The celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary is underway, and we’re excited to share Disney100 will ramp up at Walt Disney World Resort beginning late September! Throughout the year, we’ve been celebrating the fans and storytellers who have sparked the joy that is Disney over the last century. It’s been so fun to see all of the special surprises at Disney Parks across the globe helping fans and families relive beloved Disney memories and experience new, heartwarming stories.
Guests may have heard that EPCOT will be the center of the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World, marking not only a century of magic and innovation, but also ushering in the future as the multi-year transformation of the park wraps up.
So, what’s in store for this limited-time celebration at EPCOT? Keep reading to learn about everything that will debut on Sept. 22!
Taken a selfie with any of the Disney100 backdrops located at all four theme parks and Disney Springs? Guests will be able to snap a photo with a new platinum Mickey Mouse sculpture in World Celebration with Spaceship Earth in the background. And don’t forget about the dazzling Disney100 Magic Shots and PhotoPass offerings currently available across Walt Disney World.
Be sure to check out the all-new mural at the heart of World Celebration to see how many of the 100 Disney characters Guests can find in the incredible scene. This expansive mural located along the walkway to World Showcase will feature some of your favorite characters hidden throughout the various neighborhoods of EPCOT. The rest of World Celebration will also be decked out in Disney100 platinum banners and décor.
Guests will be able to meet, hug and snap a photo with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their platinum best in the Imagination! pavilion. They won’t be the only ones sparkling in honor of the celebration. Spaceship Earth will light up each night with special colors and lights accompanied by the Disney100 anthem, a unique rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star.
Sip and savor tastes of the Disney100 celebration with four limited-time food & beverage locations during both the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays! We can’t wait to sample all of the culinary delights and delectable drinks that evoke new and timeless Disney memories.
That’s not the only exclusive food and beverage Guests will be able to enjoy during the celebration! They won’t want to miss out on the purple metallic Mickey Balloon Premium Popcorn Bucket available only at EPCOT during Disney100.
We can’t wait to welcome Guests to EPCOT to see the ongoing transformation of the park and join the excitement of the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World from Sept. 22 to Dec. 31, 2023. Be sure to share favorite Disney100 memories on social with #Disney100. And stay tuned to the Disney Travel News for details about even more new experiences debuting during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
LEGO enthusiasts and Disney fans alike will be thrilled with the latest creation from LEGO: the LEGO Walt Disney Tribute Camera. This incredible set pays homage to the man behind the magic, Walt Disney, and combines the beloved LEGO and Disney brands in a truly unique way.
Walt Disney is a name that needs no introduction. Known for revolutionizing the entertainment industry, Disney built an empire that continues to capture the hearts of millions around the world. The LEGO Walt Disney Tribute Camera is a nod to the visionary filmmaker and his iconic creations.
The set features a LEGO version of an old-fashioned movie camera, reminiscent of the one used by Disney himself in the early days of animation. It is beautifully designed with intricate details, such as a film strip, giving it an authentic feel. Comprised of 811 bricks, this set is a labor of love and highlights Disney’s influence on the world of cinema. The set also includes a black and white mini-figure of Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse, a Bambi and Dumbo figure, and a mini-figure of Walt Disney himself.
All year long, the Walt Disney Company and LEGO have been collaborating on collections as a way to celebrate the Disney 100 anniversary. This year marks 100 years of the Walt Disney Company, and these LEGO sets are a fun and meaningful way to honor such an occasion.
Preorders for the camera have begun, but it won’t officially be on sale until September 1. The set will cost $99, a standard price for a set of this size. It has been so incredible to watch Disney and LEGO collaborate on so many awesome sets this year, and this one is no exception. It will be so fun to see what is next to come for this iconic collaboration.
“The Happiest Place on Earth” can quickly become the most tiring place on Earth. A Disney day is full of magic, laughter, and fun, but it is exhausting! Going from ride to ride with little break in between is enough to wear out even the most fit.
An average day at Disneyland includes up to 9 miles of walking. A long day (rope drop to Park close) could easily see up to 13 miles. That’s easily more than the average person walks on a typical day, so it’s not surprising that exhaustion sets in when the fireworks end.
For one man, the day proved to be too much. A rest on a bench quickly became a nap on a bench at Disneyland’s entrance toward the end of the night. A crowd gathered around him, including one very special visitor.
