Showtimes for Animal Kingdom’s new ‘KiteTails’ show have been announced

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

The entire resort is gearing up for the 50th-anniversary celebration of the opening of Disney World, and all four theme parks are preparing to debut new shows and experiences, beginning October 1–the first day of the anniversary celebration!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the youngest of the four theme parks, just announced this week that it’s revamping the uber-popular Finding Nemo: The Musical. The new show will debut sometime next year.

Animal Kingdom is also ramping up to bring Guests the recently announced “KiteTails” show.

There are new announcements coming out every single day! Today is no different. Disney has released the daily showtimes for Animal Kingdom’s all-new “KiteTails” experience

Disney says “KiteTails” will be awesome:

“Hearts and imaginations will soar as incredible kites and windcatchers dance through the air to the beat of beloved Disney songs during this high-flying performance at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Be awed by elaborate, three-dimensional kites of Simba, Zazu, King Louie, Baloo and more as they take flight above the Discovery River Amphitheater—beginning October 1, 2021, during the 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort.”

“KiteTails” will have multiple performances throughout the day. The showtimes begin at 11:15 a.m., and the last performance is at 5:15 p.m.

You can see this fascinating display of colors and characters at 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., so you can fit it into your Animal Kingdom day’s schedule whenever you like. The show takes place at the Discovery River Theatre near Dinoland, U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

See characters from many of your most favorite Disney and PIXAR films take flight in this display of beautifully designed props and inflatable kites, some of which are 30 feet long!

ABC Shares a Sneak Peek at “The Most Magical Story on Earth” Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Special

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

ABC is spreading some pixie dust “The Most Magical Story on Earth,” in celebration of Walt Disney World‘s 50th anniversary, and they just shared a teaser video of the upcoming special on Instagram!

Most Magical Celebration on Earth

The special is set to celebrate the legacy of the past 50 years of the Walt Disney World Resort. Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, the special will include a variety of celebrity guests including Julie Andrews, Tom Brady, Candace Cameron Bure, John Stamos, Melissa Joan Hart, George Lucas, with musical performances by Christina Aguilera and Halle Bailey.

Footage that has not previously been aired on TV on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort will also be shown, on top of new behind the scenes looks at what is coming soon to the parks and resorts.

Check out the teaser video:

The ABC “Most Magical Story on Earth” special is just one of the ways the Walt Disney World Resort is sharing some of the magic of the resort’s 50th anniversary for Guests at home. McDonalds has also joined the company in a promotion for Fab 50 Happy Meal toys, featuring figurines of 50 iconic Disney characters just for the occasion.

In the parks, October 1, 2021 marks the debut of Harmonious, the new nighttime fireworks spectacular in EPCOT, and Disney Enchantment, the Magic Kingdom’s new fireworks show which is set to include projecting mapping effects along Main Street U.S.A.

Also in EPCOT, the park is undergoing an extensive reimagining, and as part of that initiative Guests can visit the recently opened Creations Shop (which replaced Mouse Gear as the park’s flagship merchandise location), and Club Cool, which just reopened as the park’s staple Coke sampling station.

Disney Fab 50 character statues are coming to every Walt Disney World theme park for the 50th anniversary, and the celebration statues of Mickey and Minnie in the Magic Kingdom were recently dedicated to all of the Cast Members who work hard to create happiness all over the resort.

The ABC 50th anniversary Disney special is just the most recent update on the celebration, with more announcements are sure to come, so we’ll fill you in on more festivities soon. In the meantime, we can’t wait for the “Most Magical Story on Earth” special!

Disney World Adds Extra Perks For Visitors During Its 50th Anniversary

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

Walt Disney World already has a lot of bonuses in place for any Disney Guests who visit on or after October 1st of this year, since it marks their 50th anniversary, but now they’ve added additional sweeteners for anyone who stays at the Disney Resorts Collection hotels!

Anyone who is staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel during the “World’s Most Magical Celebration” can officially enter the Disney World theme parks earlier than everyone else. Furthermore, Disney visitors who are residing in the Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotels can take advantage of extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks.

Pluto and Goofy at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

There will also be special appearances by Disney “friends” (i.e. Disney characters), who will be wearing new EARidescent garb. Cast Members will also be wearing special-edition nametags. While you’re on your way to the parks, you can also see special 50th-anniversary decor on the Disney monorail, select Disney Skyliner cabins, and select Disney Transportation buses!

