It's time to party! Save up to $35 per ticket on 3- and 4-day Disneyland® Resort tickets for visits from May 16, 2025, through Aug. 14, 2025 — just in time for Disneyland® Resort's 70th Anniversary Celebration!
Undercover Tourist is now offering Dining Dollars with every Disney Theme Park ticket purchase! For every Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort ticket you buy, you'll receive a FREE $20 DiningDollars.com promo code to use towards discount gift cards on DiningDollars.com, including up to 15% off of Disney gift cards and restaurants. To learn more about Dining Dollars (and how to use them), hop over to our full blog post.
Disneyland is celebrating turning 70, and it's the party of the year! The celebration introduces new shows, food, dance parties, merchandise, character outfits and new ride elements to Disneyland Resort. We've come up with a Disneyland 70th park plan to take you through your day, so you don't miss out on any birthday celebration fun.
You can do most of it in one day with a park hopper ticket, or split it up between two or three days, so you can see one nighttime spectacular per night and take your time to do it all. No matter how you divide your time, our Disneyland 70th park plan will guide you through what is hoppening and when, so your magical day feels seamless.
Our Disneyland 70th Park Plan
Here are 14 steps to getting in on all of the important parts of the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration. Whether you try to fit as much in during a shorter trip or spread it out over several days, you can use this Disneyland 70th park plan to map out your perfect day.
Keep in mind that this park plan takes you through Aug. 21, 2025. Some of the 70th entertainment takes a hiatus during Halloween Time and Holiday Time. We've noted which major entertainment remains or pauses for Halloween Time below. But any entertainment that takes a break will return after the holidays and lasts through summer 2026. Also, some new attractions and exhibits arrive fashionably late to the party on July 17, 2025. So if you're visiting later in the summer, you might have a few more stops in your day.
If you visit June 16 or 18, Disneyland Park closes early for Pride Nite. (There is no 70th nighttime entertainment on Pride Nite in Disneyland Park on those nights.)
Showtimes are subject to change. Be sure to check the Disneyland Hours & Events calendar for the date you plan to visit. (You can view the schedule up to six weeks in advance.)
1. Arrive at Rope Drop and Use Lightning Lanes
We always have the best time when we maximize our time. And the best way to do that is to arrive early (by park opening) and to use Lightning Lanes whenever possible.
Whichever park you start at, arrive early to maximize time and take advantage of low crowds and cooler temperatures in the morning. Use your morning time to ride attractions, try new foods and visit with characters. Look for 70th "sticker" targets in Toy Story Midway Mania! (remains through the holidays) or see the new "Coco" dolls in "it's a small world." As of July 17, 2025, listen for a third, new verse of the "small world" song! Both of those rides and many others are offered on Lightning Lane Multi Pass. You can save on Disneyland tickets pre-loaded with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. In fact, we have a special 3-day and 4-day Disneyland 70th Anniversary Ticket Offer! After you look over this park plan, you'll see why you want three to four days to do it all!
2. Set Your Alarm for the World of Color Happiness! Virtual Queue
Every day at noon, the virtual queue opens for World of Color Happiness! If you have a Disney California Adventure reservation or a park hopper reservation starting at either park, set your alarm for 11:55 a.m. to be ready for the chance to join the virtual queue at noon. Read more about this process in our virtual queues post, as space may fill up quickly for the new show. If you are not in the park before noon, you might consider a World of Color dessert party or dining package.
3. Take Advantage of Family Entertainment in the Late Morning to Early Afternoon
As ride wait times and the sun peak in the afternoon, there are two great escapes. There's a brand-new Disney Jr. Show in Disney California Adventure. Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! has Minnie and Mickey and pals along with singing, dancing, bubbles and the parents' favorite — AC! (It's replaced by a family-friendly Halloween show — Mickey's Trick and Treat — during Halloween Time.)
At the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland Park, get out of the sun and into dance mode with a ton of Pixar characters this summer at the Pixar Pals Playtime Party! Dance parties usually hoppen at 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Whether your little ones need to get the wiggles out or take a sensory break, this area with alternating action with downtime will meet your needs perfectly.
4. Eat Lunch and Shop for 70th Merchandise
There are many ways to fill your belly and your soul with celebration food and merchandise. I don't know about you, but I had my froggy eyes on some Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese in a Bread Bowl at Refreshment Corner and a 70th Spirit Jersey with the 70th Create Your Own Headband. No regrets. And I always need a caramel apple, of course!
The Strawberry Shortcake Macaron at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe also stole my heart. With fresh strawberries in the middle? It tastes as good as it looks! But it's not always on mobile order. You might have to hop in line to get it.
5. Catch the Celebrate Happy Cavalcade in the Afternoon
This new cavalcade takes place at 1:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. at Disneyland Park. See the characters in their 70th outfits and wave to Goofy and Max, as well as to rare characters from the Asian Disney parks, such as Duffy and ShellieMay! Character cavalcades are short and sweet, and usually do not require a lot of time to wait to see them. Plus, you get to see a lot of characters at once and a hoppin' good song that will make you want to celebrate!
6. Use Midday to Unlock Special Experiences in Disneyland Park
There are several magical moments during the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration. Here are a few ways to capture them:
- Purchase a Key to unlock magical interactive experiences at lock stations in each of the nine lands at Disneyland. Once you unlock all nine (look for the tenth and final topiary near the park entrance), the key will open to reveal one of nine commemorative pins.
- Use your charged MagicBand+ to unlock unique interactions inspired by opening day attractions in Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and Frontierland. Later, during nighttime entertainment, the band will light up and vibrate in sync with the shows.
- Meet characters (in new celebration outfits in Disneyland Park).
