Fall has arrived in Florida and we have officially kicked off the 18-month long celebration for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary! So how is it going? I asked myself what was important to me as we headed into the 50th Anniversary celebration. I knew it should be fun and full of big surprises. I wanted to gather with my like minded, fellow Disney fans and celebrate what brought us together. It should celebrate Disney Cast Members past, present and future. I hoped it would pay homage to where it all began and how far it had come. We’re here to share our initial thoughts as the WDW 50th Anniversary kicks off. Most of them are not good but, I will try to balance them out with some gems.
As I sit writing this post, commercials for the 50th Anniversary continue to play on my TV. It resonates with me that Disney is more worried about media attention and pulling in future guests and less with celebrating what is right in front of them. When I thought about the upcoming celebration, I anticipated being moved to tears as clips played of Walt sharing plans for his new kingdom. Or as Roy dedicated the park to his brother and we shared in his sadness of Walt never seeing his dream realized. There were so many positives to the kickoff but most of them didn’t come from Disney. The night before, all the top executives were present for the media filming of Good Morning America. However, the next day they did not speak to the guests in any capacity. This was a missed opportunity for Bob Chapek, who has been on the receiving end of bad PR lately. He could have come out and welcomed guests with a re-dedication speech that could have smoothed things over with the fans.
“You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” Walt Disney said this all those years ago and it is still true today. Leading up to October 1, I made note of the calm before the storm. Wandering around the Magic Kingdom, feeling the collective energy of the crowds was amazing. Walt Disney World has introduced us to a community of like-minded people who understand our passion for Disney and its rich history. It has sparked our imagination and creativity, inspiring us to see the world in a different way. This is not an exaggeration. If anything, I’m downplaying how much Walt Disney World means to us. The magic and energy in the air leading up to October 1 was a highlight for me. People were so excited to be there and be part of this amazing moment. I only wish Disney would have matched it in the days that would follow.
Speaking of the people that make the dream a reality, the Cast members have been great. They show up so early with endless energy and patience. They greet you with warm smiles, saying “Happy 50th!” and “thanks for celebrating with us today!” If at all possible, my appreciation for them has grown in the last week. I’m not just talking about current cast members but also those from the past. Cast Members from the opening day back in 1971 were gathered together for the anniversary wearing special shirts. Guests were able to ask them questions about their roles back then, and they had some great stories to share. This was a major highlight for me and what the 50th Anniversary was meant to be about.
Back to the days leading up to the celebration. We were able to see Harmonious on its first night. It’s hard to put your finger on what exactly makes Disney magic and what falls short of it. It’s not that Harmonious was bad, it’s just that it wasn’t good. It lacked the magic that we’ve become accustomed to from falling in love with these parks and the stories they hold within. At the end of a park day we want a show that celebrates that park, the experience, the adventure that we’d just lived that day. Not a highlight reel of movie clips that we’d seen many times before. I wanted a narrator to tell me what it’s like when the world comes together and speaks one language of unity through music. I wanted to be wrapped up in what it feels like to be harmonious. And the fact that it never happened left me feeling disappointed.
Then as we were leaving EPCOT, we saw a “beacon” of light, literally. Spaceship Earth lit up on the other side of the park and it just drew us in closer and closer. Why were led lights lit up on a giant sphere so magical? Sometimes the things that you think are going to be the most magical can often, with all your expectations, be the things that disappoint you the most. It’s the things that you don’t expect that sneak up on you and surprise you. That is when magic happens. That’s what gives you all the feels and what you try to escape your everyday life for. This is what I wanted from the 50th Anniversary. I have since seen the Beacons of Magic show at each park and find them to be captivating. The Beacons of Magic are, in my opinion, a huge success.
Obviously for me, Harmonious failed to deliver. It felt like we had witnessed a highlight reel of movies that had nothing to do with our feelings about that park. Maybe Enchantment would be a story of Walt Disney World and the epic tale of two brothers. One would live on to carry out the other ones dream and legacy, only to meet his own demise in the process. How these two brothers, at the end of their lives, would put his legacy first. Magic Kingdom is so rich in emotional history. I was excited to celebrate our move to Florida along side the 50th Anniversary of this wonderful place. Excited to celebrate how much Walt and Roy’s story meant to me and all the memories they had made possible with my family over the years.
If you’ve been paying attention so far, you can probably guess what I am about to say. Disney enchantment once again failed to deliver the emotion I was so fervently searching for. Don’t get me wrong, the soundtrack is amazing and the fireworks are far superior to Happily Ever After. If the technical side of storytelling is your jam and you love Disney movies, you will love this show. But, if like many of us you love the rich history of Disney and Walt Disney World, you will be left feeling cold. There was a story that needed to be told about this park on it’s 50th Anniversary. Why the corporate executives decided not to tell that story is beyond me.
I doubt we will ever know exactly why what happened on October 1, 2021, or more so why what didn’t happen. The Disney corporation teased “The World’s Most Magical Celebration on Earth” for months or more. They booked up their resorts and sold their early release merchandise. Then the actual day came and they were nowhere to be found. Not one Disney figure took that stage to greet all those super fans who were ready to celebrate so hard. Guests were rushing up to the castle stage expecting a big show. They were doing the wave my friends. What they got was a quick greeting and dance number with Mickey and friends in their new outfits. Then, nothing. Everyone just stood there waiting, dumbfounded, until the crowd finally dispersed upon realizing that it was over.
“Now be gone and go spend money on our over priced merchandise and food!” King Chapek declared. Except there was no new merchandise, just what remained from weeks before. The pod of consumers swarmed The Emporium in search of the treasures that surely awaited them! A scuffle broke out over one lonely tumbler. Dejected but still hungry for the celebration they were promised, they turned their attention to food. Oh wait, there was no food. The entire mobile order system was a mess and people waited hours for their food. They were tired from being up so early and now they were hungry. Everything after that was just plain weird. Those strange monotone announcements randomly made over the loudspeakers throughout the day did not spark happiness. They were strange and lacked heartfelt sentiment. Guests became customers and magic became money. How sad is that?
What can I say? I am disappointed and “disenchanted” with corporate Disney. I gave them everything I had and they let me down. A lot lately. But I get the message now. Listening to Enchantment again, I realize it is about the people who have traveled so far with a dream in their heart. Weather they dreamed of being a Cast Member or taking their first family visit. Weather they are nostalgic for the Disney of their childhood or embrace the direction of Disney now. Although he deserved it, Walt didn’t expect any recognition. He created the parks for families everywhere. The Magic Kingdom is the peoples park. The people we meet and share stories with are who remember the history and who have the passion. We need to separate corporate Disney from the believers and the dreamers. The imagineers who create, the cast members who make magic everyday, and the fans who keep Walt alive in their hearts. I know, sappy stuff right?
Whether you’re visiting now for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary kickoff or sometime in the 18 months to come, we hope you enjoy the World’s Most Magical Celebration. The last 18 months or so leading up to this point have been rough on everyone, which is a huge understatement for many of us. Taking a step back, I think it’s fair to say we could all use a big bash that pays homage to the past while looking forward to the future. It’s not everything we imagined it would be back when plans were unveiled at the D23 Expo. Nevertheless, it’s a breath of fresh air right now. “The magic is calling….answer the call.” We’ll keep you updated on all the magic here and on our Facebook and Instagram.