In 2022, Morris was inducted into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame in the Promotion category, recognizing his contributions to preserving and promoting banjo music. You can watch the full induction ceremony below:
His association with Walt Disney World spanned more than five decades, connecting the resort’s earliest years with generations of guests who followed.
The musical tradition he helped establish continues at Casey’s Corner today. In September 2026, longtime Disney musician Carol Stein became one of the latest pianists to perform at the Magic Kingdom restaurant.
For many Walt Disney World guests, Morris’s performances were more than background music. They were part of the distinctive sights and sounds of Main Street, U.S.A., and a living connection to Magic Kingdom’s opening day. His contributions to the magic of Walt Disney World and the preservation of traditional American music will never be forgotten.
Have you had the good fortune of seeing Morris perform live? Please share your experiences with us on social media.
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