8 changes coming to Disney World for the theme park's 50th anniversary
Amanda Krause
- October 1 marks 50 years since Magic Kingdom, the first Disney World park, opened in Florida.
- The theme park is celebrating the anniversary with a Cinderella Castle makeover and new live shows.
- There will also be new costumes for characters, and vibrant lights added to classic rides.
Disney World turns 50 this year, and the theme park will host "The World's Most Magical Celebration" in honor of the event.
According to Disney World's website, the theme park's 50th-anniversary event will start October 1 and run for 18 months.
First, Cinderella Castle received a glamorous makeover.
The Magic Kingdom landmark was decorated with gold ribbons and blue banners earlier this year, and a 50th-anniversary sign will be added for October 1, according to renderings released by Disney. The new decorations complement the pink-and-gold paint job the castle received in 2020.
It also seems that sparkling lights will be visible on the castle at night to represent pixie dust.
Rides like Tower of Terror and Spaceship Earth will also glow and sparkle during the celebration.
The Disney Parks Blog previously announced that Disney World's Tower of Terror, Spaceship Earth, and Tree of Life attractions will be turned into "Beacons of Magic" via new decorations and an "EARidescence" sparkle that will shine at night.
Some fan-favorite characters will be sporting new outfits.
Mickey Mouse will wear a purple-and-blue gradient suit with shining gold shoes, while Minnie Mouse will wear the same colors on a dress. She'll also have new white gloves, a golden bow, and shimmering heels.
As seen in photos shared by Disney, classic characters including Chip, Dale, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy will wear the same colors and fabrics.
The new character outfits will first be worn on October 1, and they'll then be seen in the upcoming "Mickey's Celebration Cavalcade," according to the Disney Parks Blog.
A new fireworks show will debut at Magic Kingdom.
The new show, called "Disney Enchantment," is meant to inspire "everyone to believe in magic," according to the Disney Parks Blog.
It features music, fireworks, "enhanced lighting," and immersive projections that extend from Cinderella Castle to the buildings that surround the audience.
Epcot will also become home to a new evening event.
"Harmonious" is described on the Disney Parks Blog as "one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney park."
It will be held nightly at the World Showcase Lagoon, and the show honors classic Disney songs, this time sung by 240 musicians in various languages. The show will also include pyrotechnics, moving fountains, vibrant lighting, and more.
At Animal Kingdom, Disney will unveil a daytime show that features animal-shaped kites.
The show debuts on October 1, according to the Disney Parks Blog, and will be held numerous times each day at the Discovery River Amphitheater.
Performers featured in the show are said to "fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes" on land, while "three-dimensional kites" that depict Disney characters will be seen on the water.
"These colorful creations will dance through the sky to the beat of favorite Disney songs in an uplifting, vibrant experience for the whole family," the Disney Parks Blog says.
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will be honored with golden statues placed near Cinderella Castle starting October 1.
The same goes for Donald Duck, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy, Chip, and Dale, though it's currently unclear where their statues will be located.
There will be 50 character statues in total across Disney World's four theme parks, according to the Disney Parks Blog, and they'll be announced closer to the anniversary.
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