Disneyland Resort’s 70th-anniversary celebrations will begin on 16 May 2025 and run through summer 2026, with limited-time entertainment, colourful décor, themed food and beverages, collectable merchandise, and more.
New nighttime shows
A new nighttime spectacular for Disney California Adventure Park, World of Colour Happiness, will explore the theme of ‘happy’, hosted by Joy and the other Emotions from Pixar’s Inside Out and Inside Out 2. It takes inspiration from Walt Disney’s words from seven decades ago, dedicated the park on opening day: “To all who come to this happy place… welcome!”
It will feature music and moments from much-loved Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios stories, including Turning Red, A Goofy Movie, Tangled, The Lion King and more. Paradise Bay will be transformed with signature fountains, dynamic lighting, colourful lasers, fog and dramatic flame effects.
In addition, the Paint the Night Parade will return to Disneyland Park, lighting up Main Street, U.S.A., with over a million brilliant LED lights.
Mickey Mouse uses his vibrant imagination to use Tinker Bell’s pixie dust and “Paint the Night” with Disney dreams, bringing to light beloved characters and tales from Pixar and Disney Animation films like Monsters, Inc., Cars, Toy Story, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and beyond.
Guests can enjoy imaginative floats, vibrant costumes, spectacular special effects, memorable music, and lively performances.
The Wondrous Journeys nighttime spectacular will also return to Disneyland Park, celebrating the legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios classics that have inspired Walt Disney’s original magic kingdom. During the show, visitors are taken on a journey rich with artistry, music, storytelling, and emotion, encountering memorable moments from tales such as Hercules, The Princess and the Frog, Peter Pan, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Moana, Encanto, and others.
The show showcases cutting-edge projection effects that enhance Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, “it’s a small world,” and the Rivers of America. On certain nights, the experience will be further elevated with fireworks.
Parades, characters and more
As part of the 70th anniversary celebrations, Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Parade will return to Disney California Adventure Park. This daytime parade features music, colourful floats and nearly 30 beloved characters from Pixar Animation Studios films, including Luca, Turning Red, Up, and more.
Meanwhile, more details and magical touches will be coming to the resort for the 70th celebration. Colourful décor will be added throughout the resort, including a medallion on Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their friends will wear special outfits designed specifically for the party in Town Square at Disneyland Park.
Disneyland Park is set to introduce a new character cavalcade titled Mickey and Friends Celebrate Happy! As it winds along the parade route, popular characters will invite guests to take part in a celebration of seventy years of joy.
In the evenings at California Adventure, the Carthay Circle Restaurant’s exterior will invite everyone to “celebrate happy” with a display of music, lights, and projection effects. Meanwhile, Disneyland’s “it’s a small world” façade will feature a new projection show.
In addition, to commemorate the anniversary, an upbeat new theme song, “Celebrate Happy,” will be featured in various entertainment offerings.
Last week, Disneyland submitted plans for preliminary work for its Avengers Campus expansion, which includes two new themed attractions. Disney California Adventure is set to begin backstage preparations for the expansion of Avengers Campus, which will double in size and offer two new attractions – Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab. Construction on these will start in 2025.
Images courtesy of Disney
