Disney’s a hundredth Anniversary formally begins in September 2023 at Walt Disney World, and EPCOT would be the heart of the celebration in Florida. The corporate has now shared new particulars & dates for the 100 Years of Marvel Celebration, and this covers these–plus commentary about what WDW has not introduced for Disney100.
In case you’ve missed it, we now have a Information to the Disney100 Anniversary Celebration at Walt Disney World that covers the whole lot beforehand introduced and anticipated. That features new Beacons of Magic on Spaceship Earth, the brand new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT, character costumes, CommuniCore Corridor, merchandise, and extra.
Walt Disney World has now shared that the Disney100 celebration will “ramp up” starting in late September 2023. Based on the corporate, they’ve already been “celebrating the followers and storytellers who’ve sparked the enjoyment that’s Disney during the last century” with particular surprises, whereas serving to followers and households relive beloved Disney recollections and expertise new, heartwarming tales.
EPCOT would be the heart of the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World, marking not solely a century of magic and innovation, but additionally ushering sooner or later because the multi-year transformation of the park wraps up. Right here’s what’s in retailer for the limited-time celebration at EPCOT, which is able to begin on September 22, 2023!
Disney100 backdrops are already out in any respect 4 theme parks and Disney Springs. Starting on September 22, you’ll additionally be capable to snap a selfie with a brand new platinum Mickey Mouse sculpture in World Celebration with Spaceship Earth within the background. (They bought the quote proper on this model. Nice work, workforce!)
As well as, you’ll be capable to take a look at the all-new mural on the coronary heart of World Celebration to see how lots of the 100 Disney characters you could find within the scene. This mural positioned alongside the walkway to World Showcase will characteristic fan-favorite characters hidden all through the assorted neighborhoods of EPCOT. The remainder of World Celebration may also be decked out in Disney100 platinum banners and décor.
Mark your calendars since you’ll be capable to meet, hug, high-five, and snap a photograph with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse of their platinum finest within the Creativeness pavilion.
They gained’t be the one ones glowing in honor of the celebration. Spaceship Earth will mild up every evening with particular colours and lights accompanied by the Disney100 anthem, a novel rendition of “When You Want Upon a Star.”
Sip and savor the tastes of the Disney100 celebration with limited-time meals & beverage places throughout each the EPCOT Worldwide Meals & Wine Competition and the EPCOT Worldwide Competition of the Holidays.
That’s not the one unique meals and beverage you’ll be capable to take pleasure in in the course of the Disney100 celebration at EPCOT. Amongst different issues, there will likely be a purple metallic Mickey Balloon Premium Popcorn Bucket accessible solely at EPCOT throughout Disney100.
Lastly, Walt Disney World has shared that the Disney100 celebration will occur at Walt Disney World from September 22 to December 31, 2023.
That’s it. That’s the entire particulars shared right now. Frankly, you could be questioning why this warranted a weblog put up quite than simply an replace to our present information. We do owe you an evidence, so let’s flip to the commentary for that…
In our full information to Disney100, we predicted that the 100 Years of Marvel Celebration could be comparatively short-lived at Walt Disney World. Our fundamental causes for this prediction had been a mixture of ‘anniversary fatigue’ and that Disney100 looks as if an afterthought at EPCOT. Type of like a solution to put a bow on the overhaul and filling within the Large Grime Pit, however that’s actually about it.
That information was printed a couple of months in the past, and we’ve additionally since observed simply how a lot curiosity in Disney100 at Disneyland has completely fallen off a cliff. Even on the house park of the occasion, followers are prepared to maneuver on–and have been for some time.
Regardless of that, I by no means would’ve guessed that Disney100 would solely be a ~3 month celebration at Walt Disney World. (Possibly it nonetheless gained’t…I suppose they may prolong “by common demand” into early subsequent 12 months? I’m guessing that won’t occur right here, although.)
That basically underscores simply how a lot of an afterthought Disney100 is at Walt Disney World, and it in all probability additionally speaks to disinterest at Disneyland within the occasion. If it had been vastly common in California, it wouldn’t be 3 months lengthy in Florida. For many who are upset about “lacking” Disney100 at Walt Disney World, let me guarantee you that you’re not lacking something.
