Disneyland seventieth Anniversary Celebration: What We Know & Want Record

Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary celebration kicks off in 2025, and Disney has shared a sneak peek on the brand and teased what’s to come back for the milestone. This submit covers all the things we all know to this point in regards to the occasion, plus our wishlist for nighttime spectaculars, parades, fireworks, trip reimaginings–and what we do NOT need throughout Disneyland70.

The Disneyland seventieth Anniversary information was introduced in the course of the “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase” or Parks Panel presentation in the course of the 2024 D23 Expo on the Honda Heart in Anaheim, California. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro provided a sneak peek at idea artwork for the longer term as well as and teased what was to come back in just a few years.

This was really one of many first bulletins in the course of the Parks Panel, with Full Home star John Stamos sharing that Disneyland can be celebrating its seventieth anniversary in 2025. Calling it an announcement wouldn’t fairly be apt, since birthdays are extra in regards to the passage of time dictated by math or no matter. This yr was the 69th anniversary, so we might sorta deduce that 70 could be subsequent. Anyway…

The official brand for the Disneyland Resort seventieth Anniversary was additionally revealed in the course of the Parks Panel. It includes a purple “70” with pink fort towers and a streak of stars. It’s positively extra on the playful aspect than we have been anticipating for the platinum anniversary, paying homage to a Tokyo Disneyland type celebration than what we’ve seen lately from the home parks.

Other than the brand, this was actually only a tease that the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration is on the horizon in 2025. The corporate additionally indicated that “extra particulars to be shared within the coming months about this thrilling upcoming celebration.”

The one substantive announcement so far for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary is {that a} becoming tribute to Walt Disney will debut on Foremost Road USA. Walt Disney Imagineering is designing the primary ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics as a part of a brand new stage present, “Walt Disney — A Magical Life.”

The previous, current and future are lastly coming collectively for this brand-new stage present. When “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” debuts in 2025 on Foremost Road at Disneyland, guests may have the prospect to think about what it will be prefer to cease by Walt’s workplace. Who is aware of what he is perhaps dreaming up inside? Solely time will inform with Walt.

“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will debut contained in the Foremost Road Opera Home, and after its preliminary run, the attraction will play in rotation with “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” A becoming acknowledgement of Walt’s vital advances with Audio-Animatronics about 60 years in the past when he first launched the groundbreaking know-how.

Solid Members already kicked off anniversary preparations for the anniversary celebration with a “Highway to the seventieth” backstage celebration on July 17 — the park’s 69th anniversary–with backstage photograph ops, contests, excursions of Walt Disney’s hearth station house, and different actions–all catered by Porto’s Bakery (which continues to be coming to Downtown Disney–supposedly subsequent yr, however I’ll consider it once I see it).

As for why Disneyland is utilizing this visible type as a substitute of platinum, my greatest guess could be that they only used platinum for Disney100. Whereas I used to be personally shocked by the extra playful and colourful brand for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary, that’s just because it wasn’t what I used to be anticipating.

After giving it a while, I’m really relieved that Disneyland is utilizing a extra enjoyable visible type for the seventieth. The identical metallic coloration and stylish type have been used for just a few latest celebrations and, frankly, it’s starting to really feel drained and performed out. Not solely that, however the seventy fifth Anniversary is correct across the nook. That extra vital milestone might be the extra correct event for the self-serious type and opulent look, so let’s roll with a “enjoyable” vibe for the seventieth.

As for when the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration will begin, there are a few potentialities. The primary could be a repeat of what occurred with Disney100, which kicked off on the finish of January final yr. This didn’t coincide with the precise anniversary of the Walt Disney Firm, however relatively, revolved across the opening of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and the winter low season at Disneyland.

The second risk could be a timeframe much like previous milestone park anniversaries. Disneyland celebrated its fiftieth Anniversary from Could 5, 2005 till September 30, 2006. This 18-month occasion was referred to as the “Happiest Homecoming on Earth” starting a few months earlier than the precise occasion and being celebrated world wide–together with at Walt Disney World. Equally, Disneyland’s sixtieth Anniversary Diamond Celebration started on Could 22, 2015 and ended on September 5, 2016.

Personally, I feel the latter situation makes extra sense. The winter has develop into busier than the summer season, however regardless of that, the latter nonetheless has extra potential as a time to attract extra vacationers since faculties are out of session for a multi-month stretch. So kicking off in Could 2025 and ending the occasion in late August 2026 gives a year-plus celebration that will span two full summers. (It’s unlikely to finish in September since Disneyland has since moved the beginning of Halloween ahead, and that’s a pattern I don’t see reversing itself.)

