Disney kicked off Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary Celebration with the brand new World of Colour: Happiness, plus the return of Paint the Evening parade and Wondrous Journeys fireworks, in addition to a wide range of different leisure and plussings all through the California parks. The occasion presents a shocking quantity of substance for what might be thought-about a minor milestone as in comparison with Disneyland’s seventy fifth Anniversary ‘Diamond Jubilee’ in solely 5 years.
We received’t bury the lede: “Have a good time Blissful” is well the perfect anniversary occasion that both of the home parks have finished since Disneyland’s sixtieth Anniversary. It surpasses the Disney100 celebration, which all the time felt like a little bit of an afterthought (and was by no means actually celebrated absolutely in Florida), in addition to Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
Truthfully, I’m nonetheless bitter about that second one. As a Walt Disney World fan before everything, I had been anxiously awaiting the fiftieth for over a decade. I used to be trying ahead to one thing on par with Disneyland’s fiftieth Anniversary, which is extensively seen as the perfect anniversary occasion Disney has ever finished. As an alternative, the World’s Most Magical Celebration felt like salute to all issues Disney…however principally mental property that’s standard on the Disney+ streaming service.
Clearly, sure ‘world occasions’ provide a handy excuse for why Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary underwhelmed. And to some extent, that’s legitimate. Nevertheless it wasn’t simply the substance of Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary that missed the mark, however its tone. An excessive amount of emphasis was positioned on synergy and characters from the previous few years, and never practically sufficient on Walt Disney and different individuals who made the magic doable, and even the Trip Kingdom’s wealthy historical past and legacy. The tone lacking the mark isn’t the fault of COVID-19, time crunches, staffing shortages, or the rest. It was purposeful. There’s no good excuse for that.
On the substantive entrance, Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary introduced us the Disney Enchantment fireworks at Magic Kingdom, Harmonious nighttime spectacular at EPCOT, and KiteTails at Animal Kingdom. There was additionally the opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, which was delayed by roughly a 12 months with a view to coincide with the kickoff of the celebration. The truth that all three items of marquee leisure have been all rapidly retired says just about all that must be mentioned about Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
My favourite parts of the celebration ended up being the crashes in KiteTails (symbolic of the celebration), Beacons of Magic on Spaceship Earth, ‘Portrait of Walt Disney World’ e book, together with the meals & beverage program, merchandise and music. Even so, the “afterthought” Disney100 at Disneyland arguably surpassed Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
Since it is a assessment of California’s present anniversary and never me persevering with to air my grievances about one thing that occurred ~5 years in the past at Walt Disney World, it’s in all probability value turning our consideration to Disneyland70. However the previous does inform the current, so I figured that was value sharing. It’s thus in all probability no shock that Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary is the perfect home particular occasion within the final decade.
Whereas we’ll talk about the substantive leisure in flip beneath, what shocked me most about Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary is the jovial tone. I wasn’t certain how the entire “Have a good time Blissful!” factor would land, and it nonetheless does really feel somewhat linguistically awkward, however the vibe is correct.
The seventieth is basically a giant birthday bash for Disneyland, with an upbeat power and temper we haven’t seen at any of the home anniversaries within the final decade-plus. After the extra critical and complex Disneyland sixtieth Anniversary and Disney100 (Walt Disney World’s was sort of in no man’s land–and likewise, it’s on the opposite coast), having a extra cheerful and colourful celebration is a pleasant change of tempo.
Additionally, there’s the fact that Disneyland’s seventy fifth Anniversary is correct across the nook, and doing one more refined, uncommon mineral or metallic celebration may’ve meant the occasions mixing collectively an excessive amount of. The seventieth isn’t nearly this occasion, it’s about positioning the parks for five years from now when that greater milestone happens.
As an alternative, what Disney delivered is an anniversary extra on par with what we’d see at Tokyo Disney Resort–proper right down to that awkward “Have a good time Blissful!” catchphrase. It’s a celebration that’s anchored up to now with simply the correct quantity of nostalgia and recollections, whereas being targeted on providing an brisk and thrilling celebration for as we speak.
Once more, a giant birthday bash seems like the proper technique to describe Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary, from the colourful colours (that work very well collectively and are a superb change of tempo) to the earworm music by the Jonas Brothers to the enjoyable photograph ops all through the park to the celebratory merchandise and meals & beverage program.