- Take PhotoPass photos with Disneyland 70th Magic Shots.
As of Disneyland's actual birthday on July 17th, enjoy these new indoor exhibits and attractions:
- First-ever Walt Audio-Animatronic in "Walt Disney – A Magical Life" at the Main Street Opera House theater in Disneyland (enjoy the new gallery of art and artifacts from the early stages of Disneyland)
- Tribute to the Sherman Brothers in the Main Street Cinema
- A new third and final verse on "it's a small world"
7. Watch the Second Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Parade (pauses for Halloween Time and Holiday Time)
This returning parade takes place twice a day, usually at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., in Disney California Adventure. We recommend the second parade if you are looking to avoid the sun and heat.
8. Shake It Off at a Dance Party as the Sun Goes Down
As the day cools down, the night heats up with an exciting dance party with Stitch and pals. Stitch's Interplanetary Beach Party Blast is a hoppin' dance party in Tomorrowland. It takes place during the evenings between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Follow dance moves by Disney pals such as Stitch, Goofy, Pluto, Chip ‘n' Dale or Clarabelle.
9. Eat Dinner
There are so many Disneyland 70th foods to try! Check out all the menus in our Disneyland 70th foodie guide. Mobile order in advance to skip the lines. You can even order food and dine while you wait for nighttime entertainment.
10. Paint the Night (runs through Halloween Time)
There are two Paint the Night parades in Disneyland Park, usually at 8:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. You might want to hop in place early for the first one. If you watch on Main Street, you can just hop onto the street after the parade to watch fireworks. We recommend watching the second show, though. You can sit on a curb after fireworks end and see the second parade with less waiting. Grab a snack and rest while you wait. It's been a long day, and you deserve it!
11. Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks (pauses for Halloween and Holiday Time)
This nightly fireworks show takes place at 9:30 p.m. right in between the Paint the Night Parade showings. You have four areas to watch from and get the accompanying projections and music:
- In front of Sleeping Beauty Castle
- Main Street U.S.A.
- The façade of "it's a small world"
- Rivers of America — This is a great spot if you are also watching Fantasmic!, which has showings before and after the fireworks. Get a Fantasmic! dining package for a great seat down in front, and you can get two shows for the price of one!
12. "Tapestry of Happiness" Projection Show (remains through Halloween Time)
Enjoy a visual love letter to Disneyland played out with nostalgic moments inspired by the art of Mary Blair. This 5-minute projection show will hoppen each night on the façade of "it’s a small world," creating an animated mosaic of Disneyland attractions, moments and memories. It also features the 70th theme song, "Celebration Happy" (by none other than the Jonas Brothers!), along with other favorite Disney tunes. Showtimes are usually 10 p.m., 10:15 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
13. Projection Show on Cathay Circle
There is another, smaller projection show on the Carthay Circle restaurant's façade. Tinker Bell lights up the building every 30 minutes from sunset until 10 p.m.. It's a short but sweet show moment in which guests are invited to "celebrate happy" with lights, music and projections in the evenings.
14. World of Color Happiness! (remains through Halloween Time)
This all-new fountain show will light up the waters of Disney California Adventure's Paradise Bay twice a night at 9 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. You do not get to pick the showtime when you join the queue when it opens at noon. After the 9 p.m. queue fills up, the 10:15 p.m. queue opens up.
There are several World of Color dining packages and even a dessert party. But the best way to see the show for free is by joining the virtual queue, which we discussed back in the beginning of this post.
The show explores 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 stories from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios. You'll be dazzled by colorful fountains, dynamic lighting, colorful lasers, fog and dramatic flame effects to create a "happy" tribute to the Disney stories we all love.
In addition to classic Disney songs, World of Color Happiness! features a rendition of "Rainbow Connection" by Boyz II Men, and a new original song, "Makes Me Wanna Move" by Fitz (the frontman of Fitz and the Tantrums). You'll be encouraged to dance and sing along. And before the show even begins, the Muppets, led by Joe the Legal Weasel, will deliver a special message through projections and fountains. Who better to "get things started" than the Muppets?
Don't froget to vote for your favorite emotion in the Disneyland app before the show!
How to Catch All the 70th Nighttime Entertainment in One Night
Do you want to try to do it all in one night? If you get the 10:15 p.m. World of Color show virtual queue, you can watch the first Paint the Night, followed by fireworks on Main Street, and then hop to Disney California Adventure (quickly and with a park hopper ticket) before 10 p.m. to see the 10:15 p.m. World of Color show. But you need to be able to move fast to do it all. You have to enter California Adventure before the gates close at 10 p.m. Then, if you still have some bounce in your step, book it back to Disneyland after World of Color for the last "Tapestry of Happiness" projection show on "it's a small world." You're probably going to want to sleep in the next day, so do not make ambitious morning plans.
What About Fantasmic!?
This plan ignores one of our favorite nighttime spectaculars — Fantasmic! If you also want to see Fantasmic!, we highly suggest a multi-day trip and getting a Fantasmic! dining package. If you are staying in Disneyland Park, you can see Fantasmic!, Wondrous Journeys fireworks and Paint the Night all in one night. See one show or parade before fireworks and the other after. Having a Fantasmic! dining package toadally helps with this plan.
The first step in activating this park plan is to purchase your Disneyland tickets and make your theme park reservations. Hoppin' news! Get a Promo Code for 15% off Disney gift cards with any Disney ticket purchase from Undercover Tourist! Then use your card and ticket savings to get 70th anniversary food and merchandise!
Related: What to Expect at the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration
Related: Frogtastic Foodie Guide to Disneyland 70th Anniversary Food and Drinks
Hoppy planning!
