Disney4me Posted September 30, 2021 Report Share Posted September 30, 2021 Walt Disney World shines itself up for big event. Friday is 50th anniversary of Magic Kingdom opening. View the full article Spaceship Earth’s ‘Beacons of Magic’ at Epcot Spaceship Earth at Epcot displays an all-new, first-of-its-kind programmable LED lighting system, Wednesday night, September 29, 2021, at a sneak preview ahead of its official October 1 debut at the theme park at Walt Disney World, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The new display is a part of the Beacons of Magic being rolled out at all four Florida parks for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 1 / 46 Walt Disney World has shined itself up for a big event. Friday marks the 50th anniversary of the day Magic Kingdom opening to the public. Although only a reported 10,400 eager people visited on Oct. 1, 1971, the foundation was laid to become the world’s most visited theme park. Expect Main Street U.S.A. to be more crowded 50 years later. Visitors will see a park in full celebration mode, from the tip of the bejeweled Cinderella Castle down to the shiny new name tags for Disney World employees. The resort also is introducing attractions that will affect the theme parks for months and years to come. New shows will debut Friday at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot, which will also welcome a dark ride called Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. “We have some surprises in store for our guests. .... I think that I think it’ll be a day for the memory books,” Melissa Valiquette, vice president for Magic Kingdom, said Thursday. “I think there is a core of happiness at the Magic Kingdom. And we feel so honored to be able to celebrate so many of our guests’ special milestones in life,” she said. “That is something that was true 50 years ago and will always be true in the future.” Festivities will launch Disney’s 18-month celebration of its golden anniversary. Walt Disney World continues to operate its theme parks at a limited capacity, an outgrowth of the coronavirus pandemic that forced the resort to shut down for four months last year. Potential visitors must have secured a date-specific, park-specific reservation to attend Friday’s festivities, and those slots were snapped up weeks ago. People who make it into the gates of Magic Kingdom will see unique decorations, including golden statues of Disney characters, and they’ll be able to purchase souvenirs for the anniversary, ranging from silky pajamas to T-shirts to shiny versions of Mickey’s ears. THE DAILY DISNEY First look: Disney unveils ‘Harmonious’ show, Spaceship Earth special effects at Epcot SEP 30, 2021 AT 7:59 AM Some of the specially introduced food brings ties to the Magic Kingdom’s past. Visitors may purchase a Mission to Mars burger at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, a Mr. Toad dome cake at Friar’s Nook and Fifi, Gigi and Mimi, fruity Bundt cakes with Dole Whip pineapple inside at Aloha Isle. At Pinocchio Village Haus, an opening-day restaurant, a “1971 Meal” in 2021 consists of an all-meat flatbread, garlic knots, beverage and a 50th-anniversary cake pop. A startling, sparkling difference from 50 years ago: Folks can buy a flight of exclusive champagne at Cinderella’s Royal Table, a restaurant inside the castle. Liquor sales were prohibited at Magic Kingdom until late 2012 and remain restricted to table-service eateries today. Fans who prefer to celebrate at home can watch “Good Morning America” on Disney-owned ABC Friday morning as well as the two-hour prime-time program “The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World,” hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and airing at 8 p.m. on ABC. Dewayne Bevil Orlando Sentinel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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