Disneyland 70th Anniversary DATES and Details: New World of Color, Return of Paint the Night, and More

Disneyland in Anaheim, California celebrates its 70th-anniversary celebration in 2025 with the return of fan-favorite entertainment like Paint the Night, a new attraction, colorful decor across the resort, and more limited-time offerings. Disneyland has now shared the overall details of Disneyland's 70th-anniversary celebration.

We will cover everything you need to know for the celebration including dates, entertainment offerings, special changes to attractions, and more. We will continue to update this guide as more anniversary offerings are announced.

Below, we will share all of the details of Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration and what it will include! Let's dive in.

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Dates

The Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration “will honor seven decades of happiness and many moments of joy in the making.” During the 70th anniversary festivities, you'll be able to “celebrate happy” with a variety of limited-time offerings. In keeping with this theme, there will be a new theme song featured throughout the anniversary festivities called “Celebrate Happy.” I hope this is on the same level as the great Tokyo Disney anniversary songs that have been used over the years.

The resort will be decorated with colorful decor during the celebration including a medallion on Sleeping Beauty Castle. Mickey, Minnie, and friends will also get new anniversary outfits! We will share more details on the 70th anniversary decor across the park in the sections below.

The Disneyland 70th anniversary will take place from May 16, 2025 and run through the summer of 2026. The exact end date for the celebration has not been announced yet. This is longer than we were expecting for the run of the celebration.

There will be a special ticket offer available for this summer during the 70th anniversary celebration. You can read more details about the Disneyland special anniversary ticket offer here.

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Entertainment

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Disney revealed the lineup of the 70th Anniversary entertainment featuring the return of some fan-favorite offerings and an all-new World of Color show.

In addition to these new details about the Disneyland 70th Anniversary celebration, Disney shared that more will be announced in the coming months. We expect that means new Disneyland foods and of course a look at the merchandise.

NEW 70th Anniversary Character Cavalcade

For the 70th anniversary, there will be a new character cavalcade called “The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade” at Disneyland Park. This cavalcade along the parade route will be “an energetic and contemporary celebration of seven decades of happiness.” It will feature several characters including Goofy and Max in their 70th attire as well as Duffy and ShellieMay, which are rare Duffy and Friends characters that we don't usually see at Disneyland!

I was happy to hear this as it means that there'll be some good energy in the parks during the day even though there won't be a full daytime parade.

“World of Color Happiness!”

The new World of Color show at Disney California Adventure for the Disneyland 70th Anniversary celebration will be called “World of Color Happiness!” which is inspired by Walt Disney's famous words from the dedication on Disneyland's opening day, “To all who come to this happy place… welcome!”

The new show will be hosted by Joy and the other characters from “Inside Out” and “Inside Out 2” and “explore ‘happy' through a kaleidoscope of emotions.” It will feature music and moments from favorite Walt Disney Animation and Pixar stories like “Turning Red,” “The Incredibles,” “A Goofy Movie,” “Tangled,” “The Lion King,” “Encanto,” and more.

The new show will include all of the elements that make World of Color a fan-favorite show, telling a story with fountains, lighting, lasers, fog and flame effects, and more. Disney describes it as an “interactive joyride where guests are encouraged to sing and dance along.” In addition to classic Disney songs, the show will feature a rendition of “Rainbow Connection” by Boyz II Men and a new original song for World of Color by FITZ called “Makes Me Wanna Move.”

Before World of Color begins, there will be a special message from The Muppets! More than a dozen of The Muppets, with the guidance of Joe the Legal Weasel, will deliver their message with projections and fountain effects.

Right now this feels a bit jumbled to me. It's a mix of celebrating Disneyland with the use of the original dedication speech but then centers on all the latest Disney franchises. They are using the concept of the dedication speech as the way to tie Disneyland with the newer characters. I am a Disneyland fan first and foremost so I would've loved to see a completely Disneyland focused show, but getting any Walt Disney into the entertainment can be a nice touch. We'll have to wait and see how they execute.

Paint the Night Parade

A highlight of Disneyland's 70th Anniversary is the return of the popular Paint the Night parade! Disney had previously teased the return of the parade and has now confirmed it will be part of the 70th Anniversary entertainment lineup.

The beloved nighttime parade features more than a million LED lights, special effects, and more. Paint the Night features favorite Disney and Pixar characters from “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “Toy Story”, “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and more. The Frozen ice castle float featuring Elsa and Anna will also be returning to the parade for the first time since its initial run.

The parade will be performed in Disneyland Park.

Wondrous Journeys

The Wondrous Journeys fireworks show that originally debuted as part of the Disney100 celebration at Disneyland is returning for Disneyland's 70th anniversary! We think this impressive show may be one of the best that Disneyland has ever made—you can see our full thoughts on the show in our Disneyland fireworks article.

The show celebrates Walt Disney Animation Studios classics, highlighting moments from stories like “Hercules,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Peter Pan,” “Frozen,” “Big Hero 6,” “Moana,” “Encanto” and more. It features incredible projections on Main Street U.S.A. and Baymax from “Big Hero 6” and the Blue Fairy from “Pinocchio” flying over the castle.

“Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” Parade

The Disneyland 70th Anniversary celebration will also feature the return of “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” which debuted at Disney California Adventure as part of Pixar Fest. This parade features nearly 30 characters from Pixar films, including “Luca,” “Turning Red,” “Up,” and more. You can see our review of the Pixar parade here!

The parade will again be performed in Disney California Adventure Park.

