The Party is Just Getting Started – The Magic Kingdom’s Enchanting 50th Anniversary Celebration
It’s a big year for Walt Disney World. On October 1st, 1971, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom opened its gates for the very first time. Now in 2021, they’ve hit a massive milestone.
The Magic Kingdom just turned 50.
If you couldn’t attend the actual anniversary date, you’re still in luck! Starting on October 1st, 2021, the 50th Anniversary Celebration lasts 18 months and unveils new fireworks, entertainment, attractions, and dining throughout. Even better, all four parks are in on the festivities, giving everyone a chance to experience new and exciting facets of longtime favorites or discover the magic for the very first time.
Back in October, we were fortunate enough to visit the parks and experience the festivities firsthand. We’re so excited to share our trip with you, highlighting the bits of the Celebration we loved most, as well as talk about what Disney is planning for next year.
So, without further ado, here’s what you can expect from a trip during the 50th-anniversary celebration! (Spoiler alert: it’s pretty awesome.)
EARidescent Everything
If you’ve seen photographs of Cinderella’s Castle recently, you may notice that it looks a little different these days. Imagineers have replaced the gray stone and muted blue spires with shimmering gold accents on pale pinks and brighter blues that make the Magic Kingdom’s centerpiece just a little brighter – and even more magical.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the castle updated. Who can forget the Cupcake Castle from the 25th Anniversary? This one, however, is even more special. Not only is it gorgeous in its own right, but the castle update is also heavily inspired by the work of iconic Disney Imagineer Mary Blair. Blair was a concept artist who worked on animated classics Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan as well as beloved opening day attraction “it’s a small world.”
Up close, the castle transformation is exquisite. The new color scheme makes Cinderella’s Castle glow in the daytime – and at night? That’s when the castle shines – literally! The new lighting gives the castle new life.
Of course, the castle’s new color scheme is reflective of the color scheme for the entire 50th Anniversary Celebration – EARidescence – which is why shimmery pink, blue, and purple pastel shades are suddenly (and spectacularly) taking over the park.
If you spot any of the iconic characters walking around, you’ll see that they’ve had a wardrobe upgrade as well. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Chip’n’Dale are all dressed in their EARidescent best–dapper outfits complete with just a splash of sparkle!
Beacons of Magic
Cinderella’s Castle isn’t the only park icon to receive a make-over for the 50th Anniversary Celebration. The main centerpiece of each park has also had a face-lift for the big 5-0, becoming “Beacons of Magic” as the sun goes down.
Alongside Cinderella’s Castle, Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios, The Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth all transform at night. These beacons light up spectacularly with short projection shows that highlight the beacon’s place in the park.
Since Animal Kingdom is often the first park to close for the evening, it might be difficult to see the Tree of Life fully lit during certain times of the year. On our visit (in October), the park closed just before sundown, so we weren’t quite able to enjoy the full effect. And while the Tower of Terror’s nighttime look is fun, it just doesn’t have a real wow factor to accompany the lights.
The most impressive of the four Beacons is the new lighting on EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth. The sphere glows after dark, illuminated by hundreds of lights installed between the reflective panels that move and ripple over the surface in a truly unique way, as the standard white lights shift to bright, flowing colors. Catching it as it’s lit is a show-stopping moment for any parkgoer. It’s well worth taking the time to just stop and enjoy the sight.
The Fab 50 Statue Collection
As part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration, Walt Disney World Parks installed golden statues of 50 classic Disney characters across their parks. It’s the happiest scavenger hunt on earth!
It’s a great time trying to find all of the statues in each park. You might be surprised where you’ll spot a few if you’re paying attention. Most of them are easy to spot but a few – like Stitch in Tomorrowland and Abu in Adventureland – may take a little searching to spot in their higher-up, sneaky spots.
While there are indeed 50 characters, some of them share the same base (such as Woody and Bo Peep from Toy Story or Timon and Pumba from The Lion King – I mean, how could you separate them??), which makes the total statue count technically 36. The majority of these are found in the Magic Kingdom, but there are several in other parks, too, so keep your eyes peeled!
We don’t know if these statues will remain a permanent feature of the parks once the 50th Anniversary Celebration is over, so they’re definitely worth checking out, and snapping pics of, while they’re here!
New Exclusive Merchandise
As with every Disney Parks event, the 50th Anniversary Celebration comes with its own set of merchandise, or – as the case may be – several collections. (I am going to need a bigger house for all of my Disney merch.) So far, we know about a few of them, though Disney may introduce even more in the future!
