Disneyland Resort has launched its 70th anniversary celebration, inviting guests to experience new shows, limited-time treats, exclusive merchandise, and magical surprises at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.
From dazzling nighttime spectaculars to nostalgic nods to Disneyland’s storied past, the celebration blends beloved traditions with fresh experiences designed to delight both longtime fans and first-time visitors alike.
So here are five things to look forward to when planning a visit to the Disneyland Resort.
5 – Celebrating Happy
At the heart of the 70th anniversary is the core theme: “Celebrate Happy.” This multi-faceted celebration is designed to honor Disney’s rich legacy while embracing fresh, boundary-pushing creativity. From immersive decor and nostalgic music to vibrant live entertainment and heartfelt character interactions, every element is crafted to spark joy and emotional connection across generations. Guests can expect a fully immersive experience that blends themed décor, exclusive merchandise, limited-time food and beverages, and unforgettable moments with their favorite Disney characters.
“This milestone isn’t just about looking back,” says stage show director for Disney Live Entertainment, Scott Damien Arroyo. “It’s about celebrating the magic that continues to evolve with every new generation.”
Ultimately, the goal is to get guests to feel a sense of nostalgia and wonder. Disney wants them to feel like they’re part of something timeless, but also brand new. And a lot of that is accomplished through the live entertainment, nighttime spectaculars, food, and merchandise.
4 – The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade and Photo Ops
The “Celebrate Happy” Cavalcade is a high-energy burst of magic that brings the spirit of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary right to the streets. Led by Mickey Mouse and joined by beloved friends like Duffy, ShellieMay, Max, and Disney Princesses, this vibrant procession is joy in motion is a can’t-miss moment that perfectly captures the heart of the celebration. Whether you’re dancing along or waving from the sidelines, it’s a chance to Celebrate Happy in true Disney style.
And the vibrant, jewel-toned colors of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary—think sparkling blues, radiant golds, and rich purples—are more than just eye candy; they bring the celebration’s magic to life. So the costumes are beautifully designed to lean into these signature colors of the 70th celebration, while also hiding clever Easter eggs.
Of course, there will be opportunities to take some photos with these characters throughout the parks. These new photo opportunities have been thoughtfully designed to make every snapshot feel special. “They want to take photos at every opportunity,” says Manager Creative Development, Walt Disney Imagineering Anaheim David Caranci about the guest experience. “We wanted each one of those opportunities to be special… We want people to step in, take pictures, take selfies, get involved.”
3 – Food
No Disney celebration is complete without some truly unforgettable eats, and the 70th anniversary is serving up limited-time food and beverages that are just as festive as they are flavorful. Across both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, you’ll find a curated collection of nostalgic nods and innovative creations designed to tempt every type of palate.
Expect treats that shimmer with celebratory flair. The Celebration Churro is a Classic churro rolled in ube sugar giving off a violet-hued color and topped with marbled blue raspberry icing drizzle and sprinkles, which gives it’s shimmering look. The birthday cake-flavored beignets, is a beignet filled with raspberry mousse, buttercream glaze, edible candle, and sprinkles. and character-inspired desserts almost too pretty to eat (almost). There’s a definite sense of fun and playfulness woven into each menu item, with many dishes paying tribute to Disneyland’s culinary history while embracing new twists.
Then there’s the Mickey Hat Cookie—a delightful treat shaped using a vintage Mickey ear hat mold. This chocolate-dipped cookie features a rich chocolate decoration and a nostalgic nod to classic Mickey Mouse and the Mickey Mouse Club right at its center.
As for the savory eats, many of the dishes feel like a delicious step back in time—honoring the flavors from Disneyland’s early days while adding a fresh, modern twist. For instance, there’s a fresh tuna salad topped with Muenster cheese and herb-marinated tomatoes, served alongside house-made chips. It’s a light, classic nod to retro fare. Meanwhile, the W.E.D. Chili Cheese Baked Potato puts a fun spin on Walt’s favorite chili recipe, reinventing it as a hearty baked potato loaded with flavor.
Other celebratory offerings include Grilled Tahitian Ribs at Bengal Barbecue, served with white rice and pineapple slaw, and a BBQ Chicken & Pineapple Pizza Slice from Alien Pizza Planet, which brings a playful tropical vibe to the party.
2 – Merchandise
No Disney celebration is complete without a little retail magic—and for the 70th anniversary, Disneyland Resort has truly outdone itself with an array of themed apparel and collectibles that celebrate the past, present, and future of the park.
First up is the Celebration Collection, a vibrant and playful lineup that blends classic Disney Parks style with fresh character art and bold new colors. Fans can expect apparel and accessories featuring favorite characters and iconic Disneyland attractions reimagined with an energetic twist.
For something truly regal, the Castle Collection draws inspiration from the ever-enchanting Sleeping Beauty Castle, offering pieces that feel fit for royalty. Think dreamy pastel hues, sparkling details, and designs that evoke timeless fairytale magic.
If vintage vibes are more your style, the Vault Collection is a love letter to Disneyland’s early days. The first installment, dubbed the Replica Chapter, showcases retro-inspired apparel and accessories, while the Mickey Mouse & Maps Chapter taps into pure nostalgia with artwork celebrating classic park maps and early character designs.
And of course, there’s the Walt Disney Nostalgia Collection, which honors the legacy of Walt himself. With vintage-style collectibles and quotes pulled straight from the visionary’s archives, this collection evokes the spirit of the original Disneyland dream—down to items inspired by treasures once found on Walt’s very own desk.
