50 things to watch for during Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration

Update: Wow, things change fast around here. This post has been updated with news of the MagicBand+, launch date for the Galactic Starcruiser and opening year (yes, year) for the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction at Epcot.

From now until April 2023, guests can expect to see new attractions and experiences, an endless array of anniversary merchandise, and some big changes to how to navigate the parks.

When the gates to the Magic Kingdom open on Oct. 1, it will be just the beginning of an 18-month celebration of Disney World’s 50th anniversary.

Here are 50 things to look for during Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration:

1. The Most Magical Story on Earth: If you’re like us, you fondly remember watching the Wonderful World of Disney Sunday nights on ABC. This primetime special recounting the history of Walt Disney World looks like it will bring back all those feels. You can watch it on Friday, Oct. 1 at 8/7c on ABC, stream on Hulu starting Oct. 2, or watch on Disney+ starting Oct. 8. 

2. Welcome show returns: “Let the Magic Begin” has been on hiatus since before the pandemic, but the Disney website indicates it’s coming back this week, at 7:55 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 1.

3. Early theme park entry: With the elimination of Extra Magic Hours, Disney is offering certain resort guests a 30-minute head start to any park, every day.  

4. Extended late-night hours: Guests of certain resorts also will have access to an extra two hours after park close on certain nights at Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

5. Disney’s Enchantment: We wished a fond farewell to Happily Ever After and are eager to see if the Magic Kingdom’s new nighttime spectacular (complete with projections extending down Main Street) will live up to its beloved predecessors.

6. Party with a view: If you want a sky-high view of Disney’s Enchantment, you’ll find it at the California Grill, which is hosting a new party, Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks. The party features hors d’oeuvres, drinks and, of course, that fabulous view ($129 per person, beginning Oct. 2).

7. Magic Kingdom dessert parties: If you like your fireworks a little more down-to-earth, Disney is bringing back dessert parties with three offerings: one that gives you a reserved seat, and two that come with standing-room reserved viewing. Adult prices start at $99. In addition, the fireworks cruise is back.

8. HarmonioUS: Another nighttime spectacular with big shoes to fill, this one replaces the beloved Illuminations (by way of Epcot Forever, or, as we liked to call it, Epcot For Now).

9. HarmonioUS dining packages: If you want to be sure to get a front-row seat for the show, you can book a dining package at either Spice Road Table or the Rose & Crown pub. This is another hot ticket right now.

10. KiteTails: Animal Kingdom’s theater never really caught on the way it could have, so here’s hoping a daytime spectacular involving enormous character kites will do the trick.

11. Beacons of Magic: Each park’s icon — Cinderella’s Castle, Spaceship Earth, the Tree of Life, and the Tower of Terror — is getting an EARidescent sparkle. Spaceship Earth’s transformation looks to be especially spectacular.

12. A new earworm: “The Magic is Calling,” a new anthem for the Walt Disney World theme parks, was written by platinum-selling songwriter and music producer Alana Da Fonseca and Nashville-based songwriter and producer Bobby Studley in collaboration with award-winning composer Emily Bear and singing phenom Journi. Different arrangements of hte song will be heard at each of the four parks when their icons transform into Beacons of Magic at night.

13. Character makeover: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale are trading in their polka-dotted party clothes for new outfits matching the EARidescent theme of the celebration. (Those polka-dots are left over from Mickey and Minnie’s 90th anniversary party in 2018.)

14. Fab 50 statues: The golden statues populating all four parks are fun to find. We especially love that they’re all in proportion to one another. Can you find tiny Tinkerbell?

15. EARidescent name tags: Disney’s cast members are such an integral part of the magic of Disney, it’s fitting that they will all be wearing special name tags for the anniversary celebration.

16. Spruced up transportation: Some Disney buses and Monorail trains are sporting 50th anniversary wraps. Monorail trains also have gotten LED lighting underneath, a particularly dramatic effect as they sweep past Spaceship Earth at Epcot.

17. An all-new Main Street Confectionary. The always-mobbed Magic Kingdom sweet shop has gotten a glam makeover and expanded into the neighboring hat shop. Its creative offerings may—or may not—become your new obsession. (Popcorn with your choice of candy and syrup, anyone?)

18. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: Epcot’s newest family friendly attraction reaches back to Epcot’s earliest themes of bringing people together. Plus, it’s just plain fun.

19. La Crêperie de Paris. The combo sit-down and quick-service restaurant in Epcot’s France expansion offers both savory galettes and sweet crepes, depending on your taste. Mmmmm.

20. EPCOT entertainment returns: Several Epcot favorites who have been sidelined since pandemic started are returning to the stage for the 50th anniversary beginning Friday. The first groups to return: Matsuriza, the taiko drummers in the Japan pavilion; Alberta Bound in the Canada pavilion; and Sergio, the mime and juggler in the Italy pavilionNo word yet on British Revolution (sad face).

21. So. Much. Food. Disney promises 150 new menu items during the celebration. We only wish those 1971 meals came with 1971 prices.

22. Steakhouse 71: The reimagined restaurant on the first floor of the Contemporary resort pay homage to everything 1971. Plus, there’s steak!

23. Space 220: The long-awaited “orbiting” restaurant at Epcot is barely open and it’s already one of the hottest tickets at Disney World. Be prepared to wake up at 5:30 the day you can make your reservations (and even then, good luck).

24. California Grill’s 50th anniversary dining experience: A new prix fixe menu includes new dishes and old favorites. It’s a decent deal, if you weren’t planning to grab a reservation just for dessert and fireworks.

