WDW Daily News

Do you remember your first pair of Mickey Mouse ears? What about your first Disney character plush? For almost 50 years, Guests from around the world have commemorated their Walt Disney World Resort trips with sentimental souvenirs that serve as timeless reminders of their vacations.

Over the years, carefully curated merchandise collections have been important piece of Walt Disney World history. Today we are giving you the first look at the merchandise collections inspired by “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” that begins Oct. 1.  

If Guests are planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation during the 18-month anniversary celebration and are looking to take home a token of the magic, we are excited to share a preview of the new collections debuting this fall across Walt Disney World Resort, with select items available at shopDisney.com.

Pre-Celebration Must-Haves

Available beginning on Aug. 12, this must-have pre-celebration collection features limited-time products, perfect for Disney fans who are visiting Walt Disney World Resort before the official 50^th anniversary festivities begin. Annual Passholders can check out this special long-sleeve T-shirt exclusively for them.

Launching at the start of the celebration, three new collections will appear across Walt Disney World Resort, with select items available on shopDisney.com. Two more 50^thanniversary collections will debut later this fall.  

Celebration Collection

From accessories by Dooney and Bourke and festive headwear to coordinating mommy-and-me ensembles and – fan favorite – a soap dispenser, the Celebration Collection offers a wide-ranging assortment of commemorative merchandise for the whole family, perfect for mixing and matching.

Disney Castle Collection

The iconic Magic Kingdom Park landmark, Cinderella Castle, serves as the inspiration behind this new collection. Favorite items include the collectable ornaments, the castle-themed mug and, of course, the light-up Minnie Mouse ear headband!

Vault Collection

This collection is sure be a favorite among long-time fans. It offers retro-themed designs inspired by items from the Walt Disney Archives. Paying tribute to 50 years of Walt Disney World magic, the collection includes an assortment of opening-day favorites, such as a 2021 rendition of the original Mickey Mouse ear hat, throwback T-shirt styles and vintage-inspired plush toys. And best of all, there’ll be more blasts from that past joining the collection as the celebration continues! 

EARidescent Collection

You may have noticed the new EARidescent décor on Cinderella Castle, and you will soon see more of it around Walt Disney World Resort in honor of the 50^th anniversary. The latest color collection, which will debut in late October, is themed to match the EARidescent celebration and features everything from a mini-backpack by Loungefly and a Spirit Jersey to a set of sparkling Minnie ears.

And there’s more to come! This fall, look for one-of-a-kind retail displays that will incorporate Disney storytelling into the 50^thmerchandise shopping experience. The imaginative displays will pop up at select merchandise locations across Walt Disney World, including World of Disney at Disney Springs. The rendering pictured above was envisioned by our very own merchandise cast members Eric Rachaphoumy and Paul Seus. 

You also won’t want to miss upcoming merchandise news, where we will reveal details about the Luxe Logo Collection, a range of upscale pieces for the Disney collector that will debut in November. Stay tuned for exciting updates about “The World’s Most Magical Celebration!”

Hearts and imaginations will soar as incredible kites and windcatchers dance through the air to the beat of beloved Disney songs during this high-flying performance at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Be awed by elaborate, three-dimensional kites of Simba, Zazu, King Louie, Baloo and more as they take flight above the Discovery River Amphitheater—beginning October 1, 2021 during the 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort.

Adventure is served!

Great news Passholders! You’re invited to register to experience Remy’s Ratatouille Adventurebefore it opens to the general public. Join Chef Remy and friends on a daring culinary caper as you zip, dash and scurry through Gusteau’s bustling Paris restaurant. The attraction officially opens October 1, just in time for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration. But as a special “thank you” for being a Passholder, this is your opportunity to get a sneak peek. Be sure to register now – space is limited!

KEEP IN MIND: You will not need to make a separate Theme Park reservation to enter EPCOT® on the day of your preview, but applicable pass blockout dates do apply. Be sure to check the Pass Blockout Calendarbefore registering.

Passholders received a link to register for times so if you are an Annial Passholder make sure to check your email ASAP!

Can you believe “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” honoring the 50^th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort is less than two months away? 

