Hey Disney - Bring These 3 Things Back for the 50th!

In the last couple weeks, Disney has started roll out new promotional materials for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary.  The newest  video featuring all the parks decked out in EARidescent decor (which Disney is calling Beacons of Magic) is just the beginning of what will likely be a nearly two (2) campaign to draw millions of guests to Central Florida. We also learned that HarmonioUS and a new nighttime show at Magic Kingdom called Disney Enchantment will be premiering on October 1.  There are sure to be other new additions announced in the coming months  And even though they didn’t ask us, here are a few things we would love to see Disney bring back for the 50th anniversary celebration.  

The Main Street Electrical Parade 

It's been a while since Magic Kingdom has featured a nighttime parade (outside of Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas).   The Main Street Electrical Parade was last at Walt Disney World in 2016 and has most recently had limited runs at Disneyland up until the pandemic struck in 2020.  

While it may not be the glitziest Disney nighttime parade, there is no question that the Main Street Electrical Parade is the most famous.  It oozes nostalgia and remains a favorite amongst Disney fans.  And unlike attractions from the past that are no longer with us (RIP Mr. Toad's Wild Ride), the Main Street Electrical Parade can once again light up Main Street USA.  

Castle Cake 2.0 

Few things in the annals of Disney history are as divisive as the Castle Cake.  The last time Disney went all out for an anniversary celebration was 1996 when Cinderella Castle was transformed into a giant birthday cake complete with pink frosting and candy accents.  Disney fans either loved the once in a lifetime change or absolutely hated it - there was no middle ground.   

The 50th anniversary decor is much more demure featuring golden ribbons and the aforementioned EARidescent jewels hanging from Cinderella Castle.  But thanks to advancements in technology, the Castle Cake can come back once again in the form a projection on Cinderella Castle.   Whether it is incorporated as part of the 50th anniversary nighttime show or as an occasional treat similar to the Christmas projections that changed in the evening during the holidays, it would be amazing to see Cinderella Castle decked out as a cake once again.    

Original Character Meet & Greets*

As I look back on pictures and memories from my trip to Walt Disney World for the 25th anniversary, one thing I miss is the more organic way in which characters would interact with guests.  I remember seeing Goofy and Max boating by the Magic Kingdom ferries and waving to onlookers.  I remember seeing Mr. Smee randomly walking in front of the castle to take pictures (selfies weren't quite a thing in 1996).  Even today at Disneyland, it is normal to see Belle walking alone and without an accompanying cast member inside Fantaysland.  But at Walt Disney World, everything is more structured.  Characters don't simply walk around the parks alone - they are walking to a particular destination and always escorted by a cast member. 

And while I understand why Disney does this, and there are plenty of good reasons, I would love to see more character meet and greets return where it just feels natural that you would see Jack Sparrow hanging around outside of Pirates of the Caribbean. But there is also a reason we put an asterisk on this wish list item.  Covid_19 has changed the way Disney operates - and the lasting effects of the pandemic on character meet and greets remains unknown.  Right now, guests are able to take socially distant selfies with many characters, but if and when traditional character meet and greets return remains unknown.  And in many regards, Covid has actually brought about more characters and put them in spots that are more natural - hopefully this continues when we can once again take a photograph standing right next to Mickey Mouse. 

The health and safety of the cast members and guests should continue to remain the top priority for Disney, but if the decision to return to more traditional character encounters is made, we hope they are filled  with magic and feel less like an orchestrated production.