Celebrate Disneyland's 70th Anniversary: 12 Reasons to Visit This Summer with Discounts, Parades, and More

Disney has officially kicked off its year-long celebration of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, and we were thrilled to be invited to preview all the exciting festivities planned throughout Summer 2026. This comprehensive guide will give you all the details on the entertainment, food and beverages, merchandise, and more that you can look forward to during this special occasion.

From the return of the beloved Paint the Night parade to nostalgic food items and the introduction of the Disneyland Key, which unlocks surprises across the park, there's plenty to excite you when planning your visit. Below, we highlight the twelve key things you need to know about Disneyland's 70th anniversary. Let us know what you're most excited about!

1. Paint the Night Is Back With Elsa, Anna, and Over One Million LED Lights

   The return of Paint the Night, the fan-favorite nighttime parade that first debuted for Disneyland’s 60th anniversary, has generated significant excitement leading up to the park’s 70th celebrations. After its initial run ended in 2016, the parade is back with over one million LED lights, the return of Frozen's Anna and Elsa, and more.

2. Disneyland is More Affordable Thanks to Limited-Time 70th Anniversary Ticket and Disneyland Hotel Offers For those planning to visit Disneyland during its 70th anniversary celebrations, Disney is offering special deals to make your trip more budget-friendly. Guests can purchase a multi-day theme park ticket starting at $360 for a 3-day, 1-park per day ticket, or a 4-day, 1-park per day ticket for as low as $400. These tickets are valid from May 16 to August 14 and do not need to be used on consecutive days.

   For those staying on property, guests can save up to 20% on select stays at the Disneyland Hotel between May 16 and August 14. This not only offers savings but also a chance to experience how the Disneyland Hotel is celebrating its own 70th anniversary with special decorations, themed in-room celebrations, unique beverages, and more.

   Staying at a Disneyland Resort also puts you just steps away from Downtown Disney, which is adorned for the occasion. With 70th anniversary medallions featuring favorite Disney characters placed around the area for great photo ops, and other decorations, the path to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure continues to offer its diverse food and shopping experiences.

3. World of Color Happiness! - A New Version of the Disney California Adventure Water Show Featuring Inside Out

   World of Color Happiness! is the new nighttime spectacular for Disney California Adventure and marks the seventh iteration of World of Color since its debut in 2010. This show celebrates happiness using over one million water fountains and projections, drawing inspiration from Walt Disney's opening day park dedication words, "To all who come to this happy place… welcome!"

   Inside Out's emotions, including Joy, take center stage in the logo of World of Color Happiness!. Guests can influence the show's storyline by voting on which emotions — Sadness, Anger, Disgust, or Envy — appear in various scenes via the Disneyland app.

   The show also features a brand new pre-show with The Muppets, who are also celebrating their 70th anniversary. Musical highlights include Boyz II Men's special rendition of 'Rainbow Connection' and FITZ's new original song, 'Makes Me Wanna Move.'

   For thoughts on 2023's World of Color - ONE for Disneyland’s 100th anniversary, another impressive and emotional show, check out our review.

4. Wondrous Journeys Celebrates Over 60 Walt Disney Animation Studios Films With Fireworks, Projections, and Music

   Disneyland’s nighttime spectacular, Wondrous Journeys, which initially debuted for Disney’s 100th anniversary, returns for the park's 70th. This show celebrates over 60 films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, illustrating "the possibilities, excitement, heartache, and determination we all face when working to make our dreams come true."

   Wondrous Journeys remains largely unchanged but continues to be a beloved spectacle for fans of all ages. The show offers unique experiences and moments at Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America, and the façade of it’s a small world.

   For a detailed review, see our thoughts on Wondrous Journeys in the Disney 100th Anniversary Guide, a must-see show filled with heart, emotion, and truly special moments.

5. Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Shines a Spotlight on the Importance of Friendship with Toy Story, Coco, and More

   Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! is another returning parade for Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, featuring characters from beloved Pixar films such as Toy Story, The Incredibles, Turning Red, Luca, Soul, Coco, Inside Out, Monsters, Inc., and Up.

   The parade remains largely the same as when it debuted during Pixar Fest 2024, continuing to be fun and carrying a meaningful message.

   Susana Tubert, creative director at Disney Live Entertainment, shared, "This parade wants to honor and celebrate the more recent films that Pixar produced where you feel like there are characters who feel lesser than… like they don’t belong. And through these friendships, they're upheld, they're celebrated, and they're accepted. And that's the message that we want this parade to share with our guests - that it's okay to be you, that you can bring your authentic self to Disneyland, and at the end of the day, we're better together."

