S3, Ep2 - Celebrating 50 years of Walt Disney World

Written By Sean Macready

Shout outs

  • Jenn Davey is celebrating her 23rd wedding anniversary!

  • 02joyjoy survived teaching the first quarter of the school year. 14 years strong!

  • Dan Swanson - our friend from WDW isn’t celebrating but is glad we’re back on the air. Fun story about Dan…

  • Karen and Patrick!

  • Birthdays

    • Zachary Levi

    • Julie Andrews

    • Susan Sarandon

    • Indiana

    • Denny Dilay

    • Austen Sharkey

  • Topic 1 - This Week in Disney Parks history

    • 1955:

      • In Anaheim, California, the Disneyland Hotel opens

    • 1966:

      • In New York, Walt Disney accepts the Showman of the World Award from the National Association of Theater Owners.

    • 1971:

      • Almost 10,000 visitors converge near Orlando, Florida, to witness the grand opening of Walt Disney World, which includes the Magic Kingdom (Disney's second theme park) and two resorts.

    • 1975:

      • Imagineer Yale Gracey - who devised many of the illusions for the Haunted Mansion - retires after 36 years at Disney. He will continue to consult on special effects and lighting for attractions at Walt Disney World and EPCOT Center in Florida & later be named a Disney Legend.

    • 1979:

      • Ground is broken for EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. The ceremony, more of a "land-filling" than a "ground breaking," features a 40-ton Terex truck, which rolls onto the site to deliver the very first batch of soil. In attendance is Disney CEO Card Walker, executive vice president of WDW Dick Nunis, and every governor who had a hand in the development of Walt Disney World.

    • 1982:

      • EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World has its grand opening with more than 100 television crews from all over the world covering the event. Bands and orchestras play to the huge crowds and Walt Disney's wife Lillian helps in the dedication of Spaceship Earth. (The park itself will be dedicated on October 24.) EPCOT is an acronym coined by Walt Disney in 1966 meaning Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It is Disney's third theme park.

    • 1994:

      • Innoventions grand opening takes place at EPCOT. The Future World pavilion divided into Innoventions West and Innoventions East, focuses on technological advancements and their practical applications in everyday life. Innoventions is a portmanteau of the words "innovation" and "invention"

    • 2005:

      • Ten of the original Mouseketeers gather in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland to sing, dance, and share memories. They are joined by 1,000 honorary Mouseketeers, who help them unveil the world's largest pair of Mouseketeer ears on the anniversary of the Mickey Mouse Club.

    • 2009:

      • The Walt Disney Family Museum opens in San Francisco, California. The interactive museum, in San Francisco’s Presidio (a former U.S. military facility that is now part of the Golden State National Recreation Area) focuses on the life and times of Walt Disney.

    • 2019

      • The Main Street Electrical Parade, a nighttime parade, gives its final performance at Disneyland after a limited engagement.

  • Topic 2 - News 

    • Disney

    • WDW

      • It was revealed that the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular will indeed return to Walt Disney World early next year, and rehearsals are set to begin in mid-October.

      • “Future World” is no more, as the new “Neighborhoods” will replace Future World starting October 1st.

      • Canada Far & Wide will resume playing at EPCOT on November 21st, following the conclusion of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

      • Pavement work is moving much closer to the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind site.

      • Disney took the opportunity today to reiterate that a “festival area” will come to EPCOT in the future, not a festival “pavilion” as previously announced.

      • A new image of Harmonious was released today, ahead of the show’s live stream debut.

      • The Main Street Confectionery hosted by Mars Wrigley is reopening on Sept. 29 at Magic Kingdom Park, just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort! With new interactive opportunities to customize your confections and a fresh new look throughout, the Main Street Confectionery is your go-to spot for delicious treats. It’s also where you can see confectionery magic being made by hand. One of the first new things you’ll see is the colorful candy wall, which includes 38 varieties of M&M’S and SKITTLES! If you’re in the mood for something savory and sweet, you can now personalize your popcorn experience with multiple combinations. Select from four popcorn flavors – caramel, rainbow fruit, buttery, cheddar – and then top it all off with a selection of M&M’S or SKITTLES candies or perhaps even with some chocolate drizzle for an extra sweet treat!

There are more than 30 new items you won’t find anywhere else!

Some of my favorites are the new fudge varieties, like the Peanut Butter Fudge – featuring creamy peanut butter fudge topped with M&M’S Peanut Butter Candies and drizzled with chocolate. 

  • Muppets Haunted Mansion

    • Available now at PizzeRizzo at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll want to try one of four different and delicious eclairs, some of which were inspired by the Muppets stretching portraits featured in “Muppets Haunted Mansion.”

  • Disneyland

    • Currently at the Magic Key Holder event at Disneyland park, Key Holders can find some fun photo opportunities. Starting Oct. 1, there will be additional photo opportunities near the Esplanade. Check out the uniquely themed Honda Ridgeline that is wrapped to resemble the wallpaper designs that were created especially for “Muppets Haunted Mansion.” Honda is the official vehicle of the Disneyland Resort.

