Disneyland Marks 70th Anniversary in 2025 With 'Celebrate Happy' Events

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 5:10 PM ET, Thu December 5, 2024

Disneyland is turning 70 and its marking the occasion with a series of special, limited-time events and festivals.

The California park will kick off the festivities on May 16, 2025 and will continue the celebration through the summer of 2026.

The special activities that will be part of "Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration" include limited-time entertainment, colorful décor, food and beverages, collectible merchandise, and more.

Here’s a closer look at the highlights.

What to expect in 2025

The fan-favorite "Paint the Night" parade will return to Disneyland Park in 2025, featuring stunning color, vibrant floats and more than a million brilliant LED lights.

Guests can look forward to the new "World of Color Happiness!" nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure Park, which will draw inspiration from Walt Disney's words from the opening day park dedication from seven decades ago: "To all who come to this happy place... welcome!"

The popular nighttime spectacular "Wondrous Journeys" will also return to Disneyland Park once again, enhanced with fireworks on select nights, according to a Disneyland press release.

The high-energy parade "Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!" Is also set to return to Disney California Adventure Park.

"Wondrous Journeys" nighttime spectacular and "Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!" parade will temporarily pause, meanwhile, to make way for seasonal Halloween and Holidays entertainment offerings and will resume at a later time.

New offerings for anniversary celebration

A new character cavalcade will debut at Disneyland Park as part of the 70th anniversary festivities, and there will also be new special projections on the facades of Carthay Circle Restaurant and "it's a small world."

Also in honor the anniversary, a new theme song "Celebrate Happy" will be playing at various entertainment offerings.
Parkwide visitors will see new, colorful décor including an elegant medallion on Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals, meanwhile, will all come dressed for the party in Town Square at Disneyland, in custom looks designed for the anniversary.

Must-visit experiences and more happiness in the making

  New theme songs, costumes, projections and characters are just part of the anniversary fun in the year ahead at Disneyland.

Guests can also enjoy many recently debuted and reimagined experiences, including Pixar Place Hotel, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, enhancements to New Orleans Square and Bayou Country at Disneyland Park, and more. Here's a look at what to expect.

“Walt Disney – A Magical Life": This new offering will debut at the Main Street Opera House theater at Disneyland Park on May 16, 2025. The attraction will feature a cinematic presentation of Walt Disney's journey, culminating in a visit with Walt in his office, brought to life for the first time ever through the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park (Jan. 17-Feb. 16): Special offerings inspired by Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions will ring in the Year of the Snake. In 2025, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will debut all-new outfits with representations of traditional Korean attire. Returning features include "Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession" on select days, "Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration" water short, daily live musical performances and Asian-inspired menu items across six Lunar New Year marketplaces and select dining locations.
Anaheim Ducks Day (Jan. 24): At Disney California Adventure Park, fans will be able to enjoy a cavalcade, appearances by select Anaheim Ducks players, themed games and more. Anaheim Ducks Day Overtime at the Downtown Disney District will be an exciting fan zone with entertainment, fun activities and photo opportunities.
Celebrate Gospel at Disneyland Park (Feb. 8 and 15): A resort tradition for more than a decade, the uplifting annual concert will return on Feb. 8 and Feb. 15, with performances by community choirs from across Southern California and award-winning artists.
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival (Feb. 28-April 21): This foodie event celebrates the Golden State with heaping helpings of creative menu items, ten marketplaces – including two with new themes – live entertainment and the return of fan-favorites such as Chef Goofy, bookable culinary experiences and the classic Soarin' Over California attraction.
Season of the Force at Disneyland Park (March 28-May 11): "Fire of the Rising Moons" will perform nightly at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge with epic, new projection effects and galactic music – enhanced with fireworks on select nights. Hyperspace Mountain will return to Tomorrowland, hurtling guests through the galaxy and encountering TIE fighters along the way.
Disney Jr. Let's Play! Party (Summer): The one-day event at Disney California Adventure Park and two-day event at Downtown Disney District are set to return with entertainment, Disney Jr. character encounters and activities that families with young children will enjoy.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort (Aug. 22-Oct. 31): Guests of all ages can enjoy eerily awesome fun throughout the resort, including uniquely themed attractions, not-so-scary entertainment and autumn-inspired food and beverages.
Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park (Aug. 22-Nov. 2): The Academy Award®-winning Pixar Animation Studios film "Coco" comes to life at this celebration of the everlasting bonds of family and the spirit of Día de Los Muertos.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort (Nov. 14, 2025-Jan. 7, 2026): This enchanting season brings sparkling wintry décor, festive entertainment and more. Disney Festival of Holidays will return to Disney California Adventure Park, featuring specialty menu items, live entertainment and family activities inspired by the diverse season of celebrations in Southern California.

Separately ticketed events scheduled in 2025

After-hours events for guests of all ages feature pre-party park mix-in, shorter wait times for select attractions, unique entertainment, themed food and beverages, plus unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the event.

Disneyland After Dark events invite guests to participate in themed parties at Disneyland Park:

Sweethearts' Nite (Jan. 21, 23, 28; Feb. 4, 6, 9, 11, 13): Couples, friends and families alike can celebrate love with a new cavalcade on Main Street, U.S.A., Royal Ball, encounters with character couples and lively music. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Dec. 12, 2024.

90s Nite (March 4 and 6): Dance parties, sing-alongs and more celebrate Disney films, music and pop culture from this iconic decade. "90s on Parade" will have nods to past parades, such as "The Lion King Celebration" and "Mulan Parade." Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Dec. 12, 2024.

Star Wars Nite (April 8, 10, 22, 24, 29; May 1, 4, 6): Galactic adventures await with appearances by Star Wars characters from the Light and Dark sides of the Force, unique gatherings and out-of-this-world photo opportunities. Ticket sale details will be announced at a later time.

Pride Nite (June 16 and 18): This celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community brings allies and community members together to enjoy rainbow projections, colorful décor, fabulous entertainment and more. Ticket sale details will be announced at a later time.

Oogie Boogie Bash: A Disney Halloween Party*: Guests are invited to dress up in costume** for this frightfully fun, after-hours Halloween party at Disney California Adventure Park with family-friendly tricks and treats. In 2025, the party will offer more nights than ever before with 31 different dates:

Aug. 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31; Sept. 2, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30; Oct. 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 31