Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary celebration kicks off in 2025, and Disney has shared a sneak peek on the emblem and teased what’s to return for the milestone. This publish covers every part we all know thus far concerning the occasion, plus our wishlist for nighttime spectaculars, parades, fireworks, experience reimaginings–and what we do NOT need throughout Disneyland70.
The Disneyland seventieth Anniversary information was introduced throughout the “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase” or Parks Panel presentation throughout the 2024 D23 Expo on the Honda Middle in Anaheim, California. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro provided a sneak peek at idea artwork for the longer term as well as and teased what was to return in a couple of years.
This was truly one of many first bulletins throughout the Parks Panel, with Full Home star John Stamos sharing that Disneyland will likely be celebrating its seventieth anniversary in 2025. Calling it an announcement wouldn’t fairly be apt, since birthdays are extra concerning the passage of time dictated by math or no matter. This yr was the 69th anniversary, so we may sorta deduce that 70 can be subsequent. Anyway…
The official emblem for the Disneyland Resort seventieth Anniversary was additionally revealed throughout the Parks Panel. It encompasses a purple “70” with pink fortress towers and a streak of stars. It’s positively extra on the playful facet than we have been anticipating for the platinum anniversary, paying homage to a Tokyo Disneyland fashion celebration than what we’ve seen in recent times from the home parks.
Except for the emblem, this was actually only a tease that the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration is on the horizon in 2025. The corporate additionally indicated that “extra particulars to be shared within the coming months about this thrilling upcoming celebration.”
The one substantive announcement up to now for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary is {that a} becoming tribute to Walt Disney will debut on Most important Avenue USA. Walt Disney Imagineering is designing the primary ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics as a part of a brand new stage present, “Walt Disney — A Magical Life.”
The previous, current and future are lastly coming collectively for this brand-new stage present. When “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” debuts in 2025 on Most important Avenue at Disneyland, guests can have the prospect to think about what it will be prefer to cease by Walt’s workplace. Who is aware of what he is perhaps dreaming up inside? Solely time will inform with Walt.
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will debut contained in the Most important Avenue Opera Home, and after its preliminary run, the attraction will play in rotation with “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” A becoming acknowledgement of Walt’s vital advances with Audio-Animatronics about 60 years in the past when he first launched the groundbreaking know-how.
Forged Members already kicked off anniversary preparations for the anniversary celebration with a “Highway to the seventieth” backstage occasion on July 17 — the park’s 69th anniversary–with backstage photograph ops, contests, excursions of Walt Disney’s hearth station residence, and different actions–all catered by Porto’s Bakery (which continues to be coming to Downtown Disney–supposedly subsequent yr, however I’ll imagine it after I see it).
As for why Disneyland is utilizing this visible fashion as a substitute of platinum, my finest guess can be that they only used platinum for Disney100. Whereas I used to be personally bowled over by the extra playful and colourful emblem for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary, that’s just because it wasn’t what I used to be anticipating.
After giving it a while, I’m truly relieved that Disneyland is utilizing a extra enjoyable visible fashion for the seventieth. The identical metallic colour and stylish fashion have been used for a couple of latest celebrations and, frankly, it’s starting to really feel drained and performed out. Not solely that, however the seventy fifth Anniversary is true across the nook. That extra vital milestone might be the extra correct event for the self-serious fashion and opulent look, so let’s roll with a “enjoyable” vibe for the seventieth.
As for when the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration will begin, there are a few potentialities. The primary can be a repeat of what occurred with Disney100, which kicked off on the finish of January final yr. This didn’t coincide with the precise anniversary of the Walt Disney Firm, however reasonably, revolved across the opening of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and the winter low season at Disneyland.
The second chance can be a timeframe much like previous milestone park anniversaries. Disneyland celebrated its fiftieth Anniversary from Might 5, 2005 till September 30, 2006. This 18-month occasion was often called the “Happiest Homecoming on Earth” starting a few months earlier than the precise occasion and being celebrated around the globe–together with at Walt Disney World. Equally, Disneyland’s sixtieth Anniversary Diamond Celebration started on Might 22, 2015 and ended on September 5, 2016.
Personally, I feel the latter state of affairs makes extra sense. The winter has turn out to be busier than the summer time, however regardless of that, the latter nonetheless has extra potential as a time to attract extra vacationers since colleges are out of session for a multi-month stretch. So kicking off in Might 2025 and ending the occasion in late August 2026 gives a year-plus celebration that may span two full summers. (It’s unlikely to finish in September since Disneyland has since moved the beginning of Halloween ahead, and that’s a development I don’t see reversing itself.)
