D23 Expected To Reveal Celebration Details
D23 FOMO is not an easily treatable mallady.
And unless someone pops for a plane ticket and some passes to D23 2019, clicks, vids, and stories will be my medicine. But given what Orlando Weekly is prescribing for the Disney fandom, it seems certain that only another trip to Walt Disney World will assauge the “feeling of missing out.”
Ken Storey of “The Gist” reported:
One of the most anticipated announcements at next week’s D23 Expo will be the upcoming 50th Anniversary celebration for Walt Disney World.
The yet-to-be-announced, resort-wide event is expected to be one of the biggest events in the history of Walt Disney World. Industry insider Jim Hill says the company expects to sell out every hotel room throughout the resort for the entirety of 2021.
According to various insiders, most notably user WDW1974 on the WDWMagic forums, Disney is planning to celebrate its 50th anniversary by marketing a list of 50 enhancements across the resort. Some of those will be brand-new offerings, like the Skyliner and the two new Epcot attractions, but many of the other “enhancements” will be smaller things added to existing attractions.
Rooms To Sell Out At Walt Disney World?
None other than Jim Hill said to expect WDW “to sell out every hotel room” – whoa?!
And there’s plenty of reason for that amazing uptick:
- Hollywood Studios is rumored to be adding new effects in the Tower of Terror drop shaft, updated dining experiences, and, of course, the new Mickey Mouse dark ride.
- Epcot will see some of its offerings included in the golden anniversary marketing, but many of its biggest projects will open in the mid-2020s. It’s rumored that Spaceship Earth may be closed for a significant rehab throughout all of 2021.
- Animal Kingdom will likely present a new nighttime show, but no significant additions are expected within the next 18 months to two years leading up to the anniversary.
Focus On The Fantasy
However, Storey points out that most of the focus will in and around the Magic Kingdom, with even the Seven Seas Lagoon receiving some attention:
The Electrical Water Pageant, which hasn’t been touched since the mid-1970s, is thought to be receiving an overhaul that will be timed with the new pathway currently being built between the Grand Floridian and the Magic Kingdom. This pathway will temporarily block access to the Electrical Water Pageant’s storage facility with Disney using this inconvenience as an opportunity to overhaul the parade adding new floats themed to Moana and The Little Mermaid.
However, that’s just the least of the items teased by Storey’s story. Check out the full list here.
One Long Party
That said, you’ll have over a year to squeeze yourself into Walt Disney World:
Like all anniversary events at Disney, the WDW 50th is expected to last longer than just 12 months. It’s thought that it will begin in early 2021 and continue until the end of September 2022. Of course, a massive celebration is expected to take place on the actual anniversary on October 1, 2021.
That’s going to be one heck of a party.
Will you be there? Be sure to keep MickeyTravels in mind when you start your planning!
