Cal State Fullerton Titans revisited childhood memories through nostalgic Disney movies and Disney Channel television shows during Tuesday’s “Once Upon a Titan,” a Disney-inspired event that celebrated Associated Students’ 50th Anniversary.
Hosted by ASI’s Student Programming, the event ran from 6-8 p.m. at Pavilion A in the Titan Student Union. Students who attended participated in arts and crafts, trivia, snacks, mocktails, giveaways and a photo booth.
The event incorporated references to Disney films and Disney Channel shows, including “Liv and Maddie” and “Austin and Ally,” and also iconic childhood characters like Mickey Mouse and Disney princesses.
Anthony Thomas, the event leader from ASI Student Programming, said he wanted to create an experience that would feel familiar to students who grew up watching Disney Channel TV shows and movies.
“I just wanted to bring back a little nostalgic feel to it,” Thomas said. “I knew that this is what I grew up watching, and I knew that a lot of people that are in college with me right now grew up the same way.”
Thomas said the nostalgic theme reflected ASI’s goal of bringing students together through shared experiences.
“I feel like, again with the nostalgic feel, it makes people want to come together, makes everybody want to come together for a similar experience that they all used to have,” Thomas said.
Organizers of the event decorated with Disney-inspired props, including princess displays, cardboard cutouts and a castle, while television screens showcased familiar clips and music videos.
For third-year child development major Konoha Miyagi, the TV clips and hands-on activities made the event memorable. Miyagi said she decided to attend the event after going to an ASI event the previous week and hearing that another one was planned.
“I’ve loved Disney since I was a kid, and I think for this event specifically, I liked that there were the TV screens,” Miyagi said. “They were showing little videos of Disney Channel that I used to watch when I was little.”
The event also collaborated with CSUF’s Disney Club, bringing members together with other students who share a similar interest in Disney.
Valeria Hernandez, the club’s head of marketing, said Thomas had contacted the organization via Instagram to invite them to participate in the event. The club’s members and friends were also encouraged to attend. The collaboration let members connect with students outside of the club’s usual Thursday meeting times.
“Sometimes it’s kind of hard to get involved with school, but when you come with kind of a purpose of something we’re all engaged in, I think that’s what brings us all together,” Hernandez said.
The Disney Club also facilitated a Kahoot trivia game with about 30 questions. Participants tested their knowledge of Disney and competed for a prize bag containing Disney-themed items. Hernandez said that the club wanted to contribute an activity for the event while introducing itself to more students.
The organization is in its first year at CSUF, with the club debuting back in September. Hernandez mentioned that membership has grown quickly over the past few months, and the club hopes events like this will boost its visibility on campus.
“This is the first year of it actually happening. So I think we were just excited to be involved with the student union and everything,” Hernandez said. “We really just want to show ourselves more on campus and basically build a community.”
The partnership introduced the club to a bigger audience while supporting ASI’s goal of helping students connect.
By centering the anniversary celebration on a shared pop-culture theme, the event connected ASI’s milestone with students’ interest in a nostalgic Disney experience.
“50 years means a lot to ASI,” Thomas said. “They’re really big on their student employees and making sure that we have the voice and have the platform to grow. So me being a student employee with ASI has really helped me grow as a leader, as a coordinator, and as an event planner.”