Truthfully, I’m happy to listen to that Disney100 will likely be put out of its distress after solely 3 months. Higher than having a substantively-hollow anniversary occasion that drags on for 18 months, with banners serving as a bitter reminder of what we didn’t get and what might’ve been. (Not that that simply occurred or something!)
The Disney100 merchandise has already rolled out, so folks might fill up on purple and platinum stuff (and can possible be capable to proceed that effectively into 2024). That’s in all probability the ‘spotlight’ for lots of Walt Disney World followers who’re enthusiastic about this. In any other case, 3 months is about the fitting length for the Disney100 occasion. There’s no there there to justify something longer.
Extra importantly, this enables Disney to shut one chapter on the finish of 2023–wrapping up Disney100 and the EPCOT overhaul–earlier than beginning one other in 2024. With “revenge journey” completed and a slowdown on each coasts, my hope and expectation is that Walt Disney World and Disneyland get precise, substantive particular occasions beginning in spring or early summer season of subsequent 12 months. To ensure that that to occur, there must first be a short pause and reset. Turning Disney100 right into a stop-gap occasion and ending it comparatively early permits for that.
It’s untimely to make predictions in regards to the potential particular occasion that Walt Disney World and Disneyland debut in 2024, however my guess is that they pull a web page from the Summer season Nightastic playbook. I’ve been bringing that Nice Recession occasion up an increasing number of lately, which is as a result of I believe the present circumstances are beginning to mirror these. (Albeit to a far lesser diploma–attendance remains to be method up as in comparison with then, and can stay so barring an absolute catastrophe.)
Proper now could be the primary time shortly that neither coast has any main new additions beneath development. Sure, there’s Tiana’s Bayou Journey, and we stay optimistic that experience reimagining will likely be incredible. Nonetheless, that isn’t coming till late 2024 (hopefully!) on the earliest, and it’s unclear whether or not it’ll transfer the needle on trip bookings to the identical diploma as an all-new attraction.
Even so, there’s a complete spring and summer season season earlier than it debuts, to not point out no less than 2 years after it opens with no main marketable new points of interest. Given Disney development speeds, there’s a complete lotta nothing outdoors of Tiana’s Bayou Journey between now and 2026 (the earliest a brand new land or attraction might conceivably open if introduced right now).
The answer will possible be leisure. After years of rumors and wishful pondering, maybe 2024 will lastly be the 12 months {that a} evening parade returns to Walt Disney World. I’d be inclined to guess on no less than one coast getting an evening parade–each Paint the Night time and Predominant Avenue Electrical Parade are sitting in storage in California.
As well as or different to that, different spectaculars are potential. That is put up is about Disney100 at EPCOT, however Disneyland nonetheless hasn’t stated something in regards to the return of Fantasmic and whether or not it’ll truly occur by this Labor Day. My guess is that it both is not going to or, if it does, will likely be an interim manufacturing, with a totally reimagined Fantasmic in 2024.
At Walt Disney World, it’s conceivable that as-yet unannounced leisure involves Disney’s Hollywood Studios and/or Magic Kingdom. That would imply a parade, parades (plural), or a parade and a projections/fireworks present.
Then there’s the brand new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT. That was a conspicuous omission from right now’s press launch about Disney100. It wasn’t even teased or hinted at. That would’ve been purely coincidental, however my guess is that’s not coming by late 2024, as beforehand introduced.
We at the moment know nearly zero particulars about EPCOT’s new nighttime spectacular, not even its identify! The above piece of idea artwork is de facto the one factor of substance we now have for it. For reference, the unique announcement for Harmonious (then unnamed) got here at D23’s Vacation spot D in November 2018. The primary idea artwork and present identify had been revealed at D23 Expo in August 2019, with the nighttime spectacular slated to debut in 2020 at the moment. (Harmonious ended up opening in October 2021, partially as a consequence of COVID and partially as a consequence of it being strategically advantageous to carry it again.)
