Two New 50th Desserts Make Their Magic Kingdom Debut!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

On October 1, Walt Disney World kicked off its epic 18-month long 50th Anniversary celebration. The crowds descended upon the four theme parks to experience the new nighttime shows like Disney Enchantment, purchase specialty merchandise, and dine on dozens of brand-new, limited-time goodies. There were a number of beautiful and delicious treats like Pressed Penny Silk Pie, the Doom Burger, and the 50th Celebration Honey Chili-glazed Pork Belly.

Disney World 50 Food

In addition to the scrumptious — and sometimes EARidescent desserts — there were also some unique and straight-up odd dining options, like the 50th Celebration Hot Dog that is topped with jam, powdered sugar and funnel cake pieces. There is also the Squid’s Revenge drink that is basically a Mexican Bloody Mary but topped with an actual octopus tentacle.

Disney wants to keep the surprises coming and not put all of its cards on the table at once, so they did not release all the incredible treats that they were planning on day one. Both savory and sweet options will continue to be released as the celebration goes on, and Disney has now revealed two more treats that have made their Magic Kingdom debut, and boy do they look tasty!

At the Main Street Bakery — where Magic Kingdom visitors can get their Starbucks fix — Guests can purchase the Opening Day Celebration Cake. The cake is made of gluten-free chocolate cake, filled with chocolate mousse and a strawberry center. The Celebration Cake is topped with balloon sprinkles and a chocolate piece. There is even a beautiful Cinderella Castle design on the cake.

50th Opening Day Cake

In addition to the 50th Opening Day Celebration Cake, Disney has also released the Seven Dwarfs Specialty Cone, featuring the almost always scowling, Grumpy. The Seven Dwarfs Specialty Cone can be found at Storybook Treats and features a cranberry-vanilla swirl soft-serve ice cream cone. The specialty cone comes with a chocolate belt and an adorable white chocolate piece featuring Grumpy’s face.

Seven Dwarfs Specialty Cone

While the 50th Opening Day Celebration Cake has no end date, the Seven Dwarfs Specialty Cone will only be available until January 9, which is the end of the holiday season at Walt Disney World.

What did Cast Members find inside a time capsule buried last CENTURY at Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

As part of the 25th anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World back in October 1996, Cast Members at the resort created a time capsule and buried it at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

A plaque was created and placed over the location where the time capsule was buried. It reads:

“Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Re-dedicated at 25th anniversary

10/25/1996

To be opened at 50th anniversary

10/25/2021

‘Remember the Magic’”

Though the actual opening day of Magic Kingdom in 1971 was October 1, Disney executives delayed the opening ceremony until October 25, 1971, allowing for some leeway, should the Florida park have issues like Disneyland saw on its opening day. No need to televise a fiasco as was the case at Disneyland. That’s why the date on the plaque is October and not October 1.

Last month, there was buzz about the opening of a time capsule at the Contemporary Resort Hotel, but then the buzz faded. Now we know that the capsule was indeed opened–and by some Cast Members that were personally celebrating 50 years as employees of the Most Magical Place on Earth.

So what was found inside the time capsule? Well, there were several things in there, including a limited-edition 15th anniversary commemorative coin for Disney’s Contemporary Resort, name tags, and a Cast Member magazine featuring Cinderella Castle dressed as a birthday cake.

here was an identification card belonging to none other than Mickey Mouse himself.

Also inside the time capsule buried at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Hotel was a Walt Disney World “operating calendar,” which doesn’t look like much more than a shiny slip of paper with bright colors denoting the different parks at the Walt Disney World Resort at the time. Notice there’s no Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood was still called Disney-MGM Studios.

Now-extinct attractions mentioned on the operating calendar include SpectroMagic, “Remember the Magic,” and “Fantasy in the Sky” at Magic Kingdom, Ellen’s Energy Adventure at EPCOT, and the Toy Story Parade, and “Backstage Pass to 101 Dalmatians” at Disney-MGM Studios.

There were several other things “dating” the capsule to last century. Just take a look!

You can watch Cast Members open the time capsule here. How exciting!

