Disney World is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a host of new attractions, experiences, and entertainment. The theme park will be adding an all-new Pandora – The World of Avatar to the Animal Kingdom, as well as a new nighttime show called Rivers of Light.
Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations will bring new experiences to guests during the celebration. There are many events that will be happening throughout the year, but one of the most anticipated is the hammerhead beach.
As time passes, the Most Magical Place on Earth continues to innovate and develop.
On October 1, 2024, Walt Disney World Resort will celebrate its 50th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the theme park resort has discovered many ways to improve its services for visitors, and employees are overjoyed that the day has finally arrived.
“As cast members, we’re very thrilled to simply be able to greet visitors and create magical experiences with them,” said Tom Thomson, a legacy cast member who started his career in merchandising at Hollywood Studios and now works at the Disney Institute in content development. “I hope [guests] have the opportunity to create great memories at such a wonderful moment. We generate happiness as cast members, and I am a fan as well as a cast member. As much as I love experiencing pleasure personally, I enjoy witnessing it in our guests.”
Patrons will have the opportunity to sample new attractions, entertainment options, food and drinks, and much more throughout the 18-month celebration.
New Rides
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a 3D attraction in which visitors sit in a rat-shaped ride vehicle. The plot is straight out of the movie. Remy is gazing into the kitchen from the roofs of Paris, and as he falls through, so do you.
Joe Vitale, Production Designer for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, stated, “What I hope visitors will discover is a really genuine experience to the film Ratatouille.” “We’re going to immerse you in the film’s universe… The trick is that we’re going to make you smaller than a rat. Everything will be experienced through Remy’s perspective. You and Remy, the chef, are off on a wild goose chase.”
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which was recently revealed, will debut in 2024 at EPCOT. This will be the debut of EPCOT’s first “other-world” showcase pavilion, ushering in a whole new approach for Disney World to improve the visitor experience.
There’s no indication on when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be released in 2024, but we got a sneak look last week. It will be one of the world’s longest indoor roller coasters when it opens. In addition, the attraction will include a rotating and spinning seat, similar to the Haunted Mansion ride at Magic Kingdom. It’s simply another example of Disney World’s commitment to innovation in the realm of attractions.
Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom during the Disney Enchantment night show (photo by Eric Bowman)
Day and Night, Epic New Shows
Disney World is, of course, more than simply rides. The themed day and night performances provide visitors with an alternative to riding a roller coaster or taking a boat trip.
At EPCOT, “Harmonious” is one of the biggest nighttime spectaculars ever produced for a Disney park, incorporating pyrotechnics, synchronized moving fountains, lighting, LED screens, and media in ways that are guaranteed to take everyone’s breath away.
The immersive display “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park illuminates Cinderella’s Castle and includes a new original song, “You Are the Magic,” as well as thunderous pyrotechnics.
At Animal Kingdom, “Disney KiteTails” is a new daytime performance that can be seen at the Discovery River Theater. As three-dimensional kites of some of Disney’s most popular animal characters soar sky high, popular Disney tunes play.
Hotels that have recently been renovated
Room of the Galactic Starcruiser in Star Wars (Photo via Disney Parks Blog)
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which is perhaps Disney’s most grandiose “hotel” to date, will debut on March 1, 2024. But this isn’t your average hotel.
“We have 100 cabins on board, and what’s particularly unusual about this is that there’s a window out into space,” said Jared Sell, Walt Disney Imagineering’s Assistant Project Manager. “So, as we go through hyperspace, as we travel to various worlds, you’ll see all of the action, and if there’s a space war going on, you’ll see it coming past your windows, it all carries through.”
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Guests may choose to be a Resistance fighter, a First Order soldier, or even a smuggler. This completely immersive experience will undoubtedly revolutionize the theme park industry. The cost of a two-night cruise for two people is slightly under $5,000, and it rises if visitors bring children on board.
Disney Vacation Club members, Disney Passholders, and Disney Visa Cardmembers will be able to book the Galactic Starcruiser shortly. The general public will be able to book on October 28.
Refurbished rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort were among the other hotel improvements done ahead of the centennial festivities.
Food and Beverage Options Have Expanded
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary celebration, Disney will introduce 70 new food and beverage products. The Mission to Mars burger, which is topped with bacon, macaroni and cheese and served on a cheese puff-dusted bun; the Five Alarm Wings, which are tossed in a sweet-and-spicy sauce and served with ranch dressing; the Doom Berry drink, which is made with blackberry ginger beer (non-alcoholic) and EARidescent sugar and served with a Haunted Mansion-themed straw; and the Happy Haunts Milkshake, which is made with
The Cheers to 50 Years dessert from the Plaza restaurant, on the other hand, is undoubtedly the show-stopper.