Also beginning Oct. 8, you can visit an exhibit with exclusive content from “Muppets Haunted Mansion” inside the Main Street Opera House, near the pre-show area for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

  • Plan your escape now for a Halloween getaway to the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort! Spook-tacular displays, tasty treats and new hotel offers will entice you to stay for a spell!

  • Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel invite you to stay in the magic, just steps from the Downtown Disney District, Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park! The resort is brimming with Halloween festivities you won’t want to miss!

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will return from refurbishment on November 5th.

  • Paradise Bay has been drained at Disney California Adventure as refurbishment work continues on World of Color.


  • Oooh! Oogie Boogie: Oogie Boogie is quite the sight in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. His cauldron is over 4-feet tall! The pastry shop shared what goes into creating this confectionary masterpiece:

    • 260 pounds of powdered sugar

    • 380 eggs

    • 220 pounds of rice cereal

    • 95 pounds of marshmallow

    • 80 pounds of butter

    • 120 pounds of dark chocolate

    • 80 pounds of white chocolate

    • 480 pounds of fondant

    • 370 hours of planning and hands-on work

    • 13 hidden Mickeys!

  • Trick-or-Treating for Hotel Guests: On Oct. 31, 2021, overnight guests of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort are invited to enjoy exclusive, complimentary trick-or-treating. Each hotel will have a treat map of locations, so little ghosts and goblins (and their parents) can visit all three hotels. Hotel guests are encouraged to sign up at the Front Desk upon check-in.

  • Día de los Muertos at Disneyland Resort: Celebrating the Everlasting Bonds of Family

    • From now through Nov. 2, there are numerous ways to enjoy the cultural experience of Día de los Muertos at the Disneyland Resort. Both theme parks honor this festive Mexican tradition that celebrates the everlasting bonds of family and our loved ones who have been – and will forever be – part of our lives.

    • In Disney California Adventure park, Plaza de la Familia is an immersive homage to the celebration. Here you will enjoy live entertainment with storytelling, folklórico dancers, Mariachi musicians, and delicious Mexican fare. The experience begins as you walk through the marigold arch which draws its inspiration from the bridge that connects the Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead in Disney and Pixar’s “Coco.”

    • Not to be missed is “A Musical Celebration of Coco” presented several times a day. This spirited show brings to life the story, songs and themes that are at the heart of the beloved film. Led by the charming singer/storyteller Mateo, his troupe of singers, dancers and musicians recount the adventures of young Miguel on his journey to the fantastical Land of the Dead.

    • Paradise Garden Grill serves up flavors of authentic Mexican cuisine, including favorites like the Traditional Tamale Plate and Tortitas de Papa. While enjoying your meal, enjoy the musical accompaniments of Mariachi Espectacular and Mariachi Divas at Paradise Garden’s colorful bandstand.

    • Also in Plaza de la Familia, you’ll see the colorful “Arbol de la Vida” or Tree of Life, a Mexican icon which is a perfect backdrop for your photos. The Tree of Life is decorated with images, colors and symbols. Its branches hold flowers, animals and evocative “calacas” or skeletons – all connected to each other through the theme of family.

    • Make a stop at the Memory Wall to leave a written remembrance of your loved ones. Nearby, another photo moment awaits, when you pose with Miguel, who appears in the form of a hand-carved dimensional figure inspired by Mexican folk art. Miguel and his performer appear before a beautiful artistic mural entitled, “Recuérdame” (“Remember Me”). 

    • You can also design your own paper “alebrije” (spirit guide) mask of Pepita or Dante as part of a craft activity. Alebrijes are small figurines of fantastical creatures, which feature a whimsical mix of the physical elements of many different animals.

  • The new Tenaya Stone Spa is now open at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at Disneyland Resort!

This all-new, one-of-a-kind retreat was designed by Disney Imagineers who gathered inspiration from the spirit of nature, indigenous cultures of California and the iconic Craftsman design of the hotel. This full-service spa is a rejuvenating haven, where you can enjoy a spa day your way and choose from an array of luxuriating body treatments, massage and salon services, all performed in this serene setting. 

Choose from a wonderful selection of treatments including the Tenaya River Stone Massage, Head, Hands & Feet With Heart Massage, Wild Honey and Mud Body Renewal, Step in Time Foot Massage or Avocado Lime & Honey Foot Treatment to name a few!


The spa is located near GCH Craftsman Bar & Grill where spa guests may enjoy a bite to eat before or after their spa treatment, just steps from the hotel’s entrance to Disney California Adventure park.

Tenaya Stone Spa features eight treatment rooms, two for couples massage, four manicure/pedicure chairs, a relaxation lounge, men’s and women’s changing rooms, and a retail boutique.


Appointments are now available for guests of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. The spa will open to the public at a later date.

