Like most events at Walt Disney World, the 50th anniversary went on a little longer than just a year and won’t be wrapping up for another few months, officially coming to an end on March 31, 2023. With the end of this celebration will come the removal of several limited-time offerings including shows, parade floats, characters and more which have all been a part of the celebration since it first rolled out last year on October 1, 2021.
Here’s everything that is expected to leave next spring as the 18-month 50th-anniversary celebration officially concludes, as well as a few offerings that, while not officially announced by Disney, we think might stick around for the foreseeable future.
1. Disney Enchantment (Magic Kingdom)
Though it was initially rolled out as part of Walt Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration when it debuted many assumed that this new nighttime spectacular at the Magic Kingdom would stay for several years following the celebration’s end. However, Disney surprised fans at this year’s D23 by announcing that this show would be officially drawing to a close with the end of the anniversary.
It was also announced that an “updated version of fan-favorite show, Happily Ever After would be returning in April following the 18-month run of Disney Enchantment. Not much is known about this new version of the Magic Kingdom show, but it seems likely that the show’s original theme song will be returning in this updated entertainment offering, perhaps alongside some new projections or fireworks segments.
2. Harmonious (EPCOT)
Harmonious at EPCOT was another nighttime spectacular that many people assumed would be sticking around past the 50th-anniversary celebration, especially because the show uses custom infrastructure that took several months to construct and install around the World Showcase Lagoon. However, Disney has officially announced that Harmonious will be replaced with another nighttime spectacular in 2023 that will help commemorate the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney animation.
Some have wondered if the interim EPCOT Forever nighttime spectacular, which was used in between IllumiNations and Harmonious as a temporary show could be deployed again between the end of Harmonious and the beginning of this new, upcoming show, but nothing has been announced just yet about that. Hopefully, we’ll learn more early next year about what Disney’s plans are for nighttime entertainment at this park.
3. 50th-anniversary Electric Water Pageant float (Seven Seas Lagoon)
The Electrical Water Pageant is the longest-running parade at Walt Disney World, running for over 50 years, almost as long as the Magic Kingdom itself has been open! And while we expect this entertainment offering to keep rolling on in the years to come, the special 50th Anniversary segment of the show, which features a special float with a light-up “50” and a voiceover that directly references the 50th anniversary, will be retired after the celebration ends in March and the show will revert to its pre-anniversary version.
4. EARidescent characters (Magic Kingdom)
One of the most festive parts of the 50th-anniversary celebration has been the “EARidescent 8” characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto, Goofy, Chip, and Dale. These characters all appear around the Magic Kingdom in special outfits during shows, character meet and greets, parades, and more that are reflective of the overall color scheme of the 50th anniversary. Once the celebration ends early next year, these characters will likely revert back to their normal in-park outfits.
5. Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade (Magic Kingdom)
And speaking of character entertainment, Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade, which is currently performed several times daily at the Magic Kingdom and includes appearances by the aforementioned “EARidescent 8” characters will be wrapping up its run at the end of the 50th anniversary celebration next spring. It is unknown if Disney will introduce a new cavalcade following the end of this entertainment offering at the Magic Kingdom or just add more chances to see the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade, which was introduced earlier this year at the park and is not specifically tied to the 50th anniversary.
6. Beacons of Magic shows (All Walt Disney World theme parks)
All four of Walt Disney World’s theme parks debuted short projection-based Beacons of Magic shows last year that directly reference each park’s place as part of the overall 50th-anniversary celebration. Because these are just very short projection shows and are all directly tied to the anniversary celebration, they will almost certainly come to an end next spring. It is unknown if anything will replace them.
In addition to the above, next spring will also see the removal of 50th Anniversary decor around the resort, which will include the Disney Skyliner, monorail, buses and the 50th-anniversary medallion and embellishments on Cinderella Castle. However, we are not expecting the color scheme to change following the end of the celebration.
Though there are plenty of things that will go away at the end of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary, one thing that could stay past March 31, 2023, is the 50 golden statues that debuted last year during the start of the celebration. Though these statues were introduced as part of the festivities (and have a 50 emblazoned on their bases), they have become very popular photo spots for guests during the celebration, and also interact with the MagicBand+ devices, which could make them one element from the 50th anniversary worth keeping around long-term.
In addition, it also seems safe to assume that new lighting effects on Spaceship Earth and the Monorail that were introduced as part of the 50th-anniversary celebration will also stay following the event’s conclusion, as these are not directly tied to the future, and the lighting on Spaceship Earth can be used throughout the year during different festivals (it glowed purple during the Food and Wine festival in 2022, for instance).
Though it may be sad to see all of these limited-time offerings go away following the conclusion of Walt Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration, it looks like the resort is gearing up for the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney Animation, which will bring a new show to EPCOT, and hopefully other celebratory entertainment offerings as well.
Which 50th Anniversary offerings do you hope remain beyond the celebrations ending on March 31, 2022? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
