LET’S go fly a kite, up to the highest height … Disney today unveiled a colourful family attraction to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World resort.

In a worldwide online reveal introduced by Julie Andrews, who famously played Mary Poppins – no stranger to kites – the entertainment giant outlined a host of new attractions for an 18-month season opening tomorrow.

There are hi-tech attractions galore, sensational new nighttime fireworks shows and projections, gadgets and gizmos, all to the soundtrack of new singalong anthems delivered with a sprinkle of Disney magic.

But amid all the bells and whistles, Disney are taking things back to basics, albeit in thoroughly contemporary style.

Disney KiteTails is a new daytime show in the Orlando resort’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and will appeal to families, particularly those with young children.

Staged several times daily at the Discovery River Theater, expert kite flyers will set their animal character creations soaring into the air, some of them dragged at speed across the water by speedboats.

There’ll be windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes – some stretching to 30 feet long – depicting Disney animal friends such as Simba, Zazu, Baloo and King Louie. It’s cute, it’s clever and it’s a new spin on old school entertainment.

What kid doesn’t love a kite?

Other highlights of the season include Harmonious, one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney theme park, taking EPCOT guests on a journey through new interpretations of classic Disney songs.

Inspired and influenced by cultures and people from around the world, the music plays amid choreographed moving fountains and lights, lasers, fireworks and other pyrotechnics above and around World Showcase Lagoon.

The traditional evening lightshow at Cinderella’s Castle has been given a makeover, too, and for the first time Disney Enchantment will be beamed on the shop frontages all the way along Main Street USA too.

Other new attractions from tomorrow include the arrival of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – an immersive trackless ride already a huge hit in Disneyland Paris – and Beacons Of Light, in which landmarks will be bathed with an ‘EARidescent’ glow.

Look out, too, for 50 new golden character sculptures around the parks.

Further ahead, there’ll be 2022 debuts for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind reverse launch rollercoaster and the two-night Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, both of which I’ve covered here and here.

During today’s launch, fans were also given their first look at the command deck of the starcruiser, where they’ll do their training during the two-night adventure.

Last, but not least, guests will soon enjoy new MagicBand+ wristbands which will interact with some of the shows as well as serving as room key, wallet and parks guide, and Hey Disney! smartspeakers using Alexa technology.

For latest pricing, travel advice, and to book, see www.disneyholidays.co.uk or call 0800 169 0730.