They even introduced again Duffy and ShellieMay for the event, making it actually really feel like an occasion pulled from the Tokyo Disney Resort playbook. The presence of these pleasant bears and the catchy theme tune are the plain causes to attract a comparability between Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary and an analogous celebration at Tokyo Disney Resort.
For me, it’s a bit extra area of interest than that. It’s within the little particulars that aren’t in the least marketable, however that make the large distinction.
One in all my favourite issues about Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary is the particular MagicBand+ touchpoints which can be scattered all through the park. Now, I’m detest to advocate anybody buy a MagicBand+ particularly for the celebration as I discover the system to be typically underwhelming (particularly at Disneyland), however I’m nonetheless impressed by these little portals that spit out freebies (in Frontierland and Essential Road), and the interactive moments on the different stations.
Truthfully, the portal in Fantasyland (close to the fort walk-through) is likely to be my favourite addition of all the celebration. That’s not meant in a backhanded method in any respect. On the contrary, this cute interactive show is distinctly Disneyland, and completely oozes attraction. Everybody in our group who was this was impressed, and shared comparable sentiment: it’s good to see that Imagineering nonetheless is aware of methods to do issues like this–and has the power to get these placemaking initiatives funded.
It’s an analogous story for me with the “Key to Disneyland” system. I completely love the thought of this piece of merchandise–which company can use to embark on an journey and activate particular options whereas visiting seventieth Anniversary lock stations in every land of Disneyland. Tokyo Disney Resort has had stations and particular merchandise virtually precisely like this for a few their current milestone anniversaries.
The disadvantage to each of those additions is the paywall–I don’t thoughts there being a merchandising ingredient (once more, that’s precisely how Tokyo does it), however each the MagicBand+ and Key to Disneyland are prohibitively costly for a lot of/most company. I’d suppose it might be higher to promote extra gadgets for much less cash than this method, as having an extremely excessive adoption charge (I might guess that over half of company buy the TDR trinkets throughout these anniversaries) is what makes these interactive experiences a giant a part of the enjoyable in Tokyo.
Right here’s hoping that Disneyland diehards nonetheless have MagicBand+ available from when the present outlets have been giving them away (fairly actually) with any buy final 12 months as a result of gradual gross sales. I’m guessing many do. Or perhaps these interactive portals will lastly be sufficient for locals to justify shopping for the wearables (uncertain).
Then there are the attraction enhancements debuting for the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary.
In “it’s a small world” at Disneyland, Miguel and Dante from the Pixar movie “Coco” be part of the opposite kids in tune, silhouetted by a surprising marigold bridge. This doesn’t actually need a assessment–it’s simply two characters, barely qualifying as a plussing. Now, the upgrades approaching July 17 to “it’s a small world” are a very totally different story.
Then there’s Toy Story Halfway Mania. That is really an even bigger change than I used to be anticipating, with seventieth ‘stickers’ being added to props all through the queue and journey, however extra importantly, the worth of targets altering with the ’70’ sticker being added to the entrance, considerably rising their value. In consequence, you’ll virtually definitely set a brand new private report on Toy Story Halfway Mania. Not an enormous substantive change, however a enjoyable one.
Final however not least is “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Reside!” That is the brand new #1 attraction in all of Disneyland Resort, so you must take my ‘assessment’ of it with a grain of salt. Each Sarah and I felt the unique songs on this have been significantly better than earlier than, as is the story conceit.
“Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Reside!” feels extra cohesive and like an precise attraction. It’s actually good. 10/10 for what it’s. With that mentioned, our toddler daughter solely gave it a 5/10, reasoning that it ought to’ve simply been the “Sizzling Canine Music” on loop a half-dozen instances. She’s already been ranting about it on her Twitter account–guess we’re elevating a troublesome critic!
Now let’s check out the principle attracts: the brand new parade, fireworks, and World of Colour, all of which we have been capable of expertise throughout a media preview of the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration…
World of Colour Happiness Evaluation
Let’s begin with the largest all-new leisure, which is World of Colour: Happiness! This nighttime spectacular is impressed by Walt Disney’s phrases from the opening day park dedication from seven many years in the past: “To all who come to this joyful place… welcome!”
World of Colour: Happiness explores “joyful” via a kaleidoscope of feelings, hosted by the Inside Out characters and takes company on an (emotional) curler coaster via moments and music from “Turning Pink,” “A Goofy Film,” “Tangled,” “The Lion King” and extra. The specular additionally options fountains, dynamic lighting, colourful lasers, fog and dramatic flame results. In the event you’re aware of World of Colour, you understand the drill–it’s the identical setup and construction with this present.
