The opening date for the new Ratatouille ride has been revealed as part of Disney World's 50th anniversary celebrations.

On October 1, guests will step through the gates to join Disney World in its golden 50th anniversary celebration.

Disney World has been preparing for this momentous occasion for a while, including Cinderella Castle's refreshed paint job in 2020, a range of new attractions under construction, a complete redesign of Epcot, and more.

Now, we have exciting new information about the timing and nature of the celebrations, including the much-anticipated opening date for the Remy's Ratatouille Adventure attraction in Epcot.

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The new Ratatouille attraction is set to debut soon.

Exciting updates are here for those eagerly anticipating the chance to visit the enhanced France Pavilion in Epcot and experience Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.

Following some delays due to the pandemic, both the attraction and the pavilion are now scheduled for a grand opening on October 1 as part of the 50th-anniversary festivities. By waiting until later in 2021, Disney hopes to better manage crowd sizes and capacity restrictions.

The celebration is set to extend beyond initial expectations.

As anticipated, Disney World's 50th-anniversary festivities will kick off on October 1, but we've just learned they'll continue for an impressive 18 months.

This extended celebration period is likely influenced by the pandemic, offering those not ready to travel in 2021 more time to join the fun. It also provides extra time to complete and launch attractions that won't be ready by October 2021 due to pandemic-related delays.

The castle will be beautifully decorated in gold.

Do you remember that whimsical candy-coated design Cinderella Castle had for its 25th anniversary?

This isn't at all what you might expect. Fortunately, gold represents the 50th anniversary, and it's clear that the castle will shine beautifully adorned with golden bunting and a brand-new 50th-anniversary emblem.

It's not only the Magic Kingdom and its castle that will receive an update; according to the official Disney Parks Blog, enchanting fireflies will take up residence in Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life, Hollywood Studios' Tower of Terror will feature a new overlay, and fresh lights will illuminate the reflective panels of Epcot's iconic Spaceship Earth.

New character costumes are on the way.

Mickey and Minnie are set to debut a special new look featuring a range of "earidescence" colors, including blues, purples, and, naturally, gold. By the time this celebration arrives, let's hope there's a way to capture more than just a distanced selfie with this golden duo.

Park pass reservations are already filled for October 1.

We now know the celebration will continue for 18 months, but if you want to be at the Magic Kingdom on the actual 50th-anniversary date of October 1, you face a significant challenge.

For months, advance Park Pass reservations necessary for entry into any Disney World theme park have been fully booked for the Magic Kingdom on October 1. However, the other three Disney World parks still have availability for that date, and the Magic Kingdom will open up slots starting the next day. Epcot also has availability on October 1 for the grand opening of Ratatouille as of this update.

You can still plan a trip to Disney World for the 50th anniversary week if you wish, but getting inside the Magic Kingdom on October 1 will require some luck to snag cancellations or additional openings if they become available.

Several Disney World hotels are fully booked for the October 1 weekend, although some still have availability.

This includes options like the Grand Floridian (which is within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom), Disney's Riviera Resort, and Disney's Caribbean Beach (both of which connect to the Skyliner for Epcot and Hollywood Studios), along with Disney's Coronado Springs Resort (featuring the new Gran Destino Tower) and Disney's Animal Kingdom Kidani Village. Prices start at approximately $300 per night and can exceed $1,000 per night, depending on the resort and room type.

Remember that the Disney Magical Express bus service to and from Orlando airport will operate through the end of 2021, but will not be available for trips beginning in 2022 and onward.

The on-property Disney Swan, Dolphin, and the new Swan Reserve (which are actually Marriott properties and not eligible for the Magical Express) also have availability for the October 1 weekend at around $300 or 50,000 to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

If you're considering a trip to Disney World from October 1 through the end of 2021, when crowds typically increase for the holidays, it's wise to make some refundable reservations sooner rather than later.

In summary

There's still a lot we don't know about what Disney is calling "The World's Most Magical Celebration," particularly the crucial information regarding which new shows, rides, and attractions will be ready for the event's launch on October 1. Some of this is likely to be influenced by capacity and safety guidelines.