Today we are excited to share with you details – literally – about the much-anticipated Walt Disney World50^th anniversary merchandise collection. We can’t unveil specific items just yet, but simply could not resist sharing hints of what’s to come. 

Here are a few sneak peeks: 

You may be able to guess some items from these pictures, but we’ll tell you it is all going to be… well…magical. Stay tuned this Friday, Aug. 6 for exciting new details about our 50th anniversary merchandise collections.

Opening spring 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be a two-night, immersive adventure in a galaxy far, far away that goes beyond anything Disney has created before.

But what does that mean, exactly?

To answer that question – and many more – Disney gathered some of the Disney Imagineers developing this groundbreaking project and let the cameras roll as they talked about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. In this wide-ranging discussion, you’ll learn more about how Guests can be the hero of their own Star Wars story, about their planet-side excursion to Batuu and how this new experience complements and enhances a visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and so much more.

It is a must watch for anyone – from the biggest Star Wars fan to those curious about what in the galaxy Walt Disney Imagineering is up to, and everyone in between.

Opening spring 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be a two-night, immersive adventure in a galaxy far, far away that goes beyond anything Disney has created before.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=b_WAcM5Dl3s

After checking out the video, head over to www.starwarsgalacticstarcruiser.com to sign up for news updates as they become available. And stay tuned for more on this amazing new vacation experience as we prepare for it to open next year.

As part of The World’s Most Magical Celebration, Guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels or Disney Deluxe Villas and other select hotels can enjoy Extended Evening Hours – experiencing select attractions, shops and dining after regular park hours – in select theme parks on select nights.

Together with early theme park entry, which is available to all Disney Resort hotel Guests, Guests will get to arrive earlier and stay later so they can maximize their time in the parks during The World’s Most Magical Celebration! 

To enjoy these benefits, Guests will need a valid Resort ID, valid admission and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same day. (Or a ticket or annual pass with the Park Hopper option, provided the Guest entered the park where made their reservation earlier in the day.)

Statement from Disney:

We are adapting our health and safety guidelines based on guidance from health and government officials, and will require Cast Members and Guests ages 2 and up, to wear face coverings in all indoor locations at Walt Disney World Resort and DisneylandResort beginning Friday, July 30, regardless of vaccination status. At Walt Disney WorldResort, this includes upon entering and throughout all attractions and in enclosed transportation vehicles, including shuttles, buses, monorails and at Disney Skyliner.

By: Disney DestinationsJuly 27, 2021

We’re just a little more than two months from the next major milestone in the transformation of EPCOT, the debut of “Harmonious,” the new nighttime spectacular that is one of the largest ever created for a Disney park and unlike anything that’s been seen before.

“Harmonious” illuminates our shared humanity, bringing to life the vision of EPCOT through a celebration of our world and its promise. Over the years, cultures from around the world have provided inspiration for Disney films and music. In “Harmonious,” a global community of musical artists has come together and reinterpreted those familiar stories and songs in their own voice, honoring their respective cultures. Collectively, they contribute to a unique experience that could only happen at EPCOT, a place where the impossible becomes possible through the power of human imagination and the magic of Disney.

The show moves through three distinct chapters, inviting us to gather on the shores of World Showcase Lagoon, celebrate the countries and cultures of the world, and ultimately unite to create a bright tomorrow. “Harmonious” begins with a sunrise, and as the world awakens around us, we set out on a journey that takes us across the globe. It’s a dazzling and diverse feast for the eyes and ears, from the South Pacific home of “Moana” and a Middle-Eastern interpretation of “Aladdin” to “The Jungle Book” in India, China’s legend of “Mulan,” the European nations that inspired “Brave” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and so much more.

Here’s a first look at how this stunning spectacle is coming together, as teams from Disney Live Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineering continue working to get “Harmonious” ready for opening night. 

“Harmonious” will make its grand debut on October 1 as part of the launch of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” marking the 50^th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. Stay tuned for updates on “Harmonious” and the celebration as the big day draws nearer!

Guests have been enjoying Disney’s (NYSE:DIS) popular Florida theme parks this summer without mask requirements in most circumstances. A surge in new cases in the Sunshine State could end that perk before the end of summer.

Full Story

Today the Magic Kingdom debuted the 50th Anniversary Sign On Cinderella Castle. Check it out. Let us know what you think.