Beginning in May offers a bit extra respiration room forward of Halloween and Christmas, permitting the seventieth Anniversary festivities to kind of go on hiatus in the course of the busiest time of the yr at Disneyland, earlier than returning in full pressure for a ‘second wave’ in January 2026.

After all, I may very well be completely incorrect–and this might begin in January 2025 and finish in late August 2026, much like Disney100. I’m skeptical and hope that’s not the case. For causes past me, Disney100 was an afterthought on each coasts (particularly Walt Disney World, the place it lasted only some months at EPCOT). I’d hope that Disneyland’s seventieth is a correct celebration with sufficient substance to justify a year-plus length.

Talking of which, right here’s what we’re hoping occurs–and doesn’t–in the course of the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration…

No Star Wars, Pixar or Marvel – Look, I’m not a type of followers who claims that Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel aren’t “actual” Disney as a result of they have been acquisitions. That’s simply foolish. Walt had precisely the identical involvement with Want as he did Guardians of the Galaxy, so what’s the distinction? If something, I’d prefer to see Disney actually embrace the Fox acquisition and have Planet of the Apes, Alien, Shogun, and It’s All the time Sunny in Philadelphia within the parks. (Okay, not the final one–that wouldn’t be applicable.) However that’s not the purpose.

Somewhat, it’s that Disney has gone actually onerous on Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel over the past a number of years and I’ve had my fill. My worry is that what we’ll get can be a return of Pixar Fest or (heaven forbid) Summer season of Heroes as a tie-in with all the opposite Marvel stuff on the horizon at DCA. Please no.

This can be a milestone anniversary of Disneyland, Walt Disney’s authentic magic kingdom. Make it centered on the parks themselves and, to the extent that non-parks mental property is a part of the festivities, make it films and characters which might be classics. Ideally, Walt-era. So far as the newer stuff goes, Pixar can slot in advantageous with that, however Marvel and Star Wars usually feels extra compelled.

One thing Totally different – There’s a sure blueprint that has emerged for milestone anniversaries within the home parks, with new or returning parades, and nighttime spectaculars. That is doubly true in years when there’s no huge new attraction opening to anchor the celebration because the marketable mainstream draw.

From that, we might safely anticipate a brand new fireworks present at Disneyland, recent World of Shade at DCA, and return of one of many night time parades at both park. That’s not a foul slate of leisure, and I definitely wouldn’t thoughts if that’s what Disneyland gives. However I actually hope they do one thing totally different. Whether or not which means an all-new stage present within the Hyperion or Fantasyland Theatre, or different unprecedented leisure, I don’t know. It’d simply be good to be stunned by one thing fully sudden.

Paint the Evening Parade – So proper after the primary two entries plead for nothing Pixar-centric and one thing sudden, the third entry is asking for a return of what’s, mainly, Disney’s Pixarified night time parade. Sure, I see the irony in that.

Whereas I’d love a model new night time parade fueled by nostalgia, that simply appears unlikely. Failing that, that is actually extra about getting Paint the Evening Parade again for the primary time in 7 years versus rolling out the traditional Foremost Road Electrical Parade but once more. Though that’s the extra sentimental and anniversary-appropriate parade, it’s simply performed out at this level.

Give us Paint the Evening with a brand new float or two. The plain candidate is Inside Out after its smash summer season on the field workplace, however I’d like to see one thing new balanced out with Disney digging deeper into the archives. They did an ideal job of this with Magic Occurs.

Fan-Favourite Fireworks – Disneyland has a minimum of three fireworks reveals that might match the invoice right here: Keep in mind… Goals Come True from the fiftieth, Disneyland Eternally from the sixtieth, and Wondrous Journeys from Disney100.

Personally, I’d like to see redux of Keep in mind…Goals Come True, modernized and enhanced for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary. However I’d be advantageous with the opposite choices, or one thing brand-new. Disney Dwell Leisure has been on a roll with fireworks, and even the returning Pixar Fest nighttime spectacular was fairly good because of the enhancements. Twenty years later, they may do an excellent job with a correct non secular successor to RDCT.

World of Shade: Wondrous Journeys Version – If Disneyland will get fireworks which might be a love letter to the parks themselves–and it ought to, that’s the extra smart location for such a present–then DCA ought to get a nighttime spectacular that’s a love letter to Walt Disney Animation Studios. Mainly, Wondrous Journeys however through World of Shade.

