Celebrate 50 Years of Walt Disney World

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wdw 50thEvery Way to Celebrate 50 Years of Walt Disney World (That We Know So Far)
AUGUST 12, 2021
By the D23 Team

Today marks 50 days until October 1, when 50th anniversary celebration of the Walt Disney World Resort opening begins. With 50 exciting days ahead of us until the start of the festivities, we’ve rounded up everything we know so far about “The World’s Most Magical Celebration – Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary:”

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The World’s Most Magical Celebration
As announced back in February, the 50th anniversary celebration for Walt Disney World begins on October 1 and will last for 18 months, featuring new experiences at the resort’s four theme parks and beyond—including shimmering EARidescent décor. Plus, Mickey and Minnie will dress in dazzling new outfits created just for the celebration. D23 celebrated this announcement with an episode of our D23 Inside Disney podcast featuring Walt Disney World Resort Director of Public Relations Dave Coombs, who dove into details on the celebration.

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Royal Makeover of Cinderella Castle
A gorgeous sight for any fan walking down Main Street, U.S.A., Cinderella Castle is the glimmering jewel in the Magic Kingdom skyline. This year, the castle is adorned with extra sparkle and shine thanks to a special 50th anniversary crest. The crest completes the castle’s royal, EARidescent makeover, joining gold bunting, sparkling embellishments and other new enhancements leading up to “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” beginning on October 1.

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Display of “Fab 50” Friends
As part of the countdown to “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” a collection of 50 golden characters are being unveiled across Disney—including by us here at D23! Earlier this week, our very own Michael Vargo, Head of D23, revealed that Orange Bird would be one of the 50 characters featured in the statues that will be on display throughout the parks at Walt Disney World Resort. Stay tuned to social media to see who else is joining the roster of characters like Mickey, Edna Mode, R2-D2, Cheshire cat, and more as part of the Disney Fab 50.

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Magical Mementos
Last week, Disney Parks Blog revealed a fantastic first look at the new merchandise collections debuting this fall across Walt Disney World Resort, with select items available at shopDisney.com. From classic to contemporary styles – and everything in between – you can take home the magic of the 50th anniversary celebration when the merchandise debuts this fall. Starting today, you can get select pre-celebration must-haves throughout Walt Disney World Resort and on shopDisney.com to help get you ready for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”

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Remember to Spot this New Scene!
Next time you put on your opera glasses for a viewing of Mickey’s PhilharMagic at Disneyland Resort or Disneyland Paris, you might spot a brand-new scene featuring music and characters from Disney and Pixar’s Coco. As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, this Coco-inspired sequence will also be debuting at Magic Kingdom’s version of Mickey’s PhilharMagic later this year.
Check out this video detailing more of the collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Animation, and Pixar:


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Lighting Up The Night
It’s not a celebration without a spectacular display of lights to brighten the night—and there’s nighttime entertainment galore just in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. Over at Magic Kingdom, look to the nighttime sky starting October 1 to see Disney Enchantment, featuring music, enhanced lighting, stunning fireworks and, for the first time, immersive projection effects that extend from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A.

At EPCOT, the much-anticipated new nighttime spectacular Harmonious will also debut on October 1, embracing new technical magic that incorporates pyrotechnics, choreographed moving fountains, lighting and media in new ways. As a celebration of Disney music that inspires people worldwide, you’ll hear new interpretations of classic Disney songs as you’ve never heard them before, reimagined in more than a dozen languages by a diverse group of 240 artists from around the world.

If you need some daytime dazzlement, head over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to enjoy Disney KiteTails several times daily, starting October 1. Performers will fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, while out on the water elaborate three-dimensional kites—some stretching to 30 feet long—will depict Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo, and King Louie.

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Disney Magic from the Start of Your Trip
For many of us, our trip to “The Most Magical Place on Earth” starts at the airport. Touching down at the Orlando International Airport, you’re only a drive away from your favorite Walt Disney World Resort parks, hotels, restaurants, and more. Coming just in time for the 50th anniversary celebration this fall, airport passengers will discover many exciting Disney touches, including a wide-spanning art installation in the terminal train stations featuring favorite Disney characters, new magic engaging passengers as they walk through a glistening glow of projected EARidescent light patterns, and an immersive photo opportunity with a re-creation of a Disney ride vehicle to capture special memories as they make their way through the airport.

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Turn a Page on Celebration
While the festivities at Walt Disney World resort are only 50 days away, you can immerse yourself in the celebration soon thanks to a selection of exciting books celebrating Walt Disney World’s legacy arriving in September. Check out Disney Parks Blog for the full list, including A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth, written by friends of D23 Kevin Kern, Tim O’Day and Steven Vagnini – which is available for pre-orders now and will be officially released on Sept. 28, 2021.

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Bring the Celebration to Your Home
Wanting to start celebrating early? You can take home some of the celebration now thanks to the 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector Set, an exclusively curated set celebrating the vibrant history of The Vacation Kingdom of the World. Featuring a vintage-inspired lunchbox, a stunning pin set, an exclusive vinyl record, and so much more, this set is perfect for any fan who wants to start the celebration right from their home. Made exclusively for D23 Gold Members, you can join the club here to get your own collector set.

Already have the set and craving more? We’re releasing new pin sets celebrating our favorite characters from Walt Disney World Resort. Our first set, celebrating the characters of Magic Kingdom, is available now for D23 Gold Members.

Much, Much More
And stay tuned! There is much more of this story left to tell, and we’ll continue that tale each day throughout the next 50 days right up to the big moment on Oct. 1.

So, keep checking back with us early and often here at D23.com to learn more about “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” and follow #DisneyWorld50 to make sure you don’t miss a moment!

walt disney world resort

2021 Gold Member Collector Set
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