Cheers to 50 Years, Disney

By: John Raspante Assistant Editor

This is a very exciting year to be a Disney fan! Way back on October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World (WDW) opened its doors to the public for the very first time. And now, WDW is officially celebrating its 50th anniversary. The event has been dubbed as “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” and will span 18 months. Mickey and friends are dressed in new outfits, all four parks are decorated with golden statues of the “Fab 50 Character Collection” and the landmarks of each park are lighting up the sky at night as brand-new “Beacons of Magic."

The celebration was kicked off on Thursday September 30 with a rededication ceremony of the parks, led by Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, and former CEO (now Executive Chairman), Bob Iger. It was a moment that genuinely brought a tear to my eye.

Personally, I cannot wait to get down to Florida to experience this event myself. I haven’t been to WDW since October 2019, and I have had not one... not two... but THREE cancelled trips since then (thanks COVID-19). On my last trip, I truly felt like I was home, and I am looking forward to enjoying all the new festivities going on at the parks. I am excited to see the new “Disney Enchantment” fireworks show at Magic Kingdom, go on new rides like “Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure” in EPCOT and simply feel the Disney magic again.

A trip to Disney World makes everyone feel like a kid, no matter how old you are. The feeling of seeing all the classic Disney stories and characters come to life is something that cannot be matched. As a hardcore Disney fan, this feeling is only intensified for me. The magic feels real at WDW and it makes me believe that anything is possible. From reliving my favorite movies through rides to interacting with my favorite characters, I have never experienced more joy than I do in these moments. The parks mean so much to me and will always hold a special place in my heart.

I have heard a lot of people say that the park experience has been slightly underwhelming since they reopened after COVID, but this celebration seems like a sign of normalcy returning to The Most Magical Place on Earth.