Beginning Oct. 1, 2021, the ‘mouses’ Mickey and Minnie and friends will kick off the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort, which opened in Orlando on the same day in 1971. For the following 18 months the epic extravaganza, dubbed “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” promises a host of new experiences at the resort’s four theme parks and beyond.
From new nighttime spectaculars and attractions to interactive character statues, the parks will exude a festive feel, set off with “shimmering EARidescent décor (that) will appear as if by magic,” and centred by the Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park, which will add to its royal makeover from 2020 with new gold bunting, sparkling golden embellishments and other new enhancements, including a 50th anniversary crest welcoming guests to the join the festivities.
Among the highlights:
New nighttime shows
A new nighttime spectacular, “Disney Enchantment,” will help kick off the 50th anniversary festivities when it debuts Oct. 1 at Magic Kingdom Park. Created to launch with “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” the evening extravaganza will feature music, enhanced lighting, stunning fireworks and, for the first time, immersive projection effects that extend from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, USA.
Joining “Disney Enchantment” on Oct. 1 will be “Harmonious” at EPCOT, one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney park. The new show, taking place at the World Showcase Lagoon celebrates inspiring Disney music, incorporating pyrotechnics, choreographed moving fountains, lighting and media in new ways. “Harmonious” will feature new interpretations of classic Disney songs, reimagined in more than a dozen languages by a diverse group of 240 artists from around the world.
Golden ‘Disney Fab 50’ Sculptures to Appear Across the Theme Parks
Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy and other beloved characters will be part of a new collection of special golden character sculptures debuting Oct. 1 across the four WDW theme parks. There will be 50 characters featured in total, and guests will be able to interact with the “Disney Fab 50” in surprising ways as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
The grand opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot will be Oct. 1. In this family-friendly attraction, guests will feel as if they shrink to the size of Chef Remy and scurry through Gusteau’s famous restaurant. The ride will be located in a newly expanded area of the park’s France pavilion, featuring a reimagined Paris inspired by the film.
Also debuting Oct. 1 in this section of the pavilion will be a new restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options. The menu will feature sweet crepes, savory buckwheat galettes and authentic French hard cider. The attraction, restaurant and pavilion expansion are all part of the historic transformation of EPCOT currently underway.
Beacons of Magic
As part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” icons at each Walt Disney World theme park will transform into magnificent Beacons of Magic at night, coming to life with their own EARidescent glow.
• Cinderella Castle will illuminate Magic Kingdom with a dazzling radiance that sparkles with pixie dust.
• At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a warm light will emanate from the Tree of Life as magical fireflies gather to usher in the magic of nature.
• The Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be awash in a brilliance evoking the golden age of imagination and adventure.
• And at EPCOT, new lights will shine across the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth, connecting to one another in a symbol of optimism resembling stars in a nighttime sky. The iconic structure’s permanent new lighting will continue beyond “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” as a defining feature of the park.
Disney KiteTails
New daytime entertainment is stirring at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, as “Disney KiteTails” will come alive several times daily beginning Oct. 1 inside the Discovery River Amphitheater. Performers will fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, while out on the water elaborate three-dimensional kites – some stretching to 9 metres long – will depict Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo and King Louie. The colourful creations will dance through the sky to the beat of favourite Disney songs in an uplifting, vibrant experience for the whole family.