On paper, World of Colour: Happiness checks all the proper containers for me. It begins out with a hilarious Muppets pre-show that had me laughing out loud at a number of factors and grinning ear to ear all through, because it’s one of many (uncommon) situations of Disney actually getting the Muppets and placing them to nice use. Though the ethical of the story is somewhat unclear…ought to I or shouldn’t I leap into the bay? Anyway, excessive marks for the pre-show (10/10), even when Joe the Authorized Weasel is a little bit of a debbie downer.
From there, World of Colour: Happiness begins sturdy. Utilizing Pleasure and the opposite Inside Out characters to discover how the opposite feelings colour our happiness is an fascinating–and efficient–selection. The primary cease at Boy Band Island brings the home down, and is the unequivocal spotlight of World of Colour: Happiness. Effectively, after that Muppets pre-show.
After that, the nighttime spectacular simply meanders a bit an excessive amount of. Once more, on paper, I like what they’re doing. There’s a transparent narrative through-line and the tune decisions principally make sense via the prism of the present. I additionally drastically recognize that they’re comparatively underutilized decisions from the current Disney songbook–I don’t even thoughts the presence of Want, because the featured tune is an effective one.
I used to be additionally ecstatic to see no dwell motion films or remakes shoehorned into the present. I believed for certain we have been going to get caught with a Implausible 4: First Steps or Freakier Friday phase jammed in there.
There’s additionally one thing to be mentioned for a way upbeat and jovial World of Colour: Happiness is–it seems like a celebration. I simply don’t suppose it fairly sustains its preliminary power or builds from there. As an alternative, it seems like a gradual launch, till the legendary Boyz II Males carry out the not-so-climatic “Rainbow Connection.”
As somebody who loves that tune, I’m hardly complaining about its presence–and the rendition is kind of transferring. It simply feels just like the pacing is a bit off, and that the present peaks early and step by step winds down from there till a somewhat mellow end. One of the best elements are the pre-show, opening act, conclusion, and post-show. The center feels prefer it presents connective tissue that’s usually absent from World of Colour ‘sequels,’ but it surely’s additionally not significantly memorable.
Maybe World of Colour: Happiness will develop on me. To be clear, I don’t suppose it’s unhealthy and even underwhelming by any measure. It edges out World of Colour – ONE (which we scored an 8.5/10) to be the third greatest (out of seven) World of Colour of all time, after the OG (10/10) and Season of Gentle (10/10). I’d give World of Colour: Happiness a strong 9/10. I like the idea, which is ideal for each World of Colour and this anniversary. It doesn’t fairly stick the touchdown, however continues to be the perfect anniversary World of Colour to this point–significantly better than ‘Have a good time’ for the sixtieth!
“Tapestry of Happiness” Evaluation
At Disneyland, the facade of “it’s a small world” involves life every evening via gentle, music and results within the “Tapestry of Happiness” projection present. This creates an animated mosaic of Disneyland sights, moments and recollections dropped at life in a singular type impressed by the work of legendary Disney artist Mary Blair.
“Tapestry of Happiness” is a visible love letter to Disneyland, bringing all of us collectively via recollections of The Happiest Place on Earth. That is principally a religious successor to “Bear in mind… Goals Come True” however with out the fireworks and far shorter. Whereas I’d clearly desire a fully-fledged nighttime spectacular, there’s something to be mentioned for the comparative ease of viewing the projections on the facade of “it’s a small world.”
We each completely adore “Tapestry of Happiness,” and consider it because the sleeper hit of the celebration. There are a number of goosebumps moments; whereas it’s wistful concerning the previous and historical past of Disneyland, it’s additionally upbeat and joyful. It additionally options the “Have a good time Blissful” theme tune, offering company much more publicity to that earworm. “Tapestry of Happiness” is a ten/10 for what it’s (simply bear in mind–what it’s is far smaller-scale than a nighttime spectacular).
“The Have a good time Blissful Cavalcade” at Disneyland
Because the “The Have a good time Blissful Cavalcade” winds its method alongside the parade route, favourite characters encourage company to bop and clap alongside in an brisk and up to date celebration of seven many years of happiness. It’s possible you’ll spot buddies together with Goofy and Max of their seventieth apparel, in addition to pals not usually seen at Disneyland, like Duffy and ShellieMay!
