27-05-2025
The Coolest Thing You Can Do at Disneyland for Its 70th Anniversary
If there are two things Disney fans love, it's exclusive merchandise and interactive games. So, when news broke of an event that combined the two for the 70th anniversary celebration of Disneyland, I knew the first chance I had, I was going to try it.
Disneyland in Anaheim, California, just began its year-long 70th anniversary celebration and one of the many, many, fun new things you can do at the park is unlock it with a Key to Disneyland. The journey starts with a purchase (don't they all?) of a $60 plastic key that measures about a foot and a half long (seen above). Just on its own, this is a cool item to display or play with, depending on your age. But this key goes well beyond that.
With the key, you are then tasked with unlocking nine sections of the park. You can do this over the course of a single day, a few trips, whatever you'd like. So you go to each place—Main Street USA, Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Bayou Country, Tomorrowland, Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, Frontierland, Mickey's Toontown, and Fantasyland—and find a special unlock station which looks roughly like this.
Half the fun of the event is trying to find these stations, which, at times, are pretty well hidden. Of course, this event has been going on for about a week as of publication, so all the locations are out there (and I'll detail them below in case you want a helping hand) but I appreciated how some are easier to find than others. Each is also themed to the land it unlocks, so they're all very weird and fun. Once you find the keyhole, you power up your key and insert it. This triggers a unique event at each station, each of which has different lights, music, and even some physical things such as bubbles or projections. You will also notice that each station reveals a new light on your key (which you can see in both photos above). It makes each discovery and unlock a fun little event, worthy of a photo or video.
And around the park you go, finding the stations, and unlocking all nine lights, each of which reveals a new lighting scheme and music for your key, which then carries over and you can play later. With each unlock, you get a nice little sense of accomplishment. A small, unique gratification that you are on this adventure around the park and making progress. It's small, it's kind of pointless, but it's enjoyable. Especially when you it's the icing on the cake that you're at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Once you unlock all nine lights, you bring the fully unlocked key back to the front of the park for the final station. This is the best part. There, and only after you've visited all the other stations, you get a special little event. Plus, a special compartment on the back of your key opens up and reveals a unique, mystery Disneyland anniversary pin. Also, the key will now play audio of Walt Disney's speech at the opening of Disneyland. There are nine pins in total, one for each land you unlocked. And, if you don't like the one you get, you can try and trade it with pin traders around the park. My wife and I got the Haunted Mansion pin but here are all nine, courtesy of an eBay listing.
At this point, you're probably thinking, 'So are you just paying $60 for a light-up piece of plastic and a tiny, random pin you may not like?' Yes, you are. And, as mentioned, it's not really a challenge to find the unlock stations because there are often long lines at each. But there's still a certain Disney magic in walking around this incredible park, thinking about its history, all the changes that have happened over the years, and then getting a fun little reward at the end. You aren't only bringing home the memories, you have a few cool trinkets too.
The Key to Disneyland will be on sale through the entire 70th anniversary, which runs from now through next summer. So there is no rush whatsoever. You can read more about it on the official site and, if you are in need of some assistance, here's a guide to each station. The Galaxy's Edge one was, of course, our favorite. Here's a photo.
All the Keys to Disneyland Unlock Station Locations
Main Street USA – Inside the Fire Station next to City Hall
– Inside the Fire Station next to City Hall Adventureland – In the back of the Adventureland Bazaar
– In the back of the Adventureland Bazaar New Orleans Square – Near the bathrooms at the entrance to Club 33
– Near the bathrooms at the entrance to Club 33 Bayou Country – Outside the Pooh Corner store
– Outside the Pooh Corner store Tomorrowland – Directly next to Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
– Directly next to Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Star Wars Galaxy's Edge – Across from Rise of the Resistance, next to the large A-Wing
– Across from Rise of the Resistance, next to the large A-Wing Frontierland – At the carriage on the northernmost pathway between the land and Galaxy's Edge
– At the carriage on the northernmost pathway between the land and Galaxy's Edge Mickey's Toontown – Next to Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
– Next to Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin Fantasyland – Probably the hardest one to find—it's outside the Royal Hall to the West of the castle entrance.
– Probably the hardest one to find—it's outside the Royal Hall to the West of the castle entrance. The Grand Finale – In the main entrance plaza