For an extra dose of interactivity, fans can embark on a treasure hunt with the Key to Disneyland. This new experience invites guests to “unlock the magic” throughout all nine lands of Disneyland Park by visiting special 70th anniversary lock stations. Once all lands are unlocked, the key reveals one of nine hidden commemorative keepsake pins inside. Best of all, the key saves your progress—so you can complete your adventure in one day or savor the experience across multiple visits.
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1 – Nighttime Spectaculars
When the sun sets, the magic of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration reaches dazzling new heights with unforgettable nighttime entertainment. From sweeping visuals and stirring music in the returning Wondrous Journeys to World of Color Happiness!’s awe-inspiring pyrotechnics, these shows aren’t just spectacles—they’re emotional experiences designed to leave a lasting impression.
“At the heart of this milestone celebration, we’re inviting both guests and cast members to step into Walt Disney’s legacy of happiness,” said Creative Director of Creative Entertainment Susana Tubert. “All of our entertainment—from intimate character moments to large-scale multimedia spectaculars—is thoughtfully curated to connect with guests on an emotional level. Music plays a huge part in that.”
One of the most powerful threads tying the celebration together is the new theme song, the Jonas Brothers’ Celebrate Happy. “It’s become a sort of musical needle and thread,” Tubert shared. “Weaving through the entire resort and helping carry the spirit of the celebration everywhere you go.” Guests will be able to hear this song at both parks during two different nighttime spectacular projection shows.
Over at it’s a small world! in Disneyland, guests can see a mosaic of wonderful Mary Blair inspired art on Tapresty of Happiness. And at Disney California Adventure Park, guests can catch “Celebrate Happy – A Little Touch of Magic” on the Carthay Circle Lounge facade.
Also returning is illuminating fan-favorite Paint the Night. The Paint the Night parade lights up the evening with over a million brilliant LED lights, high-energy music, and a whirlwind of fan-favorite Disney and Pixar characters.
From the moment Sorcerer Mickey steps out to conjure shimmering visions with a wave of his hand, you know you’re in for something extraordinary. Tinker Bell flits by, leaving a trail of rainbow light and pixie dust in her wake. And in a sparkling return, Anna and Elsa glide in with the reappearance of the Frozen Fractals float—seen for the first time since the parade’s original run.
The night comes alive with appearances from beloved characters across the Disney and Pixar universe, including Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, Buzz and Woody, Mike and Sulley, and more. Each float is a vibrant celebration of the stories we grew up with and continue to share with new generations.
Set to an electrifying soundtrack—including Owl City’s “When Can I See You Again?” and musical nods to classics like the Main Street Electrical Parade—Paint the Night is a mesmerizing fusion of nostalgia, innovation, and pure Disney joy. It’s a must-see experience that will have the whole family glowing with happiness.
These nighttime spectaculars are a prime example of how Disneyland blends emotion, nostalgia, and innovation—delivering magical moments that feel both deeply personal and universally shared.
And if you’re still at Disneyland, be sure to catch Wondrous Journeys. As part of the Disneyland Resort 70th Anniversary celebration, this dazzling fireworks show transforms iconic locations—Sleeping Beauty Castle, Main Street, U.S.A., Rivers of America, and the façade of “it’s a small world”—into a living canvas. Through cutting-edge projection mapping, heartfelt music, and soaring fireworks (on select nights), guests are taken on an unforgettable journey through Disney’s most beloved animated films.
From Peter Pan to Moana, Frozen to Big Hero 6, each moment honors the artists, animators, and dreamers who brought these timeless tales to life. One magical sequence shows animators sketching characters onto blank pages, slowly transforming raw imagination into vibrant worlds filled with wonder. The Blue Fairy even makes a spellbinding appearance, inviting guests to wish upon a star and step into the heart of Disney storytelling.
In one jaw-dropping moment, Baymax takes flight over Sleeping Beauty Castle—an inspiring visual that captures the spirit of courage, creativity, and possibility that defines the celebration.
Set to the original song “It’s Wondrous,” this spectacular is more than just a show—it’s a love letter to dreamers of all ages, reminding us that every step of the journey, every triumph and challenge, shapes the magic within us.
Finally, over at Disney California Adventure Park, there’s World of Color – “Happiness!” is a dazzling tribute to joy in all its forms. Hosted by Joy and the rest of the emotions from Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out and Inside Out 2, the show explores the many shades of happy—nostalgic, carefree, emotional, and euphoric—through breathtaking visuals, unforgettable music, and beloved characters.
With each sweeping fountain and kaleidoscopic laser beam, Paradise Bay transforms into a dreamlike canvas. Expect everything from brilliant projections and swirling fog to fiery bursts and over 1,200 dancing water jets—all synchronized to heartwarming musical moments from Turning Red, Encanto, Tangled, A Goofy Movie, The Incredibles, and more.
The emotional thread that ties it all together? Music. The soundtrack to World of Color – “Happiness!” taps directly into the heart, with joyful, cinematic songs like “I2I” from “A Goofy Movie,” “This Wish” from “Wish,” and “Nobody Like U” from “Turning Red,” and more that elevate each scene and resonate long after the show ends. And to make it even more of a party, there’s the original “Makes Me Wanna Move,” performed by FITZ, Fitz and The Tantrums and a new rendition “Rainbow Connection,” performed by Boyz II Men
And since we are still on the subject of The Muppets, Kermit, Gonzo, and friends pop in with a delightfully chaotic pre-show filled with music, laughs, and a not-so-average safety reminder. It’s zany, it’s adorable, and it sets the tone for a night of unforgettable fun. Expect Miss Piggy to run the show and Joe the Legal Weasel tell guests not to jump into the bay.
Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Celebrations run from now until summer 2026.