Chef Edson described the dessert as “filled with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, cookies, brownies, hot fudge, a Mickey pretzel, chocolate dipped pretzels, and whipped cream.” “This is certainly something you’ll want to enjoy with your family and friends. It’s a favorite dessert of mine.”
Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Dessert (photo via Disney)
Guests at EPCOT’s enlarged France pavilion now have the option of dining at La Crêperie de Paris before or after riding the new Ratatouille attraction.
“It’s really two restaurants in one,” says the owner. We’ve got a crepe to go from the fast service window. You come here, order your crepe, and then go eat it, just like in Paris. “We can create a dinner out of it, and you come inside La Crêperie de Paris,” Eric Weistroffer, Executive Director for JBI Chef de France, said.
La Crêperie de Paris at EPCOT serves a hazelnut chocolate spread crepe with whipped cream (photo by Eric Bowman)
Whether you’re looking for sweet or savory crepes, this restaurant has you covered. Unique cider drinks are also available at the restaurant. Everything for the cider, including the buckwheat flour, is imported from France just for the event.
Those looking for healthier alternatives will like the savory buckwheat crepes, especially the smoked salmon dish.
Apart from that, Weistroffer advises visitors to eat something sweet while on vacation.
Weistroffer said, “In France, we say, if you don’t care about it, it doesn’t count.”
Also at EPCOT, the recently built Space 220 restaurant offers a taste of what space travel could be like in the future, as visitors are “transported” 220 miles into space to eat above the Earth. Lunch guests may choose from a two-course meal, while dinner guests can choose from a three-course menu. Out-of-this-world drinks are also available at Space 220.
Technology and new innovations
This autumn, Disney Genie will be available on the My Disney Experience app. This new feature aims to improve your entire holiday experience at the parks by simplifying your day and making things simpler so you can get the most out of your visit.
“‘What would you want to do?’ says Genie. Then we create a day and literally hundreds of thousands of ways for that party to enjoy a park in a day in order to achieve the greatest experience possible “Gary Daniels, Vice President of Digital Guest Experience, shared his thoughts.
It will also usher in the new Lightning Lane, which will take the place of the parks’ old fast pass system. An extra fee of $15 per person per day will be charged.
The newly announced collaboration with Amazon Alexa, as well as the new MagicBand+ wristbands, are examples of innovative technological advancements. Guests staying on a Disney property for the night will be able to interact with Disney characters via Amazon technology, including the ‘Hey, Disney!’ voice command, among other interesting features.
In 2024, the updated MagicBand+ will be released. This new version will provide engaging experiences in real-time, such as unique illumination and vibrations, in addition to all of the capabilities presently available in MagicBands. In addition, visitors will be able to interact with new golden sculptures and see new evening spectaculars.
“Nathan Leader, Director of Product Strategy, said, “Innovation and technology are fundamental to Disney and what we’re all about.” “As a result, we’re excited to have additional tools in our toolbox to help us engage visitors, convey our stories, and provide chances for them to interact with the environment.”
The new MagicBand+ wristbands from Disney World will be available in 2024. (photo by Eric Bowman)
Additional Points of Interest
Each park will have its own unique EARidescent light at night, as well as stunning golden statues from the “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection.” At night, new “Beacons of Magic” displays will be available at Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, the Hollywood Tower Hotel at Hollywood Studios, and the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom. The goal for visitors to all Disney parks is to locate all 50 golden character statues.
EPCOT’s golden figment sculpture (photo by Eric Bowman)
What would a celebration be without some new knickknacks?
There will be specialized pins, charms, decorations, water bottles, coffee mugs, and many other collectable things in addition to 50th-anniversary apparel products including shirts, hoodies, and jackets. Oh, and don’t worry, there will be enough of mouse ears to go around.
The attraction Drawn to Life at Disney Springs will open on November 18th. Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering have teamed together to create a show that will wow visitors with acrobatic feats.
As you can see, there are a multitude of choices for visitors visiting Walt Disney World in the next 18 months. As Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger put it, it’s all about rediscovering your inner child: “The fact is, no matter how old you are, when you’re here, you feel like a kid again.”
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