Disney has formally begun its year-long celebration of Disneyland’s seventieth anniversary and so they invited us to preview the entire festivities it has deliberate all through Summer 2026, and this information will give you every little thing it’s good to know in regards to the leisure, meals and drinks, merch, and extra.
From the return of Paint the Night to new retro meals gadgets to a Disneyland Key that can unlock surprises all throughout the park, there’s so much to look ahead to when planning a visit to the park. Below, you can find the twelve issues it’s good to learn about Disneyland’s seventieth anniversary, and we would love to listen to what you’re most enthusiastic about!
1. Paint the Night Is Back With Elsa, Anna, and Over One Million LED Lights
The return of Paint the Night, the fan-favorite nighttime parade that first debuted for Disneyland’s sixtieth anniversary, has maybe acquired essentially the most buzz within the lead-up to the celebrations of the park’s seventieth. The parade’s preliminary run led to 2016 and is now again with over a million LED lights, the return of Frozen’s Anna and Elsa, and extra.
2. Disneyland is More Affordable Thanks to Limited-Time seventieth Anniversary Ticket and Disneyland Hotel Offers
For these hoping to make a visit to Disneyland for its seventieth anniversary celebrations, Disney is providing just a few offers to make the journey just a little extra manageable. Guests will be capable to buy a multi-day theme park ticket for as low $360 with a particular 3-day, 1-park per day ticket. There may even be an choice to get a 4-day, 1-park per day ticket for as little as $400. These tickets will likely be good for May 16 – August 14 and so they don’t must be used on consecutive days.
For these trying to keep on property, company will be capable to save as much as 20% on choose stays on the Disneyland Hotel between May 16 and August 14. This may even give them the possibility to take a look at how the Disneyland Hotel is celebrating its personal seventieth anniversary as properly, because the resort could have particular decorations, themed in-room celebrations, distinctive drinks, and extra.
Staying at a Disneyland Resort may even put company simply steps away from Downtown Disney, which is dressed up for the event. Alongside seventieth anniversary medallions positioned across the space with favourite Disney characters which can be nice photograph spots and different decorations, the trail to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will proceed to supply all of its many meals and purchasing experiences.
3. World of Color Happiness! – A New Version of the Disney California Adventure Water Show Featuring Inside Out
World of Color Happiness! is the massive new nighttime spectacular for Disney California Adventure, and it’s really the seventh model of World of Color since its debut in 2010. This present is all about celebrating happiness with over a million water fountains and projections, and it takes inspiration from Walt Disney’s phrases from Disneyland’s opening day park dedication, “To all who come to this completely happy place… welcome!”
Inside Out’s feelings are front-and-center in World of Color Happiness!, with Joy and the opposite feelings making up elements of the brand. Guests will be capable to assist alter the story of World of Color Happiness! and may vote on whether or not Sadness, Anger, Disgust, or Envy are featured in varied scenes on the Disneyland app.
World of Color Happiness! additionally contains a model new pre-show with The Muppets, who additionally occur to be celebrating their seventieth anniversary this 12 months. As for the music, highlights embody Boyz II Men, who recorded a particular rendition of ‘Rainbow Connection,’ and FITZ, who recorded a brand new unique music known as ‘Makes Me Wanna Move.’
Check out our ideas on 2023’s World of Color – ONE for Disneyland’s a centesimal anniversary, one other very spectacular and emotional present
4. Wondrous Journeys Celebrates Over 60 Walt Disney Animation Studios Films With Fireworks, Projections, and Music
Disneyland’s nighttime spectacular Wondrous Journeys, which first debuted for Disney’s a centesimal anniversary, is again for Disneyland’s seventieth. This present celebrates over 60 movies in Walt Disney Animation Studio’s catalog and, as Disney places it, “illustrates the probabilities, pleasure, heartache, and dedication all of us face when working to make our desires come true.”