Beginning in May additionally offers a bit extra respiratory room forward of Halloween and Christmas, permitting the seventieth Anniversary festivities to roughly go on hiatus throughout the busiest time of the yr at Disneyland, earlier than returning in full power for a ‘second wave’ in January 2026.
After all, I might be completely fallacious–and this might begin in January 2025 and finish in late August 2026, much like Disney100. I’m skeptical and hope that’s not the case. For causes past me, Disney100 was an afterthought on each coasts (particularly Walt Disney World, the place it lasted only some months at EPCOT). I’d hope that Disneyland’s seventieth is a correct celebration with sufficient substance to justify a year-plus period.
Talking of which, right here’s what we’re hoping occurs–and doesn’t–throughout the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration…
No Star Wars, Pixar or Marvel – Look, I’m not a kind of followers who claims that Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel are usually not “actual” Disney as a result of they have been acquisitions. That’s simply foolish. Walt had precisely the identical involvement with Want as he did Guardians of the Galaxy, so what’s the distinction? If something, I’d prefer to see Disney actually embrace the Fox acquisition and have Planet of the Apes, Alien, Shogun, and It’s All the time Sunny in Philadelphia within the parks. (Okay, not the final one–that wouldn’t be applicable.) However that’s not the purpose.
Slightly, it’s that Disney has gone actually arduous on Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel during the last a number of years and I’ve had my fill. My worry is that what we’ll get will likely be a return of Pixar Fest or (heaven forbid) Summer season of Heroes as a tie-in with all the opposite Marvel stuff on the horizon at DCA. Please no.
It is a milestone anniversary of Disneyland, Walt Disney’s unique magic kingdom. Make it centered on the parks themselves and, to the extent that non-parks mental property is a part of the festivities, make it motion pictures and characters which can be classics. Ideally, Walt-era. So far as the newer stuff goes, Pixar can slot in wonderful with that, however Marvel and Star Wars usually feels extra compelled.
One thing Completely different – There’s a sure blueprint that has emerged for milestone anniversaries within the home parks, with new or returning parades, and nighttime spectaculars. That is doubly true in years when there’s no huge new attraction opening to anchor the celebration because the marketable mainstream draw.
From that, we may safely anticipate a brand new fireworks present at Disneyland, recent World of Colour at DCA, and return of one of many night time parades at both park. That’s not a foul slate of leisure, and I actually wouldn’t thoughts if that’s what Disneyland gives. However I actually hope they do one thing completely different. Whether or not which means an all-new stage present within the Hyperion or Fantasyland Theatre, or different unprecedented leisure, I don’t know. It’d simply be good to be stunned by one thing utterly surprising.
Paint the Evening Parade – So proper after the primary two entries plead for nothing Pixar-centric and one thing surprising, the third entry is asking for a return of what’s, mainly, Disney’s Pixarified night time parade. Sure, I see the irony in that.
Whereas I’d love a model new night time parade fueled by nostalgia, that simply appears unlikely. Failing that, that is actually extra about getting Paint the Evening Parade again for the primary time in 7 years versus rolling out the traditional Most important Avenue Electrical Parade but once more. Despite the fact that that’s the extra sentimental and anniversary-appropriate parade, it’s simply performed out at this level.
Give us Paint the Evening with a brand new float or two. The plain candidate is Inside Out after its smash summer time on the field workplace, however I’d like to see one thing new balanced out with Disney digging deeper into the archives. They did an important job of this with Magic Occurs.
Fan-Favourite Fireworks – Disneyland has not less than three fireworks reveals that would match the invoice right here: Keep in mind… Desires Come True from the fiftieth, Disneyland Endlessly from the sixtieth, and Wondrous Journeys from Disney100.
Personally, I’d like to see redux of Keep in mind…Desires Come True, modernized and enhanced for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary. However I’d be wonderful with the opposite choices, or one thing brand-new. Disney Reside Leisure has been on a roll with fireworks, and even the returning Pixar Fest nighttime spectacular was fairly good due to the enhancements. Twenty years later, they may do a very good job with a correct religious successor to RDCT.
World of Colour: Wondrous Journeys Version – If Disneyland will get fireworks which can be a love letter to the parks themselves–and it ought to, that’s the extra smart location for such a present–then DCA ought to get a nighttime spectacular that’s a love letter to Walt Disney Animation Studios. Mainly, Wondrous Journeys however through World of Colour.