I’d additionally settle for a return of the OG World of Shade, however with up to date scenes to replicate fan-favorite new films within the final 15 years. Talking of issues I’d like to see return, how in regards to the TRON pre-show? I do know that was for TRON Legacy and this new film has Jared Leto in it for some cause, however that’s nonetheless the all time World of Shade tag. (Alternatively, I’d settle for a return of elecTRONica.)

Reimagined Rides – That is, as soon as once more, pulling from the Diamond Celebration playbook. For that milestone anniversary, Imagineering up to date the Alice in Wonderland darkish trip and Peter Pan’s Flight. There have been rumors of comparable such “plussings” for the opposite Fantasyland classics, however nothing else was up to date till Snow White’s Enchanted Want a number of years later.

It might make sense to present the identical therapy to Pinocchio’s Daring Journey and Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey. I’m particularly keen (albeit cautiously so) to see what Imagineering might do with the latter, as there are methods to make use of trendy know-how to essentially make Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey pop. The fear is that irreverence and zaniness is crucial to Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey, and I worry it might lose a few of its edge within the course of. Disney would by no means construct one thing like that in the present day, however hopefully Imagineering has the sense to not spoil it. The very issues that make that attraction so particular are its oddities; it’s an oddball attraction, nice exactly due to that.

There are additionally different points of interest that may very well be enhanced, resembling Storybook Land Canal Boats, 3D films that may very well be introduced again, and even extinct points of interest that may very well be revived. Clearly, I communicate for everybody once I say that Famous person Limo ought to be introduced again for a restricted engagement earlier than they bulldoze that complete space for Avatar. It’s what Walt would need.

Nostalgic After Darkish – As I’ve written repeatedly, I’d be keen to overpay for tickets to a Disneyland After Darkish: 90s Nite that leans closely into nostalgia for the Disney Afternoon and gives substantive leisure from that period. The identical is true of different eras, too.

What’d be actually cool, I feel, is to do Disneyland After Darkish by the a long time, startings with 50s Nite (traditional Walt-era Disneyland) and ending with the 2000s (pun-riffic DCA 1.0). That final one may must be workshopped a bit because it wasn’t common the primary time round, however I’d nonetheless purchase a ticket.

Fantasmic Replace – Like Murphy the Dragon, Disneyland received roasted by followers with the return of Fantasmic after the nighttime spectacular’s year-plus hiatus. Frankly, I don’t know what followers have been anticipating. We warned everybody for months that Fantasmic’s return was being delayed to not rebuild the dragon, however as a cost-savings measure. We additional suggested that the present would mainly be in b-mode and never really “enhanced” or “reimagined.”

Regardless, I’m happy that Disney didn’t get away with declining to current the nighttime spectacular for a yr and passing a downgraded model off as one thing particular. Hopefully, Disneyland administration realizes this, and there are plans to truly reimagine and enhance Fantasmic. A brand new dragon could be an excellent begin, however extra may very well be completed for the scenes in between. Simply have a look at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios model–after years of being inferior, that’s presently the #1 model of Fantasmic. Disneyland ought to be embarrassed by that.

In the end, nothing on my want listing is all that profound. When you requested the common Disneyland fan what they’d like for the seventieth, past the standard pleas for worth decreases or the tip of reservations for Annual Passholders, that is in all probability the approximate listing you’d get–or a variation of it. That is partly as a result of there’s a good quantity of consensus about what followers need from the occasion, but additionally as a result of Disney has caught to the identical acquainted system for the previous few anniversaries within the home parks.

The excellent news is that Disney employs folks much more artistic than us followers, so hopefully they’ll ship on a lot/a lot of the above, whereas additionally shocking us with issues we didn’t know we’d need. Each the brand and the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics stage present fall into this class. The previous is a pleasant change of tempo, totally different from the anticipated however performed out metallic coloration schemes, and maybe extra in keeping with Tokyo’s celebrations. The latter guarantees to be a first-of-its-kind substantive tribute to Walt–a love letter to the person who made the entire magic potential. No matter what’s introduced, we’ll maintain you posted on the entire information within the months to come back!

Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site inns in our Anaheim Resort Opinions & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Opinions. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and plenty of different SoCal cities!

Your Ideas

Are you wanting ahead to the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration? What leisure do you hope is obtainable in the course of the occasion? Something new or returning that’s in your want listing? Hopeful it’s greater than only a rehash of the sixtieth, or would Paint the Evening + fireworks + World of Shade be ok for you? Excited to lastly see Walt Disney honored with a present and first-ever Audio Animatronics determine? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!