Wondrous Journeys is just about the identical because it was, but it surely stays a favourite nighttime spectacular for followers of all ages. It’s additionally a present that’s barely completely different relying on the place you’re in Disneyland, as Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America, and the façade of it’s a small world all supply distinctive experiences and moments.
Check out our ideas on Wondrous Journeys in my Disney a centesimal Anniversary Guide, however it is a must-see present that’s full of a lot coronary heart, emotion, and actually particular moments.
5. Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Shines a Spotlight on the Importance of Friendship with Toy Story, Coco, and More
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! is one other returning parade that’s getting a brand new run for Disneyland’s seventieth and it options many fan-favorite characters from beloved Pixar movies like Toy Story, The Incredibles, Turning Red, Luca, Soul, Coco, Inside Out, Monsters, Inc., and Up.
The present is almost an identical to what it was when it debuted throughout Pixar Fest 2024, and it’s simply as enjoyable and nonetheless carries the identical message.
“This parade desires to honor and rejoice the newer movies that Pixar produced the place you are feeling like there are characters who really feel lesser than… like they don’t belong,” Susana Tubert, inventive director at Disney Live Entertainment, advised us. “And by these friendships, they’re upheld, they’re celebrated, and so they’re accepted. And that is the message that we would like this parade to share with our company – that it is okay to be you, that you may deliver your genuine self to Disneyland, and on the finish of the day, we’re higher collectively.”
6. Tapestry of Happiness Brings a Special Projection Show to it’s a small world that Celebrates Disneyland’s Past
it’s a small world’s Tapestry of Happiness was the massive shock throughout the complete Disneyland seventieth Anniversary Media Preview. For roughly 5 minutes, this present transforms the façade of it’s a small world with projection results and music and celebrates the historical past of Disneyland in such a wonderful manner.
The entire present is impressed by Disney Legend Mary Blair, who was liable for the timeless design of it’s a small world, and plenty of of Disneyland’s greatest points of interest and exhibits get their time to shine, together with Pirates of the Caribbean, the Main Street Electrical Parade, the Enchanted Tiki Room, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and plenty of extra. It’s made much more particular because the songs from these experiences are woven into The Jonas Brothers’ ‘Celebrate Happy’ Disneyland seventieth Anniversary theme music, and it’s actually simply the very best.
That’s not all for it is a small world in any case, as Coco’s Miguel and Dante have been added to the attraction simply in time for the seventieth anniversary. Additionally, a brand-new verse from the late Richard M. Sherman will likely be added to it is a small world on July 17.
7. The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade at Disneyland Stars Duffy and ShellieMay
Going into this seventieth Anniversary Media Preview, we had been maybe most excited to check out The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade led by Duffy and ShellieMay. For these unfamiliar, Duffy was first designed because the “Disney Bear” in 2002 for Disney World’s Disney Springs, however he proved to not be very fashionable.
However, Tokyo Disney Resort took the concept and gave him a reputation – Duffy – alongside a narrative, pals like ShellieMay, and a lot extra, and it proved to be an important resolution. He is very common abroad, and now he and ShellieMay get an opportunity to shine stateside alongside different Disney favorites in a smaller parade that’s nonetheless so value a watch.
8. Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! Is the Perfect Place to Take Your Kids For Some Dancing and Fun
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! is one other nice shock aimed toward youthful company and encourages them to rise up and dance and sing with Mickey and his pals.
This time round, Mickey and Minnie are looking for Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto as they’re lacking from their occasion, and we get to go to every of their in a different way themed homes (two of which include bubbles and faux snow!) for a enjoyable journey.
The music is enjoyable and upbeat, and it’ll undoubtedly be an important place to flee the warmth for just a few moments and let youngsters get some vitality out with a few of their favourite characters!
9. Disneyland seventieth Merch, Led by the Disneyland Key, Is a Celebration of Today and Yesterday
As with any massive milestone at a Disney Park, there’s a ton of recent merch obtainable for company to rejoice with. For Disneyland’s seventieth, the group at Disney needed to not solely rejoice this momentous event in 2025, but in addition honor the previous. However, the merchandise that has garnered essentially the most buzz throughout the preview was the Disneyland Key.
