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 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, 2025, Disneyland Resort celebrates its 70th anniversary! That means a big 70th Anniversary Celebration is hoppening for 2025 and 2026.
There are some extra special openings this year on July 17. But 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. The Disneyland 70th celebration kicks off May 16, 2025 and runs through summer 2026! That means you have plenty of time to partake in the fun. If you do plan to visit Disneyland on July 17, buy tickets and book your park reservations as soon as possible.
Overview of Disneyland's Birthday
The way Disneyland celebrates its birthday each year can vary. On big anniversaries, such as the 70th anniversary, Disneyland has large celebrations that last well over a year with special decor, character outfits and entertainment. You will see celebration merchandise collections and food items 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. Guests may be treated to Walt Disney’s 1955 speech.
For Disneyland's 70th anniversary there are some new attractions, exhibits and a ride modification that debut on July 17. But they remain throughout the full length of the celebration.
New Attractions on Disneyland's Birthday 2025
It's a big celebration this year. Our guide to the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration has all the details on one place. But a few extra attractions and exhibits launch specifically on July 17, 2025.
"Walt Disney — A Magical Life"
You know that Walt Disney was a real person, but do your kids? Now younger generations can learn about him and the impact he made on our world. Walt Disney will "come to life" for the first time ever through the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling. The new show debuts at the Main Street Opera House theater at Disneyland Park on July 17. The attraction will feature a cinematic presentation of Walt Disney's journey, ending with Walt in his office. After the initial run, this show will alternate with "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln."
New Experiences at Main Street Opera House
The Opera House gets an all-new gallery experience. It features the evolution of Walt Disney’s dream of Disneyland. Explore images, art and artifacts – some never seen before – that show Disneyland before, during, and after Walt’s dream became a reality. Look at relics and memorabilia from the very early stages of Disneyland. See the evolution from the original park to today. Further in, you’ll encounter another exhibit. Learn about the story and history of Audio-Animatronics technology. See the inner workings of this technology, and how far Walt's vision and Audio-Animatronics figures have advanced through the years.
You can see 30 artifacts for these experiences in the lobby, including original items from Walt’s private apartment above the Fire Station on Main Street. These include an original rocking chair, lamp and table, which have never been publicly displayed at Disneyland Park before.
You can also take in some of Walt’s humanitarian accolades, including:
- Walt’s 1955 Emmy award for the “Walt Disney’s Disneyland” TV show
- Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Johnson in 1964
- The Walt Disney Commemorative Medal presented to Lillian Disney by President Nixon in 1969
Tribute to the Sherman Brothers
Also opening on July 17, 2025, is a tribute to the Sherman Brothers in the Main Street Cinema. See the story and impact of the famous songwriting duo who write so many classic Disney songs. You can watch a 3.5-minute film called “The Last Verse.” It's about their iconic song, “It’s a Small World.” Created for the song’s 60th anniversary, this short film unveils a new verse written by legendary composer Richard M. Sherman in his final Disney contribution:
“Mother earth unites us in heart and mind
And the love we give makes us humankind
Through our vast wondrous land
When we stand hand in hand
It’s a small world after all.”
A New Song Verse Debuts at "it's a small world" (and New Characters!)
Starting July 17, 2025, you can hear this third and final verse of "It’s a Small World" playing in the “it’s a small world” ride at Disneyland! The ride also debuts new characters — Miguel and alebrije Dante from "Coco," along with the marigold bridge — as of April 25, 2025.
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! What is in store for 2025? We can't wait to find out!
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. There will be over 70 new items for Disneyland's 70th so look for our our foodie guide to make your must-have list before you visit!
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. Book as early as possible for 2025.
The birthday cavalcade took place at 12:15 p.m. in 2024. The time may change for 2025. It's usually a good idea to stake out a spot in front of the train station early or arrive on the parade route 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. You may find our Disneyland summer park plan hopful as well!
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! We even have a special Disneyland 70th Anniversary 3-day and 4-day ticket offer to help you save even more in summer 2025!
Related: Your Guide to All of the ~Frogtastic~ Disneyland Shows
Related: Our Summer Park Plan for Disneyland Resort
Hoppy planning!
