50 Reasons to Celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary

Whether you’re a life-long Disney World fan or a first-time visitor, you can’t miss Disney World’s 50th Anniversary extravaganza, the World’s Most Magical Celebration. This 18-month celebration features special events, brand-new rides, never-before-seen attractions, and new food and souvenirs to bring out the kid in you. 

From must-see highlights to tips for making the most of your trip, here are 50 reasons to celebrate Disney World’s 50th anniversary at Walt Disney World Orlando.

• Disney World’s 50th anniversary event – the World’s Most Magical Celebration – begins on October 1, 2021, and the fun continues for 18 months! Enjoy the celebration through 2022 into early 2023.
• The World’s Most Magical Celebration will be celebrated at all four Walt Disney World theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.
• The park will unveil a new 50th anniversary anthem, “The Magic is Calling,” which you can hear throughout the celebration.
• The Cinderella Castle has gotten a makeover in honor of the special event, with a 50th anniversary crest, new bunting, and gold embellishments. 
• Find 50 special golden character statues around all four theme parks. The Disney Fab 50 statues include Daisy Duck, the Cheshire Cat, Tinker Bell, and all your favorite characters.
• Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will be sporting a new costume during the 50th anniversary celebration. You’ll see the dazzling duo in pink, purple, and blue iridescent formal wear that Disney is calling “EARidescence” to describe these delightful outfits. 
• You can stock up on Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary merchandise like products inspired by Cinderella Castle and EARidescent offerings so you can match Mickey and Minnie.
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a new attraction debuting at Epcot’s France pavilion. This high-energy ride will whisk guests through a restaurant, seen through the eyes of Remy the rat.
• When you eat at Epcot, you might be dining on vegetables grown right inside the park! The gardens grow over 30 tons of fruits and vegetables per year.
• Eat at the new Space 220 Restaurant, accessible via “space elevators” that transport you above the earth to the Centauri Space Station, where you’ll enjoy delicious food and amazing views.

•  Walt’s personal recipes inspired the release of new food items created just for the anniversary celebration, and some of his favorite foods – fried chicken, pork chops, and more – were added to buffets throughout the park.
• Order a 50th Celebration Hot Dog at Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom. This all-beef hot dog is topped with powdered sugar, strawberry bacon jam, and funnel cake pieces for a sweet and savory treat.
•  Head to Gaston’s Tavern to sink your teeth into a Mickey Mouse Dome Cake: spiced chocolate cake filled with crème brûlée and topped with Mickey Mouse ears and the 50th anniversary logo.
•  Cinderella’s castle, the Hollywood Tower Hotel, Spaceship Earth, and the Tree of Life will all be lit with an EARidescent glow every night of the celebration.
•  You can get married at Disney World! The park’s special division, Disney Fairytale Weddings & Honeymoons, helps make your dreams come true at the most magical place on earth.
•  Want to look your best for Disney’s most exciting event? Get a haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop in the Magic Kingdom.
•  Catch the new Cirque du Soleil show, “Drawn to Life,” bringing your favorite Disney animations to life right before your eyes.
•  Walt Disney World takes health and safety seriously. Celebrate safely with masks and social distancing.
•  Disney Enchantment is a new nighttime extravaganza on Main Street, U.S.A. (Magic Kingdom), featuring fireworks, lighting, Disney music and amazing projection effects.
•  Disney Kite Tails takes magic to new heights with a kite and windcatcher performance starring all your favorite characters. Watch Simba, Baloo, and others soar above you in Animal Kingdom.
•  When you ride the Disney World Railroad around Magic Kingdom, you’re stepping into a history exhibit – the train is from the 1910s!
•  The fountain at Epcot Innoventions Plaza is one of the most powerful in the world, shooting water 150 feet into the air.
•  Take a private tour of Animal Kingdom at night! 

•  Celebrate the 50th anniversary with a helicopter flight over Disney World!

•  Disney’s Magic Kingdom park is bigger than California’s Disneyland in its entirety. 
•  Disney World Resort has the largest sand-bottom pool in the world! Feel the sand under your feet when you go for a swim.
•  You can collect autographs from all your favorite Disney princesses and other characters! Purchase an autograph in the park and pose for photos with your Prince Charming.
•  12% of Disney World is filled with greenery including gardens, trees, and other maintained landscapes that cover about 3,000 football fields of green space.
•  See live animals on the Animal Kingdom safari ride. Wave hello to giraffes, hippos, zebras, and animals of 34 species living in 100 acres of rugged wilderness.
•  Visit Dino-Sue, an exact replica of the largest T-Rex skeleton ever found. She stands at 13 feet tall and 40 feet long. Check her out at DinoLand U.S.A., Animal Kingdom.
• The Walt Disney World Resort is about the size of San Francisco, so there’s a lot to see – and even more surprises during the World’s Most Magical Celebration.
•  Celebrating a special event like your birthday, anniversary, or first visit to Disney? Head to Guest Services to pick up a commemorative celebration button for free! Expect to get extra attention from cast members on your special day.
•  Visit Disney World in the fall to attend the Disney After Hours Boo Bash, a Halloween-themed event at Magic Kingdom.

• Walt Disney World takes Christmas seriously! Watch fireworks, see holiday lights, and even experience snowfall at Disney Springs.
•  Ride the four mountains! Splash, Space, Thunder, and Forbidden Mountains are some of the most popular rides in the park.
•  Want to splurge on an amazing place to stay? Celebrate the 50th anniversary event at one of Disney’s themed resorts, including Beach Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge, All-Star Movies, and more.
•  Beat the crowds in front of Cinderella Castle and snap a family photo from the back. You’ll encounter fewer people and a better photo op – experienced Disney World guests say that the back is prettier!
•  If you’re staying at a Disney resort and purchase merchandise in the park, you can have it sent to your hotel so you don’t have to lug it around all day. 
•  You can trade pins with Disney cast members! Pack a few Disney pins you don’t mind parting with and trade with princesses and pirates around the park. This is a Disney World tradition dating back to 1999.
•  Pay close attention to the five mosaics inside Cinderella Castle. Crafted from glass, jewels, and gold and silver pieces, the mosaics tell the tale of Cinderella.
• Take amazing photos at some of the most iconic spots at the parks.
• Try to spot all the hidden Mickeys all over the parks.
• Want to meet some rarely seen characters? Head to Epcot for the chance to see new characters in training.
• It’s not your imagination – it really does smell like freshly baked cookies as you walk down Main Street! Try to notice all the special scents courtesy of the Disney “Smellitizers.” 
• If it’s within your budget, stay at hotel on the Disney property for extra perks, like early access to FastPAsses and free transportation 
•  Enjoy smaller crowds and special events with Disney After Hours. 
• Love to run? Join runDisney for an unforgettable marathon! 
• Make your way to Magic Kingdom for the Kiss Goodnight, a special experience that begins about 30 minutes before the park closes.

• Nothing says “special” like a fireworks show. Experience the Happily Ever After fireworks from one of the best seats in the house, like Main Street or ​​Thunder Mountain.
• Go for a ride on Peter Pan’s Flight and pay close attention to the blocks around the room. Can you spot the secret messages they spell?

There are countless reasons to visit Walt Disney World for its 50th anniversary! Will you be joining in on the fun?