In case you haven’t heard, Disney World has kind of a big anniversary coming up this year…

…yep, the EPIC 50th Anniversary Celebration is in October, and you can bet Disney fans from around the world will be flocking to the Most Magical Place on Earth in DROVES! Still on the fence about whether you should be one of them? Clock is ticking! Allow us to make the case! 

There’s really no understating how huge Disney World’s 50th really is. This is a place that changed the world — and continues to change the world — in all kinds of innovative and dazzling new ways, from boundary-pushing rides to one-of-a-kind hotels! 

It’s an occasion worth celebrating, but it’s certainly not for everyone. The cost, the hassle of travel during such a busy time, the crowds…it’s a LOT. Despite all that, though, here’s why you SHOULD go to Disney World for the 50th anniversary! 

Three Words: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Aside from the fact that visiting Disney World during an incredible milestone in Disney history is a big deal, this is a RARE opportunity to be among the first to experience some of the most eagerly awaited attractions in YEARS! This includes a little rodent romp in EPCOT called Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure!

We’ve been clamoring over this ride for what feels like a decade, and the wait is FINALLY almost over! The Ratatouille ride launches in EPCOT’s expanded France Pavilion on October 1st. We’ve already been lucky enough to experience this new attraction and have everything you want to know here (spoilers!).

 

The ride is made to feel like you’re shrinking down to rat size, on a mad dash through a Parisian kitchen in an adorable Remy-shaped ride vehicle! This ride uses the same unique trackless ride system as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.  We really enjoyed this new ride and welcome another ride for guests in EPCOT!

The Perfect Souvenir to Commemorate Your Remy Ride!

Say Bonjour to La Crêperie de Paris

While you’re still on a French high from Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, you can round out your experience with another new addition to the France Pavilion: La Crêperie de Paris, a new restaurant arriving October 1st!

So, this spot has opened early too! Combining both counter service and table service, the restaurant sports a Remy-approved menu of sweet and savory crêpes from celeb chef Jérôme Bocuse, who drew menu inspiration from the Brittany region of France.

You can either opt to dine inside as a sit-down meal experience or head to the walk-up window to get a different menu of crepes to go!

Of course we ate everything they had to offer at both the indoor and outdoor locations! It’s fun having a unique new snack (or meal!) spot in World Showcase.

No One’s Talking About This New Disney World Restaurant but They Should Be!

More EPCOT Food and Wine Booths

Not to be outdone by the rest of the celebrating, the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is already well under way.  Come October 1, 9 new booths will finally join the line-up (and some of them are our favorites!): The Alps, Belgium, Brazil, India, Ireland, Kenya, Lobster Landing, Mac & Eats, and Spain.

So, spoiler alert again here: almost all of these opened early. Like, much earlier than anticipated! While crowds wait in line to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, grab your festival passport and be the first to dig into the newest booths of the festival!

Don’t Miss a Morsel with the DFB Festival Guide!

A Magical NEW Nighttime Spectacular 

Fireworks are BACK! And they’re back with a bang! It’s gonna be an even bigger, brighter bang come October, though, with the introduction of a brand new nighttime spectacular at Magic Kingdom called Disney Enchantment! 

Launching on October 1st, the magical showcase will feature enchanting music, enhanced lighting, and immersive projection effects that will go all the way down Main Street, U.S.A.! Sounds like something you do NOT want to miss! 

When Will We Bid Farwell to Happily Ever After?

Harmonious at EPCOT is FINALLY Here

We’ve been on barge watch for months, and the moment has finally come! That’s right, EPCOT’s highly anticipated (and long-in-the-works) nighttime spectacular, Harmonious, is ready for its closeup! 

Anchored in World Showcase Lagoon, the EPCOT centerpiece plays a major role in the historical ongoing transformation of the park, and based on the titanic-sized barges and equipment we’ve seen so far, this is going to be a nighttime spectacular to remember. 

Disney KiteTails at Animal Kingdom

Just because Animal Kingdom doesn’t do fireworks doesn’t mean the park won’t have any new celebrations up its sleeve for the 50th! Debuting October 1st, say hello to Disney KiteTails! (OK, we can NOT be the only ones doing the “DuckTales WHOO-OOO!” when we say KiteTails!)

