Credit: Paul Beattie, FlickrThe Walt Disney World Resort will be a completely different place by its 60th anniversary.
When 2021 rolled around, Disney World guests enjoyed The World’s Most Magical Celebration–an 18-month-long anniversary event celebrating the Orlando resort’s 50th birthday. While it was a momentous occasion for the Disney Experiences brand, the 50th celebration happened not long after the pandemic closures. That, teamed with a lukewarm reception to some new offerings–namely, the Happily Ever After replacement Disney Enchantment–and the arrival of the Disney Genie systems (now Lightning Lane), led to a celebration that wasn’t overly well-received despite being largely busy.
Looking ahead, the 60th anniversary is only half a decade away, and while five years may seem like a long time, it’s hard to believe that 2021 was five years ago. On October 1, 1971, the world changed forever with the opening of a second Disney park worldwide. Following the success of Disneyland in California, which opened in July 1955, Walt Disney looked further afield to launch an even bigger destination for his fans.
Over the last five decades, Disney World has grown exponentially, with four theme parks, two water parks, and a plethora of hotel options, the latest being Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, spanning its multi-thousand-acre site in Central Florida. While growth has been noticeable since 2021, Disney Experiences has really taken on its “turbocharged” approach, and come the resort’s 60th anniversary, Disney World will never be the same.
At this year’s D23 Expo, newly anointed Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, Josh D’Amaro, revealed major updates across the park and entertainment businesses, with Thomas Mazloum, Disney’s new chief of Experiences, laying out the plans for the global parks and cruise arm of the Mouse House.
While many of the announcements were updates to previously revealed concepts, such as the Piston Peak and Villains developments at Magic Kingdom and Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Horizons showcase still garnered a hugely positive response.
And in these announcements, Disney confirmed that the flagship resort in the Sunshine State will be a vastly different place for guests in 2031.
For the 50th anniversary, Disney refreshed its iconic Cinderella Castle, debuted new entertainment, and dropped exclusive merchandise. While busy and crowded, the 60th celebration in 2031 will no doubt be much more exciting (and chaotic). Not only will guests be enticed by whatever anniversary celebrations Disney has up its sleeve, but by then, it is likely that all new major expansions will be open to guests.
First of all, Disney’s Animal Kingdom officially closed the last of DinoLand U.S.A. earlier this year, and work has ramped up on its replacement: the Tropical Americas-inspired Pueblo Esperanza, featuring signature attractions based on the Encanto and Indiana Jones franchises. This major redevelopment of the DinoLand space in Animal Kingdom is reportedly on track to open in 2027.
Also, that year, Disney World will welcome guests to Monstropolis over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The land, based on 2001’s Monsters, Inc., will feature numerous new experiences, including the Glob Theater and Harryhausen’s Restaurant. Replacing the Muppets-themed area at the park, Monstropolis will also be home to a first-of-its-kind indoor coaster based on the movie’s iconic door chase sequence.
Disney recently revealed that Monstropolis will open in phases, with the general area welcoming guests from 2027, and the e-ticket coaster debuting sometime in 2028.
Speaking of 2028, Disney World expects its major infrastructure work to be completed at Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land in the Magic Kingdom theme park by then. These areas have already taken over the majority of Frontierland, with Orlando staples like the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer’s Island, permanently closed to make way for the Cars franchise.
Like Monstropolis and the Tropical Americas, Piston Peak and Villains Land will feature a number of new attractions, stores, and dining experiences. At Piston Peak, Cars Ridge Run Rally and Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along will anchor the National Park-themed land, while Villains Land will feature a Maleficent-inspired roller coaster and Magic Mirror ride. The latter land, per Disney Parks Blog, will also include “dining and shopping on an incredibly twisted grand scale.”
So, while it may take time to get these major new expansions up and running for guests, the phased approach to opening each upcoming land will ensure visitation and tourism stay up before the big 60th celebration in five years’ time. By then, when Disney drops the rope on October 1, 2031, the resort will be a different place, complete with an entirely new roster of attractions and experiences.
Despite rising vacation costs, Disney World is on track to be a hive of activity in 2031 as guests enter to experience this range of turbocharged investment. If the 2021 event was dubbed The World’s Most Magical Celebration, the 2031 event may have to be called The World’s Most Ultimate Magical Celebration, because the offerings for guests will be exponentially stronger than they were for the 50th anniversary.
What are you looking forward to most at Disney World? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!
