On July 17, 1955, Walt Disney changed the world as we knew it, creating a place where people of all ages could come and make memories. We could step into lands based on Fantasy, the Frontier, Adventure and Tomorrow. It's hard to believe here we are 70 years later, as Disneyland continues to change and grow with the times (as "something that will never be finished" — Walt's words). But Disneyland always remains true to Walt's vision of a park for everyone that would make people happy. Just as the light still burns in Walt's Disneyland apartment window above the fire station, the spark of joy burns bright in the heart of anyone who walks through the gates of the Disneyland. And that, my froggy friends, is something worth celebrating every day, but especially this year! After all, Walt said the magic was in the people who entered the park. Are you ready to celebrate being part of that magic during the Disneyland 70th? The party starts May 16, 2025, so RSVP today!
Right now, you can save up to 35% on select stays at a Disneyland Resort hotel from Jan. 7, 2025 through Sept. 26, 2025! All Disneyland® Resort hotels are fully refundable when canceled at least 7 days prior to check-in. Ribbit!
Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration Overview
If you've never visited Disneyland during an anniversary celebration year, you are in for a big treat! Well, lots and lots of treats (in terms of foods and experiences). You will be treated to special entertainment, colorful decor, character outfits, food, drinks, merchandise and more!
The sights, the sounds and the tastes make a Disneyland birthday celebration something to remember. This anniversary honors seven decades of happiness, so you'll get to "celebrate happy" with all of the limited-time offerings. Disneyland Park will be decorated with colorful buntings, signs and special installations, including an elegant medallion on Sleeping Beauty Castle. Mickey and Minnie and their friends in Town Square will show off their party clothes with custom looks just for the 70th. Disneyland Park will also debut a special "Mickey and Friends Celebrate Happy!" cavalcade along the parade route. The facade of "it's a small world" will also get a new projection show.
In the evenings at Disney California Adventure, the exterior of Carthay Circle Restaurant invites everyone to "celebrate happy" with a special moment of music, lights and projection effects. Plus, a new upbeat theme song, "Celebrate Happy," will play during various entertainment offerings.
Many more details are still to come, so stay tuned — here's what we know so far!
Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration Dates and Tickets
The Disneyland 70th Anniversary Platinum Jubilee begins May 16, 2025, and will last through summer 2026 — plenty of time to party!
You can save on Disneyland tickets and hotel stays (both on-site and nearby) when you book through Undercover Tourist. In fact, we have a Disneyland Resort hotel special offer just for the 70th! You can book early and save up to 35% on select stays of four or more nights at a Disneyland Resort hotel during the 70th Anniversary from May 16, 2025, through Sept. 26, 2025. Book through May 15, 2025. It's subject to availability and restrictions. The discount is reflected in the rate.
You're going to want a multi-day ticket as there is so much special entertainment on top of all the rides. Ideally, you'll want at least three days to see and do it all. Don't froget about special promotional tickets!
Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration Entertainment
The thing that sets anniversary celebrations apart from other years at Disneyland is the special entertainment. You'll be tapping your toes to the upbeat new theme song, “Celebrate Happy." You'll hear it throughout various entertainment offerings. We guarantee that you will not want to miss these shows!
World of Color Happiness!
An all-new World of Color show — inspired by Walt Disney's words, "To all who come to this happy place ... welcome!" — will explore the theme of "happy" through a world of emotions hosted by Joy and the other Emotions from the "Inside Out" films. During the show, the Emotions manifest music and moments from beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios' and Pixar Animation Studios' stories, including "Turning Red," "A Goofy Movie," "Tangled," "The Lion King" and more. Expect its signature fountains, dynamic lighting, colorful lasers, fog and dramatic flame effects to create a "happy" tribute to the Disney stories we all love.
Paint the Night Parade
It's been about seven years since Paint the Night lit up the streets of Disneyland theme parks and now it's returning to Disneyland Park! And we have been begging, pleading, singing, "When can we do this again?" in hopes that it would return. We wished on a star, and our dreams came true! Paint the Night returns for this celebration, and we could not be hoppier about this. Led by Tinker Bell, this electric parade on steroids has a catchy song and more than one million sparkling lights!