If you haven’t picked which Disney hotel to hang your hat in, you may want to give Disney’s Contemporary Resort a try! This Resort has just had a makeover, making it a mix of retro and modern, and characters from the Pixar Incredibles movies are being featured in lots of its decor.

Walt Disney World is also encouraging Guests to book rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, because the resort has new rooms that are based on the Disney film (and Polynesian heroine) “Moana.” The resort has a new entrance with lots of Polynesian detailing, which was only just finished as another part of Disney World’s current refurbishments!

Once you’ve picked a resort to stay in, be sure to try the limited-edition Joffrey’s Coffee blend that’s been formulated just for Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration. With two new restaurants opening as well (one French and one futuristic), you won’t go hungry!

50 Teachers Will Win A Walt Disney World Vacation for the 50th!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Are you a teacher? Disney is looking for you! We are less than 20 days away from Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration kick-off beginning October 1, 2021. Disney knows how to throw a party, so of course, the 50th Anniversary celebration will be lasting a full 18-months! Now is the perfect time to visit Disney, and they are rolling out the red carpet for some of our favorite people in the universe… TEACHERS!

If you’re a teacher and inspire imagination in your classroom, you could be one of 50 teachers to attend the Disney Imagination Campus 50 Teachers Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort during “The World’s Most Magical Celebration!”

As shared by Disney Parks Blog: In honor of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration, and to recognize exceptional teachers who are passionate about using the tool of imagination in their classroom, we’re inviting 50 deserving teachers who reflect the creativity and imagination of Walt Disney to attend a one-of-a-kind teacher event. Because when you celebrate with us, nothing could be more magical! Fifty winners will be treated to a 4-Day, 3-Night stay at Walt Disney World Resort full of imagination! Winners will participate in a half-day inspiration session with Disney leaders and storytellers, gaining key insights and ideas that can be taken back to the classroom. They will also receive an exclusive inside look at the reimagined Disney Imagination Campus workshops reflecting curriculum in Science & Technology, Arts & Humanities, Leadership & Innovation, and Performing Arts. And, of course, they will experience all the magic of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration! Now through October 31, 2021, you can enter for a chance to join us! Follow these three simple steps to enter:

Step 1: Click here: https://disney50teacherscontest.com

Step 2: Create an account.

Step 3: Submit a short essay: Essay question: Describe an example where you’ve encouraged your students to use their imaginations to creatively solve problems, including your own creativity in presenting curriculum in a new and inspiring way, for a chance to attend the Disney Imagination Campus 50 Teachers Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort!

Don’t delay! There is no purchase necessary to increase your chance of winning the contest. The promotion begins September 13 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on October 31, 2021. Take note that the chance to win is open only to teachers, music directors, and administrators in education who are legal residents of the 50 US/DC and are 21 years or older. 50 lucky winners will be selected and notified beginning January 10, 2022.

Disney Fab 50 Character Collection Revealed, First Sculptures Unveiled at Magic Kingdom Park

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

Via Disney Destinations;

We’re excited to announce that the first Disney Fab 50 Character Collection sculptures are in their place to share in the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration. Guests can now visit the Magic Kingdom and find some of their favorite characters in their new home for the next 18 months of the celebration.

These 50 characters represent the stories that have moved us to dream bigger, follow our passions and believe in the power of magic. Each character shares in Walt Disney World Resort’s legacy of hope and optimism, where “two tiny wings” become a source of imagination, where sidekicks become heroes and where unlikely duos become the best of friends.

Over the past two months, partners have gathered from across The Walt Disney Company to unveil these fan-favorite characters. Friends from Disney+, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, Disney Channel, ESPN, shopDisney, Disney Vacation Club, Disney Publishing, D23, Disney Movie Insiders, National Geographic, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and more have shared in the celebration by announcing these sculptures.

Our “Disney Fab 50” sculptures pay homage to the past 50 years of Walt Disney World while ushering us into the next 50 years and beyond. As Guests continue to pass through our gates to hunt for their favorite characters, these sculptures will further immerse them into a world of fantasy and tomorrow, where laughter, joy, and that intangible pixie dust will bring a lifetime of memories to all who visit The Most Magical Place on Earth.

Enjoy this special message from the storytellers, entertainers, leaders and cast members who have lent their voices, talent and individual spark of magic to bring these characters to life.

Stay tuned in the coming days as more of our fab-ulous 50 friends arrive at all four Parks to help us kick off “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” for the next 18 months.