Pure Fun

Disney Celebrates 100 Years of Magic

In October 2023, the world's largest entertainment company celebrates its centennial with festivities at all parks.

By Nathalia Molina

Hey, Mickey. Hey, Mickey. Long live the Mickey Mouse Club! And what about Nemo, Toy Story, Moana, Encanto, and so many Pixar animations? The timeline drawn from the music of our childhood in the 1970s to the movies we watched with our now-teenage children traverses the art of storytelling celebrated in 2023 on the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. 100 years of stories, music, and films that move both young and old.

From Steamboat Willie, the short film starring Mickey and released in 1928, the plots weave memories. Now all generations can relive them together in the parks. The 100-year celebration, like the company itself, began in California. Since January, the Disneyland Resort has been in the Disney 100 spirit, the name given to the centennial event.

Party in California

California’s two parks have been immersed in the centennial celebration since January 27th. The brand-new tour, Celebrating Disney100, narrates the company’s evolution. The two-hour tour is an additional fee and begins at Disney California Adventure Park, where visitors learn about Walt Disney’s move to California in the 1920s (he was born in Chicago, Illinois) and the company’s founding. At the Animation Academy in Hollywood Land, guests can converse with a Disney animator and attempt to sketch a character for the 100-year celebration.

Next, at Disneyland, the guide discusses the park’s opening day in the city of Anaheim and the technological advancements that followed. The tour concludes with a photo opportunity in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Magic Happens parade, featuring the iconic mouse as the sorcerer’s apprentice from the animation Fantasia.

The two California parks have been immersed in the centennial celebration since January 27. The brand-new Celebrating Disney100 tour narrates the evolution of the company. The two-hour tour is paid separately and begins at Disney California Adventure Park, where visitors learn about Walt Disney’s move to California in the 1920s (he was born in Chicago, Illinois) and the founding of the company. At the Animation Academy in Hollywood Land, they can chat with a Disney animator and try to sketch a character for the 100 years.

Next, at Disneyland, the guide talks about the park’s opening day in the city of Anaheim and the technological advances that followed. The tour ends with a photo in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Magic Happens parade, featuring Mickey as the sorcerer’s apprentice from the Fantasia animation.

Visitors to the park can see the return of the parade and the renovated Mickey’s Toontown area. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – a fun attraction opened in early 2020 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida – opened at Disneyland California in January.

On Main Street, the Disney Gallery showcases drawings from films that inspired attractions at the complex, and vice versa. Those who enjoy vintage illustrations can purchase one from Time Flies: Celebrating 100 Years, a limited edition with 100 drawings, available at the Disneyana store at Disneyland Resort. With original paints and painting techniques, they depict Mickey and Minnie flying over the evolution of films, from black and white to vibrant colors.

Different moments from Disney Studios and its characters and music are portrayed in the new nighttime show at Disney California Adventure Park, called World of Color – One. The new addition to the end of the day at Disneyland is the Wondrous Journeys show, which lights up Main Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle. Both parks and the resort’s hotels in California are decorated for the occasion and display 100th-anniversary medals.

The Platinum Trifle, a dessert in a cup with chocolate mousse, red fruit compote, edible silver balls, and a centennial medal on top, can be found in various parts of Disneyland Resort in California. At Boardwalk Dining and Lamplight Lounge in Disney California Adventure Park, adults can enjoy the Disney100 cocktail, made with gin, lavender, and lemon juice, and decorated with an edible flower.

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Party in Orlando

The celebration gradually spreads to other parts of the world. After all, with each festive occasion of the brand, Disney parks gain special attractions, decorations, and shows, and dozens of themed foods, beverages, and products are launched. Those who visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando can already find Disney100 merchandise on sale. However, the celebration has not yet taken over Orlando, the favorite destination for Brazilians.

The complex in Florida has just concluded, on March 31, the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the first park in the southern United States. The Magic Kingdom opened in October 1971, but the festivities were extended due to the gradual resumption of travel during the pandemic. In Orlando, the navy blue with gold is now stepping aside. However, the silver with lilac, colors of the 100 years, are expected to appear there in the second half of the year, with Epcot as the central park of the celebration in Florida.

The group was supposed to announce in May what can be expected for both the Florida parks and the Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries – follow the news on the Disney blog. But it is already known that Mickey and Minnie will be wearing new clothes at Epcot for photos with visitors. The schedule and location where the duo can be found in the park have not yet been disclosed, where the indoor roller coaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and the adorable Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in 4D are must-sees.

Completing the transformation of Epcot, Journey of Water, an attraction inspired by Moana, is scheduled for the American autumn. If your trip to Orlando is at the end of the year, keep an eye on Spaceship Earth at dusk. After the 50 years of the Walt Disney World Resort and the 40 years of Epcot, it will be the turn of the special Disney100 lighting, with Mickey’s ears popping up over the huge circle.

The party will spread to the other theme parks and to Disney Springs, with details here and there. For example, a silver 100-year plaque at the entrance of Animal Kingdom, a Cinderella carriage-shaped popcorn bucket at Magic Kingdom, and surprise appearances of characters in celebratory attire at the resort’s hotels.

Themed containers for drinks and popcorn, plush toys, sweets, and clothing in lilac and silver tones are also available in the complex’s stores, as well as articles highlighting characters, decade by decade, over the 100 years, including Pinocchio, Dumbo, and princesses like Snow White and Elsa.

Since May 1st, the Disney100 Petite Cake has been on sale, a tart covered with lilac fondant and decorated with a Mickey medal on the front and a 100-year macaron on top. With vanilla cake and red fruit filling, the dessert is served at Amorette’s Patisserie, in Disney Springs.

In the rest of the world

Disney is also organizing something special for the centenary. The merchandise collection of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (created before Mickey) has arrived at Shanghai Disneyland. There, until June, classic and recent characters make surprise appearances before and during the Mickey’s Storybook Express parade.

During the D23 Expo, held in California last September, it was announced that the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort would receive a new statue of Walt Disney and Mickey in October. Disneyland Paris also promised exclusive activities for visitors after the 16th of the same month and a special program in the park in France for that date, which marks exactly 100 years since the company’s founding.

Perhaps not even Walt Disney could envision that idea taking on the current magnitude. From the studios in California to the arrival in Florida and the expansion to France and Asia, the brand’s parks come together in large entertainment complexes, with hotels, restaurants, and shops. The company’s animations continue to enchant adults and children alike. And there is still much history to be told.

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Celebrating outside the Parks:

Disney’s 100th anniversary goes beyond the parks. An exhibition, currently on display in the United States and Germany, tells the company’s story, while a virtual race series commemorates the centennial. Check it out:

Disney100, The Exhibition: Divided into ten sections, the exhibition takes visitors through films, shows, and attractions. Disney100: The Exhibition brings together drawings, clothing, and artifacts, featuring classic and contemporary characters. It can be seen at the Franklin Institute (Philadelphia) and the Kleine Olympiahalle (Munich).

runDisney: A virtual series of three 5km races celebrates Disney’s 100 years. The runDisney medals depict moments from Mickey in: Steamboat Willie; Fantasia; and the Runaway Railway attraction (on the train with Minnie). Registrations are already sold out for individual races. Now, only The Disney 100 Challenge, a complete challenge with the trio of races, is available.

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