It’s a new daytime show taking place at the Discovery River Amphitheater, featuring performers flying windcatchers and kites, including incredible three-dimensional kites depicting iconic Disney animal characters like Simba, Baloo, and King Louie! 

Some of the pieces will be as long as 30 feet! And the whole show will take place to the toe-tapping beat of Disney songs! 

Be the First to Get “EARidescent” 

Get ready to sparkle! In preparation for the 50th anniversary, Disney World has been hard at work at a detailed and expansive project called “EARidescence,” which is their way of describing how the parks will “glow” for the celebration.

Throughout the parks, Disney is adding shimmering new details and design work to attractions and structures, like Cinderella Castle with its new gold bunting and banners.

Come nightfall, all four parks will also be transformed into “Beacons of Magic,” with dazzling lighting effects like enchanted fireflies on Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life! For those in attendance come October, be on the lookout for other stunning new details like this! 

Check Out the 10 Things You NEED to Bring With You for the 50th!

See a New Character Cavalcade

We love a good Character Cavalcade! And Disney ALWAYS knows how to one-up itself with delightful new parades and character outfits! So it should come as no surprise that they’re pulling out ALL the stops for the 50th with a brand new showcase! 

Rolling out in October, Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade at Magic Kingdom will feature totally NEW costumes for Disney’s superstars, joined by Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip ’n’ Dale, all of whom will get EARidescent makeovers for the occasion! 

Disney Fab 50 Golden Sculptures

Fittingly, Disney World is getting even more bedazzled for its momentous anniversary, in the form of 50 special golden character sculptures! These golden statues have begun appearing around the parks!

By October 1st, all four parks will feature their own collections of these statues, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse near Cinderella Castle and even Rocket Raccoon and Groot in EPCOT! Better yet? Disney is coyly suggesting that there will ALSO be surprising ways we’ll be able to interact with said sculptures! Color us intrigued! 

Learn MORE About the 50 Golden Statues!

Don’t Forget About EXCLUSIVE Merch

For giant days in Disney World history, such as the debut of Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the parks like to offer exclusive one-day-only merchandise, and you can bet that there will be some pretty epic goodies up for grabs come October 1st! 

While Disney has kept merch news tightly under wraps, it’s par for the course for the company to release a wave of exclusives for big occasions, and since we can’t think of a bigger occasion than this, we can only dream of what Disney has up its sleeve! Guess you’ll just have to be there for the 50th to find out! 

So yeah, traveling to Disney World for the 50th anniversary is undoubtedly going to be expensive and crowded, and EXTRA planning will be crucial, but for the diehard Disney fan, this is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime moment in history that is too good to miss. We’ll see you there! 

A Sneak Peek at Some of the 50th Merchandise!

Key Takeaways

Disney knows how to throw a party, and the 50th celebration will be one for the ages! It’s a party that will last for 18 months, but these are the reasons not to wait and why you SHOULD plan to visit on October 1:

• New Experiences — from a brand new ride, to festival food booths, a brand new restaurant, and nighttime spectaculars, you’ll get to see and experience each of these for yourself and as one of the first people to ever do it! No spoilers for you — you’re right in the middle of it!
• The Exclusive Merchandise— we’re already seen some sneak peeks of some of the goodies that Disney will be selling and we know there will be more. And we anticipate that there will a few items that could only be available as October 1 exclusives! If you’re there, you can be the first to scoop it up!
• The Memories — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that only a select number of Disney fans will get to have, and you could be one of them! That will be a memory and experience you can reflect on and share (and maybe even brag about) “I was there for the 50th!”
• It’s Disney — if you’re anything like us, you don’t need much encouragement to plan a Disney vacation!

This celebration will last for over a year, and we expect some of these additions to be permanent fixtures, but if you’re the type of person or family who rope-drops Target on Black Friday, who must-see films/shows on opening night, who lives for the adrenaline rush of booking a boarding group at exactly 7am for Rise of the Resistance, then being at Disney on October 1 is right up your alley!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

What is your biggest motivation for going to Disney World for the 50th? Let us know in the comments!

The post Why You SHOULD Go to Disney World for the 50th Anniversary first appeared on the disney food blog.