NEWS: First Look at the 50th Anniversary Merchandise Coming to Disney World and shopDisney
The 50th Anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World is just around the corner and we’ve got a first look at some upcoming merchandise. Learn more below.
Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Sarah Domenech:
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 you 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 August 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 50thanniversary festivities begin. If you’re an Annual Passholder, make sure to check out this special long-sleeve T-shirt exclusively for you.
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 50th anniversary 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. My 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 50th 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 your 50th merchandise 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 posts, 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!”
RELATED ARTICLE: Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration – What We Know So Far
On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World Resort officially opened to guests for the first time, the culmination of years spent imagining, planning, and developing Walt Disney’s magical dream. In the five decades since the vacation destination continued to expand with new stories and characters and adventures to cherish for a lifetime. And now with a major milestone approaching, guests can share in “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” beginning October 1, 2021, in honor of the resort’s 50th anniversary. Learn more about the celebration below.
1 – 18 Month Celebration
This 18-month celebratory event will feature new experiences at the resort’s four theme parks and beyond, where shimmering EARidescent décor will appear as if by magic. Shining at the center of it all will be Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park, which will add to its royal makeover from 2020 with new gold bunting, sparkling golden embellishments and other new enhancements, including a 50th anniversary crest warmly welcoming guests to the join the festivities.
2 – New Nighttime Spectacular ‘Disney Enchantment’ to Light Up Magic Kingdom
A new nighttime spectacular, “Disney Enchantment,” will help kick off the 50th anniversary festivities when it debuts October 1 at Magic Kingdom Park. Created to launch with “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” this evening extravaganza will take guests on a journey filled with adventure, wonder and empowerment. Inspiring everyone to believe in magic, “Disney Enchantment” will feature music, enhanced lighting, stunning fireworks and, for the first time, immersive projection effects that extend from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A.
3 – ‘Harmonious’ Reimagines Disney Music at EPCOT
Joining “Disney Enchantment” on October 1 will be “Harmonious” at EPCOT, one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney park. This new show will bring the globe together at World Showcase Lagoon in a celebration of Disney music that inspires people worldwide. It’s a grand, powerful tribute to the unifying power of story and song, embracing new technical magic that incorporates pyrotechnics, fountains, lighting and media in new ways. “Harmonious” will feature new interpretations of classic Disney songs, reimagined in more than a dozen languages by a diverse group of 240 artists from around the world.
4 – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Grand Opening & France Pavilion Expansion – October 1, 2021
The grand opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will be October 1, inviting guests into the flavorful world of Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning “Ratatouille.” In this family-friendly attraction, guests will feel as if they shrink to the size of Chef Remy and scurry through Gusteau’s famous restaurant. They will discover Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in a newly expanded area of the park’s France pavilion, where the real is made fantastic in a reimagining of Paris inspired by the film.
Also debuting October 1 in this section of the pavilion will be a delicious new restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options. The menu will feature sweet crepes, savory buckwheat galettes (naturally gluten friendly) and authentic French hard cider. The attraction, restaurant and pavilion expansion are all part of the historic transformation of EPCOT currently underway, bringing a breadth of new experiences to the park as a celebration of curiosity, discovery and the magic of possibility.
5 – Beacons of Magic Shine at Walt Disney World Theme Parks
As part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” icons at each Walt Disney World theme park will transform into magnificent Beacons of Magic at night, coming to life with their own EARidescent glow*.
- Cinderella Castle will illuminate Magic Kingdom with a dazzling radiance that sparkles with pixie dust.
- At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a warm light will emanate from the Tree of Life as magical fireflies gather to usher in the magic of nature.
- The Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be awash in a brilliance evoking the golden age of imagination and adventure.
- And at EPCOT, new lights will shine across the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth, connecting to one another in a symbol of optimism resembling stars in a nighttime sky. The iconic structure’s permanent new lighting will continue beyond “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” as a defining feature of the park.
6 – ‘Disney KiteTails’ to Take Flight at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
New daytime entertainment is stirring at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, as “Disney KiteTails” will come alive several times daily beginning October 1 inside the Discovery River Amphitheater. Performers will fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, while out on the water elaborate three-dimensional kites – some stretching to 30 feet long – will depict Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo and King Louie. These colorful creations will dance through the sky to the beat of favorite Disney songs in an uplifting, vibrant experience for the whole family.
7 – Golden ‘Disney Fab 50’ Sculptures to Appear Across the Theme Parks
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale will be part of a new collection of special golden character sculptures debuting October 1 across the four Walt Disney World theme parks. There will be 50 characters featured overall, and guests will be able to interact with the “Disney Fab 50” in surprising ways as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
8 – Mickey, Minnie, and Friends Will be Dressed for the Occasion
Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale will also be dressed in sparkling new looks, custom-made for this special occasion. Highlights of these celebratory designs include beautifully embroidered impressions of Cinderella Castle backed by fireworks, as well as a brocade in multi-toned, EARidescent fabric – all punctuated with pops of gold.
Mickey and Minnie will be the hosts of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” joined by Walt Disney World cast members at the heart of this event. Wearing new EARidescent nametags designed for the 50th anniversary, cast will demonstrate yet again why they are renowned for their commitment to service, consistently exceeding guests’ expectations by going above and beyond to make visits to The Most Magical Place on Earth special.
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