We are still waiting for all the details, but we can expect characters and floats from movies including "Monsters, Inc.," "Cars," "Toy Story," "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast" and more.
Wondrous Journeys
Fan-favorite "Wondrous Journeys" will return to Disneyland Park, complete with projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle, Main Street U.S.A., "its' a small world" and on water screen in Rivers of America. The fireworks are set to a hoppin' score and celebrate the legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios classics, including "Hercules," "The Princess and the Frog," "Peter Pan," "Frozen," "Big Hero 6," "Moana," "Encanto" and more.
The fireworks accompany the projection show on select nights (usually Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights) and are subject to weather. Fireworks are usually nightly in summer and sometimes during a few weeks of spring break. Note that Wondrous Journeys will temporarily pause for the Halloween Time's "Halloween Screams" and Holiday Time's "Believe ... in Holiday Magic fireworks, but "Wondrous Journeys" will resume at a later time.
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration Parade
This fun, upbeat daytime parade that debuted during Pixar Fest last year will be back at Disney California Adventure for the 70th Celebration! Nearly 30 characters and themed floats based on Pixar Animation Studios films, including "Luca," "Turning Red," "Soul," "Up" and more, fill the streets of Disney California Adventure.
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration will temporarily pause for the Halloween Time and Holiday Time entertainment, but will resume at a later time.
Character Cavalcade
In addition to a parade in each park, Disneyland will also debut a new character cavalcade.
Projection Shows
Keep an eye out for two a new evening projection shows. One is on the façade of “it’s a small world.” The other one is on the exterior of Carthay Circle Restaurant. It will invite everyone to “celebrate happy” during a special moment filled with lights, music and projection effects.
A New Attraction
Walt Disney will "come to life" for the first time ever through the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling. "Walt Disney – A Magical Life" debuts at the Main Street Opera House theater at Disneyland Park on May 16, 2025. The attraction will feature a cinematic presentation of Walt Disney's journey, ending with Walt in his office.
Disneyland has a lot of new attractions to come in the future. In 2025, construction begins for the expansion of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure. Find out more in our What's Coming to Disneyland post.
Disneyland 70th Food and Beverage
No birthday party is complete without yummy food and beverage. We can't wait for the extensive foodie guide to highlight all the fun sips and flavors coming our way!
Disneyland 70th Merchandise
When you leave a party, you sometimes get a parting gift or goody bag. You can shop for your own Disneyland 70th clothing, hats, ear headbands, housewares, water bottles, toys, ornaments and more. And don't forget about popcorn buckets, sippers, glow cubes and other food novelties that always accompany any festival or celebration at Disneyland.
How to Plan for the Disneyland 70th Celebration
Here are some of our best planning tips for celebrations such as the 70th:
- Book ahead to save on Disneyland Resort hotel stays.
- Make park reservations early, especially near the start of the celebration.
- Get a multi-day ticket to save money and allow enough time to see and do it all. For single-day visits, visit midweek for the least-expensive days.
- Look at the Disneyland Events post to see all the other events that run in 2025; some of them run concurrently with the 70th.
- If you want full 70th entertainment, we recommend visiting between May 16 and Aug. 22, 2025, or in 2026. Halloween Time entertainment takes over some shows Aug. 22 through Oct. 31, 2025, and Holiday Time also takes over Nov. 14 through Jan. 6, 2026.
- Wondrous Journeys and Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration will temporarily pause for the Halloween Time and Holiday Time entertainment, but will resume at a later time.
- Pride Nite is a separately ticketed party that will close Disneyland early on June 16 and 18.
- Disneyland's official 70th birthday is July 17, 2025. It's always a special day and usually involves photo-ops and a special cavalcade.
- The Oogie Boogie Bash is a separately ticketed Halloween party that closes Disney California Adventure early on 31 nights in August, September and October.
What are you looking forward to during the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration? Let us know in the comments below. Purchase your discount Disneyland theme park tickets early and make those park reservations, to secure your spot at the party!
Related: Disneyland Special Events
Related: Best Times to Visit Disneyland in 2025 and Beyond
Hoppy planning!
