Disney World’s 50th Anniversary is just one week away! October 1st is going to be an epic day throughout the resort, and if you’re planning on attending, you’ve probably looked forward to this day for months!
For some of you, however, you may be on the fence as to whether or not it’s even worth it to visit. After all, a LOT of fans are going to be in attendance, and it can definitely feel like one of the most crowded days Disney World has experienced since the parks reopened last summer. That said, there are plenty of reasons why you will want to be in the parks on October 1st!
New Entertainment
Perhaps the most exciting changes coming to Disney World on October 1st are all of the new entertainment offerings.
Guests who are in attendance on the 50th Anniversary will be among the first audiences to witness these new shows, including Disney Enchantment in Magic Kingdom, Harmonious at EPCOT, and Disney KiteTails in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
There’s also a new character cavalcade coming to Magic Kingdom! Starting on October 1st, guests can watch Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade, which features our favorite characters dressed in their new 50th Anniversary outfits!
New Dining Experiences
If you’re a total Disney foodie, there are some new dining experiences to check out starting on October 1st!
Steakhouse 71 (formerly known as The Wave) at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service starting on October 1st. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a nice sit-down meal away from those theme park crowds!
Over in EPCOT, two new dining packages will be available to those looking to enjoy a bite to eat while they watch Harmonious. These will be located at Rose & Crown Dining Room in the U.K. Pavilion as well as Spice Road Table in the Morocco Pavilion.
Speaking of EPCOT, there’s a brand-new restaurant you can also check out next week. Space 220 just opened after years of delays, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy lunch or dinner there! Advance reservations are highly recommended.
Another new restaurant to check out in EPCOT is La Crêperie de Paris, which just opened up in the France Pavilion!
Keep in mind that there are a few new dessert parties coming for Disney Enchantment in Magic Kingdom, but those do not begin until after October 1st.
New Merchandise
If you’re big into collecting merchandise, October 1st is going to be a great day to do a little shopping in Disney World. Disney is dropping TONS of new merchandise in celebration of the 50th Anniversary, and some of the collections are already available to purchase!
The collections launching in celebration of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary include Limited-Time Merchandise, The Celebration Collection, The Disney Castle Collection, The Vault Collection, The EARidescent Collection, and The Luxe Logo Collection. This adds up to HUNDREDS of new merchandise items to shop for!
However, there are a few collections that won’t arrive until October 1st. Some of these items will likely be in high-demand, especially pieces from the adorable Vault Collection!
If you visit the parks on any day after October 1st, you’re running the risk of those items being sold out.
Special Touches Everywhere You Go
No matter what you choose to do in Disney World on October 1t, you will likely encounter many special touches in each theme park as well as around the resort hotels. The 50th Anniversary Golden Character Statues have been installed in all four theme parks, which make for fun photo opportunities and scavenger hunts for the family!
If you’re around Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, be sure to look up — the Monorail has been receiving a special treatment for the 50th Anniversary, so you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for a special wrap!
The Skyliner has also been wrapped just for the 50th if you’re heading to EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
And, of course, the buses have started to show signs of getting into the party spirit as well.
New topiaries and signage has begun to pop up around Disney World, too. Be on the lookout for some new photo opportunities outside of Magic Kingdom!
Granted, many of the offerings we mentioned above will be available throughout Disney World’s eighteen-month-long 50th Anniversary Celebration, but if you want to pack in as much of the special events as possible, October 1st is the day to do so! Of course, we’ll continue to cover all of the latest updates and openings around Disney World as the celebrations continue, so be sure to follow along!
Click here to find out where you can locate ALL of the 50th Anniversary Golden Character Statues!
Will you be at Disney World on October 1st? Let us know in the comments!
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My wife and I are going for our 5th anniversary in December and I cannot wait! The fact that our 5th just so happens to coincide with Disney World’s 50th makes it that much cooler! Also, the new and cool stuff to see since we last went in 2019, I am stoked! Also curious to see what the Christmas song that gets stuck in your head for eternity is going to be (my wife and I still blurt out “Boo to you!” 2 years later).