Disneyland Marks 70th Anniversary: Disneyland Resort has launched its yearlong 70th anniversary celebration, honoring the legacy of the park that opened in 1955. The festivities, under the theme Celebrate Happy, feature new entertainment, returning fan-favorites, exclusive merchandise, and themed food offerings that commemorate the milestone.
The celebration began Friday, inviting longtime guests and newcomers to experience both new and nostalgic Disneyland moments. Since Walt Disney first opened the gates to his dream park in Anaheim, California, the resort has grown into a global symbol of joy. Now, 70 years later, it celebrates the millions of visitors who have made it their own through birthdays, proposals, and other personal milestones.
“We wanted this to be the best birthday party ever and we want all of you to celebrate with us.” – (David Caranci, manager, Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering)
Throughout the resort, Disneyland is decked out in vibrant blue, pink, and purple decorations. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and other classic characters are debuting new outfits created specifically for the anniversary. These can be seen at character meet and greets and during the Celebrate Happy Cavalcade, a mini parade at Disneyland Park.
The cavalcade also features rare appearances by Duffy the Disney Bear and ShellieMay, who typically appear only at Disney parks in Asia. Duffy is celebrating 20 years at Disney Parks, while ShellieMay is making her first major appearance at Disneyland.
A new nighttime projection show, Tapestry of Happiness, is now showing on the “it’s a small world” façade. Inspired by the art of Disney Legend Mary Blair, the display adds an artistic flair to the celebration lineup. On the anniversary date, July 17, a new show, Walt Disney – A Magical Life, will premiere at the Main Street Opera House. The attraction will feature Disney’s first audio-animatronic of Walt Disney himself, offering visitors a unique historical tribute.
That same day, additional experiences will launch on Main Street, U.S.A., including a revised “it’s a small world” verse. “We’ve got the big spectaculars, we’ve got the parades, but we’ve also got those moments that you can experience and have just a little bit of magic every night,” said Jennifer McGill, executive producer for Disney Live Entertainment.
Over at Disney California Adventure (DCA), Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit of Magic Every Night is a short projection show that transforms the Carthay Circle Restaurant into Sleeping Beauty Castle with the help of Tinker Bell.
The park’s headline evening show is World of Color – Happiness!, the seventh iteration of the World of Color series. Anchored by characters from Inside Out, the production is preceded by a pre-show featuring the Muppets, who are also celebrating their 70th anniversary.
“If you don’t leave that show humming, dancing, moving, feeling all the wonderful emotions, I’ll be very surprised.” – (McGill)
For those seeking interactive experiences, Toy Story Mania has received a limited-time overlay. Guests can now aim at “70” targets to earn bonus points, in keeping with the anniversary theme. Across Disneyland Resort, guests will find more than 70 new food and drink items. Many pay tribute to the park’s culinary past.
“We’re really excited to have some of these nostalgic classics back in the parks.” – (Disneyland Chef Steven Medina)
“And can’t talk about Disney history with food without talking about chili. You know Walt was very notoriously famous for loving the chili here in the parks, so we brought those in two different ways.” – (Medina)
Among them are opening-day dishes like banana splits and Apple Pancake Rolls, as well as chili-based items inspired by Walt Disney’s favorite meal. These include the W.E.D. Chili Cheese Baked Potato and a Chili Cheese Corn Dog rolled in corn chips.
Other retro-inspired items include a shimmering light-up beverage nodding to the 1980s Videopolis era and a Hook’s Galley Tuna Melt referencing the former Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant.
Several returning entertainment favorites are also part of the anniversary celebration. Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!, a daytime parade at DCA, has returned with characters from Turning Red, Toy Story, and Monsters, Inc. Disneyland has revived its popular Paint the Night parade and the nighttime show Wondrous Journeys, which pays homage to 60 Disney animated films.
“One of the things that I think is really special about the 70th is that we have a lot of new exciting offerings, but we also have listened to the fans, and we are bringing back those classics that not only our guests but our cast members truly, truly love.” – (McGill)
Beyond the 70th-themed experiences, other updates are happening across the resort. On Friday, DCA introduced Disney Junior: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, a musical-style show for families. Director David Underwood said it was designed for all ages, describing it as “a mini musical” with music, dancing, and bubbles. It features the familiar Hot Dog Dance from the popular children’s series.
“I really wanted to make sure that this show was for the entire family. Our show really feels like a mini musical.” – (Underwood)
“And this kind of is where the fun begins.” – (Underwood)
Additional offerings include the return of Pixar Pals Playtime Party and Stitch’s Interplanetary Beach Party Blast on May 23. Pride Nite is scheduled for June. Later this summer, Disney Junior Let’s Play! Party will launch at DCA and Downtown Disney. Seasonal events such as Halloween Time, Plaza de la Familia, and Holidays at the Disneyland Resort are also confirmed to return.
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