TRAVELDisney WorldAdd TopicSee how Walt Disney World has changed over the last 50 yearsUSA TODAYWalt Disney World turns 50 years old on Oct. 1. See how it's changed over the last half century.David Roark Via The Walt Disney CompanyThis is what Cinderella Castle looked like under construction at Magic Kingdom Park in 1971.Disney, Handout, The Walt Disney CompanyIt's hard to tell, but this is Haunted Mansion, as it was being built at Magic Kingdom Park in 1971.Disney, Handout, The Walt Disney CompanyDumbo the Flying Elephant is seen under construction in 1971 at Magic Kingdom Park.Disney, Handout, The Walt Disney CompanyDisney’s Polynesian Village Resort is seen coming together in 1971.Disney, Handout, The Walt Disney CompanyDisney's Contemporary Resort was one of the first hotels at Walt Disney World. Here's what it looked like under construction on July 7, 1971.SDS, ASSOCIATED PRESSEager visitors packed Magic Kingdom on Oct. 2, 1971.ASSOCIATED PRESSMickey Mouse joined Walt Disney Company co-founder Roy O. Disney for the Oct. 25, 1971 dedication ceremony of Walt Disney World Resort on Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom.The Walt Disney CompanyThis was Lake Buena Vista Village (now Disney Springs) in 1975.Handout, The Walt Disney CompanySpace Mountain is seen in the distance of the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland in 1976.The Walt Disney CompanyHere's what Big Thunder Mountain Railroad looked like under construction at Magic Kingdom Park in 1980.Disney, Handout, The Walt Disney CompanyDisney parades come and go, like this one from 1996, but their popularity remains.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyFestive friends parade down Magic Kingdom's Main Street, U.S.A. during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in 1996.Handout, Walt Disney CompanySega - Virtua Formula is seen at Epcot Center (now just Epcot) on Aug. 5, 1997.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyDisney's Yacht Club Resort, near Epcot and what was then Disney's MGM Studios Theme Park, is seen on May 13, 1997.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyWolfgang Puck Cafe is seen at Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs) on Sept. 10, 1997.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyFantasy in the Sky fireworks lit up the Magic Kingdom on Oct. 8, 1999.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyEpcot's Spaceship Earth looked a little different on June 26, 2000.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyMickey and Minnie Mouse celebrated the holidays at Epcot on Nov. 20, 2000.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyLife-size toy soldiers filled Main Street, U.S.A. during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade at the Magic Kingdom on Nov. 20, 2000.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyCouples could dance the night away at BET Soundstage in Downtown Disney Pleasure Island (now Disney Springs), as seen on Dec. 18, 2000.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyA young guest showed off paper FastPass tickets on July 12, 2001.Handout, Walt Disney CompanySecurity officials checked bags as guests entered the Magic Kingdom on Nov. 11, 2001.Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesGuests took in a show in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom on Nov. 11, 2001.Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesKilimanjaro Safaris, as seen on Jan. 22, 2002, remains one of the most popular attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyAll sorts of fish could be seen at The Living Seas in Epcot on June 18, 2003.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyDisney's Hollywood Studios' once iconic sorcerer's hat is seen on Aug. 13, 2003.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyFireworks lit up the sky over the Magic Kingdom on Nov. 3, 2003.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyMickey Mouse greeted a trick-or-treater at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom on Sept. 21, 2004.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyThe Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland was all aglow on July 13, 2004.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyThe Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights used to be a Christmas tradition at Disney's Hollywood Studios, as seen in this photo from Dec. 21, 2004.David Roark, Walt Disney WorldSoarin' took guests to new heights at Epcot on April 3, 2005.