I’d additionally settle for a return of the OG World of Colour, however with up to date scenes to mirror fan-favorite new motion pictures within the final 15 years. Talking of issues I’d like to see return, how concerning the TRON pre-show? I do know that was for TRON Legacy and this new film has Jared Leto in it for some motive, however that’s nonetheless the all time World of Colour tag. (Alternatively, I’d settle for a return of elecTRONica.)
Reimagined Rides – That is, as soon as once more, pulling from the Diamond Celebration playbook. For that milestone anniversary, Imagineering up to date the Alice in Wonderland darkish experience and Peter Pan’s Flight. There have been rumors of comparable such “plussings” for the opposite Fantasyland classics, however nothing else was up to date till Snow White’s Enchanted Want a number of years later.
It will make sense to provide the identical therapy to Pinocchio’s Daring Journey and Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey. I’m particularly keen (albeit cautiously so) to see what Imagineering may do with the latter, as there are methods to make use of fashionable know-how to essentially make Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey pop. The concern is that irreverence and zaniness is important to Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey, and I worry it may lose a few of its edge within the course of. Disney would by no means construct one thing like that as we speak, however hopefully Imagineering has the sense to not break it. The very issues that make that attraction so particular are its oddities; it’s an oddball attraction, nice exactly due to that.
There are additionally different points of interest that might be enhanced, comparable to Storybook Land Canal Boats, 3D motion pictures that might be introduced again, and even extinct points of interest that might be revived. Clearly, I communicate for everybody after I say that Famous person Limo needs to be introduced again for a restricted engagement earlier than they bulldoze that entire space for Avatar. It’s what Walt would need.
Nostalgic After Darkish – As I’ve written repeatedly, I’d be prepared to overpay for tickets to a Disneyland After Darkish: 90s Nite that leans closely into nostalgia for the Disney Afternoon and gives substantive leisure from that period. The identical is true of different eras, too.
What’d be actually cool, I feel, is to do Disneyland After Darkish by the a long time, startings with 50s Nite (traditional Walt-era Disneyland) and ending with the 2000s (pun-riffic DCA 1.0). That final one would possibly should be workshopped a bit because it wasn’t widespread the primary time round, however I’d nonetheless purchase a ticket.
Fantasmic Replace – Like Murphy the Dragon, Disneyland received roasted by followers with the return of Fantasmic after the nighttime spectacular’s year-plus hiatus. Frankly, I don’t know what followers have been anticipating. We warned everybody for months that Fantasmic’s return was being delayed to not rebuild the dragon, however as a cost-savings measure. We additional suggested that the present would mainly be in b-mode and never truly “enhanced” or “reimagined.”
Regardless, I’m happy that Disney didn’t get away with declining to current the nighttime spectacular for a yr and passing a downgraded model off as one thing particular. Hopefully, Disneyland administration realizes this, and there are plans to really reimagine and enhance Fantasmic. A brand new dragon can be a very good begin, however extra might be achieved for the scenes in between. Simply have a look at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios model–after years of being inferior, that’s at present the #1 model of Fantasmic. Disneyland needs to be embarrassed by that.
In the end, nothing on my want record is all that profound. For those who requested the typical Disneyland fan what they’d like for the seventieth, past the standard pleas for value decreases or the tip of reservations for Annual Passholders, that is most likely the approximate record you’d get–or a variation of it. That is partly as a result of there’s an honest quantity of consensus about what followers need from the occasion, but in addition as a result of Disney has caught to the identical acquainted method for the previous few anniversaries within the home parks.
The excellent news is that Disney employs folks much more artistic than us followers, so hopefully they will ship on a lot/many of the above, whereas additionally stunning us with issues we didn’t know we’d need. Each the emblem and the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics stage present fall into this class. The previous is a pleasant change of tempo, completely different from the anticipated however performed out metallic colour schemes, and maybe extra in step with Tokyo’s celebrations. The latter guarantees to be a first-of-its-kind substantive tribute to Walt–a love letter to the person who made the entire magic doable. No matter what’s introduced, we’ll preserve you posted on the entire information within the months to return!
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Your Ideas
Are you wanting ahead to the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration? What leisure do you hope is obtainable throughout the occasion? Something new or returning that’s in your want record? Hopeful it’s greater than only a rehash of the sixtieth, or would Paint the Evening + fireworks + World of Colour be adequate for you? Excited to lastly see Walt Disney honored with a present and first-ever Audio Animatronics determine? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
