Disney World Sets a Date for its 50th Anniversary Celebrations

"The World’s Most Magical Celebration" is coming to Walt Disney World this autumn, as the resort celebrates its 50th Anniversary! Magic Kingdom was the first park to open at Disney World in Orlando on 1st October 1971, so the 50th celebrations will begin on 1st October 2021.

This event is five decades in the making and many will be excited to know that celebrations will last for 18 months, which gives a lot of people the chance to be able to join in on the magic.

New experiences will be coming to each of the four theme parks and beyond. The Disney Imagineers have come up with a new word as a part of the celebrations - “EARidescence” - describing what you will see when you visit. Sounds like it’s going to be quite a shimmery event. The Disney team are already creating new decorations that will shimmer and sparkle all day and into the night.

Many of you may have noticed the magical makeover that Cinderella Castle had last year at Magic Kingdom. This is going to be given an even bigger royal makeover for the anniversary. The castle will feature golden bunting and a 50th anniversary crest as part of its festive new look.

There will be even more magic coming to the castle at night too, with a sprinkle of pixie dust and Beacons of Magic, as Disney have called it. This nighttime magic will be brought to the other three theme parks as well, with magical fireflies inhabiting the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom and special new touches coming to life on the Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

At Epcot, new lights will shine across the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth - it will shimmer in the sunlight and into the night too. These reflective panels will resemble stars in a nighttime sky. This permanent new lighting will continue beyond “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” as a defining feature of the park.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Mickey and Minnie Mouse, who will also have sparkling new looks for the celebration. As hosts of the event, they’ll be dressed for the occasion in custom-made fashions of EARidescent fabric with gold highlights.

This is a very special time in Disney history and we can’t wait to share the magic with all our customers. It’s likely that more plans for the 50th Anniversary celebrations will be announced throughout the year. Keep an eye on our socials and blog, where we’ll keep you informed on the latest updates.

We have a wide variety of villas near Disney World, if you want to be close to the magic! Our Orlando villas can be booked as part of a package holiday with Disney World Tickets, so your once-in-a-lifetime trip is fully protected. Get in contact with our team via phone or email if you need any help with your Orlando holiday search.