Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary week in review - Sep 25 to Oct 1

By WDWMAGIC Staff · Sunday October 3, 2021 1:22pm ET · "Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Celebration - The World’s Most Magical Celebration"

With lots of events and celebrations planned for Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary, it's easy to forget everything that has happened this week.  Here is our roundup of events from September 25 to October 1.

Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth has a new lighting system creating an entirely new look for the park's icon after dark.

Spaceship Earth new lighting design with points of light
Photo: WDWMAGICSpaceship Earth new lighting design with points of light

More about Spaceship Earth's new nighttime illumination for the 50th Anniversary Celebration

Food and drink for Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration

Walt Disney's chefs create more than 150 unique items for 'The World Most's Magical Celebration'

Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration special food and drink
Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration special food and drink

See our guide on the special food available during Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration

EPCOT's new nighttime spectacular Harmonious

Harmonious has made its debut at EPCOT, the first of two new Walt Disney World nighttime spectaculars.

Harmonious show
Harmonious show

See the Full POV video of EPCOT's new nighttime spectacular Harmonious

Electrical Water Pageant

Walt Disney World's Electrical Water Pageant will be updated with a new scene to celebrate Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary.

Electrical Water Pageant
Electrical Water Pageant


More about the Electrical Water Pageant to celebrate Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary

Orlando International Airport

A new art installation puts guests into "The World's Most magical Celebration" as soon as they arrive in Central Florida at Orlando International Airport.

Walt Disney World 50th decor at Orlando International Airport
Walt Disney World 50th decor at Orlando International Airport

More about the art installation at Orlando International Airport marking "The World's Most magical Celebration"

Philip Lawrence and Kayla Alvarez perform 'You are the Magic'

The song 'You are the Magic' will feature in the Magic Kingdom's nighttime spectacular 'Disney Enchantment'. 

Philip Lawrence and Kayla Alvarez perform at Cinderella Castle
Philip Lawrence and Kayla Alvarez perform at Cinderella Castle

More about 'You are the Magic' performed by Philip Lawrence and Kayla Alvarez to celebrate Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary

Southwest Airlines

The Boeing 737-700 features 50th anniversary logos of both Southwest Airlines and Walt Disney World Resort.

Southwest Airlines and Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Commemorative Aircraft
Southwest Airlines and Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Commemorative Aircraft

More about Southwest Airlines featuring 50th anniversary logos of Southwest Airlines and Walt Disney World Resort

ABC production of 'The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World'

ABC shares preview of 'The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World' including sneak peek at 'Beacons of Magic' and Harmonious

'The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World' airs Friday, Oct. 1 at 8/7c on ABC, stream on Hulu starting Oct. 2, or watch on Disney+ starting Oct. 8.

Main Street Cinema - The Art of Disney

The Main Street Cinema at Magic Kingdom is now home to a new store themed to the Vault Collection 50th anniversary merchandise.

Main Street Cinema Vault Collection
Photo: WDWMAGICMain Street Cinema Vault Collection

More about the new 50th anniversary Walt Disney World Vault Collection at Main Street Cinema in Magic Kingdom

EPCOT's Harmonious

World Showcase lagoon is displaying a new video sequence today as part of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary.

Harmonious daytime video display
Photo: WDWMAGICHarmonious daytime video display

More about the Harmonious daytime video sequence as part of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary 

Walt Disney World Monorail

The monorails have a new lighting effect throughout the 18 month celebration of the 50th anniversary.

Glowing lights on Walt Disney World monorails
Photo: WDWMAGICGlowing lights on Walt Disney World monorails

More on the Walt Disney World monorail lighting effects for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary

Cinderella Castle 'Beacon of Magic'

Magic Kingdom celebrates its 50th anniversary with special projections on Cinderella Castle.

Cinderella Castle 50th anniversary banners
Photo: WDWMAGICCinderella Castle 50th anniversary banners

More about Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary Beacons of Magic at Cinderella Castle

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

'Beacon of Magic' special projections take place each night at Disney's Hollywood Studios at The Hollywood Tower Hotel.

Beacons of Magic concept art
Beacons of Magic concept art

Watch a video of Disney's Hollywood Studios Beacon of Magic at The Hollywood Tower Hotel

Magical Celebration begins at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

October 1 - Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary is here, and guests are packed into a sold-out Magic Kingdom to celebrate.

Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary October 1 events
Photo: WDWMAGICWalt Disney World's 50th Anniversary October 1 events

More about Magical Celebrations at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

50th Anniversary Mickey's Celebration Cavalcade at Magic Kingdom

The World's Most Magical Celebration has an all new cavalcade. The mini-parade features two floats with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Chip & Dale, Goofy, Daisy and Donald - all dressed in their celebration outfits.

Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade 50th Anniversary at Magic Kingdom
Photo: WDWMAGICMickey’s Celebration Cavalcade 50th Anniversary at Magic Kingdom

More about 50th Anniversary Mickey's Celebration Cavalcade at Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom's Casey's Corner

Randy Morris returns to Casey's Corner, Main Street U.S.A. and takes to the piano.

Casey's Corner Pianist
Photo: WDWMAGICCasey's Corner Pianist

More about the pianist at Casey's Corner, Main Street U.S.A., Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom's main entrance tunnels

The entrance to Main Street U.S.A. has been updated to display vintage artwork from the early years of the Magic Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom vintage attraction poster - Swiss Family Treehouse
Photo: WDWMAGICMagic Kingdom vintage attraction poster - Swiss Family Treehouse

More on the vintage artwork collection at Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort re-dedication

Disney CEO Bob Chapek and Executive Chairman Bob Iger re-dedicate Walt Disney World Resort at the Cinderella Castle stage and were joined by Disney Legend Christina Aguilera who performed 'Reflections' .

Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Re-Dedication with Bob Iger and Bob Chapek
Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Re-Dedication with Bob Iger and Bob Chapek

More from the re-dedication of Walt Disney World Resort at the Cinderella Castle stage

Conversation

6,424 comments
Discuss on the Forums
Spectro shireOct 03, 2021
↩ replying to wtyy21
The majority of the bloggers will be there and most of them are pro-Disney no matter what happens
matt9112Oct 03, 2021
↩ replying to Dan Deesnee
I used to be local filler at silver level. Spending far too little for the mouse. But now im nothing no money. I hope it was worth it to the mouse house. Saying no is hard but the guys down the street treat me a little better.
beertikiOct 03, 2021
Key West is full of adults and drunks, but the rest of the Keys are full of family's renting houses. My work has me at many rentals or at houses next to rentals. I see them hanging out at the pool and on their boats.

Spent 5 days at Atlantis, Bahamas this spring. That was busier than Disney.

We are driving back to the Keys now. Usually we would be discussing another trip right now in the car. Instead we talked about how the food sucked, no housekeeping, and how Disney seems to have changed for us.
MickeyMania26Oct 03, 2021
↩ replying to scottb411
I would like to add a 13th one...its become too complicated. I think people are throwing up their hands and deciding to not bother.
I heard more complaints the other day about mobile ordering, and I know cast heard even worse. People couldn't get food, its just plain stupid. Between that mess and having to have reservations to get in and having to win a lottery to get on a certain rides etc etc, I think people are just not going to bother with all this anymore, and the resentment about having to pay extra money to get on a ride once their horrid genie goes live has the public really turned off......... Also I can not go on enough about how great cast was on the 50th, it was actually almost depressing because they tried so hard and everyone was so nice, but it was almost like they were told to not mention or talk about the 50th hardly. Something is dire wrong with both corporate (well we know that already) and TDO and local management. To me it feels like they have sold it to another company and its not being ran by Disney anymore, that's what the day felt like.

and now that I think about it, I wish there could have been a way to have all the guests on main street sing happy birthday to the park at the same time. That would really have shown management how bad they failed.
The park was just too quiet.
JohnDOct 03, 2021
↩ replying to wtyy21
Okay. About Harmonious. Saw it in person last night. I have a different take.

Too much dependence on whiz bang gizmos: Stargate and taco projections, water effects, and robotic arms flailing about. Then came the music and fireworks. It’s as if the budget was all sunk into tech then they remembered at the last minute they needed to add a score and fireworks. (Yes, there were fireworks. But obviously they wanted to impress us with tech. Why else leave those monstrosities in the middle of WS lagoon.) Was I impressed by the tech? Sure. Was I wowed by the show as a whole? No.

Give me a good fireworks show with an excellent musical score any day. Sometimes less is more.
Spectro shireOct 03, 2021
Family resemblance
mikejs78Oct 03, 2021
↩ replying to JohnD
Worth noting that apparently they ended up with supply issues with some of the fireworks.
John park hopperOct 03, 2021
↩ replying to JohnD
Have not seen it live or tube so from what you have said there is no fireworks ? If that's there case that really sucks
TouchdownOct 03, 2021
↩ replying to WDW_50
Dead outside of HHN Tues-Thur, summer busy Saturday.
JohnDOct 03, 2021
↩ replying to John park hopper
I did not say that. There were fireworks. Just more dependence on the fancy tech.
John park hopperOct 03, 2021
↩ replying to JohnD
Answered my own question just watched the show on u tube
mikejs78Oct 03, 2021
↩ replying to CaptainAmerica
Best friends 2 year old also regularly wears a mask with no issue.

Regardless, there are enough parents who don't want their kids in masks and enough parents who are waiting for the vaccine for their kids to significantly impact a family destination - agree on that?
castlecake2.0Oct 03, 2021
When are people going to realize that Josh is just as much responsible for this mess as chapek? People lining up to take pictures with this schmuck when they should have been asking him where a proper celebration is.
ChomamaOct 03, 2021
↩ replying to JohnD
Oh my gosh yesssss! We saw it last night for the first time and we had avoided any spoilers. We have kids ages 4-15, so I will also share what they had to say. The show was I credibly slow to start. The first 4-5 segments have almost no pyro and the transition from
Song to song is weird. We were with a vip tour guide and he and I kept glancing at each other like, is this the show? What’s happening? It started to pick up with coco, which was, to me, the best part. It was really pretty. Then the fireworks start really going. The rotating arms make fireworks shoot like machine guns. All 4 kids asked why there were machine gun fireworks. The thing in the middle (stargate) just pours water and lights up. It’s weird. When it ended I had one kids who said she prefers it to enchantment but could have done without the mechanical light up flailing octopus in the middle. Her words 😂. My boys thought that was boring until coco and then ok. My husband said he won’t go out of his way to see it again but I was fine. The tour guide and I were both confused about what it actually was. I need to see it again to really understand the show. Honestly the eyesore in the lagoon did not enhance the show at all, save the finale which was great. I am really confused but I guess the budget was cut so it isn’t what it was meant to be? Updating illuminations May have been a better show
wtyy21Oct 03, 2021
↩ replying to JohnD
Harmonious would be more amazing if they using original pyro testing (known as A-mode) that last saw in June 4. The show in B-mode looks slightly bad for me due to budget cuts regarding pyrotechnics and other tech equipment.
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