Sarah is over the moon about this cavalcade, particularly as a result of it options Duffy & Pals. Like her mom, Megatron is a giant fan of bears, and that features Duffy & Pals. Though her favourite characters of the crew are LinaBell and Gelatoni, she nonetheless is a giant fan of “The Have a good time Blissful Cavalcade.”
My seemingly unpopular opinion is that “The Have a good time Blissful Cavalcade” is just okay. The characters are cute and the music is catchy, but it surely seems like there was the chance for one thing extra right here–particularly with Magic Occurs on hiatus. I don’t know, maybe I had unrealistic expectations for what’s solely being billed as a cavalcade, however Disneyland billed this to be one thing barely greater and higher than what they’ve finished earlier than. It actually isn’t.
I don’t dislike “The Have a good time Blissful Cavalcade.” On the contrary, seeing Duffy & ShellieMay is sweet, and that earworm music is enjoyable–I’d simply warning towards getting your expectations up or ready something quite a lot of minutes for this. It’s an honest piece of leisure that might’ve benefited from greater formidable or extra creativity: 7/10. I might anticipate the most typical verbal assessment to be “it’s cute.”
Paint the Evening Parade Evaluation
This fan-favorite, dazzling nighttime parade will make its grand return to Disneyland for the seventieth Anniversary celebration, lighting up the parade route with beautiful colour and greater than 1,000,000 good LED lights. Paint the Evening options revolutionary floats, vibrant costumes, unimaginable particular results, unforgettable music and energetic performances.
Mickey Mouse makes use of his vivid creativeness to harness the facility of Tinker Bell’s pixie mud and “Paint the Evening” in Disney goals, bringing to gentle beloved characters and tales from Pixar and Disney Animation movies similar to “Monsters, Inc.,” “Automobiles,” “Toy Story”, “The Little Mermaid,” “Magnificence and the Beast,” “Frozen” and extra.
Traditionally, I’ve not been as ‘excessive’ on Paint the Evening as different Disney followers. It’s not my favourite and even second-favorite nighttime parade that Disney has ever finished. Initially, I believed it felt too up to date for Disneyland’s sixtieth Anniversary, and didn’t strike a greater steadiness between previous and new (particularly for the reason that Diamond Celebration is rooted in nostalgia).
Nonetheless, I’ve all the time understood why so many Disneyland diehards love Paint the Evening parade: the music is catchy, the floats are formidable, and it’s an ideal modernization of the sunshine parade idea. Not solely that, however there’s a palpable and downright enjoyable power to Paint the Evening. It’s the sort of parade that hypes you up and places a smile in your face. It makes you joyful, which additionally makes Paint the Evening the proper parade for Disneyland’s seventieth.
On a private be aware, we additionally now have one thing else we didn’t over a decade in the past once we first noticed the parade: nostalgia. Paint the Evening now not feels “too up to date” for me–that didn’t even cross my thoughts till studying my previous assessment. As an alternative, we acquired goosebumps when listening to that music and seeing Tinker Bell, and afterwards reminisced concerning the debut at Hong Kong Disneyland and that first wild summer time of the Diamond Celebration.
I might hazard a guess that many longtime Disneyland followers will really feel equally, having been questioning when can we do that once more? Paint the Evening Parade is a 9.5/10 for us. Not fairly excellent, however a contemporary basic–and much superior to love the 1,955th farewell run of Essential Road Electrical Parade.
Wondrous Journeys Fireworks Evaluation
“Wondrous Journeys” celebrates the legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios classics which have impressed Walt Disney’s unique magic kingdom. All through the present, you embark on a journey crammed with artistry, music, storytelling and coronary heart as you expertise moments from beloved tales like “Hercules,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Peter Pan,” “Frozen,” “Large Hero 6,” “Moana,” “Encanto” and extra.
The present options state-of-the-art projection results that remodel Essential Road, U.S.A., Sleeping Magnificence Citadel, “it’s a small world” and the Rivers of America. On choose nights, the present will likely be enhanced with fireworks.
Not a lot to say right here that I haven’t already mentioned. Wondrous Journeys is just a few years previous and we liked it from the leap, so I don’t suppose additional dialogue is important right here. As earlier than, Wondrous Journeys is certainly one of Disney’s best-ever fireworks present–if you might want to hear extra, take a look at our Evaluation: Wondrous Journeys is Higher Than Fortunately Ever After Fireworks.
