The Fab 50 is a great concept.
Although the majority of the selections, Disney made make sense. I feel like there are other characters that should be included.
But first, let’s look at all the ones I’m keeping.
Well obviously, you can’t have a Fab 50 without the original gang!
Iconic characters from Walt Disney Animation all have some form of representation at Walt Disney World.
More on Figment later but someone should be joining this EPCOT icon. So happy to see Orange Bird.
Another one that needs someone else with him.
Makes perfect sense considering the Mad Tea Party is a staple of Walt Disney World.
In a way, I feel like R2-D2 represents that Star Tours era of Walt Disney World. Where BB-8 represents the Galaxy’s Edge era of Walt Disney World.
Stitch is a fan favorite and a character that has had drawing power despite not having a new film/series for a long time.
Pixar characters are well represented in Walt Disney World at Animal Kingdom and EPCOT.
Frozen is featured in Norway at EPCOT and Frozen remains super popular.
Makes perfect sense with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coming to EPCOT most likely during this celebration.
Another statue combination that makes sense considering Moana: Journey of Water should realistically open at EPCOT during this celebration.
You may be wondering why I chose to keep Joe Gardner and Miguel? Both characters don’t have huge presences at Walt Disney World? That’s where I predict both Soul and Coco will have bigger presences in Walt Disney World in the future.
So, I kept 38 out of the original 50. I felt like Disney put too many side characters. And some of the characters just didn’t fit the past, present, or future of Walt Disney World resort.
This leaves me with picking out 12 characters. Let’s make the most of it!
The New Additions
*Some statues will only count as one character others will count as two.
Buzz Lightyear
No brainer. Iconic character. Buzz Lightyear his own attraction in Tomorrowland! Not to mention a version of the character has his own film coming out in 2022, smack dab in the middle of this 18-month celebration.
Dream Statue Location: By Woody’s Fab 50 Statue, Toy Story Land, or in Tomorrowland in front of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
Dreamfinder
This is a nod to the past but also a wink towards the future. Disney has an obsession with mining its theme parks for profitable intellectual property. Who is to say that Dreamfinder and Figment could be their next big Disney+ series or film? Why not give it a shot?
Dream Statue Location: By the Figment Fab 50 statue.
Yeti
Disney could easily do a cartoonish version of the Yeti for a Fab 50 statue. It would give representation to an original Animal Kingdom character. Also, Expedition Everest was once the most expensive roller coaster ever built ($100M) before losing that record to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure ($300M). I think it would be fun to honor it during the 50th anniversary. Also, with its opening in 2006, it was one of the last new non-intellectual property attractions to come out.
Dream Statue Location: By Expedition Everest.
Kermit & Miss Piggy
This is another one that is simply a no-brainer. Muppet Vision 3D opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 1991. The Muppets have been a part of Walt Disney World for years. Heck, they even have a restaurant in EPCOT now.
Why wouldn’t you recognize iconic characters like Kermit and Miss Piggy with Fab 50 statues? Especially considering that The Muppets are now under Walt Disney Imagineering.
Dream Statue Location: By Muppet Vision 3D.
Iguanodon
This is similar in the way of the Yeti but a cartoonish version of an Iguanodon would be a great way to represent Countdown to Extinction/Dinosaur. Which was an opening day attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Dream Statue Location: Near Dinosaur or somewhere within DinoLand U.S.A.
Big Al
Dream Statue Location: By Country Bear Jamboree.
Jose
It just makes sense to honor another classic attraction in Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. And obviously, Jose would be a good choice here to be the statue unless they opted to have all the birds on the statue but this is a made-up scenario!
Dream Statue Location: By Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
Genie
Hey, wouldn’t it make sense to have a Fab 50 statue of the Genie because he’s an iconic Disney character, and secondly Disney is naming a digital service after the character?
Dream Statue Location: By Aladdin’s Magic Carpets in Adventureland.
The Hitchhiking Ghosts
The Haunted Mansion has almost become an IP in itself. So, why not include The Hitchhiking Ghosts? I could already imagine what this Fab 50 statue would look like too.
Dream Statue Location: Near the Haunted Mansion.
A Na’Vi
Have the Na’Vi riding on the back of a banshee. This could represent Pandora being a success at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s future with Avatar.
Dream Statue Location: Pandora — The World of Avatar.
Lagoona Gator & Ice Gator
You can’t forget about Walt Disney World’s two water parks! It’s an important part of the resort’s history and for that reason, Fab 50 statues at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach of Lagoona Gator and Ice Gator would be awesome.
Dream Statue Location: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
How would you have done the Walt Disney World Fab 50? Tweet at us:
If you were in charge of picking characters for the Disney Fab 50 for #DisneyWorld50. What characters would you pick and why? pic.twitter.com/7Q9q1UPQHh
— Boardwalk Times (@BoardwalkTimes) September 5, 2021
If you were in charge of picking characters for the Disney Fab 50 for #DisneyWorld50. What characters would you pick and why? pic.twitter.com/7Q9q1UPQHh
— Boardwalk Times (@BoardwalkTimes) September 5, 2021
I hope you enjoyed my picks. I could’ve gone really crazy — I’m looking at you Hooter from Captain EO — but I felt like this was a balanced approach to honoring Walt Disney World’s legacy while recognizing some more parks-specific characters and playing into nostalgia.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
