Disneyland's 70th Anniversary Celebration Kicks Off May 2025: Full Guide to Events and Entertainment

Dec 06, 2024 in "Disneyland Resort"

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Disneyland's 70th Anniversary Celebration

Posted: Friday December 6, 2024 11:20am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disneyland Resort will mark its 70th anniversary with a celebration spanning from May 16, 2025, through summer 2026. This milestone honors seven decades of Disneyland memories with special entertainment, themed décor, food, and collectibles.

Here's a breakdown of what to expect during the celebration.

Nighttime Spectaculars and Parades

World of Color Happiness!

Disney California Adventure Park will debut a new "World of Color" show inspired by Walt Disney's dedication speech. Themed around happiness, the show will feature Joy and her "Inside Out" companions alongside iconic moments from Disney and Pixar films like Turning Red and Tangled. Expect dynamic fountains, lighting effects, lasers, and flame effects transforming Paradise Bay.

World of Color Happiness!

Paint the Night Parade

Returning to Disneyland Park, this nighttime parade features LED-lit floats showcasing beloved characters from Monsters, Inc., Toy Story, and more. The parade blends vibrant colors, music, and special effects for a visually stunning experience.

Paint the Night

Wondrous Journeys

Back at Disneyland Park, this show will project Disney Animation classics onto Sleeping Beauty Castle, Main Street, U.S.A., and "it's a small world." Enhanced with fireworks on select nights, it celebrates stories like Moana and Encanto.

Wondrous Journeys

Daytime Entertainment

Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!

This daytime parade at Disney California Adventure Park features nearly 30 Pixar characters from films such as Luca and Up, alongside lively music and colorful floats.

Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!

Mickey and Friends Celebrate Happy!

A new cavalcade at Disneyland Park invites guests to join Mickey, Minnie, and their friends for a high-energy procession celebrating seven decades of fun.

Themed Enhancements and Décor

Sleeping Beauty Castle

The castle will feature anniversary décor, including a commemorative medallion.

Sleeping Beauty Castle

Character Costumes

Mickey, Minnie, and friends will wear outfits created for the occasion, available for meet-and-greets in Town Square.

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse 70th anniversary costumes

Projection Displays

Carthay Circle Restaurant and "it's a small world" will showcase new projection shows designed for the celebration.

Seasonal Adjustments

Both "Wondrous Journeys" and the Pixar Pals parade will temporarily pause for Halloween and holiday events before returning later in the celebration.

Food, Merchandise, and More

Expect themed food and beverage offerings and exclusive collectibles highlighting the 70th anniversary. Further details will be released as the celebration approaches.

Stay tuned for updates as Disneyland continues to roll out plans for this historic occasion.

Discuss on the Forums

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Phroobar7 hours ago

They are saving it all for the 250th birthday of the country. ;)

TP200015 hours ago

Can you imagine if the 60th was bringing back Magic In The Stars, the night version of Parade Of Dreams, and a reworked version of WOC, AND a new version of Mr. Lincoln? While cancelling the day parade? People in 2015 would be furious. :mad: So why are people in 2025, who pay a lot more for tickets in '25 that we did in '15, supposed to be excited for a 60th celebration that brings back an old fireworks show, a ten year old night parade, a reworked version of WOC, and a Walt version of Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln? While simultaneously cancelling the day parade? And leaving both the Hyperion and Fantasyland theaters empty? So... let me let this sink it a bit... The only new thing for the 70th is the Walt robot? Plus whatever the 70th color scheme is for the bunting on the Castle and tram loading area? 🤔 We used to have much, much higher standards for Disneyland. Especially for major anniversaries like the 60th, 70th, etc.

TP200015 hours ago

I like your explanation the best. And you're probably right. The 40th was really good, the 60th was absolutely fantastic, but I guess we need to lower expectations for the 70th. 🧐

britain4 days ago

I think they think it’s kind of an obligatory celebration. Everyone in charge of any creative decisions is hoping to have the same job or better in 5 years. If they have any “fantastic” ideas for making a real impact, then they might easily just save those ideas for the 75th.

PiratesMansion4 days ago

In fairness, it's not even the end of the Holiday season yet and they are very clearly saving their fire for the 75th. I don't think anyone was ever expecting the 70th to match to 60th. Frankly, bringing back Wondrous Journeys (genuinely the best fireworks show they've done in AGES), Paint the Night, and a new WOC show, AND a new attraction, is a situation I'm pretty happy with. The ONLY thing I'm not happy about is that Magic Happens isn't running at all this year.

Disney Irish4 days ago

I don't know if it'll be as "grand", the 75th is likely to be the "grand" celebration you're expecting. So far they have slow rolled out the 70th information, I expect more stuff to be announced end of January/beginning of February. Also the Walt AA show is the "new" attraction opening for the 70th. The 60th didn't have a new attraction opening, it had new entertainment like PtN, which is coming back for the 70th.

TP20004 days ago

So, it's 2025 now. I created this thread back in May '24, but... Is it just me or does the 70th not seem to have much buzz and excitement going for it yet? They aren't really doing anything new, and nothing is opening or even being built currently, so... I get the sense this won't be anything as good or as grand as the 60th was in 2015. 🤔

drizgirl5 days ago

I remember the good old days when we could have current projects AND upcoming projects.

SweetDuffy1015 days ago

with present day disney, trying to cut costs to save money for upcoming projects.

drizgirl6 days ago

Nonsense. They did exactly that during the 60th.

TrainsOfDisney6 days ago

That’s an individual preference- I saw Magic Happens a crazy number of times! Why not?

Starship8247 days ago

They can, they ran sound sational and PTN at the same time in 2015 they can do it again they Just don't want to pay the staff for two parades at a time.

Starship8247 days ago

How awful that they get to see the best biggest new things within a week of each other. What ever will they do? 😂

Gusey7 days ago

Something I've just noticed, Disneyland's 70th is starting a week before Epic Universe opens in Florida. Let's hope the Disneyland 70th and Epic Universe media previews don't clash for those influencers