50 Years Of Magic

50 Years of Magic is a float from the Santa Claus Parade. This float was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort.

## History With The Parade

In 2021, in celebration of the park's 50th anniversary, Walt Disney World's Imagineers teamed up with the designers to make a float for the Santa Claus Parade. The float was called 50 Years Of Magic, and it featured replicas of the landmarks of all four parks, which included the Cinderella Castle from Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth from Epcot, The Twilight Zone: Tower Of Terror from Disney's Hollywood Studios and the Tree Of Life from Disney's Animal Kingdom. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto, Goofy, Chip & Dale rode on the float, while 50 other characters used in the parks escorted the float. These characters included Snow White, Dopey, Pinnochio, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Alice In Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, Peter Pan, Wendy, Winnie The Pooh, Tigger, Belle, Beast, Aladdin, Jasmine, Timon, Rafiki, Mulan, Stitch, Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Bo Peep, Mike Wazowski, Sulley, Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone, Edna Mode, Miguel Rivera, Moana, Ian Lightfoot, Barley Lightfoot, Max Goof, Scrooge McDuck, Vampirina, Roger Rabbit, R2-D2, Raya, Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horsecollar. Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder and Tinker Bell. This float was one of the most popular among kids.

The float was retired after its only appearance, but the following year, it was recycled into the 100 Years Of Wonder float, now sponsored by Disney itself. The only major change to the float is the addition of the 100 Years Of Wonder logo serving as a replacement to Want Disney World's 50th Anniversary logo. New characters joined the list of escorts as well, including Mirabel Madrigal, who was on the Encanto float the previous year, along with Spider-Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange and Chewbacca.

## Trivia

* One of the original characters that was planned to appear was Mirabel Madrigal, but since a sculpt of her was already being used on the Encanto float, she was replaced by Clarabelle Cow.
* Mushu was also planned to escort the float, appearing alongside Mulan, but because of his unfortunate absence in the live-action Mulan movie, he was also replaced by Horace Horsecollar.
* Launchpad McQuack from Ducktales was supposed to serve as Mirabel's replacement, but following the Ducktales reboot's cancellation in late 2020, Launchpad was also replaced by Horace Horsecollar.
* This is the first time where Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Chip and Dale appear in the parade in their articulated head forms. Pluto is the only character on the float to not have an articulated head.
* The float features speakers, which play the song written for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, "The Magic Is Calling", performed by Journi, which also plays when the float passes by in the globally-seen telecast.
* Mickey and Minnie will also have dialogue as the float passes by, voiced by Bret Iwan and Kaitlyn Robrock respectively.
* This would be one of the last times where we see Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie in their old designs before their new modern looks arrived from Hong Kong Disneyland in early 2022.