Disneyland opened July 17, 1955 — forever changing our world and making it more magical! What began as a small dream became a massive set of theme parks across the globe. And as Disney fans we know how special and important the place that started it all truly is. Every year, Disneyland has a birthday party to celebrate this monumental occasion. This year, 2024, Disneyland Resort celebrates its 69th anniversary! That means a big 70th celebration is brewing for 2025.
There is a lot to be jolly about at Disneyland this summer, even if you can't make it on July 17 to celebrate Disneyland's actual birthday. With Pixar Fest running through Aug. 4, 2024, special treats for the Fourth of July and D23 Aug. 9-11, 2024, there is always something worth celebrating!
Overview of Disneyland's Birthday
The way Disneyland celebrates its birthday each year can vary. On big anniversaries, such as the 50th and 60th anniversary, Disneyland may have large celebrations that last over a year with special decor, character outfits and entertainment. You may see Disneyland birthday shirts and merchandise during these momentous years. On the smaller birthdays in between, there may be less extravagant celebrations.
Even during larger celebration years, July 17 itself is always given special attention. On this date, the park is brimming with entertainment and surprises that are unavailable on the other days of the anniversary celebration.
For Disneyland's 60th Diamond Anniversary, Disneyland gave out free cupcakes on July 17. The first guests to arrive received special pins that said, "I was there July 17, 2015." Guests were greeted by cast members wearing sparkly Mickey hands, giving them high fives. Then, guests were treated to Walt Disney’s 1955 speech. On larger anniversaries, you will find collectible anniversary apparel for sale throughout the year.
Take Part in Special Celebrations
When you visit Disneyland Park on Disneyland’s birthday, look for special entertainment. For example, you may catch a birthday cavalcade or procession with the Dapper Dans, the Disneyland Band and some of Disneyland’s best character friends. For Disneyland's 63rd anniversary, 63 characters joined in to celebrate. In 2024, Disneyland's 69th Birthday Celebration Cavalcade took place at 12:15 p.m. Each year, you can experience a different kind of fun!
For Disneyland's 67th birthday, there was a birthday procession with the Disneyland Band, Dapper Dans, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, Goofy and Chip 'n' Dale. In 2023, to mark the park's 68th birthday, Mickey and friends sang happy birthday at Sleeping Beauty Castle, in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. and finally in Town Square in front of the train station. Right behind them followed a band and a double-decker car full of princesses — which included Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Ariel and Alice (who also brought a giant birthday cake along for the ride)! The Dapper Dans rode in a separate, vintage car with Gepetto and Pinocchio. There is only one procession and it travels in one direction from "small world" to the front of the park.
Get Ready for Your Closeup
Have you seen or heard about wearing the Disneyland birthday buttons? Well, you can also take a photo with giant birthday signs all around the park at iconic locations and rides on Disneyland’s birthday.
You can borrow the signs from shops, carts or PhotoPass Cast Members and take pictures yourself. If you are interested in PhotoPass, free downloads are included with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
No matter the year, it's always fun to be a guest in attendance on Disneyland's birthday. We enjoy taking pics with giant birthday sing. It's so exciting to catch a birthday cavalcade with the characters, too!
Find Birthday Foods
There may be special menu items to choose from during a Disneyland birthday celebration. We did not find any in 2024, but 2025 is Disneyland's 70th so there may be year-long special treats! During larger celebration years, there may be year-long birthday food offerings and additional treats on the actual day of the birthday!
Do the Opening-Day Ride Challenge
Some people like to visit all of the attractions that were available during opening day in 1955, including:
- Disneyland Railroad
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- Main Street Vehicles
- Main Street Cinema
- Autopia
- Snow White's Enchanted Wish (under a different name)
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
- Mad Tea Party
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Jungle Cruise
- Storybook Land Canal Boats (this technically was a different ride under a different name that closed and reopened as the ride we know today)
Celebrating Disneyland's Birthday (and Your Own) at Disneyland
Speaking of birthdays, is there a more magical place to celebrate your own birthday than Disneyland?
You wear your free birthday button and everybody wishes you a happy birthday all day. You have a free pass to eat all your favorite Disneyland treats because calories don’t count on your birthday — at least that’s what we believe. OK, I need to believe that this is true. If you reserve dining, you can add a birthday cake to the reservation when you book.
Tips for Celebrating Disneyland’s Birthday
Know What to Wear
Most people are dressed in their theme park best: comfortable T-shirts, shorts and good walking shoes. But a few people like to dress up for the occasion just like on July 17, 1955.
You might see people in their 50s apparel, homemade outfits or DisneyBound clothes to get the essence of a favorite Disney character while staying within the “no costumes for adults” guidelines. You will see more Dapper Day and vintage wear during larger birthday celebrations. On any birthday, you’ll see some people dressed up and others wearing past birthday celebration shirts, and even some people born the day Disneyland opened. No matter what you wear, you are all there celebrating with Disneyland.
Follow Tips to Manage Crowds During Disneyland's Birthday
We frequently get questions about the best and worst days to visit Disneyland. The Disneyland anniversary does see crowds, although to be fair, the parks are already busy with summer vacationers. Most years, Disneyland's birthday is about as busy as a typical summer day. You must make theme park reservations for Disneyland Park in advance.
The birthday cavalcade takes place at 12:15 p.m. in 2024. It's usually a good idea to stake out a spot in front of the train station early or arrive at the castle about 15 minutes early to catch a remarkable show moment. It's hard to predict what Disneyland will have in store since each year is different. Don't froget to wear sunscreen and stay hydrated while you wait for the cavalcade to begin. The summer heat is no joke and there isn't much shade if you land a spot not covered by trees. Fans and umbrellas toadally help.
Plan to arrive before park opening for the lowest crowds of the day. You might just get a commemorative pin or another treat for being among the first to enter the park during bigger celebrations! Make restaurant reservations at a table-service restaurant to avoid mealtime crowds and lines. You may be able to join the walk-up list in the Disneyland app if you can't get a reservation. Upgrade to dining packages for viewing shows such as World of Color. It is nice to sit down and relax at midday so you have enough energy to keep going.
Consider purchasing Lightning Lanes to skip the lines on popular rides. We have many tips for maximizing your time at Disneyland, and Disneyland’s birthday is certainly a great day to put that advice to use.
While there may be more people joining the party during Disneyland's birthday, there is also more merriment surrounding this special day. That makes it a great day to visit. So put on your birthday hat, pin on an “I’m Celebrating!” button and get ready to enjoy the anniversary of the opening of Disneyland!
Do you have questions about celebrating Disneyland's birthday? Have you experienced birthday merriment at the park? Share your questions or your experience in the comments below! You can get your discount Disneyland Resort tickets from your favorite froggy friends to save some green!
Related: Your Guide to All of the ~Frogtastic~ Disneyland Shows
Hoppy planning!
