A Walt Disney World Retrospective: 8 Magical Milestones So Far in the 2020s

Walt Disney World’s official 50th anniversary has come and gone, and the celebration has ended. In preparation for the resort’s golden anniversary, a number of refurbishments, upgrades, and new additions have been in the works for the past few years. However, the closures and restrictions resulting from COVID-19 pandemic have put many of these projects on hold or have delayed their opening. While some of these projects have been all but canceled, such as the major refurbishment of Spaceship Earth and the addition of a Mary Poppins-themed attraction at Epcot, many things have opened or been introduced in the 2020s. Learn about the eight magical milestones so far in the 2020s below.

8 – Lightning Lanes 

Like it or not, Lightning Lanes are here to stay as part of the current My Disney Experience app. Most guests are not happy about the two paid services. To make the day “more spontaneous,” guests are able to purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass service, which allows them to utilize the Lightning Lane on some of the park’s most popular attractions throughout the day (a new paid iteration of the retired FastPass service). This daily add-on costs guests anywhere from $15-39 per day. For guests interested in only making reservations for a few rides rather than an entire day, selections can be made for Single Pass attractions where the prices fluctuate with demand (anywhere from $7-$25 per ride, per guest). While these controversial paid services may be a positive or a negative depending on who you ask, they have definitely changed how people vacation and experience a Walt Disney World vacation.

7 – Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life

Over the past four years, the stylized white circus tent situated at the far west end of Disney Springs has sat empty, devoid of an audience and acrobats. The previous show, Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba, closed in 2017 to make way for a new performance. It was later announced that the circus troupe was working on Drawn to Life, which was co-created by Cirque du Soleil, Imagineering, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The show, which is now open, follows a girl who attempts to fulfill her father’s legacy in completing his final project: an animated cartoon. With the help of an anthropomorphized pencil, the protagonist learns about the Disney animation process, depicted by acrobatics and circus acts. This show brings some much-needed Disney-themed entertainment to the Walt Disney World properties outside the Disney theme parks.

6 – Roundup Rodeo BBQ

Hollywood Studios’ newest sit-down restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, is open, and guests are (mostly) loving it. The addition of a sit-down dining experience has been very welcome in a quadrant of the park where such options are lacking. Andy constructed a rodeo in his backyard for Woody, Jessy, and Bullseye out of cardboard boxes and several playsets. Guests are seated amongst Western and train-themed playsets, maintaining their toy-sized scale as though they are a part of the rodeo while enjoying a Western barbecue. This restaurant is more appealing to families with young kids than some of the other establishments throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

5 – Interactive Magic Bands

MagicBand+ debuted at the end of July 2022. These updated RFID-enabled bands light up, vibrate, and even respond to guest movement during visits to the parks. These bracelets light up in sync with nighttime shows, including fireworks shows at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and even interact with the Fab 50 statues scattered throughout the parks. They can also be used to participate in various activities at some of the themed lands, such as Hollywood Studios’ Galaxy’s Edge. Reviews have been mixed with the technology not quite hitting the mark. Many guests have reported problems with the bands not responding at all and trouble pairing them to their accounts. We expect Disney will address these issues, but the rollout has not been smooth, to say the least!

4 – Epcot Redesign

A recent trend in the realm of fashion, entertainment, and design is the adage, “What is old is new again.” Vinyl has seen a resurgence, popular TV shows that we grew up with are being rebooted, and big scrunchies and mom jeans are coming back (unfortunately). Fans of Disney nostalgia have been getting a special treat over the past several years as Epcot has been getting a massive overhaul and redesign. The entrance fountain is back, as are the classic pavilion logos. However, the park has also gotten a refresh that brings new life to the dusty old plans of the 1980s. For instance, the park has renamed its lands. No more Future World and World Showcase: instead, the different areas of the park are referred to as World Discovery, World Celebration, World Nature, and World Showcase. While some have been disappointed with this move, the change makes thematic sense as the pavilions in each of these sections no longer focus on the future but rather on the themes of nature, discovery, celebrating global unity, and the nations of the world. New experiences, such as the Journey of Water, rebranded pavilions (such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind), and refreshed architecture and landscaping help to bring this park, which has lost so much of its identity over the past two decades, back to its original concept: a place where “human achievements are celebrated” as well as where guests are “entertain[ed], inform[ed] and inspire[d].”

3 – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

One thing that is great about the attractions at Walt Disney World is that regardless of the format, duration, location, or thrill level, they all tell a highly immersive story. This is even the case with thrill rides, which often don’t allow riders long to focus on the details of individual scenes. To effectively maintain this story, Imagineers provide guests with highly detailed queues, impressionistic props and details, and music and sound effects that help to tell the story. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is now open, and guests are raving about the new type of coaster, where the cars rotate 360º to focus on show elements as they rocket through time and space. Check out our review by clicking here.

2- TRON Lightcycle / Run

When a Tron-themed coaster was added to Shanghai Disneyland, Disney fans in the United States were incredibly jealous. Imagineers have paid lip service to guests in domestic parks over the years by incorporating nods to the classic cult film over the past few decades, but it has never been a fully devoted attraction. When Disney announced at the D23 convention in 2017 that it would be bringing the Tron coaster to the Magic Kingdom in time for the park’s fiftieth anniversary, it quickly became the most anticipated new attraction at Walt Disney World. TRON Lightcyle / Run’s opening was delayed due to the pandemic, but the attraction opened in April 2023, and guests love it. The attraction brings new thrills and kinetic energy to Tomorrowland!

1 – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom is now open. Initially announced in June 2020, construction began in late January 2023 to transform the former Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The new attraction opened on June 28, 2024. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure invites guests to join beloved characters Princess Tiana, Mama Odie, Louis, and all-new friends on a thrilling adventure, all set against the music and excitement of a New Orleans celebration. This new attraction will feature dozens of Audio-Animatronics figures, a foot-tapping soundtrack, and a celebration where everyone’s welcome. Reaction to the attraction has been mixed. Learn more about the attraction by clicking here.