A Celebration of a Lifetime
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Disney and 100 years of iconic movies and characters that bring us those warm, fuzzy, nostalgic feels! For many of us, especially us here at Sundance Vacations, the wonderfully magical world of Disney and its heartwarming stories has shaped our lives tremendously. For us, Walt Disney was a household name. So, starting on January 27th in Disneyland, we can celebrate a century of Disney magic in style!
During the 2022 D23 Expo, many of the worldwide festivities were announced to set off the celebration to honor 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, but how will the parks celebrate such a momentous occasion? As of right now, there’s no indication that Walt Disney World will be offering the same experiences as its California counterpart, but updates will be posted if anything on the Florida front is announced.
On January 27th, cast members welcomed guests into Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom with oversized, Mickey-gloved waves and high fives to begin the celebration. The event will bring new and returning fan-favorite firework shows to the parks, including the popular Happily Ever After show! As for new parades, expect the Disney 100 Cavalcade to hit the roads of Main Street USA daily at 1 PM. You’re going to want to catch Mickey and friends in their special holographic attire! In addition, the newly renovated Toon Town is planned to be unveiled on March 8th, 2023, though its headliner ride, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened on January 27th, 2023.
Themed, limited-edition decorations, merchandise, and food can also be found around the California parks! The current collection, The Eras Collection, features a variety of merch to celebrate the centennial!
On April 4th, 2023, you’ll be able to hop aboard the NEW TRON Lightcycle Power Run coaster in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom—a long awaited favorite of visitors to Shanghai Disneyland. If you’re looking for a highspeed adventure ride, this technical marvel clocks in just under 60mph. The idea of installing TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Disneyland in Anaheim has been pitched, but there’s no current news on its arrival.
EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
New to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival? If you’re visiting Walt Disney World between March 1st, 2023 to July 5th, 2023 you can expect to see vibrant topiary displays of your favorite Disney characters, a unique mix of foreign food stalls, and electric, magical musical performances! New limited-edition merchandise will be available for purchase, which will feature everyone’s favorite purple dragon, Figment, and plenty of 100 Year Anniversary merch will be available throughout the parks! Also, be sure to check out new merchandise with everybody’s favorite returning mascot—Orange Bird! Visit 2022 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival | Sundance Vacations to see what last year’s festival offered!
Entertainment
As the EPCOT Festival of the Arts draws to a close on February 20th, 2023, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival begins to bloom on March 2nd, 2023. As one of our favorite annual Disney celebrations, we’ll be updating you with new information as it drops throughout the course of the event. The live entertainment lineup and schedule for Garden Rocks has been released and looks like this:
Journey Former Lead Vocalist STEVE AUGERI
March 3 & 4
Daughtry
March 5 & 6
Tommy DeCarlo
March 10 & 11
Smash Mouth
March 12 & 13
Mike DelGuidice
March 17 & 18
Blue Oyster Cult
March 19 & 20
Berlin
March 24 & 25
The Pointer Sisters
March 26 & 27
Luis Figueroa
March 31
Piso 21
April 1 & 2
TBD
April 3
STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
April 7 & 8
Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
April 9 & 10
Blue October
April 14 & 15
Switchfoot
April 16 & 17
A Flock of Seagulls
April 21 & 22
Jo Dee Messina
April 23 & 24
Ambrosia with Peter Beckett, The Voice Of Player
April 28 & 29
Kool & The Gang
April 30 & May 1
Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 5 to 8
The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
May 12 to 15
A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce
May 19 & 20
Casting Crowns
May 21 & 22
Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago
May 26 & 27
Rick Springfield
May 28 & 29
Plain White T’s
June 2 to 5
The Spinners
June 9 & 10
The Commodores
June 11 & 12
Vertical Horizon
June 16 & 17
Tony Orlando
June 18 & 19
Simple Plan
June 23 to 26
Living Colour
June 30 & July 1
Wang Chung
July 2 & 3
Outdoor Kitchens
If you need an extra push to visit the festival, the new and returning breakfast, lunch, and dinner options should be enough to have you packing your bags! Each pavilion will have unbelievably delicious food originating from its designated country. On this occasion, we suggest stuffing yourself silly since these special additions will only be available during the 2023 International Flower & Garden Festival!
BRUNCHCOT (Near Test Track presented by Chevrolet®)
EPCOT Farmers Feast (Near Test Track presented by Chevrolet®)
The Citrus Blossom (Odyssey Pavilion)
Florida Fresh (Near Disney Traders)
Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico Pavilion)
Lotus House (China Pavilion)
Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market (Germany Pavilion)
Primavera Kitchen (Italy Pavilion)
Magnolia Terrace (American Adventure Pavilion)
Hanami (Japan Pavilion)
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco Pavilion)
La Isla Fresca (Between Morocco and France)
Fleur de Lys (France Pavilion)
Northern Bloom (Canada Pavilion)
Trowel & Trellis Hosted by Impossible™ (Near Port of Entry)
The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board™ (Near Port of Entry)
Plan your visit to Disney with Sundance Vacations! We have tons of highly rated resorts in and around Orlando, but a favorite of visitors is the Grande Villas Resort. This resort is your very own slice of tropical paradise, just minutes from all the world-class attractions found in Orlando, Florida. If you’re looking to travel to Anaheim, California for the Disney100 Celebration, our Grand Pacific Palisades Resort provides a hub away from the hustle and bustle of Anaheim, but is close enough for you to experience the magic!
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