Celebrate 90 years with Mickey at Walt Disney World

On 18th November 1928, Mickey Mouse made an iconic appearance in the animated short, Steamboat Willie, and 90 years later the character is still as popular as ever, and is celebrating his birthday across the globe!

Although Mickey Mouse’s official onscreen debut was in a test screening for the cartoon Plane Crazy, it was Steamboat Willie that brought Mickey to the masses, as it was the first of his films to find a distributor. The film is notable for its sound which is synchronised with the action, and it was this that set it apart from its silent-action cartoon competitors, soon making Mickey Mouse the most well-known cartoon character around!

As progresses in film were made, Mickey’s first words came in 1929’s The Karnival Kid. Critical success followed in 1932, with Mickey’s first Oscar nomination for Mickey’s Orphans, while 1935 saw him appearing in his first colour film, The Band Concert. With the introduction of supporting Disney characters such as Donald Duck and Goofy, Mickey Mouse starred in a series of acclaimed films such as the Oscar-nominated Brave Little Tailor. In 1940, Mickey appeared in the feature length Fantasia, in his iconic role as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which appears in the Fantasmic! show at Orlando’s Hollywood Studios. The Mickey Mouse Club, a variety-style show, which ran between 1955 and 1996 on TV kept Mickey on-screen in a series of classic cartoons as well as segments made especially for the show, and even today Mickey appears onscreen in the CGI Mickey and the Roadster Racers. He has even appeared in numerous comics and computer games over the years!

With ten Oscar nominations for Best Animated Short Film, including one win for 1941’s Lend a Paw, Mickey Mouse was no doubt deserving of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, when in 1978 to mark his 50th anniversary he became the first cartoon character to have such an honour! Forty years later, he is again at the centre of the celebrations.

As the official mascot of Disney, Mickey has played a big part in the Disney theme parks, appearing for photos with guests, and in the parks ceremonies and parades, not to mention the Hidden Mickey’s concealed around the sites! As a result, the Disney parks around the world are playing a key part celebrating the birthday of the legendary character with a series of special events.

Mickey's birthday events at Walt Disney World

On 18th November, Mickey’s official birthday, the parks will all mark the special event with commemorative merchandise, photo locations and food and drinks. The celebrations continue for the whole weekend of 16th to 18th November in Magic Kingdom.

Make sure you catch the Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party, which has been a staple of the theme park since 2014, and will end in December 2018. Especially to make Mickey’s special day, guests will give a salute to the legendary mouse. Take the chance to dance alongside your favourite Disney characters as their floats make their way along Main Street USA to Cinderella’s Castle.

Remember to tag your selfies with #MoveitShakeitPics; they might appear on the side of the floats!

Why not join in with the barbershop quartet, the Dapper Dans as they sing Happy Birthday to Mickey on Main Street? Over in the Tomorrowland area of Magic Kingdom, you will also be able to celebrate and throw some impressive shapes at the Rockettower Plaza Stage with a special birthday dance party.

The celebrations continue into 2019, with Mickey and Minnie dressed to mark the event in special outfits across the Disney parks. Mickey has a suit covered in confetti, while Minnie is wearing a pompom-adorned dress to celebrate the party occasion! You can see the new costumes at the Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party, that takes over from Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! on 18th January, where you will be able to bop along to singers performing classic songs from the Mickey Mouse Club. This is a part of Magic Kingdom’s Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration, which is a limited-time event celebrating our eponymous heroes! Pick up some special merchandise, try the themed food and listen out for the Dapper Dans and entertainers on Main Street who will be singing songs in honour of the duo! As this is a surprise celebration there is plenty more entertainment on the cards, with special experiences happening around the park.

In 2019 the World’s Biggest Mouse Party is set to come to Disney World. Details of exactly what to expect at the Florida parks are yet to be announced, but it is bound to be something spectacular! Shanghai Disney resort were the first to start the celebrations which culminate in a special nighttime birthday spectacular, while Disneyland Paris has the debut of the 4-D experience; Mickey and his PhilharMagique Orchestra. Whatever Disney World has in store it’s bound to be a fitting tribute to the beloved cartoon!

Don't miss our MICKEY GIVEAWAY this month either! Throughout November, if you book a minimum seven night stay in one of our villas together with any ticket package that includes Walt Disney World, you will receive your very own Mickey teddy! Click here to find out more.