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyCrush 'n' Gusher made a splash at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon on April 13, 2005.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyTest Track, as seen on Aug. 1, 2005, is still one of the most popular attractions at Epcot.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyMission: SPACE is seen at Epcot on June 14, 2005, where the Horizons attraction used to be.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyPrimeval Whirl took guests for a spin at Disney's Animal Kingdom on Nov. 14, 2005.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyEpcot guests can taste the world at the World Showcase, as seen on Nov. 14, 2005.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyMeticulously manicured topiaries can be spotted throughout Epcot during its annual International Flower & Garden Festival, as seen on March 2, 2010.Handout, Walt Disney CompanyThen-first lady Michelle Obama danced with Perry the Platypus and choreographer Rosero McCoy at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex while celebrating the second anniversary of the Let's Move campaign on Feb. 11, 2012.Carolyn Kaster, APGuests strolled past Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse's statue at the Magic Kingdom on June 5, 2012.John Raoux, APActress Ginnifer Goodwin, then-Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs, singer Jordin Sparks and Mickey Mouse helped mark the grand opening of the New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom on Dec. 6, 2012.Phelan M. Ebenhack, APTourists took the Journey of the Little Mermaid at the Magic Kingdom on Dec. 6, 2012.Phelan M. Ebenhack, APThe nighttime show Rivers of Light lit up the night at Disney's Animal Kingdom on Oct. 16, 2016.Kent Phillips, Walt Disney CompanyDisney and Intel partnered for "Starbright Holidays: An Intel Collaboration," a drone show at Disney Springs, as seen on Nov. 15, 2016.Matt Stroshane, Walt Disney CompanyThere's no mistaking the destination with this huge welcome sign, seen on Jan. 31, 2017.John Raoux, APBoats sailed along Na'vi River Journey at Disney's Animal Kingdom's Pandora: The World of AVATAR on March 26, 2017.Steven Diaz, Walt Disney CompanyAn animatronic Pirate Redd was added to Pirates of the Caribbean at both Disney World and Disneyland in 2018 as the attraction updated its depiction of women.Charles Sykes, Invision Via APSkyliner gondolars carried guests between destinations on Sept. 27, 2019.John Raoux, AP“Mickey and Friends Cavalcade" took the place of traditional parades when Walt Disney World reopened amid the pandemic on July 11, 2020.Olga Thompson, The Walt Disney CompanySocial distancing was in effect on "It's a Small World" as the Magic Kingdom reopened on July 11, 2020.Kent Phillips, The Walt Disney CompanyA young guest was among the first visitors at Disney’s Animal Kingdom when it reopened on July 11, 2020.Olga Thompson, The Walt Disney CompanySigns reminded guests of health and safety measures throughout Walt Disney World Resort as it reopened on July 11, 2020.Kent Phillips, The Walt Disney CompanyThe Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a Disney's Hollywood Studios landmark, is seen on Aug. 7, 2020.Charles Sykes, Invision Via APThe Tree of Life, a symbol of Disney's Animal Kingdom, is seen on Aug. 10, 2020.Charles Sykes, Invision Via APThe Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios lets diners feel like they're at a drive-in, as seen on Aug. 11, 2020.Charles Sykes, Invision Via APMillennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, seen on Aug. 11, 2020, remains one of the most popular attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios.Charles Sykes, Invision Via APThree new pylons stood at the entrance to EPCOT on Aug. 11, 2020.David Roark, The Walt Disney CompanyA balloon vendor greeted guests on Main Street, U.S.A. on Aug. 12, 2020.Charles Sykes, Invision Via APSeven Dwarfs Mine Train, as seen on Aug.13, 2020, is one of the most popular rides at the Magic Kingdom.Charles Sykes, Invision Via APThe Magic Kingdom's iconic Cinderella Castle was recently given a royal makeover with a new color scheme.Matt Stroshane, The Walt Disney CompanyBeginning Oct. 1, Mickey Mouse and his friends will host “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” honoring the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort.Matt Stroshane Via The Walt Disney CompanyThe grand opening of Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is also set for Oct. 1 at Epcot.Matt Stroshane Via The Walt Disney CompanyFeatured Weekly Ad