Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Characters Travel

TRAVEL NEWS: ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration' begins from 1st October to celebrate Walt Disney World Resort's 50th Anniversary

To celebrate Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th Anniversary on 1 October, the resort is welcoming guests to ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration.’

The 18-month event beginning on 1 October 2021, ushers in a spectacular array of new attractions, EARidescent décor, nighttime spectaculars and much more. Please see below for some of the magical highlight moments that the epic 50th anniversary celebration has in store for guests:

New Nighttime Spectacular ‘Harmonious’ at Epcot - One of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney theme park, launches on the 1 October at EPCOT. “Harmonious” takes EPCOT guests on a thrilling journey through new interpretations of classic Disney songs as they’ve never been heard before, inspired and influenced by cultures and people from around the world. The music plays amid choreographed moving fountains and lights, lasers, fireworks and other pyrotechnics bursting spectacularly above and around World Showcase Lagoon.

New ‘Disney Enchantment’ at Magic Kingdom Park – Debuting 1 October, guests are invited to join dreamers like Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog,” Miguel from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco,” Rapunzel from “Tangled” and more as they set out on a journey beyond the ordinary to a magic land filled with adventure, wonder, empowerment and enchantment. The breathtaking spectacle will feature Disney music, stunning fireworks, enhanced lighting and immersive projection effects that extend for the first time from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – On the 1 October, EPCOT will officially open an expansion to its France pavilion in World Showcase, the park’s latest example of imagination blending with authenticity to create new stories for guests. The family-friendly attraction invites guests into the flavourful world of Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning film “Ratatouille”, feeling as if they have shrunk to the size of Chef Remy and are scurrying through Gusteau’s famous restaurant.
New Space 220 Restaurant - The new restaurant in World Discovery at EPCOT is a culinary experience offering the celestial panorama of a space station, including virtual daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles above the planet’s surface. Guests board a space elevator for a simulated journey to the Centauri Space Station, where they experience the “height of dining.” Once they arrive, guests enjoy meals and drinks while taking in views that are truly out of this world.
Golden ‘Disney Fab 50 Character Collection’ Sculptures - New “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection” golden sculptures are spread across the four Walt Disney World theme parks. Fifty characters are featured in total, including Miguel and Dante from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco” at EPCOT and Simba, Timon and Pumba from “The Lion King” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Beacons of Magic Shine at Walt Disney World Theme Parks - During the 50th anniversary celebration, icons at Walt Disney World theme parks transform at night into magnificent Beacons of Magic, coming to life with their own EARidescent glow.*

Cinderella Castle illuminates Magic Kingdom Park with a dazzling radiance and pixie- dust sparkle.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a warm light emanates from the Tree of Life as fireflies gather to usher in the magic of nature.
The Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is awash in a brilliance evoking the golden age of imagination and adventure.
And at EPCOT, new lights shine across the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth, connecting to one another like stars in a nighttime sky and creating a mesmerising symbol of optimism. The iconic structure’s permanent new lighting will continue beyond “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” as a defining feature of the park.
‘Disney KiteTails’ Animal Kingdom Theme Park – New daytime entertainment is stirring at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, as “Disney KiteTails” comes alive several times daily beginning 1 Oct at the Discovery River Theater. A vibrant experience for the whole family, guests can experience performers fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, while out on the water elaborate three-dimensional kites – some stretching to 30 feet long – depicting Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo and King Louie.
50th Anniversary Celebration Sips and Bites - The magic is calling all Foodies to the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration – The World’s Most Magical Celebration! Throughout the four theme parks and beyond, Disney chefs and mixologists have created more than 150 sips and bites full of colour, whimsy, and a touch of EARidescent shimmer – with even more coming throughout the 18-month celebration beginning 1 Oct. Of the 150-plus new items available, examples include:
- Cheese Fries with Walt’s Chili at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Mission to Mars burger at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Magic Kingdom Park
- EARidescent Croissant Doughnut at EPCOT
- EARidescent Ice Dream Cone at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
- Magical Beacon Cocktail, found at many table-service restaurants, lounges and pool bars at Walt Disney World
Coming Soon! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Launching 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at EPCOT. The family-friendly adventure starts in the Galaxarium, a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. Guests will learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share – until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and guests go on an intergalactic chase through space and time. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
Coming Soon! Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser - The inaugural voyage of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort will depart 1 March, 2022. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is an experience going beyond anything Disney has created before, inviting guests to become the heroes of their own stories during a two-night adventure where they see, feel and live Star Wars. They will travel the galaxy in style aboard the glamorous Halcyon starcruiser, known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. They will stay in well-appointed cabins, experience exquisite dining and out-of-this-world entertainment, visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and much more.
Coming Soon! New MagicBand+ Wearable and ‘Hey Disney!’ Voice Assistant - Innovation is essential to The Walt Disney Company story, the two new technological achievements are destined to carry theme park and resort guests’ imaginations into the future – the MagicBand+ wearable and the “Hey Disney!” voice assistant. Both cutting-edge innovations will debut in 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort as part of the destination’s 50th anniversary celebration.
- MagicBand+ - The next-generation MagicBand+ will retain those popular features and add new functionality to unlock experiential moments of magic throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts. After a guest enters a theme park, MagicBand+ will come alive at various times with colour-changing lights, haptic vibrations and gesture recognition, enhancing the environment’s immersive storytelling. The wearable will allow guests to engage with favourite Disney moments in new ways and discover new interactive experiences.
- ‘Hey Disney!’ Voice Assistant - Disney is creating its own custom voice assistant using Alexa technology for supported Amazon Echo devices. Called “Hey Disney!”, this voice assistant will work alongside Alexa to respond to vocal prompts, bringing Disney characters and stories to life in magical new ways to make guest stays more convenient, engaging and enjoyable. “Hey Disney!” will begin rolling out in Disney Resort hotel guest rooms across Walt Disney World in 2022 as part of the destination’s 18-month 50th anniversary celebration. Access will be offered as an optional, complimentary feature during guest stays. “Hey Disney!” will make the services Alexa users know and love – weather forecasts, timers, alarms, etc. – magical with the help of popular characters such as Mickey Mouse, Olaf, C-3PO and many more.