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

Figments Friend

Well-Known Member
Yep. I almost planned to be there. Thought it would have been like the 25th (which had a special parade and televised program with dignitaries including the First Lady in front of the castle).
They forgot how to do that, I think. Just put a logo on cheap merchandise and charge a fortune.

I was there, and it was atrocious,
If you are a old school fan, or just a Park enthusiast in general and expected anything special on the actual day you were sorely disappointed.

It was clear the only real focus was on merchandise sales to eBay flippers and resellers.
Absolutely nothing unique in the Park itself acknowledging the milestone day.
Zip.

What little effort was made was done by certain CMs on the day.
Once again, Cast made the magic happen.

-
 

OwlHouseKing97

Active Member
In the Parks
No
I truly want to give Disney a little bit of a pass of the 50th miscues due to Covid. The decorations/paint on the castle look good to me, but taste is subjective. The statues were a nice touch (even with some wonky character selections). The merch or lack of it, blame supply chain. The food was colorful, but I don't know what people expected there.

Obviously the Beacons was a neat idea, but the ones on Spaceship Earth became the crown jewel of it all.

I wonder if we would have gotten an 50th parade (or even a nighttime version). I often speculate that the "the Magic is Calling" song that ended up in the 50th cavalcade (and the float itself) may have had "bigger" plans for an original parade.

But the direction of Enchantment is the microcosm of what the decisions makers thought would work. Having a 50th exclusive fireworks show was a great idea, but the direction of the show had nothing to do with nostalgia. It was just a poor HEA update.
Not gonna lie, my favorite 50th addition would have to be in my personal opinion, the Adventure Friends Cavalcade, yes a simple cavalcade, better than any of the nighttime shows introduced for WDW's could have been 50th(I went in May, that was before Fantasmic returned, and it was before Raya & Mirabel joined), and easily the best new entertainment offering that was added to the parks, sure the character choices were either didn't fit the adventure genre(some of the comedic animal sidekicks(they're not bad, in fact I don't mind Meeko, Timon, Terk, being there), Clarabelle(before she was replaced in June) or do fit the genre, but aren't as popular as they were years ago(Elena, Merida(despite having their fans), but they did give us good characters(some of which you don't normally see every day), a fun soundtrack(despite recycling the Vamos song, but that's the least of my worries), and more, hopefully this will stick around past the 50th
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
I was there, and it was atrocious,
If you are a old school fan, or just a Park enthusiast in general and expected anything special on the actual day you were sorely disappointed.

It was clear the only real focus was on merchandise sales to eBay flippers and resellers.
Absolutely nothing unique in the Park itself acknowledging the milestone day.
Zip.

What little effort was made was done by certain CMs on the day.
Once again, Cast made the magic happen.

-
Same here. I walked in and, 50 years to the day of MK and WDW opening, people were standing in queues to buy stuff. I thought to myself, "Seriously"? Don't get me wrong. I bought stuff too but only when I could walk in to a gift shop, find something, buy it, and leave. I waited in a much shorter line in the Disney CoOp at DS the day prior. I made use of the attractions instead where there were shorter waits and made a day of it. Mobile order? I tried and it failed.
 

Rteetz

Well-Known Member
I truly want to give Disney a little bit of a pass of the 50th miscues due to Covid. The decorations/paint on the castle look good to me, but taste is subjective. The statues were a nice touch (even with some wonky character selections). The merch or lack of it, blame supply chain. The food was colorful, but I don't know what people expected there.

Obviously the Beacons was a neat idea, but the ones on Spaceship Earth became the crown jewel of it all.

I wonder if we would have gotten an 50th parade (or even a nighttime version). I often speculate that the "the Magic is Calling" song that ended up in the 50th cavalcade (and the float itself) may have had "bigger" plans for an original parade.

But the direction of Enchantment is the microcosm of what the decisions makers thought would work. Having a 50th exclusive fireworks show was a great idea, but the direction of the show had nothing to do with nostalgia. It was just a poor HEA update.
Covid or not disney could’ve and should’ve done more.

The decor was fine…

There was not a lack of merch by any means. There were like 100 different lines including the “finale” merch now coming. Merch was probably the thing of most abundance.

They tried with food but half the stuff was gone pretty quickly.

Magic is calling is ok. It’s getting annoying now. They’ve done better on that front too.

Enchantment isn’t even a HEA update. It’s just a bad show.
 

mattpeto

Well-Known Member
Covid or not disney could’ve and should’ve done more.

The decor was fine…

There was not a lack of merch by any means. There were like 100 different lines including the “finale” merch now coming. Merch was probably the thing of most abundance.

They tried with food but half the stuff was gone pretty quickly.

Magic is calling is ok. It’s getting annoying now. They’ve done better on that front too.

Enchantment isn’t even a HEA update. It’s just a bad show.
There was lack of merchandise. You might have seen unique items but it didn’t equal the typical supply availability.

All you have to do is look at the parties as examples. In 2019, there was merch for both MNSSHP and MVMCP. I don’t think there was any this year.
 

Rteetz

Well-Known Member
There was lack of merchandise. You might have seen unique items but it didn’t equal the typical supply availability.

All you have to do is look at the parties as examples. In 2019, there was merch for both MNSSHP and MVMCP. I don’t think there was any this year.
We are talking about the anniversary not parties. Two separate things.
 

mattpeto

Well-Known Member
We are talking about the anniversary not parties. Two separate things.
Yeah I don’t think you understood my point, maybe my analogy wasn’t good. Supply chain issues have been a problem. I know you know that.

Here are some other articles in the past that mention limited inventory for 50th stuff:



Obviously, it’s been better lately, but it’s too little too late.
 

Rteetz

Well-Known Member
Yeah I don’t think you understood my point, maybe my analogy wasn’t good. Supply chain issues have been a problem. I know you know that.

Here are some other articles in the past that mention limited inventory for 50th stuff:



Obviously, it’s been better lately, but it’s too little too late.
Lol.

You brought up parties which wasn't what I was talking about. Overall 50th merchandise has been daily well stocked from the start. Yes certain items went quickly or were hard to find but they were often replenished. There was also just SO much 50th merchandise. You had to really be trying to avoid 50th merchandise.
 

mattpeto

Well-Known Member
Lol.

You brought up parties which wasn't what I was talking about. Overall 50th merchandise has been daily well stocked from the start. Yes certain items went quickly or were hard to find but they were often replenished. There was also just SO much 50th merchandise. You had to really be trying to avoid 50th merchandise.
You can’t convince me supply chain issues were up to 2019 standards, but your entitled to your opinion.
 

Rteetz

Well-Known Member
You can’t convince me supply chain issues were up to 2019 standards, but your entitled to your opinion.
I’m not saying they were. They still are not. I work in supply chain. Things everywhere still aren’t great. My point was there was not a lack of 50th merch. I’ve frankly never seen Disney do as much merch for an event as they did for the 50th.
 

mattpeto

Well-Known Member
I’m not saying they were. They still are not. I work in supply chain. Things everywhere still aren’t great. My point was there was not a lack of 50th merch. I’ve frankly never seen Disney do as much merch for an event as they did for the 50th.
I had issues locating the vintage stuff and the mugs a few weeks ago.
 

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