Disney shared that Wondrous Journeys and the “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade will temporarily pause for seasonal Halloween and holiday entertainment offerings and then resume.

READ MORE – 5 Easiest-to-Book Disneyland Restaurants That Actually Have Good Food

“Tapestry of Happiness” Projection Show

There will be a new projection show on the facade of “it's a small world” at Disneyland Park called “Tapestry of Happiness” which will feature light, music, and projection effects each night. The show will “create an animated mosaic of Disneyland attractions, moments and memories” in a style inspired by the work of Mary Blair and feature the 70th anniversary song “Celebrate Happy” along with nods to Disney tunes through the decades.

This show is described as a “visual love letter to Disneyland” and its theme is how all kinds of different people are all brought together here through our love for Disneyland, seeing “through the eyes of our inner child, finding happiness in a unique and personal way.” This is quite a beautiful theme and we're looking forward to seeing how this show is executed.

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Decor and Character Outfits

The Disneyland 70th anniversary will feature colorful decor across the resort! Sleeping Beauty castle will be decorated with an elegant medallion. Of everything announced, I actually really like the style of the pendants and decorations on the castle in the artwork above. Very much looks like the classic Thomas Kinkade paintings of the theme parks.

In the esplanade between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, you'll find a contemporary 50-foot sculpture inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle, with colorful glass panels and golden charms that represent the five original lands.

At the Main Street Train station, floral Mickey will greet guests along with colorful 70th-anniversary decor.

As pictured earlier in the article, there will be a special installation in Town Square featuring Mickey and Minnie, and multi-colored banners and bunting will decorate Main Street, U.S.A.

There will also be special decor across Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resort hotels as well!

Carthay Circle in Disney California Adventure will be decorated in 70th colors, and in the evening, there will be a special moment featuring music, lights, and projection effects. This moment, set to the anniversary song “Celebrate Happy,” “further illuminates Carthay Circle and Buena Vista Street with twinkling lights, dynamic projections and bursts of color.”

Mickey and friends will be wearing special anniversary outfits for the celebration, which you can see below!

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Attractions

For Disneyland's 70th anniversary, there will be a new attraction debuting featuring the first Walt Disney animatronic, as well as some other anniversary changes to favorite attractions including “it's a small world” and Toy Story Midway Mania. We will share details on what to expect below.

“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” NEW Attraction

A new Disneyland show called “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is debuting during the celebration at Disneyland's Opera House. This show will feature the first-ever animatronic of Walt Disney. Disneyland originally shared that it would debut with the start of the celebration in May, but the opening date was delayed, and it will now debut on Disneyland's birthday on July 17, 2025.

The show is described as: “The past, present and future are coming together, giving visitors the chance to imagine what it would be like to stop by Walt’s office. Who knows what he might be dreaming up inside? Only time will tell with Walt.”

The new attraction invites guests to experience the story of Walt Disney's life, with remastered footage and audio recordings taking guests “on a cinematic journey that leads from Walt’s early endeavors to the bright lights of Los Angeles and beyond.” When the curtain rises, we will see the Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt in his office, where he will share “some heartfelt stories and words of wisdom.”

After its initial run, the show will play in rotation with “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln.”

New 70th Anniversary Gallery Experience 

Debuting alongside the show will be a new gallery experience in the Opera House highlighting “the evolution of Walt Disney's dream of Disneyland.” This exhibit will feature images, art, and artifacts (some of which have never before been seen) showing “Disneyland before, during, and after Walt’s dream became a reality. You can explore relics and rare memorabilia that show Disneyland from its early stages through what the park has become today.

There will also be another special exhibit in the lobby of the Opera House highlighting the history of Audio-Animatronics technology. Through this exhibit, you can learn about Walt's inspiration and see the inner workings of this technology and how it has developed over the years.

Disneyland is collaborating with The Walt Disney Family Museum, which has selected more than 30 artifacts for these lobby experiences, including original items from Walt Disney's private apartment above the Town Square Fire Station that have never been publically exhibited at Disneyland before.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is also loaning some of Walt Disney's humanitarian accolades including Walt’s 1955 Emmy award for the “Walt Disney’s Disneyland” TV show, his Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Johnson in 1964, and the Walt Disney Commemorative Medal presented to Lillian Disney by President Nixon in 1969.

70th Anniversary Changes to “it's a small world”

For Disneyland's 70th anniversary, there will be some new additions to “it's a small world” including a new verse and a new character added to the attraction.

With the reopening of “it's a small world” on April 25, “Coco” characters Miguel and Dante will be featured in Mexico alongside the other children in the ride!

There will also be a special addition coming to “it's a small world” for the park's birthday. A new third verse to the iconic Sherman brothers' “It's a Small World” song will debut on the ride beginning July 17. See the verse below:

“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.”  

Inside the Main Street Cinema, you can watch a three-and-a-half minute film called “The Last Verse” that was created for the “It's a Small World” song's 60th anniversary. The film reveals a new verse written by Disney Legend Richard Sherman as his final Disney contribution.

Toy Story Midway Mania! Changes

There will also be some fun updates to the popular ride Toy Story Midway Mania! in Disney California Adventure, including nods to the 70th anniversary you can spot. See the concept artwork above!

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Merchandise

Disneyland shared a first look at of some of the 70th anniversary celebration merchandise that will be available. There will be new merchandise collections for the celebration including everything from ears to apparel, and accessories to plush, toys, and home décor.

Disneyland shared a sneak peek at some items from the Celebration Collection that will be coming to the resort before the start of the celebration!

The merchandise includes a fun 70th anniversary Lug bag that we expect will be quite popular.

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