This interactive key’s now obtainable and permits company to “unlock magic” in the entire 9 lands in Disneyland. There is one lock not-so-hidden in every land and there’s a keyhole that matches the important thing completely. Each one does one thing particular when unlocked, together with taking part in music and exhibiting lights and extra, and it additionally provides that land’s icon to your key.
When you unlock every one – and don’t fear, you don’t have to do that all on one journey as it would save your progress – you possibly can head to the Mickey Topiary Finale lock by the doorway of the park to unlock the ultimate shock. After you set the important thing within the lock and a few bubbles fly to the sky in celebration, a secret compartment in the important thing will unlock with certainly one of 9 commemorative buying and selling pins inside. These pins symbolize the lands of Disneyland and are only a enjoyable strategy to rejoice you engaging in your quest.
You can verify all of the seventieth Anniversary merch choices within the slideshow above and with the hyperlink right here.
10. Disneyland Food and Drinks Offer a Window Back in Time With a Delicious Twist
One of the very best issues to do at a Disney Park is check out the entire new foods and drinks choices made obtainable with a pageant or massive occasion, and the seventieth anniversary is not any exception. There are over 70 gadgets to strive throughout this year-long celebration, and so they’re a mixture of new delights and dishes impressed by Disneyland’s previous.
What Chef Steven Medina and the group are doing with Disneyland’s seventieth could be very particular, because the group actually needed company to get a glimpse of what it was like when the gates opened for the primary time. For instance, there’s a Banana Split and a plate of Apple Pancake Rolls that company can strive which can be recreations of precise gadgets that had been obtainable on Disneyland’s first day.
As for the brand new choices, these are new spins on beloved favourite treats just like the seventieth Celebration Churro. This twist on the park traditional matches the purples, and blues, and pinks of the anniversary and options an ube sugar coating, marbled blue raspberry drizzle, and sprinkles.
You can take a look at the seventieth anniversary meals choices within the slideshow above and right here!
11. Toy Story Midway Mania!, Carthay Circle, Downtown Disney, and Much More
There actually is a ton of issues to do and expertise for Disneyland’s seventieth anniversary, and I needed to spotlight just a few others to look out for, together with a brand new glow up for Toy Story Midway Mania! This attraction at Disney California Adventure now contains a ton of seventieth anniversary stickers that Andy has put up that internet you bonus factors once you hit them. It’s a really enjoyable addition that provides some aptitude to the well-known attraction.
Also in DCA, Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit of Magic Every Night will illuminate the surface of Carthay Circle with lights, projections, and a particular go to from Tinker Bell, and Animation Courtyard (which is certainly one of my favourite locations in all of Disneyland) now options Encanto, Coco, Soul, The Princess and the Frog, Zootopia, and Moana.
For these with MagicBand+, there will likely be particular Disneyland seventieth anniversary interplay factors that can all do one thing enjoyable, together with these at Jungle Cruise and Frontierland that print out precise tickets that commemmorate this milestone.
12. Walt Disney – A Magical Life and More Experiences to Come
While the celebrations for Disneyland’s seventieth start on May 16, the precise anniversary gained’t occur till July 17, which can be the identical day Walt Disney – A Magical Life will make its massive debut. This would be the first time Walt Disney will grow to be an Audio-Animatronic and can welcome company into his workplace to listen to about his story.
We not too long ago had the possibility to go to Imagineering to be taught extra about this venture, and you may learn all about how Disney is bringing Walt again to life. This expertise will open alongside an Evolution of a Dream exhibit that options many gadgets from Walt’s previous and one other that celebrates the historical past of Disney’s forged members.
For extra, take a look at our story of how a century of Disney Magic started and our checklist of the 25 greatest Disney animated films of all time.
Adam Bankhurst is a author for IGN. You can observe him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and take heed to his present, Talking Disney Magic.