Mickey Mouse showed up to try and see if he could wake the sleeping guest. All decked out in his Disney100 finest, Mickey slowly approached the guest who had sprawled out on a bench to catch a quick nap. Mickey tapped him several times, but the guest was completely out.
Eventually, Mickey gave up and let the sleeping man rest, motioning that the poor guy probably needed a break and sending him “heart hands.”
He even turned to the crowd and motioned for them to be quiet.
This is one magical experience this guest won’t remember. One TokToker said, “Even the baby is laughing,” referring to a baby that can be heard in the background laughing at Mickey’s antics. With so many bad things occurring in the world, and even in Disney Parks, this is the sort of heartwarming wholesomeness we need right now!
Later this year, Walt Disney World will join the global celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary – 10 decades of creativity and innovation. EPCOT is preparing to host this unforgettable celebration at Walt Disney World in the fall. However, there are some offerings that have already begun to pop up around the parks and resorts, with much more to come as the year continues.
For 100 years, The Walt Disney Company has created unforgettable stories and lifelong memories for generations of families. Some of my favorite memories are tied to visits to Walt Disney World, seeing Disney stories brought to life and getting the chance to experience them in magical ways.
The entire Walt Disney World cast is excited to join in the celebration of Disney100, and you’re invited to be part of the fun! I’m thrilled to share that you can now experience magical, limited-time offerings sprinkled throughout the resort. Here are six great ways to commemorate this momentous milestone, with many more to come.
1 – Say Hi to Mickey and Minnie in Their Platinum Best
As previously shared, EPCOT will be the center of the Disney100 celebration later this year at Walt Disney World. Recently opened attractions like the exhilarating family thrill coaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and the captivating 4D Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure bring even more family fun to the park where the impossible becomes possible. Even more is in store as the park’s multi-year transformation culminates later this year during the Disney100 celebration.
Have you been looking forward to seeing Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their new dazzling platinum outfits? I know I have! You’ll be able to hug and take photos with the duo in their platinum outfits at EPCOT later this year. What a way to celebrate this major milestone and the legacy that their beloved stories represent for our Company. We’ll have more details on when and where you can meet them soon.
2 – Admire Special Spaceship Earth Lighting
I’m excited to announce that the night sky will light up with a dazzling spectacle of colors and lights as Spaceship Earth honors Disney100 with a special display later in 2023. Here’s your first look at what’s sure to be a memorable moment during the celebration.
Our friends at Walt Disney Imagineering have been dreaming up new ways to honor this important milestone by turning to their own cherished memories and favorite Disney stories as they create this one-of-a-kind display.
“The Show Lighting Team at Walt Disney Imagineering has been amazed at our guests’ reaction to the nightly shows on Spaceship Earth,” said Jason Read, show lighting designer principal for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’ve helped celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, EPCOT’s 40th and the park’s signature festivals. Now, we’re excited to have Spaceship Earth ring in the biggest celebration yet, the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company.”
“We’re also inspired by many things from the history of the company, its characters, theme parks and shows – even the Disney100 opening logo that plays before our feature films during this anniversary,” Read continued. “You may see homages to everything from the ‘Wonderful World of Disney’ television show opening to Mickey balloons that we sell on Main Street, U.S.A.”
3 – Take a Selfie in Front of a Disney100 Backdrop
Whenever I make my way to Walt Disney World, I get a rush of adrenaline thinking about the magic that awaits me. So, you can only imagine my excitement when I saw the Disney100 sign at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park right in front of the entrance. If you’re like me, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to snap a few photos as a way to remember your visit during this very special celebration. This photo op is perfect for the entire family and is a great way to start your day. If you’re not going to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, don’t worry. You’ll be able to snap photos with Disney100 backdrops at all four theme parks plus Disney Springs.
4 – Keep an Eye Out for Surprise Character Visits at Disney Resort Hotels
If you’ve ever had the joy of staying in one of our enchanting Disney Resort hotels, you may have seen the magic of various Disney characters stopping by for an impromptu photo opportunity. As the Disney100 celebration ramps up at Walt Disney World, you may run into some of your favorite Disney characters in their platinum best as they pop up at various Disney Resort hotels. You never know when or where they’ll show up next!
5 – Celebrate With New Food and Drinks
The celebration doesn’t stop with character greetings and fun photo ops; you’ll also be able to indulge in some Disney100 treats across the resort. Beginning May 1, guests can enjoy the Disney100 Petite Cake for a limited time at Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs. This mouthwatering dessert has layers of vanilla chiffon, berry mousse and berry compote, all topped with a celebratory Disney100 Medallion macaron.