  • According to disneylandmagickey on Instagram, Magic Key holders will have the opportunity to take part in a special dining event at Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square called ‘New Orleans Holiday Party’ where they will be able to take part in a cajun-style culinary boil celebrating family and friends. Info for availability and reservations will be announced soon.

  • Topic 3 - Merch

    • Main Street Cinema closed at MK to prepare to be the new home for the 50th Anniversary Vault Collection

      • Senior Merchandise Brand Manager Hardlines Kevin-Michael Lezotte revealed in an interview with Disney Parks Blog some of the influences behind the Vault Collection stating, “The Vault Collection is made up of two main categories:

  • “Replica” – Looking to the 1970s for those key souvenirs we lovingly re-created for this celebration.

  • “Inspired By” – Taking cues from the retro art and styles over the decades, we’ve created a collection of modern and relevant items appealing to our guests today.”

  • A group of Cast Members actually went to the Disney Archives to take photos for inspiration for the Vault Collection.

  • Topic 4 - Hidden Mickey

  • Topic 5 - Food

    • 150+ new food, drink and novelty items are coming to the WDW Resort for the 50th Anniversary including:

      • Cheese Fries with Walt’s Chili at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,

      • Glimmer and Shimmer Pineapple Mousse at Disney’s Hollywood Studios,

      • A Mission to Mars burger at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Magic Kingdom,

      • An EARidescent Croissant Doughnut at EPCOT,

      • An EARidescent Ice Dream Cone at Disney’s Blizzard Beach,

      • A Chicken Dinner Cupcake Trio at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and

      • A Magical Beacon Cocktail, which will be available at several spots throughout Disney World such as many table service restaurants, lounges, and pool bars.

    • New menu items for Main Street Confectionery at Magic Kingdom, 4 limited-time treats.

  • Topic 6 - Events/Entertainment

    • Disney Plus

      • Behind the attraction

      • What if

      • visions

      • “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” will debut exclusively on Disney+ starting Oct. 8

        • “Muppets Haunted Mansion” takes place on Halloween night, when Gonzo is challenged to spend one very daring night in the most grim grinning place on Earth … the Haunted Mansion. This marks the Muppets’ first-ever Halloween special and features three new original songs, “Rest In Peace,” “Life Hereafter” and “Tie The Knot Tango,” a star-studded Muppets cast, celebrity guest stars and special appearances, and frightful fun for the entire family.

    • Harmonious - Wednesday 9/29 9e/6p

    • Enchantment fireworks - Thursday 9/30 1015e/715p

  • MAIN - Celebrating 50 years of Walt Disney World

    • WDW history

      • Walt’s Vision

        • In the mid-1960's, Walt Disney wanted to build another park in Florida, based on the concept started in Disneyland. In 1971, the concept became a reality when Walt Disney World opened in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Unfortunately, Walt Disney passed away in 1966, and never had the chance to see his vision for the park come to fruition.

        • The original ideas was to create a new park similar to Disneyland, but with other aspects such as lodging areas and other novel ideas. One of the most creative and innovative ideas that Disney had was the creation of the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. This area, known as EPCOT was to be an area that served as a testing ground for ideas which could be used in cities in the future. These ideas for EPCOT sprang from concepts of the future that were seen in the World's Fair.

        • Over the course of time, Disney World has become one of the most popular destinations for tourists in the world. In fact the Magic Kingdom which is at the heart of Disney World is the most popular theme park in the world with nearly 17 million visitors going through the park on an annual basis. In addition, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and the Hollywood Studios attractions are also ranked in the top ten for visitors. Through the course of time, Disney World has increased in size and attractions to become a place that has something for everyone.

      • Fun Facts

        • Walt Disney World Resort encompasses 30,500 acres, making it approximately the same size as San Francisco.

        • The opening day crowd at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park was approximately 10,000 guests.

        • The eight “E-ticket” attractions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park were Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents, Jungle Cruise, It’s a Small World and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea.

        • When the Magic Kingdom initially opened, adult admission tickets cost only $3.50 and child tickets were just $1. This price did not include the rides, which ranged from .10 to .90 each. You could opt for a package ticket that got you access to seven rides for $4.75.

        • If you’re taking a stroll down the paths through Liberty Square, you might notice a yellowish-brown section running through the red pathway. Disney, in its infinite attention to detail, included this to represent the sewage that would have run through the streets during the Revolutionary period. You wouldn’t find any indoor plumbing during that historical time, so there are also no bathrooms in Liberty Square.

        • Lightning rods are scattered throughout each park at Disney World. Take a look around, and you can likely spot one. The most prominent one is the Crossroads replica at the entrance to Hollywood Studios. Mickey’s right ear is made from copper and doubles as a lightning rod.

      • WDW Today

        • Magic Kingdom

        • Animal Kingdom

        • EPCOT

        • Hollywood Studios


Quote of the Week

“Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed

at Disneyland ... the blessing of size. There's enough land here

to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine.“ - Walt Disney

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Sean Macready
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S3, Ep 3 - More Walt Disney World Stories
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S3, Ep1 - Welcome Back to the Magic