Walt Disney World usually opts for a slow-trickle strategy, and by now, they’d’ve sometimes shared the identify–a number of months in the past–adopted by behind the scenes recording session movies and varied items of idea artwork. I suppose it’s potential they’re choosing a special strategy after hyping up Harmonious and Enchantment solely to have them fall on their faces, however I doubt it.
This announcement additionally doesn’t say something about Moana’s Journey of Water or CommuniCore Corridor & Plaza. We all know that Moana’s Journey of Water is finished and able to open, however is presumably ready for the remainder of the Large EPCOT Grime Pit to be stuffed in. Regardless, Forged Member previews for that can begin subsequent week and run by late August.
After that, it appears secure to imagine there will likely be Annual Cross and Disney Trip Membership previews all through September. That might set the stage completely for an official opening date of October 1, 2023. After right now’s information, it wouldn’t shock me if that strikes ahead to September 22 to coincide with the beginning of Disney100. (In that case, it’s a wise transfer–get locals out to EPCOT no less than twice earlier than the always-popular October 1 merchandise day!)
Moana’s Journey of Water is “large” sufficient that it’ll get a standalone announcement for its opening date, so it not being talked about right now is hardly a pink flag. In contrast to the upcoming EPCOT nighttime spectacular, Walt Disney World has provided a gradual trickle of updates on this walkthrough path already. It additionally was not beforehand “hooked up” to the Disney100 celebration at EPCOT, whereas the nighttime spectacular was previous to the radio silence about it.
Then there’s CommuniCore Corridor & Plaza. Nothing was talked about about this within the Disney100 press launch, however there’s some oblique information. Minnie & Mickey Mouse are coming to the Creativeness pavilion of their Disney100 outfits in September 2023, which is notable since CommuniCore Corridor has a “Mickey & Buddies” meet & greet area.
Progress has been shifting quick on CommuniCore Corridor within the final a number of months, however this announcement would strongly recommend that Walt Disney World shouldn’t be assured that area is not going to be completed by fall. If CommuniCore Corridor had been able to open on October 1, why debut the meet & greet every week earlier within the Creativeness pavilion? They wouldn’t.
In the end, my guess is that Disney100 serves as a time of transition for EPCOT, with the entrance of the park overhaul wrapping up over the course of the celebration, however now not in time for the beginning of it. However, the 3-month stop-gap will likely be used as a solution to rejoice the new-look entrance of EPCOT whereas additionally shifting on from it.
Frankly, I believe that is the fitting strategy. It’s not like what’s behind these development partitions is something particular that can generate a lot honest pleasure or enthusiasm from most Walt Disney World followers. Exterior of the diehards who get enthusiastic about the whole lot, I believe most traditional folks will really feel a way of reduction that the partitions are lastly down. Not precisely the best response after 4 years of development, however they’ve managed to exhaust us with this one.
However, ending the EPCOT overhaul and concluding Disney100 rapidly additionally permits the opening of a brand new chapter in 2024. Saving the brand new EPCOT nighttime spectacular for that’s additionally the sensible transfer (no matter whether or not it’s on objective or as a result of it’s delayed). Personally, my hope is that 2024 kicks off part 2 of the EPCOT overhaul, with the overdue Spaceship Earth reimagining getting underway after the Disney100 celebration ends. I’d additionally like to lastly have the also-overdue Journey into Creativeness overhaul begin, one other new nation in World Showcase and/or one other new attraction in one of many present pavilions. Maybe all will likely be revealed at Vacation spot D23 in September!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about inns on our Walt Disney World Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it’s essential to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you trying ahead to the 100 Years of Marvel Celebration at Walt Disney World? What excites you probably the most? Stunned that this may solely be a 3-month celebration, or do you agree with our evaluation that that is principally only a stop-gap celebration? Trying ahead to the brand new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT? What in regards to the Large Grime Pit being stuffed in and CommuniCore Corridor & Plaza debuting? Planning a visit particularly for the brand new leisure or Disney100 choices? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!