The Disney Culinary team has been dreaming up all kinds of delicious dishes to commemorate the milestone, and this is just the beginning. I was lucky enough to learn about the inspiration behind this yummy dessert from Chef Amanda.
“The culinary team has the wonderful opportunity to use food for storytelling,” Chef Amanda said. “We get to make special themed treats that bring guests into the story, letting them feel immersed in a tangible and very delicious way.”
“The inspiration of this cake pulls from the rich purple and platinum colors used for the Disney100 celebration,” Chef Amanda shared. “The drapery on the sides of the cake represents the traditional bunting that adorns Main Street, U.S.A. for special occasions. And of course, Mickey Mouse is proudly represented on the front of the cake because as we all know: ‘It all started with a mouse.’”
6 – Find Your Perfect Disney100 Memento
You may have spotted and already started to collect some of the amazing Disney100 merchandise that’s popping up at Walt Disney World. To help you prepare for what’s to come, a little fairy told me about the new Disney100 Cinderella Premium Bucket that will be exclusive to Magic Kingdom. This dazzling souvenir is intricately designed, great for the entire family, and my favorite souvenir thus far. Stay tuned for more details on when this beauty will make its debut. For now, you’ll be able to enjoy drinks and popcorn in the new Disney100 refillable cups available now at the Disney Resort hotels and popcorn buckets at all four theme parks and Disney Springs.
You can also check out the wide variety of limited-release merchandise, available across the Walt Disney World Resort. Cherish nostalgic memories with the new 40s-themed Disney100 Decades Collection featuring Disney classics such as “Fantasia,” “The Three Caballeros,” “Pinocchio” and “Dumbo.” While you’re at it, marvel at all the magic with the Disney100 Platinum Celebration Collection — perfect if you’re looking for even more ways to shine! Or maybe the Disney100 Unified Character Collection is more your style with beloved characters from throughout the history of Disney, including Snow White, Elsa and Simba. My favorite Disney100 pieces so far are the Unified Characters Backpack and the Three Caballeros Ear Headband, but there is even more merchandise debuting soon.
As you can see, the celebration is just getting started at Walt Disney World, and there’s much more to come!
A Three Caballeros Minnie ear headband has arrived at Walt Disney World as part of the Disney100 Decades 1940s Collection. We found it in Discovery Trading Company in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Three Caballeros Minnie Ear Headband – $39.99
This Minnie ear headband is pink and yellow, with the Three Caballeros — Panchito Pistoles, Donald Duck, and José Carioca — on the ears and bow. While Donald is a plastic piece at the bow’s center, Panchito and José are embroidered on to each ear. The bow and ears are also embroidered with flowers and leaves.
Affixed in the center of a yellow bow, Donald is passionately playing two maracas. The ears actually make maraca sounds when they shake. Listen to our TikTok video below from wdwnt.
These new Three Caballero ears are the BEST! The design details are perfection, and they even shake like a maraca👏 We found them at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Discovery Trading Company👀 disney disneyworld disneyears mickeyears minnieears fyp
“The Three Caballeros” premiered in Mexico City in 1944 before receiving a wide release in 1945. It was the seventh Walt Disney Animation Studios film and was the first appearance of Panchito Pistoles, the third caballero. Panchito Pistoles, a Mexican rooster, appears on one ear holding his guitar with one hand while extending his other over a floral frame.
José Carioca, who hails from Rio de Janeiro, had already appeared with Donald in “Saludos Amigos.” He appears with his guitar framed with embroidered flowers.
A plaque for the Disney100 Decades Collection is on the side of the headband.
The ears are rimmed with yellow balls and the backs are embroidered with Latin American designs.
Guests of Walt Disney World will, of course, recognize Donald, José, and Panchito from their appearance as the “Three Caballeros” in the Epcot boat ride, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. The boat ride attraction features The Three Caballeros as they plan to perform a concert in Mexico City. Donald Duck goes missing, prompting his pals to go on a search for their missing friend.
The previous Disney100 Decades 1920s Collections were inspired by Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and “Steamboat Willie.” The 1930s Collection featured merchandise for “The Band Concert,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the Three Little Pigs, and Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar. The 1950s collection is set to include merchandise from “Cinderella” and “Alice in Wonderland.”
