The World's Most Magical Celebration - Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary

[Cesar R M]

Just got back from DHS.


Important stuff

1. Internet was consistently failing on the Mickey train, all the way to Muppets. Was annoying to deal with while trying to check in to mama melrose's.
2. Rise was above 1 hour and 30 mins only on the first hours of the day. After 5 pm, it was around 30 to 50 mins.. We rode at 7:30 and it was a walk on despite saying 30 minutes. We only had to wait for a dude on his scooter to sort the very narrow curves in the queue.
3. Screens on most shows seems to have been cleaned. They look sharp in most cases.
4. The new night "show" at DHS is absolutely garbage. The projections look sharp.. but the fireworks is pathetic and it was just a mix and match similar to fantasmic sans everything that makes fantasmic good.
5. They found out about my last year posts about price differences on drinks on certain areas. So you could get cheaper water elsewhere than other areas of the park. The water and sodas now cost the same everywhere.
6. Rise was in B mode, the last Kylo animatronic was not working.

 

[Cesar R M]

Speaking of Harmonious. Are the best views still between Italy and USA?

 

[TTA94]

There is a fix for this but they refuse to look back to the days of Wishes and something else…

 

[Disone]

Beacons. Especially SSE.

Food.

Characters at resorts.

MK, as a park, looks fantastic.

EWP.

Shootin’ Gallery is free!

Space 220.

Monorail lights.

World Showcase entertainment returns!

Ratatouille is a great D ticket and great for World Showcase.

Creations Epcot-centric merch (even if I don’t love some of the shop aesthetics).

I actually think Enchantment looks great. We will see how it ranks for me in person, but it certainly looks great.

Gosh.... On this list i agree with you 90ish%. Not too big on the beacons because three of the four of them are pretty much just the existing projection mapping themed to 50th anniversary. However the spaceship earth begin is absolutely fantastic! Stunning!

The 50th touch to the EWP was super nice especially since I actually didn't know about it then it just happened. That was a nice surprise.

Monorail lights..... Yes please.

I would actually rape Ratatouille as a solid C attraction. I caught myself smiling through that thing from beginning to end. Did not expect to enjoy it that much.

Enchantment is rather meh to me. Maybe it will grow on me like Disneyland forever which I now like what originally was also very Meh on. we'll see.

 

[wtyy21]

There is a fix for this but they refuse to look back to the days of Wishes and something else…

Who voice announcer at the Magic Kingdom now? Looks so different to Bill rogers at Disneyland.

 

[JohnD]

Just got back from DHS.


Important stuff

1. Internet was consistently failing on the Mickey train, all the way to Muppets. Was annoying to deal with while trying to check in to mama melrose's.
2. Rise was above 1 hour and 30 mins only on the first hours of the day. After 5 pm, it was around 30 to 50 mins.. We rode at 7:30 and it was a walk on despite saying 30 minutes. We only had to wait for a dude on his scooter to sort the very narrow curves in the queue.
3. Screens on most shows seems to have been cleaned. They look sharp in most cases.
4. The new night "show" at DHS is absolutely garbage. The projections look sharp.. but the fireworks is pathetic and it was just a mix and match similar to fantasmic sans everything that makes fantasmic good.
5. They found out about my last year posts about price differences on drinks on certain areas. So you could get cheaper water elsewhere than other areas of the park. The water and sodas now cost the same everywhere.
6. Rise was in B mode, the last Kylo animatronic was not working.

Regarding #4, it isn’t “new”. It used to run prior to SW:AGS. It was never intended to be a huge fireworks show. The brief bursts are intentional. So right now it’s being run as the ending show for the night until such time they can bring back SW. Just want you to have proper context in relation to your review of it.

 

[Disneyson]

Gosh.... On this list i agree with you 90ish%. Not too big on the beacons because three of the four of them are pretty much just the existing projection mapping themed to 50th anniversary. However the spaceship earth begin is absolutely fantastic! Stunning!

The 50th touch to the EWP was super nice especially since I actually didn't know about it then it just happened. That was a nice surprise.

Monorail lights..... Yes please.

I would actually rape Ratatouille as a solid C attraction. I caught myself smiling through that thing from beginning to end. Did not expect to enjoy it that much.

Enchantment is rather meh to me. Maybe it will grow on me like Disneyland forever which I now like what originally was also very Meh on. we'll see.

Shocked that they haven’t re-introduced Once Upon A Time.

