Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Year is Here! Here’s What To Know

Walt Disney World’s 50^th anniversary celebrations – known officially as the ”World’s Most Magical Celebrations” – are set to begin on October 1 this year. They might be later than originally planned, but they’re set to span a whopping 18 months, lasting until March 2023. But what can we expect from what will easily be Walt Disney World’s biggest celebrations on record? Well, it’s an answer that can’t be summed up in a single sentence, so let’s take a closer look!

 

7. Beacons of Magic

First of all, each of the four theme parks will be reimagined as ‘Beacons of Magic’, designed to attract guests from all over the resort. In Magic Kingdom Park, Cinderella Castle will light up like the brightest star, while the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park centerpiece, the Tree of Life, will illuminate its surroundings with a more natural glow. Over at Epcot, Spaceship Earth’s reflective panels will shine so brightly that even faraway galaxies might see, and the Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will shimmer more than ever before…

6. New Décor, Costumes, Merchandise, Music & Food

This one goes without saying, but we’re going to say it anyway! With any Disney World celebration, you can expect new décor, merchandise, themed food, music and character costumes, but there’s no doubt that the 50^th anniversary will take it all to a whole new level. Each theme park will undergo a ‘magical touch’ (yes, far more magical than they already are), including the Beacons of Magic, as will the Disney Resort Hotels, while it has also been confirmed that Mickey and Minnie will be given a new look for their biggest party yet!

5. Crowds

Anticipating large crowds at Disney World at any time of year is a good idea, but it’s likely that the resort will be busier than it has been in a long time when the anniversary celebrations begin, especially when you consider that some of the protocols implemented during the pandemic are now being slowly relaxed (though there’s no telling how things might look by October). But we think the biggest appeal are the celebrations themselves. The chances are that if you’re intrigued, then so is everyone else, so to quote a famous old lion, “be prepared”!

 

4. Restaurants

Two highly anticipated restaurants are Toy Story Roundup BBQ at Toy Story Land and Space 220 at Epcot’s Mission: SPACE Pavilion. Woody’s latest eatery will be a western-stylized “backyard barbecue” featuring everyone’s favorite child’s playthings, while Space 220 promises an out-of-this-world experience with “views of Earth”! In a nutshell, both restaurants will be designed to make you feel tiny! While no official opening dates have been announced for either one, we think it’s more than reasonable to take ‘coming soon’ as some time in the next 22 months!

3. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a revolutionary, immersive 2-night experience that will plunge guests deep into the rich lore of the faraway galaxy, through galactic excursions, character interactions, secret missions and much, much more. And now we also know that we can expect the most realistic lightsaber ever made! When the Halcyon finally docks with Disney’s Hollywood Studios during the ongoing 50^th anniversary celebrations in 2022, expect celebrations not unlike those that followed the fall of the Empire!

2. My Disney Experience

October 1 might seem like a long time away, but with the 50^th anniversary set to be a whole new kind of epic, be sure to download the My Disney Experience mobile app as soon as possible. You can use it to plan your trip, purchase park tickets, make reservations, build your itinerary and more. There’s plenty of content and updates on the upcoming celebrations too, so stay in the know before you go! Who needs magic wands? With the My Disney Experience mobile app, all the magic you need is right at your fingertips.

1. New Attractions

This is the one you’ve all been waiting for! Opening to guests on the same day the celebrations begin is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, which will see guests ‘shrink’ to the size of a rat and explore the hazardous world of a busy Parisian kitchen! Other attractions that will follow during the 18-month event will include Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle Run. Giant kitchens, mystical islands, faraway galaxies, virtual realities – what more can we ask for!

We’re certain Walt Disney World has far more surprises up its sleeves than all of the above, so be sure to stay up to date with the official website. And once you’ve decided you’ll be visiting, why not head over to Mickey Travels, our very own Authorized Disney Vacation Planner!