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Disney Makes Striking Change to Magic Kingdom Entrance – And Guests Aren’t Happy

Going from 50 to 100 doesn’t take long at all when you’re at Walt Disney World!

The Disney100 celebration is gearing up at Disney Parks across the world, with festivities including new shows, merchandise, dining, and more.

And now that the Walt Disney World Resort 50th celebration is over, the party can truly begin in the Orlando theme parks. Magic Kingdom has joined the celebration with a new entrance for Disney100, but not everyone is impressed with the change.

mickey and minnie disney 100

Credit: Disney

The Walt Disney Company is celebrating Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder, with new fireworks, surprises, and even Walt Disney himself coming back to life. It has been a whole 100 years since Walt and Roy Disney created the storytelling giant back in 1923, and the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris, and other international Disney Parks are all part of the global celebration.

The heart of the 100th-anniversary takes place at Disneyland Resort in California, where festivities kicked off on January 27 with the opening of Disney Parks’ second Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride in the renovated Mickey’s Toontown.

Two new nighttime spectaculars also made their debut: Wonderous Journeys fireworks at Disneyland Park and World of Color — One in Disney California Adventure, both of which commemorate the ways in which decades of Disney storytelling have contributed to our culture. As part of the 100-year celebration, the Walt Disney Company has also created two exciting exhibitions that will tour the world.

So how have Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom got in on the Disney100 action? Well, the party in Florida started with a sign.

disney castle disney100 100 years of wonder decor

Credit: Disney

Disney Cast Members are renowned for their quick decorating skills and overnight transformations – think Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Disney Park Christmas theming. Well, going from the 50th Anniversary celebration to the Disney100 was done in a similar fashion.

This week, Cast Members removed the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration sign from the Magic Kingdom entrance and replaced it with a Disney100 sign. Disney revealed the new signage in front of the Main Street, U.S.A. train station on social media, writing:

As @Disney marks its 100th anniversary, Magic Kingdom joins the celebration with the reveal of a platinum Disney100. This is the first of many exciting offerings coming to @WaltDisneyWorld in 2023 as we celebrate our storytellers and our fans. #Disney100

The entrance to the Magic Kingdom has officially been transformed from 50 to 100 with this new Disney100 sign above the iconic Mickey Mouse foilage. What do you think?

The entrance area has been a Disney staple since 1955 when Disneyland Park first opened. It often portrays different decor for the diverse events and holidays at Magic Kingdom, from Park anniversaries and summer slogans (like the famous “Let the Memories Begin! phase) to Christmas flowers and Halloween spooks.

Though it’s exciting to see the first major piece of Disney100 decor at Walt Disney World, the new sign seems to be very modern compared to the magic of the train station entrance and previous decorations.

disneys-magic-kingdom-50th

Credit: Disney Tips

Some 50th-anniversary decor will remain in the theme parks for the time being, including the golden 50th commemorative character statues and the lighting on Spaceship Earth at EPCOT. The Park will be the main host for Disney World’s Disney100 events, while Magic Kingdom will cycle through different themes each month to celebrate.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will also be donning new silver and purple celebration outfits at Disneyland as part of Disney100. Many fans expressed their disappointment with the 50th-anniversary overlays throughout the Parks, but now it seems like this new Disney100 decor is causing the same reaction.

Walt Disney World fans are making their voices heard on social media about the new signage, with Twitter user @MurphTLe writing that the Disney100 entrance decor is:

Giving off “Corporate Kingdom” vibes

Jyn Jerso (@rachierach117) made their opinion of the new Disney World addition very clear:

It’s so… bland
disney100 signage magic kingdom entrance train station

Credit: Disney

Twitter user @LittleManfish3 observed the stark difference between the magical Magic Kingdom entrance and the new Disney100 sign:
That sign clashes with the entrance so much… ugh.
While Bill Lipper (@BillLipper), also commented negatively on the new Walt Disney World decor, writing:
I would judge this “meh”
The “bland” Magic Kingdom entrance sign comes after a Disney100 banner in Disneyland was criticized for getting an important date wrong. The Disney100 decor strangely listed the Matterhorn’s opening year as 1955 rather than 1959.
We can’t wait to see what else the Disney100 brings to the Walt Disney World Resort and to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks.

About Melissa Cannioto

Melissa is an author, adventurer, and chatterbox, who has worked at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Adventures by Disney! A British native, she has traveled the world seeking new experiences, and now resides in Florida with her husband, an Air Force pilot. Find her children's book at @bear.hug.book