Top 5 Ways Disney World Celebrated the 50th Anniversary

April 2, 2023

Top 5 Ways Disney World Celebrated the 50th Anniversary

The Disney World 50th Anniversary has come to an end. From decor to entertainment, guests experienced an extra magical celebration. Here are the top 5 ways Disney celebrated the 50th anniversary.

Cast Members at the Heart of the Celebration
Disney cast members are truly the heart of the magic, so naturally they were key to this anniversary celebration, too! We loved all the ways cast members were recognized over the past 18 months, and each moment of recognition felt more special than the last. My personal favorite moment for cast? It was actually thousands of little pop-up moments created by the Pixie Patrol! They surprised cast members across property with more than 70,000 EARidescent prizes throughout the celebration.

Sparkling EARidescent Décor & Lights
As the EARidescent décor starts to come down this weekend—including the phased removal of those beautiful 50th anniversary embellishments on Cinderella Castle—I’m still a little awestruck by how boldly and beautifully Disney transformed Disney World for the celebration. And the world-famous castle wasn’t the only icon to get dressed up for the occasion, with each theme park’s icon illuminating the night as a Beacon of Magic. While most of that 50th sparkle and EARidesence will end with the celebration with park icons at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Magic Kingdom Park returning to their usual radiance… Spaceship Earth will continue to shine well into the future with beautiful light displays each night!

The Disney Fab 50 Collection
Fun golden sculptures featuring 50 beloved characters at each of the theme parks? Um, yes please! If you were hoping the Disney Fab 50 Collection would stick around just a bit longer after the celebration, you’re in luck… I hear they may be in the parks beyond the celebration’s official ending for guests to enjoy.

Celebrating with the Community
This unforgettable celebration didn’t just stay within Disney’s gates, either – Disney “drove” that very magic out into the communities, too. For those of you in Florida, you’ve likely seen the beautiful 50th anniversary license plates driving around the state. Thanks to every Floridian who purchased a specialty plate during the celebration, more than $1.5 million has been raised for Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida so far, helping to create treasured memories for these families and children. If you’re still interested in getting your very own 50th anniversary license plate, better get one soon! There’s a limited amount left, so check with your local County Tax Collector’s Office or license plate agencies throughout the state of Florida before they’re gone.

Over the course of this 18-month celebration, Disney also gave more than $6.5 million in grants to 60+ nonprofits, and Walt Disney World cast personally volunteered more than 233,000 hours at local organizations through our Disney VoluntEARS Program—that’s incredible!

Adding Even More Magic!
There was a lot to revel in during this party, but Disney World didn’t just celebrate to honor the first 50 years… it also grew! EPCOT continued its transformation, adding La Creperie de Paris, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (a personal fav of mine!), just to name a few of the newest theme park additions. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser also took guests to a galaxy far, far away, and Roundup Rodeo BBQ officially introduced guests to the world’s first “Toy Story”-themed restaurant earlier this month.

The next 50 years are sure to bring more pixie dust, and there’s a boundless collection of memories just waiting to be made!

Want to experience the magic of Walt Disney World? Contact me today to start planning your next visit! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are free!

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Sara

Sara is a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, a Disney Earmarked agency. She lives in Alaska with her husband and 3 kids. Due to her extreme dislike of winter, she travels often to warmer destinations during the colder months. She visits the Disney parks and resorts frequently with her family and loves helping other families plan magical vacations. Contact her here for help with your vacation!