New Additions Coming to Disney World For Their 50th Anniversary

Following the announcements made at the D23 Expo – the gathering of the official Disney fan club at the end of August, we learned a few new things about what to expect in the Disney World parks during 2021 – an important year for the resort, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary!

Opened on 1st October 1971, Disney World includes the four theme parks – Magic Kingdom (the first park to open in the complex), Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios, as well as the water parks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

Anniversary celebrations at Disney are always a big deal – and those for Disney World are set to be the biggest that the resort has ever seen! Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Products, Bob Chapek, took to the stage during the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California to explain more about the plans for the Orlando park celebrations during 2021.

With regard to the special 50th anniversary events that are to be laid on around all of the parks, Bob Chapek revealed that, unlike other milestone celebrations which have tended to focus primarily on Magic Kingdom, the party will come to each of the four Disney World parks during 2021! Announced alongside the reveal of a sparkly, rainbow anniversary logo, he promised special food, drink, merchandise, entertainment and more throughout all of the theme parks, not to mention the new attractions that are set to be open in time for this special anniversary!

With significant investment in updating rides and attractions across Disney World ahead of the anniversary events, there is set to be plenty for new and returning guests to enjoy for the first time. A major part of the D23 announcements were the changes that are set to take place over the next few years, especially at Epcot. Where Futureworld currently stands, three new neighbourhoods are set to appear – World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature. Have no fear though – the existing World Showcase will continue to celebrate different global cultures! As Walt Disney once said, Epcot ‘would always be in a state of becoming’ and the park’s transformation and exciting updates certainly honour that vision!

• World Celebration - Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time, however it will transform with new scenes and an all-new narration reflecting the universal nature of the human experience. This area will also bring Dreamer’s Point - a distinctive three-level structure, which will be a wonderful vantage point from which to witness the park’s nighttime spectacular! It will also feature lush gardens, a wishing tree, an interactive fountain, and a new statue that pays homage to Walt.
• World Discovery - Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a new and thrilling family-friendly ride coming to this neighbourhood by 2021. It will feature the first-ever reverse launch into space! A new space-themed restaurant called Space 220 is also scheduled to open very soon, with departures this winter. The Wonders of Life building is set to be transformed into the PLAY! Pavilion (more details below).
• World Nature - Guests can meet and play with magical, living water, which has a mind of its own, in the new attraction Journey of Water, which is inspired by Moana. Spot the Heart of Te Fiti swirl at the centre of this beautiful attraction. Also, a new film called Awesome Planet scheduled to begin in January 2020 will showcase the spectacular beauty, diversity, and dynamic story of the planet.

Set to open in time for the 50th anniversary celebrations, the PLAY! Pavilion in the new World Discovery zone will take the place of the dome that was used for the Wonders of Life, and which has recently served as the Festival Center for various events. Inside you will discover an interactive metropolis, brimming with games and experiences that you can share with your friends, family, and even some Disney characters. You’ll be able to help The Incredibles’ Edna Mode to rid the world of bad style choices, and compete in a water balloon fight hosted by Donald Duck’s mischievous nephews, Huey, Dewey, Louie and their friend Webby!

It seems that Epcot will have the biggest transformation of all the parks! Here’s what else is coming to the park in time for the big anniversary:

• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is slated to open in summer 2020 at Epcot’s French Pavilion, where you are shrunk to the size of a rat and experience the sights and sounds of Gusteau’s Parisian restaurant!

• The first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane, will join the United Kingdom pavilion as an entirely new neighbourhood!

• The classic Impressions de France film will be joined by an all-new Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along in January 2020.

• The Canada pavilion will be home to Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360, which will debut in January 2020 with new scenes and a new story.

• In the China pavilion, Wondrous China will take guests on a spectacular journey across China, filmed and presented in a completely seamless 360-degree digital format.

• Following the limited time run of Epcot Forever, a new nighttime spectacular called HarmonioUS will be the largest ever created for a Disney park. It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people all over the world.

Additional attractions that are due to be opened in time for the golden anniversary include Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in spring 2020 (we mentioned it in a previous blog) and the TRON Lightcycle Run (a replica of the ride in Shanghai Disneyland), over in Magic Kingdom! Currently under construction next to Space Mountain in the park’s Tomorrowland zone, this brand new, semi-enclosed steel coaster will take riders to speeds of more than 60mph, making it one of the fastest rides at Disney World! Although the exact opening date hasn’t been revealed, it is set to be ready for riders in time for the anniversary events – we’ll share more details when we get them!

Don’t forget to stop off at Disney Springs during your epic holiday to see the brand-new Cirque du Soleil show, which will make its debut in March 2020. Following the story of a young girl who has been transported into the world of Disney animation, the Imagineers and animation studios are working closely with Cirque du Soleil to create a truly spectacular celebration of music, acrobatics and storytelling.

Navigating all of the parks should be a doddle, with the new innovative app – Digital Genie – which is set to be available for all guests by late in 2020 .It aims to make planning your day simpler, allowing customised itineraries that are geared towards your interests. Are you a thrill-seeker or hoping for some Disney princess pampering on a right royal day out? Either way, Disney Genie will be able to tell you the best places to go and things to do! Even if you know what you want to see and do, but don’t know the best order to do it in to make the most of your day, Disney Genie will be able to tell you by running through all of the options! Even if you change your mind, it’s not a problem, as Disney Genie will update automatically, as well as sending you real-time tips, park updates and recommendations for experiences that they think you’ll love.

With so much open, or set to open, at the parks in time for the 50th anniversary, 2021 is certain to be a spectacular time to visit the parks. Even if you are visiting before the celebrations are due to start, there is still plenty to see and do, with many attractions opening before the anniversary year. Check out the accommodation that Debbie’s Villas has available and start planning your adventure of a lifetime!

Will you be visiting Walt Disney World during their anniversary year? What rides and attractions are you most interested in seeing? We’d love to hear from you, so get in touch using our social channels!