The celebrity guests included both Buddy Ebsen, who was originally cast to play the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz (1939), ultimately switched to the Tin Man and then replaced in that role as well, and Michael Jackson who had played the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978). Of course not being a Disney property, the "Oz" connection was not the reason for either star's presence on this special, but rather Ebsen's roles in his The Magical World of Disney (1954) TV adventures such as a series of "Davy Crockett" specials, and Jackson for his theme park attraction at the time that was part ride and part film, Captain EO (1986).