To celebrate Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th Anniversary, the resort is welcoming guests to ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration.’ The 18-month event began on 1st October 2021, and ushered in a spectacular array of new attractions, EARidescent décor, night-time spectaculars and much more. Please see below for some of the magical highlight moments that the epic 50th anniversary celebration has in store for you.
One of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney theme park, launched on 1st October 2021 at EPCOT. “Harmonious” takes EPCOT guests on a thrilling journey through new interpretations of classic Disney songs as they’ve never been heard before, inspired and influenced by cultures and people from around the world. The music plays amid choreographed moving fountains and lights, lasers, fireworks and other pyrotechnics bursting spectacularly above and around World Showcase Lagoon.
Following its debut on 1st October, guests are invited to join dreamers like Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog,” Miguel from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco,” Rapunzel from “Tangled” and more as they set out on a journey beyond the ordinary to a magic land filled with adventure, wonder, empowerment and enchantment. The breathtaking spectacle will feature Disney music, stunning fireworks, enhanced lighting and immersive projection effects that extend for the first time from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A.
On 1st October, EPCOT officially opened an expansion to its France pavilion in World Showcase, the park’s latest example of imagination blending with authenticity to create new stories. The family-friendly attraction invites you into the flavourful world of Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning film “Ratatouille”, feeling as if you’ve shrunk to the size of Chef Remy and are scurrying through Gusteau’s famous restaurant.
The new restaurant in World Discovery at EPCOT is a culinary experience offering the celestial panorama of a space station, including virtual daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles above the planet’s surface. You’ll board a space elevator for a simulated journey to the Centauri Space Station, where you’ll experience the “height of dining.” Once you arrive, you’ll enjoy meals and drinks while taking in views that are truly out of this world.
New “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection” golden sculptures are spread across the four Walt Disney World theme parks. Fifty characters are featured in total, including Miguel and Dante from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco” at EPCOT and Simba, Timon and Pumba from “The Lion King” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
During the 50th anniversary celebration, icons at Walt Disney World theme parks transform at night into magnificent Beacons of Magic, coming to life with their own EARidescent glow.*
• Cinderella Castle illuminates Magic Kingdom Park with a dazzling radiance and pixie- dust sparkle.
• At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a warm light emanates from the Tree of Life as fireflies gather to usher in the magic of nature.
• The Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is awash in a brilliance, evoking the golden age of imagination and adventure.
• At EPCOT, new lights shine across the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth, connecting to one another like stars in a nighttime sky and creating a mesmerising symbol of optimism.
New daytime entertainment is stirring at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, as “Disney KiteTails” comes alive several times daily beginning today at the Discovery River Theater. A vibrant experience for the whole family where you can experience performers fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, while out on the water, elaborate three-dimensional kites – some stretching to 30 feet long – depicting Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo and King Louie.
The magic is calling all foodies to the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration – The World’s Most Magical Celebration! Throughout the four theme parks and beyond, Disney chefs and mixologists have created more than 150 sips and bites full of colour, whimsy, and a touch of EARidescent shimmer – with even more coming throughout the 18-month celebration that began on 1st October.
Of the 150-plus new items available, examples include:
• Cheese Fries with Walt’s Chili at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
• Mission to Mars burger at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Magic Kingdom Park
• EARidescent Croissant Doughnut at EPCOT
• EARidescent Ice Dream Cone at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
• Magical Beacon Cocktail, found at many table-service restaurants, lounges and pool bars at Walt Disney World
Launching 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at EPCOT. The family-friendly adventure starts in the Galaxarium, a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. You will learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share – until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and you go on an intergalactic chase through space and time. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
To book your magical Disney trip, contact your Travel Counsellor today.
There are so many great reasons to experience certain destinations in the shoulder seasons – that sweet spot between a region’s peak season and off-season. Think fewer crowds and queues for major attractions, better-value flights and other travel, and a more authentic experience of the destination. We’ve put our heads together to share a few of our favourite places that can be just as good or even better outside of high season.
Discover a slice of paradise that’s perfect for everyone at Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort. Nestled on Portugal's serene Algarve coast, this resort offers the ultimate combination of luxury and entertainment, ensuring both kids and adults have an unforgettable stay. With spacious accommodation overlooking picturesque scenes and separate zones catering to privacy, relaxation, and family fun, Anantara Vilamoura is the epitome of a luxury haven.
Explore the USA with Aer Lingus with seasonal flights from Dublin. Experience the hustle and bustle of New York, the sandy beaches of Miami, or the art and culture of San Francisco. Whether you are looking for a fun-filled family holiday or a romantic getaway, the USA has something for everyone.
