Crews have removed the first 50th anniversary bunting from Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom.
The moat around Cinderella Castle was just drained so crew members and construction vehicles can easily reach the sides of the castle and remove the decorations. A set of stairs leading into the drained moat is surrounded by a tarp. The Cinderella Castle moat was also drained in early 2021 for the 50th anniversary decorations to be installed.
We noticed a piece of bunting has been removed from one of the towers at the back of the castle, on the west side.
The bunting was the same blue and gold drapery still seen on the other towers. The golden ribbon-like topper is still on the spire of the tower.
For comparison, below is a picture from the installation of the 50th anniversary decorations, showing the bunting on this tower.
It’s the tower on the far left in this photo.
The giant “50” medallion was already removed from the front of Cinderella Castle.
The End of the 50th Anniversary
Now that the 50th anniversary celebration has ended, decorations are being taken down and merchandise is going away.
Mickey is back in his magician outfit at Town Square Theater in Magic Kingdom instead of his EARidescent suit. There is a new Magic Kingdom welcome show and an updated Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire with the characters wearing new outfits instead of their 50th costumes.
Guidemaps for all four Walt Disney World parks have been updated to no longer mention the 50th anniversary.
Cinderella Castle is expected to keep its EARidescent pink and royal blue color scheme but 50th anniversary decorations will be removed. The golden Fab 50 character statues will stick around for now.
50th anniversary messages were replaced on Walt Disney World buses.
There is a new Annual Pass design now that 50th anniversary-related cards have retired. 50th anniversary merchandise is significantly discounted at World of Disney.
Disney 100 Years of Wonder
Now that “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” is over, Disney 100 Years of Wonder is moving in.
Walt Disney World announced monthly themes to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company over the next several months. April celebrates Earth Day, the 25th anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s conservation efforts. Moana will have a meet and greet in Animal Kingdom beginning on Earth Day, April 22.
As previously announced, Disney100 will be celebrated at EPCOT with Mickey and Minnie in their platinum outfits and a platinum Mickey sculpture. A new Spectacle of Light show will debut on Spaceship Earth and, in late 2023, a new nighttime spectacular will premiere to replace “Harmonious.” Journey of Water, CommuniCore Hall, World Celebration Garden, and Dreamers Point are all scheduled to open in late 2023 at EPCOT.
Mirabel will have a meet and greet at Magic Kingdom beginning “this fall” in the Fairytale Garden. She will be replacing Merida, and the area will be redesigned to look like the Casita Madrigal.
Check out some Disney100 merchandise and our full list with locations of Disney100 pressed pennies at Walt Disney World.
The 100 Years of Wonder celebration is in full swing at Disneyland Resort, where guests can enjoy “Wondrous Journeys” at Disneyland and “World of Color – ONE” at Disney California Adventure. The platinum Mickey sculpture at EPCOT will presumably be the same as the one at Disneyland, which had to be fixed because the Walt Disney quote on the base was incorrect. Disneyland also has a platinum Minnie statue.
Disneyland Resort is now offering the “Celebrating Disney100 at the Disneyland Resort” guided tour, including a walk through both parks, the drawing experience at Animation Academy, a digital download of a photo taken in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, a Disney100 snack, reserved viewing for “Magic Happens” parade, and a limited-edition pin.
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