Disneyland 70th Anniversary Everything New At The Park And Worth Doing
Hi, everyone! We're Brian and Crystal, and we're massive fans of all things Disney, but especially the Disney parks. So when Disney invited us to join them for the celebration for Disneyland's 70th anniversary, we practically zipped down Main Street, U.S.A. faster than you can say "bibbidy-bobbidy-boo." From a dazzling new projection show to the return of a fan-favorite parade, we got to check out what The Happiest Place on Earth has going on for its milestone anniversary.
Now, in case you're wondering, the 70th anniversary celebration is just getting started! The celebration runs all the way through summer 2026, with Disneyland's big birthday bash happening on July 17.
Okay, now let's get to what you clicked into this post for: The new things coming to the park and our thoughts!
Food, glorious food! Yep, there's a whole lineup of new treats and eats to celebrate Disneyland's 70th anniversary. We tried a bunch of them (for research, of course) — and you can check out our full review right here. Spoiler alert: both Crystal and I agree that the Dole Whip Pineapple Bundt Cake is a standout that you shouldn't miss!!!
"The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade," a brand new, twice-daily mini-parade that features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, and lots of other Disney characters dancing along the parade route.
The cavalcade is cute and just the right amount of high energy to get us into the spirit. But the real showstoppers? Duffy and ShellieMay! If you're not familiar, they're two ultra-cute teddy bear characters who are massive celebrities at the Asian Disney Parks — we're talking longer photo lines than Mickey levels of fame. They're a rare sight Stateside, so spotting them in the cavalcade felt like a delightful little Disney Easter egg.
Another new addition for the 70th anniversary is "Tapestry of Happiness," a whimsical nighttime projection show that is displayed on the facade of It's a Small World. Illustrated in the iconic style of Disney legend Mary Blair, the show is a wonderful tribute to the park's past and present.
Woven together through vibrant visuals, the show incorporates beloved characters, classic attractions, and even a few long-lost favorites from throughout the park's seven-decade history. I think we both thought the show, while short (at just 5 minutes), was a standout and worth lining up for (especially if you're a Disneyland fan because it's full of little Easter eggs).
You can watch the show here if you're curious.
Returning for the 70th is the "Paint the Night Parade," which, if you don't know what it is, the best way I can describe it is a very souped-up "Main Street Electrical Parade." The parade was first introduced at Disneyland for its 60th anniversary, and since then, it has only been revived a handful of times.
Even if parades aren't usually your thing, this one's totally worth a watch because it's a visual feast of colors and lights, with truly impressive large floats. Plus, it's at night, so you don't have to wait in the sun!
Also returning for the 70th anniversary celebration is the "Wondrous Journeys" nighttime spectacular. A fireworks and projection show that originally debuted in 2023 as part of the Disney100 celebration.
If you haven't seen it, the show is a tribute to Walt Disney Animation and features scenes and characters from every animated film from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Wish. So, yup, no Pixar or live-action movies are featured in it.
We'd both seen it before and were thrilled to see it make a comeback — it's easily one of the best fireworks and projection shows Disneyland's done in a while, especially when it comes to storytelling. And if staking out a spot on Main Street, U.S.A. isn't your vibe, good news: you can catch the projections over at Rivers of America or on the facade of It's a Small World for a more low-key (but still magical) viewing experience.
The Disneyland Resort's 70th celebration is already going strong, with plenty of magic happening ahead of the big anniversary on July 17 and throughout the next year. Want in on the fun? Head over to Disneyland's site for all the ticket details and info.
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