 

[doctornick]

Regarding #4, it isn’t “new”. It used to run prior to SW:AGS. It was never intended to be a huge fireworks show. The brief bursts are intentional. So right now it’s being run as the ending show for the night until such time they can bring back SW. Just want you to have proper context in relation to your review of it.

On that note, why haven’t they brought back A Galactic Spectacular or something similar? I mean, since they are already bothering to do the animation show, why not have both running?

 

[runnsally]

Lack of resort discounts (outside of the short Dec AP) for the 50th thus far?…
a) not needed
b) reduced occupancy (staffing)
c) hubris
d) other

 

[wtyy21]

Lack of resort discounts (outside of the short Dec AP) for the 50th thus far?…
a) not needed
b) reduced occupancy (staffing)
c) hubris
d) other

Point (b) i believe due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, where the restriction will lift in November for vaccinated visitors.

 

[Figments Friend]

Have to say Spaceship Earth looks really pretty in person at nighttime.
I was skeptical at first, and still am not 100% sure I'm a fan of the 'Xmas lights' look, but those mini musical shows that happen periodically are neat.
Will be viewing it again tonight.
The color hues of the lights are stunning in person.
Photos do NOT capture how nice they look.

Ditto on the 'EARidescent' Castle.
Absolutely stunning at nighttime.
No photo captures the glow.
Not a fan of the daytime look....too much pink paint for my tastes.

DAK's Tree of Life looked lovely last night.
Subtle, but pretty.
I didn't get to see any of the periodic 'moments of magic', but it looked nice.
I was over at DHS yesterday for most of the daytime, so didn't get to see the ToT in its nighttime phase.

Gotta say, evenings in the Parks I've been in recently have been terrific.
Many Attractions are short waits or just walk ons.
I'll use yesterday as a example -
Flight of Passage , 20 minute wait ( time listed 30 mins )
Na'vi River Journey - walk on ( time listed 15 mins )
K Safari - walk on ( time listed 15 mins )
Rise of the Resistance - 20 minute wait ( time listed 45 mins )

-

 

[vikescaper]

When did all of this craziness for merchandise begin because I seem to remember it not always being this way? Or maybe I am just misremembering?

 

[ToTBellHop]

When did all of this craziness for merchandise begin because I seem to remember it not always being this way? Or maybe I am just misremembering?

That’s how society is, now, anytime anything new is released. FOMO is fueled by social media.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

They stuck a new sticker on the water bottles like they did the posters as well. Went from $27.99 to $34.99

 

[mikejs78]

For me, I think the biggest issue I have with the 50th is not what they did - I'm ok with the new shows, the beacons, etc., but rather what they didn't do - and I'm not talking about a night parade, ride plussing, etc., all of which I really wanted, but understand the fact that things changed due to Covid.

What I mean is the simple stuff that could have been done fairly easily with no real cost to Disney - a simple ceremony sometime in the morning; maybe some small exhibit that shows the park throughout the years; maybe a small projection show (similar to OUAT) but showing significant events at WDW from the past 50 years, etc...

I think if they added just a few of these small touches, the reaction would have been a lot more positive - sure, a lot of people would still have complained about stuff, but I think that tone-deafness around just marking the occasion formally and appreciating the hsitory of the resort (even if not in the DE) would have gone a long way.

 

[mightynine]

When did all of this craziness for merchandise begin because I seem to remember it not always being this way? Or maybe I am just misremembering?

eBayers gonna eBay

 

[Disneydad1012]

Not sure this has been posted yet but Disney movie rewards has a 50th pin set for 800 points.

Disney Movie Insiders

Disney Movie Insiders: Where Fans Become Insiders

www.disneymovieinsiders.com

 

[91JLovesDisney]

I just felt like pointing out to anyone still on this thread that during Iger's speech during this celebration he said something along the lines of "Walt passed away before he could see Disney World come to fruition, but his brother Roy made sure to fulfill his dream for Walt Disney World."

So we're just flat out lying to the guests now?

 

[ToTBellHop]

Oh, my goodness. Sirius FM has a Disney Hits channel (basically replaced Radio Disney) that does a weekly Extra Magic Hour show. This week it is all WDW music. Serious nostalgia!

 

[mightynine]

Limited-Time Offer: Buy an Extra 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector Set - D23

For a limited time, D23 Gold Members can purchase an additional 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector Set to celebrate the most magical celebration kicking off at Walt Disney World.

d23.com

Guess they bought a few too many of those. That set actually got me to get a paying membership to D23 this year (doubt I'll be renewing), but makes me wonder how the ol' fan club is doing these days because I don't think I've ever seen them offer extras for sale.