Disney Water Parks, Sports Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

There’s EARidescent magic to be discovered in every corner of the Walt Disney World Resort during the 50th anniversary celebration. And today, our “Everything 50th” series continues with a look at exciting experiences – now and in the future – at Disney Water Parks, runDisney events and more!

Disney World News: 50th Anniversary Ad, More Mask Changes Coming, Added Hours - Disney Tourist Blog

Right now, dazzling 50th anniversary celebration decorations and magical touches can be seen throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. Disney teams have created decor that shimmers and sparkles all day and into the night.

There are also new, delicious 50th anniversary menu items at Walt Disney World Resort – many inspired by Walt’s favorite dishes. At Disney’s Water Parks, celebratory treats are available now and in the future at several locations:   

Avalunch at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park (Snack Shack at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park when reopened)

  • Loaded Nachos with Walt’s Chili – This classic treat is upgraded for the 50th anniversary celebration and features Walt’s favorite chili atop a bed of house fried tortillas, cheese guacamole, shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, sour cream and jalapeno. 

I.C. Expeditions at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park (Happy Landings at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park when reopened)

  • EARidescent Ice Dream Cone – Birthday cake-flavored soft serve ice cream cone served up with EARidescent accents to celebrate 50 years of Walt’s dreams that turned into reality. 

And at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Guests will find a new version of our collectible and refillable mugs featuring a giant 50 for the celebration!  The mug design includes creative art highlighting Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck with Goofy skiing hijinks in the background and can be found at different locations, including Beach Haus , Lotta Wotta Lodge and Cooling Hut. At Typhoon Lagoon, special 50th mugs will be available at Singapore Sal’s and High & Dry.   

From Disney’s Water Parks to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and across the Resort, our legendary Cast Members are the heart of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration and they’re eager to share a little bit of their world during this special time. 

Smiling Cast Members are easy to spot, wearing special nametags with the 50th anniversary castle logo above each cast member’s name, along with gold accents and a touch of pixie dust. 

The magic is also calling all runners to become part of something special at runDisney events during The World’s Most Magical Celebration.

For runDisney 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, Jan. 5-9, 2022, participants will run through the magic and stories of Walt Disney World Resort. And they’ll have the opportunity for amazing 50th anniversary celebration views during runs near our breathtaking Beacons of Magic! 

Mickey Mouse and other favorite characters will be wearing their shimmering EARidsecent best during the race weekend as well. Marathon Weekend will feature amazing entertainment and unique commemorative finisher medals glowing with EARidesence.  

Also, during the magic of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration, the 2022 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by CORKCICLE will have participants running into the magic on Feb. 24-27, 2022. This event will feature events for all skill levels, coveted regal medals inspired by the 50th anniversary celebration, special merchandise, celebratory treats and other surprises. 

Music from The World’s Most Magical Celebration Added to the Official Walt Disney World Playlist

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Music has been an integral part of the Walt Disney World experience for 50 years, and the music of Walt Disney World Resort is tied to so many of our memories of “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” Just a few notes from “Swisskapolka” by Buddy Baker and Bob Jackman, and we picture ourselves exploring the jungles of Adventureland. If we close our eyes and listen to Bob Moline’s “Canada (You’re a Lifetime Journey),” we can imagine a detachment of Mounties surrounding us in CircleVision 360 at EPCOT. And from the very first note of John Williams’ score for “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular,” we are right there with Indy as he navigates treacherous ruins in search of treasure (we can’t wait for that show to come back next month)! These classics and more can be found on the official Walt Disney World playlist, now available on Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music, and Deezer.

With the start of The World’s Most Magical Celebration, the playlist has been updated with the addition of some of the new music recently introduced to the parks, including Academy Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino’s soundtrack from Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and the 50th anniversary celebration anthem, “The Magic Is Calling.”

“The Magic Is Calling” was written just for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort by platinum-selling songwriter and music producer Alana Da Fonseca and Nashville-based songwriter and producer Bobby Studley, collaborating with award-winning composer Emily Bear and singing phenom Journi. It’s got a great hook Guests won’t be able to get out of their heads and listening to it just makes us want to get back out to the parks!