Basic 50th Merchandise Collection
This collection – the Blue Collection – features a lot of expected merchandise, much of it featuring Mickey Mouse in his new EARidescent attire. (Cute!) This collection features Spirit Jerseys, jackets, hats, mouse ears, and more interesting additions, like a pair of 50th Anniversary Celebration Crocs. Of all the things, the Celebration Mickey Soap Dispenser was by far (and perhaps surprisingly) the most popular item – maybe that’s because it dispenses soap in the shape of Mickey ears!
Luckily, most items in this collection tend to stay in stock, so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding the basics. However, you might struggle to find some of the more popular or limited pieces, as those get snatched up pretty fast in the shops!
The Vault Collection
One of the most fun merchandise collections, the Vault Collection, introduces a whole new level of nostalgia to The Magic Kingdom, and we’re so here for it.
The collection is largely made up of replicas of original merchandise items found in the park on opening day. This includes apparel and also lunch boxes, back scratchers, fans, teaspoons, and many other retro items you don’t see much in the parks today! It’s kitschy and fun! (Yes, we are eying that Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride t-shirt, why do you ask?)
Most of this can be purchased outside the parks, as the biggest display in The Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs. They even have a fantastic photo-op with a ride vehicle from the now-defunct dark ride “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride!” You can also find a smaller selection in The Magic Kingdom at the Main Street Cinema next to the Confectionary.
EARidescence Collection
You can find Disney’s dedication to the color scheme everywhere in the parks – and that includes food (more on that later!) and their new 50th Anniversary Celebration merchandise. The EARidesecent collection has a ton of new merch in the shimmery purple-pink signature color, including a super cute 50th Anniversary sweatshirt and adorable sparkly ears! (We can’t resist a good pair of mouse ears…as you may have suspected from our name, LOL!)
The Castle Collection
Pulling inspiration from Cinderella’s Castle, this collection is exactly what it sounds like. There’s a lot of white and iridescent gold in this collection, with everything from pajamas and magic bands to ornaments and hats. The Minnie Mouse 50th Anniversary Celebration Headband from this collection is especially adorable (and has been hard to find!) as it’s sparkly gold and white, and lights up!
The Luxe Logo Collection
Released after the 50th Anniversary Celebration launched, the Luxe Logo Collection markets itself as upscale merchandise and offers a smaller selection of apparel and ears. Most of it is branded with a gold and black theme. It’s slightly more understated, giving folks a subtler (but still magical) way to communicate their Disney love to the world.
Exclusive 50th Anniversary Celebration Snacks & Dining Options
Because no theme park experience is complete without it, a personal favorite experience of ours is hunting down all the newest and most delicious snacks in each Disney park!
Fortunately for everyone, Disney has introduced over 150 new food and drink items just in time for the 50th Anniversary Celebration! These range from desserts and flavored drinks to full entrees (Senegal Sal’s Short Rib at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen is an excellent choice) that will only be available during the 18-month celebration.
Many of these items have a specialty EARidescent component as well – giving the food a sparkly appearance. You’ll often find them adorned with a chocolate 50th Anniversary Celebration medallion as well.
Fortunately, this never seemed to take away from the flavor or texture of the food. It just adds a little extra to each item! Full disclosure: hunting some of these down took a little work! Thankfully, they are usually listed in the My Disney Experience app, so you can search through the menus at each dining location and quick-service kiosks to see if anything catches your eye.
Some personal favorites include:
- Tropical Serenade (Aloha Isle in The Magic Kingdom) – Passion-orange-guava juice, coconut soft serve, pineapple upside-down cake pop
- Chocolate Mousse (ABC Commissary at Hollywood Studios) – Raspberry-dark chocolate mousse, chocolate-almond cake, and a layer of hazelnut crunch and whipped chocolate-hazelnut cheesecake
- Hand-dipped 50th Anniversary Celebration Mickey Premium Bar (Drinkwallah at Animal Kingdom) – Classic Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar dipped in blue raspberry-flavored coating with celebration sprinkles and a little bit of pixie dust
While there are park-exclusive snacks, you can also find some truly amazing anniversary food options on other Disney properties, too! Many resorts have exclusive items available only at their dining locations. Caribbean Beach, All-Star Resort, and The Polynesian are only a few that carried specialty desserts that are easily available. At Disney Springs, you can find specialty menu items at Amorette’s Patisserie, The Boathouse, and more!
There’s no way you’ll be able to try everything in a single visit, but you’re sure to find several new favorites along the way!
New 50th Anniversary Celebration Attractions & Entertainment
There’s more than enough to keep anyone busy during a Disney vacation. From the parks to the resorts, and even a dedicated shopping district, you won’t run out of things to do. However, this 50th Anniversary Celebration deserves a little extra magic, doesn’t it?
So, what else is new in the parks for the celebration?