25. Original resorts glow-up: Disney’s Contemporary and Polynesian resorts have both been remodeled during the pandemic. The contemporary’s styling is heavy on mid-century Modern, Mary Blair and the Incredibles, while the Poly is leaning into Moana.

26. The Electrical Water Pageant … changes! The floatilla on Seven Seas Lagoon also debuted in 1971, and it’s getting a new float to honor the resort’s 50th anniversary. But don’t worry: Nothing else has changed!

27. All the shopportunities: So far, Disney has released three collections for the 50th anniversary: the Celebration, Vault and Disney Castle collections. The Vault collection has two new shops dedicated to it: one in the Main Street Cinema at Magic Kingdom and one in the Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs. Two more commemorative collections are on their way later this fall: an EARidescent collection featuring lots of glittery rose gold in late October and the high-fashion Luxe Logo collection in late November. We’ve also seen resort-specific anniversary merch on the shelves, and we’re pretty sure all of this is just scratching the surface.

28. The Creations Shop. The successor to Epcot’s MouseGear, the Creations Shop resembles an upscale department store — all glass and backlist displays. Look for a couple of new lines of cool Epcot gear.

29. The return of Club Cool. Coca-Cola’s popular attraction is finally back, complete with a mostly new lineup of beverages to sample (plus the ever-popular Beverly).

30. New MagicBand+: Rather than phasing out the MagicBand, Disney has reimagined it as something more like an Apple Watch. You’ll still be able to use your MagicBand+ as a room key and for park entry, but it will also “come alive” with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations and gesture recognition. The MagicBand+ will go on sale next year.

31. So long, Futureworld: When Disney announced the reimagining of Epcot, it introduced the idea of four neighborhoods — World Nature, World Celebration and World Discovery, joining the existing World Showcase. You can already see the new names in use in the My Disney Experience app.

32. Drawn to Life: Originally slated to open in April 2019, this collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering is now scheduled to open at Disney Springs in November.

33. PhilharMagic refresh: Mickey’s PhilharMagic will reopen Nov. 12 with a new scene based on Disney-Pixar’s “Coco.”

34. Indiana Jones returns: The stunt spectacular at Hollywood Studios has been closed since the pandemic started. But the cast and crew are reported to have been called back, with rehearsals starting soon. Indy may return by early 2022.

35. Resort reopenings continue: The next resorts to open their doors again after their prolonged pandemic closure at Port Orleans-Riverside (Oct. 14) and Port Orleans-French Quarter (Oct. 28).

36. Refresh of All Star Sports resort: The reopening of All Star Sports was delayed so Disney could do some sprucing up. Disney hasn’t set a new opening date, which was most recently planned for Dec. 9.

37. More ice cream: The Salt & Straw artisan ice cream company will debut a scoop shop at Disney Springs in 2022. Salt & Straw already is a beloved fixture at the Downtown Disney District in Disneyland, so we have high hopes for it here. (At the very least, maybe it can cut the lines at Ghiradelli in half.)

38. Disney Genie: A new digital service accessed through the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps will help you create a personalized itinerary feature to map out your day, including attractions, food and entertainment, plus specific interests like Disney princesses, villains, Pixar and Star Wars.

39. Pay to pass: With the arrival of Genie comes Genie+, which replaces the free FastPass service with a pay-to-pass Lightning Lane. For $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World Resort and $20 per ticket per day at Disneyland, you can choose the next available time to arrive at a variety of attractions and experiences using the Lightning Lane entrance. You can jump the line for big-ticket rides with an additional fee.

40. Voice assistance: Next time you check in to a Disney resort, you may find an Alexa voice assistant in your room. Just say “Hey Disney” to find out more.

41. Immersive Star Wars resort: A one-of-a-kind experience, Disney’s Galactic Starcruiser invites guests to enter the world of Star Wars for a 2-night immersive adventure. Bookings open Oct. 28 for voyages beginning March 1, 2022.

42. Dreamers Point: As the transformation of Epcot continues, the World Celebration neighborhood will feature Dreamers Point, a breathtaking new view of World Showcase featuring a new statue honoring the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney.

43. Another milestone anniversary: The WDW 50th anniversary celebration will continue for so long that it will overlap with the 40th anniversary of Epcot, which opened on Oct. 1, 1982.

44. Moana comes to Epcot: The World Nature neighborhood will soon be home to Moana: A Journey of Water, a walk-through attraction that allows guests to interact with “living” water.

45. Woody’s Roundup BBQ: Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land always needed a sit-down restaurant, and it should have one soon. Woody’s Roundup BBQ is under construction and should … hopefully … debut before we get too hungry.

46. Tron Lightcycle Run: The long-awaited new E-ticket ride at Magic Kingdom looks like it’s zooming toward completion. We won’t hazard a guess about its opening date, but work keeps chugging along.

47. Return of the Walt Disney World Railroad: This may be wishful thinking, but when the railroad closed in 2018, it seemed like it would return once Tron construction was complete. With that milestone on the horizon, we’d love to see this attraction—which is so integral to the Disney story—open before the end of the anniversary celebration.

48. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: The world’s longest indoor roller coaster is coming to Epcot’s World Discovery neighborhood next year. “Sometime in 2022” is about as precise as Disney gets when it comes to estimating opening dates.

49. Destination D: Want to know more about what’s coming up? Destination D, the D23 fan event happening Nov. 19-21 at the Contemporary Resort, will feature CEO Bob Chapek and parks boss Josh D’Amaro discussing the future of Disney parks around the world.

50. D23 Expo: The D23 Expo in September 2022 promises to give fans a preview of the next big anniversary celebration: the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Co., which was founded in 1923.

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