Another new addition to the playlist is “You Are the Magic,” the original song written by eight-time GRAMMY Award winner (and former Walt Disney World Cast Member) Philip Lawrence. Philip composed the song and performed it with actor and singer Kayla Alvarez for the new fireworks spectacular at Magic Kingdom Park, “Disney Enchantment.”

Perhaps best of all, Guests can now stream the entire soundtrack to “Harmonious,” the stunning new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT, beautifully crafted by arranger Mark Hammond and Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Music Producer and Creative Director Yaron Spiwak. We get goosebumps when we hear the vocals of “Opening Chants,” envisioning the sunrise that emerges from World Showcase Lagoon to start the show, rolling right into the multiple languages of “Awakening,” as the pavilions of World Showcase illuminate and we begin our musical journey around the world. Throughout, a global ensemble of vocalists and musicians presents a concert of familiar Disney songs, each reinterpreted through the lens of the culture or country that originally inspired the Disney stories from which they came. The digital album even includes extended versions of some of the songs heard in the show. It’s a musical tour de force that immediately takes us back to our first time experiencing “Harmonious” in person and inspires us to see it again and again.

Anytime Guests want to revisit magical Disney theme park memories like these, they can just tap to listen on their favorite music streaming platform! It’s the perfect way to get themselves psyched for their next trip to Walt Disney World Resort. The World’s Most Magical Celebration started October 1 and is going on for 18 months. With so much to experience, Guests have to get here themselves! Guests should be sure to follow #DisneyWorld50 and visit the special Everything Walt Disney World 50th page for the latest stories and information.

Trip to Disney World for 50th anniversary celebration ends in tragedy

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via DisDining.com

Though he wasn’t a huge Disney World fan according to his wife, Clemmons, North Carolina resident Brian Long loved his family, and he knew his daughters loved going to the parks, so he was happy to take them to visit.

Brian and his wife Heather had planned a trip to the parks just after the beginning of the 50th anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World with their three daughters, Natalie, Nicole, and Charlee. The three girls had been to the parks with their parents before and had magical memories of cheerleading competitions at the Most Magical Place on Earth, but their trip that began in mid-October threatens to overshadow those happy memories.

The family was excited to be bringing along Brooke Naghdi, whom Brian and Heather considered their adopted daughter, for the first time. The family set out from their home in North Carolina in the late evening hours of October 14 in an attempt to avoid the traffic they anticipated along Interstate 95 as they traveled to Florida.

Around 4:00 a.m., as Brian was driving along a stretch of the Interstate in Georgia, and Brooke was taking her turn in the passenger seat of the vehicle, Brian’s wife Heather says she awoke to the sounds of Brooke yelling for help. Brian was experiencing a grand mal seizure, and the vehicle was hurtling down the road at between 90 and 120 miles per hour because his foot was engaged with the gas pedal and wouldn’t release.

“[Brooke] was trying to get to the brakes,” Heather said. “I threw off my seatbelt and was reaching over Brian to get the steering wheel. I was trying to keep us on the road and not hit anyone else. He jerked one good time and put his foot on the gas pedal and smashed it to the floor while having the seizure. That’s when I knew we were not going to be able to avoid an accident. I thought we were all going to die.”

The SUV in which they were riding went airborne before flipping three times. Heather was ejected from the vehicle as she had removed her seat belt to reach over Brian and get control of the steering wheel.

Sadly, 41-year-old Brian was pronounced deceased at the scene because of the seizure. Heather and Brooke were critically injured because they were tossed about inside the vehicle as it flipped.

At the trauma center in Georgia where Heather was taken, she had to undergo surgery for her broken arm and for broken bones in her face. She also suffered lung damage and broken ribs. It made every breath painful. In the future, she will need additional procedures because of her injuries. Brooke suffered a broken back and will be in a brace for the next three months. She will also have to have future procedures to correct issues caused by her injuries.

Friends have set up a GoFund Me page in honor of the family to help with expenses and to help replace part of the income that has been lost from Brian’s job and since Heather is unable to work right now at the family’s cell phone repair store. Heather was just recently released from Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia, and was happy to return home to her kids, but heartbroken over the loss of her husband, whom she’d known since both of them were toddlers.

Services for Brian will be held this weekend. We wish Brian’s family peace in the coming days and months, and we hope their recoveries are speedy and successful as well.