Do you know the significance of October 1st in Disney World history?

Walt Disney World opened on October 1st, 1971, which means that this year, the resort will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary. With new offerings around Magic Kingdom and the fact that it’s a milestone occasion, we’re expecting massive crowds for the 50th. However, an anniversary isn’t the only thing big in Disney World that day, so today we’re sharing the full list of what’s happening on October 1st, 2021!

Magic Kingdom

First up, let’s check out what’s going on in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, the OG park celebrating its 50th birthday! The park icon, Cinderella Castle, will be getting a stunning makeover in honor of the occasion. 

Progress on this iridescent transformation has already begun, with regal drapes and accents getting added to the walls of the castle. We also expect to see a 50th Anniversary crest on the front and some new lighting that will “sparkle like pixie dust.”

And if you’re hoping to congratulate Mickey and Minnie Mouse on this historic milestone, then you’ll catch them in their new (and very dapper) anniversary outfits! It hasn’t been shared whether or not Mickey and Minnie will be donning this new apparel in other parks, but the promotional photos show them in Magic Kingdom.

Besides the castle makeover and the new outfits, we expect to get more announcements on celebrations coming to Magic Kingdom soon. We’ll make sure to keep you updated with all the details as soon as they’re released!

EPCOT

Over at EPCOT, it’s also a big day — the park’s 39th Anniversary! On the 1st, Spaceship Earth will be debuting a new look as well, except this one will be sticking around permanently. New lights will shine across reflective panels, creating the illusion of stars in a night sky. It’ll all match perfectly with the new entrance area of the park.

We already got a sneak peek at the light installation taking place in the park. 

And likely in an effort to draw crowds away from Magic Kingdom, the grand opening for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will be on October 1st as well! This new ride has been highly anticipated and was originally slated to open last year before the pandemic threw off the timeline.

The ride will take guests on a trip through Gusteau’s kitchen, following the adventures of Remy from the hit Pixar film, Ratatouille. The addition of this attraction is part of the expansion of the France Pavilion in the World Showcase. 

And speaking of expanding the France Pavilion, we’re also getting a new restaurant! La Creperie de Paris will open on October 1st as well, serving up both quick service and table service meals.

It’s definitely going to be difficult to choose between visiting EPCOT and Magic Kingdom, and if you haven’t already made the decision, you may be out of luck. Disney Park Pass reservations for both parks are filling up rapidly on October 1st!

Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom

At Disney World’s other two parks, there will also be some icon makeovers! The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom will be glowing all over, as new lighting gives the illusion of enchanted fireflies. 

The Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios will have colorful projections to match the EARidescence (Disney’s word, not ours) of the 50th Anniversary color scheme. This reminds us a lot of the Christmas projections that we see here each year!

So, no matter where you’re headed in Disney World on October 1st, there’s going to be something new to experience! We’re anxiously awaiting more announcements and details ahead of the big day, and we’ll make sure to keep you up-to-date with the best information! This post will be added as even more exciting news is released regarding the BIG day! 

Click Here for Your Full Guide to Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary!

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Will you be visiting Disney World for the anniversary? Tell us in the comments!

The post Everything That’s Happening in Disney World on October 1! first appeared on the disney food blog.