In October 2023, the largest entertainment company in the world celebrates its centenary, with celebrations in all parks

By Nathalia Molina

Hey, Mickey. Hey, Mickey. Long live the Mickey Mouse Club! And how about Nemo, Toy Story, Moana, Encanto and so many Pixar animations? The timeline traced from the music of our childhood in the 1970s to the films we saw with our children, now teenagers, runs through the art of storytelling celebrated in 2023 in the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company . 100 years of stories, music, films that move young and old alike. 

Since Steam Willie , a short starring Mickey and released in 1928 , the plots have created memories. Now all generations can relive them together in the parks. The 100th anniversary party, like the company, started in California . Since January, the Disneyland Resort has been in the spirit of Disney100 , the name given to the centennial event.

Party in California

The two California parks have been immersed in centennial celebrations since January 27th. The all-new Celebrating Disney100 tour chronicles the company’s evolution. 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, you can talk to a Disney designer and try to sketch a character for the 100th anniversary.

Then, at Disneyland, the guide talks about the park’s opening day, in the city of Anaheim, and the technological advances that came afterwards. The tour ends with a photo in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and with the Magic Happens stop , which features the mouse as the wizard’s apprentice from the animation Fantasia.

The two California parks have been immersed in centennial celebrations since January 27th. The all-new Celebrating Disney100 tour chronicles the company’s evolution. 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, you can talk to a Disney designer and try to sketch a character for the 100th anniversary.

Then, at Disneyland, the guide talks about the park’s opening day, in the city of Anaheim, and the technological advances that came afterwards. The tour ends with a photo in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and with the Magic Happens stop, which features the mouse as the wizard’s apprentice from the animation Fantasia.

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

On Main Street, the Disney Gallery shows drawings from films that inspired the complex’s attractions, and vice versa. Those who enjoy vintage illustrations can buy one from Time Flies: Celebrating 100 Years, a limited edition with 100 drawings, on sale at the Disneyana store , at the Disneyland Resort. Using original paints and painting techniques, they show a flyover of Mickey and Minnie over the evolution of films, starting from black and white to bright colors.

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

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

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Party in Orlando

The celebration gradually takes over other parts of the world. After all, with each brand holiday, Disney parks gain attractions, decorations and special shows and dozens of food, drinks and themed products are launched. Anyone going to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando will already find Disney100 merchandise for sale. The celebration, however, has not yet taken over Orlando, the favorite destination for Brazilians.

The complex in Florida has just concluded, on March 31, the celebration celebrating 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, then, navy blue with gold leaves the scene. However, silver and lilac, the colors of the 100th anniversary, should only appear there in the second half of the year, with Epcot as the central park for the celebration in Florida.

The group announced 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 time and place where the duo can be found in the park have not yet been announced, where the indoor roller coaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and the cute Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in 4D are unmissable .

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

The party will spread to the other theme parks and Disney Springs , with details here and there. For example, a silver 100th anniversary plaque at the entrance to Animal Kingdom, a popcorn bucket in the shape of Cinderella’s carriage at Magic Kingdom and surprise appearances by characters in commemorative clothing at the complex’s hotels.

Themed containers for drinks and popcorn, plush toys, sweets and clothes in lilac and silver tones are also 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 in lilac fondant and decorated with a Mickey medal on the front and a 100th anniversary macaron on top. With vanilla cake and red fruit filling, the dessert is served at Amorette’s Patisserie , at Disney Springs.

In the rest of the world

Disney in the rest of the world is also organizing something special for the centennial. The Oswaldo the Lucky Rabbit (pre-Mickey) merchandise collection 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 D23 Expo , a convention held in September last year in California, it was announced that the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will 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 at the park in France for that date, exactly 100 years since the company was founded. 

Perhaps not even Walt Disney could have imagined that this idea would take on the current proportions. From studios in California to landing in Florida and expanding 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 delight adults and children. And there is still a lot of story to tell.