Wondrous Journeys is each bit nearly as good as I bear in mind. If Fortunately Ever After is a ten/10 nighttime spectacular (and it’s), Wondrous Journeys is 11/10. I’m unsure it’s tonally excellent for “Have a good time Blissful,” however truthfully, I don’t care. I’m simply glad it’s again.
“Higher Collectively: A Pixar Friends Celebration!” Parade Evaluation
“Higher Collectively: A Pixar Friends Celebration!” returns to the streets of Disney California Journey. This pleasant daytime parade is crammed with unimaginable music, dynamic and colourful floats and practically 30 favourite characters from Pixar Animation Studios movies, together with “Luca,” “Turning Pink,” “Up,” and extra.
My preliminary sentiment on the Higher Collectively parade was pretty combined. Effectively, we watched it extra (and extra) over the course of the interminably lengthy Pixar Fest final 12 months, and it’s the one factor about that occasion that actually grew on me. The soundtrack is an earworm. Getting this again with out the remainder of Pixar Fest is the perfect of each worlds–an enormous win, in my e book.
Nonetheless, there’s part of me that needs we may have the superior Magic Occurs over at Disneyland with a greater cavalcade at Disney California Journey. Think about a cavalcade that includes all the Duffy & Pals plus the Muppets and Goofy Film characters. Dare to dream. For its half, Higher Collectively is a 7.5/10 daytime parade (nice music and characters, subpar floats).
In the end, we’ve been pleasantly shocked by Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary Celebration so far. It’s simply higher than Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary (a tragic assertion that’s equally an indictment of that occasion), and it punches above its weight for what I’d name an in-between (however nonetheless milestone) anniversary.
Ten years in the past, the Diamond Celebration is what deepened our love for Disneyland as freshly-minted California locals. We visited the parks extra in the course of the sixtieth Anniversary than every other 12 months earlier than or since. We have been visiting a number of instances per week, and that occasion is exactly what laid the inspiration for our complete Anaheim resort evaluations & rankings that stay an ongoing challenge and level of satisfaction for this web site.
Quick-forward to as we speak, and I can already inform that Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary goes to be what makes us fall in love with the parks yet again, throughout a brand new season in our lives. It’s nonetheless early, however that is already an ideal celebration for us–we’re already trying on the calendar for dates we will make resort reservations to “Have a good time Blissful.”
Clearly, that’s private. Different Disneyland diehards may name us biased–both by advantage of getting a constructive expertise throughout a media occasion (though I’d be aware that our pals who visited as common company had superior views of Paint the Evening and the cavalcade on those self same nights) or as a result of having a toddler. And perhaps that’s truthful to level out.
Nonetheless, I’d argue that the detractors of the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary are viewing the celebration on paper in contending that it doesn’t provide sufficient. Once you’re really within the park, the power is extra encompassing and interesting and–on the danger of belaboring the purpose–seems like a giant birthday bash.
Past the marquee leisure that had subsections right here, the celebration nails the “little issues” from the music (albeit not the Esplanade loop!) to the meals to the merchandise–and the little interactive portals. There’s quite a bit to this celebration past what meets the attention.
I’d take {that a} step additional and say that the cheery and colourful “Have a good time Blissful!” Disneyland seventieth Anniversary Celebration is simply what the world wants proper now. Lots of totally different individuals have nervousness and unease for lots of various causes, and this birthday bash is totally the antidote to that.
Tacky because it sounds, it’s an anniversary rooted up to now with an eye fixed in direction of the long run in celebration of as we speak. Maybe a greater moniker than “Have a good time Blissful!” would’ve been the “Right here You Depart Right now And Enter The World Of Yesterday, Tomorrow And Fantasy Celebration.” That is the sort of escapism that Walt Disney created his unique magic kingdom to embrace, and there’s the identical optimistic and nostalgic sensibility to this celebration. I can consider no extra becoming tribute to the person behind many years of magic–and I can’t wait to see what’s subsequent because the extra history-oriented portion of the seventieth debuts on July 17, 2025.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Lodge Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and plenty of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
Have you ever seen any of the “Have a good time Blissful” leisure? What did you want? What didn’t you want? Are you hoping to go to Disneyland Resort for the seventieth Anniversary? Is Paint the Evening + Wondrous Journeys fireworks + World of Colour: Happiness ok for you? 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!