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
The only new attraction that opened for the 50th Anniversary Celebration, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, is a 4D trackless dark ride that shrinks visitors down to the size of a rat and takes them through a madcap tour of Gustav’s famous Paris restaurant with Chef Remy.
While it’s a great addition to The World Showcase at EPCOT (which is notoriously short on rides), it isn’t the flashiest headliner for the celebration. Don’t go into it expecting anything on the scale of Rise of the Resistance. Most of the action takes place in front of screens and there aren’t any animatronics to speak of. Nevertheless, it’s a cute ride that’s great for all ages.
EPCOT’s Harmonious
The first brand new fireworks show for EPCOT in several years, parkgoers have been anticipating EPCOT’s Harmonious for a long time. But is it actually a crowd-pleaser?
The show blends music from Disney’s animated films with fireworks, screen projections, and water effects across EPCOT’s lagoon. Harmonious takes classic Disney music and develops new arrangements – often in multiple languages – to delight viewers. Fans of IllumiNations (EPCOT’s previous fireworks show) may feel disappointed with the lack of story and overall reliance on animated film clips. However, it’s still fun to watch. The show spectacularly utilizes water effects to create some truly unique visuals.
It’s a great way to end your 50th Anniversary Celebration evening at EPCOT!
Mickey’s Magical Cavalcade
While Disney parks have yet to fully re-instate parades for the 2021-2022 season, they have introduced charming Character Cavalcades in the meantime.
Mickey’s Magical Cavalcade is a daily mini-parade that happens in the Magic Kingdom. While the floats are smaller than those of the traditional Disney parades (and truthfully far less impressive than those of years past), they are still a staple for any Disney trip! We still think the Cavalcade is fun, anyway.
You’ll be able to spot Mickey, Minnie, and crew in their new EARidescent attire dancing on the newly constructed floats passing through Frontierland, Liberty Square, and then down Main Street.
If you want to check them out, you’ll want to make sure to check your daily schedule and find a good spot along the Cavalcade route so you won’t miss any of the action!
Animal Kingdom Kite Tails
The new daytime show at Animal Kingdom featuring (as the name would suggest) kites opened in October 2021. There are two different versions of the show, one featuring The Lion King and the other The Jungle Book.
The show’s opening is great and very reminiscent of the large puppets from the Finding Nemo show in the park. The rest? Well, that’s another story. To put it bluntly, this show is a mixed bag.
While it is entertaining to watch giant Simba inflatables crash land into empty bleachers, Kite Tales struggles to hold your attention for its short run-time as you’re distracted from the sky by the jet skis dashing through the lagoon to keep them in the air. We recommend skipping it for now if you’re short on time. However, it’s a nice chance to sit down and get off your feet at the park if you need a break!
What’s Next?
While October 2021 kicked off the festivities, the fun was just beginning! Walt Disney World has plenty more to share over the next year.
Here are just some of the things we expect to see open during the 50th Anniversary Celebration:
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Rewind Cosmic Coaster – A roller coaster attraction themed to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, this coaster is confirmed to open in 2022 at EPCOT.
- TRON Lightcycle Power Run – The newest addition to Tomorrowland at The Magic Kingdom is a semi-enclosed launched steel motorbike roller coaster attraction themed after the TRON films. Although no opening date has been announced, construction is well underway at The Magic Kingdom for this ride (already a favorite in Shanghai Disney where it originally debuted).
- EPCOT’s PLAY! Pavilion – A new interactive experience at EPCOT, the PLAY! Pavilion will allow visitors to explore a virtual city and interact with their favorite Disney characters.
- Journey of Water – a Moana-inspired walk-through attraction at EPCOT that will take visitors through Moana’s journey and highlight the importance of water on our ecosystem.
How does the 50th Anniversary Celebration Measure Up?
In short, it was a blast!
The new shows and fireworks bring a little bit more to the trip. Our group especially enjoyed exploring all the new food items offered for the event. Disney isn’t always the most adventurous with its food, but this time they were able to bring new flavors to old favorites – a great mix.
The new nighttime shows were just as exciting as expected, even as we might mourn the loss of old ones. (We may never get over the loss of the Main Street Electrical Light Parade.)
Admittedly, the 50th Anniversary Celebration feels scaled down from what many might have imagined before the unexpected park closures and limited operations in 2020. Walt Disney World is known for trying new concepts and exploring their options. These new, slightly modified experiences prove that they can still throw a party even under less than perfect circumstances. We’re hoping that the big E-ticket attractions expected to open in 2022 can bring a little more excitement for those looking for new thrills at Walt Disney World. But when it comes to keeping the magic – they’ve got the market cornered.
Overall, the 50th Anniversary Celebration feels like a good mix of nostalgia and looking forward to the park’s future.
Cover Image
Photo: Anthony Quintano via Flickr
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