Walt Disney World Resort turns 50 this year, and details are slowly starting to emerge about how Disney will mark the milestone, dubbed The World’s Most Magical Celebration.
The celebration will begin October 1, and with an event this big, Disney is taking 18 months to celebrate. Sure, Walt Disney World will be well into year 51 by the time the festivities end, but what’re a few extra months between friends?
So what does Disney have in store?
“Disney Enchantment”
This nighttime spectacular will launch October 1 and will feature fireworks, music, lighting, and immersive projection effects that will run from Main Street, U.S.A. all the way to Cinderella’s Castle. Officials promise “Disney Enchantment” will take the magic of the park to an entirely new level.
“Harmonious”
While “Disney Enchantment” takes place at the Magic Kingdom, another eventing spectacle will launch at Epcot. “Harmonious” will take place at the World Showcase Lagoon and feature Disney music mixed with pyrotechnics, choreographed moving fountains, lighting, and other media. The music will be reimagined and performed in more than a dozen languages by more than 240 artists.
“Disney KiteTails”
Animal Kingdom Theme Park will get in on the action as well, launching this new event several times each day at the Discovery River Amphitheater. Performers will fly a plethora of kites and wind catchers out on the water. Some of the kites will stretch to 30 feet long, and others will depict favorite Disney animal characters such as Simba, Baloo, and Zazu. The show will be set to well-known Disney songs.
Characters Dressed To The Nines
Mickey Mouse and his friends have to be part of the celebration, but it won’t just be their ordinary look. Mickey, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip ’n’ Dale will be sporting new EARidescent fashions for the anniversary. They’ll wander the Magic Kingdom throughout the day and take part in a celebration cavalcade several times each day.
Character Sculptures
Those same eight characters will be captured in special golden sculptures that will be placed throughout all four theme parks. Officials hope the golden sheen will shine in the sunlight and make for great photo opportunities for visitors. They also promise more details to come with how visitors can interact with the sculptures.
More To Come
Disney officials plan to release more details of the celebration as October approaches, including information on how the parks will add EARidescent decor throughout the grounds and a coffee table book capturing the first 50 years is made available.
“Our Walt Disney World cast members – who will be wearing new EARidescent name tags designed especially for this occasion – are looking forward to sharing all this magic with you, as they are the heart of this momentous event,” Jeremy Schoolfield, part of the PR team, wrote in the Disney Parks Blog.