6. Tapestry of Happiness Brings a Special Projection Show to it’s a small world that Celebrates Disneyland’s Past

   it’s a small world’s Tapestry of Happiness was a delightful surprise during the entire Disneyland 70th Anniversary Media Preview. This five-minute show transforms the façade of it’s a small world with projection effects and music, celebrating the history of Disneyland in a beautiful way.

   Inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair, who designed it’s a small world, the show features many of Disneyland’s iconic attractions and shows, including Pirates of the Caribbean, the Main Street Electrical Parade, the Enchanted Tiki Room, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and more. The show’s songs are woven into The Jonas Brothers’ ‘Celebrate Happy’ Disneyland 70th Anniversary theme song, making it truly special.

   Additionally, Coco's Miguel and Dante have been added to it's a small world just in time for the 70th anniversary. A brand-new verse from the late Richard M. Sherman will also be added to the attraction on July 17.

7. The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade at Disneyland Stars Duffy and ShellieMay

   We were particularly excited about the Celebrate Happy Cavalcade, led by Duffy and ShellieMay, during the 70th Anniversary Media Preview. Originally designed as the "Disney Bear" in 2002 for Disney World’s Disney Springs, Duffy found his true popularity at Tokyo Disney Resort, where he was given a name, a story, and friends like ShellieMay.

   Now, Duffy and ShellieMay get to shine stateside in this smaller parade, which remains a must-watch despite its size.

8. Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! Is the Perfect Place to Take Your Kids For Some Dancing and Fun

   Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! is another delightful surprise aimed at younger guests, encouraging them to dance and sing with Mickey and his friends.

   In this interactive show, Mickey and Minnie search for Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto, who are missing from their party. The adventure takes guests through differently themed houses, complete with bubbles and fake snow, making it a fun and engaging experience.

   The upbeat music adds to the fun, offering a great way for kids to expend some energy and escape the heat.

9. Disneyland 70th Merch, Led by the Disneyland Key, Is a Celebration of Today and Yesterday

   As with any major milestone at a Disney Park, the 70th anniversary brings a plethora of new merchandise for guests to celebrate. Disney's team aimed to honor both the momentous occasion in 2025 and the park's rich history. The highlight of the preview was the Disneyland Key.

   This interactive key allows guests to "unlock magic" in all nine lands of Disneyland. Each land features a not-so-hidden lock with a keyhole that fits the key, triggering special effects like music and lights. As you unlock each land, the key adds that land’s icon to itself.

   You don’t need to complete this quest in one visit; your progress is saved. Once all lands are unlocked, head to the Mickey Topiary Finale lock by the park entrance to reveal the final surprise. After inserting the key, bubbles fly into the sky, and a secret compartment in the key opens to reveal one of nine commemorative trading pins representing Disneyland's lands.

   Disneyland 70th Anniversary Merch

   View 15 Images You can view all the 70th Anniversary merch offerings in the slideshow above and right here.

10. Disneyland Food and Drinks Offer a Window Back in Time With a Delicious Twist One of the highlights of any Disney Park visit is sampling the new food and drink offerings tied to special events, and the 70th anniversary is no different. Over 70 items are available during this year-long celebration, blending new delights with dishes inspired by Disneyland’s past.

    Chef Steven Medina and his team have crafted a special menu that gives guests a taste of what it was like when Disneyland first opened. For example, you can try a Banana Split and Apple Pancake Rolls, which are recreations of items available on the park’s first day.

    Disneyland 70th Anniversary Food and Drinks

    View 5 Images New offerings include innovative spins on classic treats like the 70th Celebration Churro, which features an ube sugar coating, marbled blue raspberry drizzle, and sprinkles, matching the anniversary’s colors.

    Check out the 70th anniversary food offerings in the slideshow above and right here!

11. Toy Story Midway Mania!, Carthay Circle, Downtown Disney, and Much More There are countless things to experience during Disneyland's 70th anniversary. A notable highlight is the new glow-up for Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney California Adventure, featuring 70th anniversary stickers that Andy has added for bonus points when hit, adding flair to this popular attraction.

    Also in DCA, Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit of Magic Every Night will illuminate the outside of Carthay Circle with lights, projections, and a special visit from Tinker Bell. Animation Courtyard, one of my favorite spots, now showcases Encanto, Coco, Soul, The Princess and the Frog, Zootopia, and Moana.

    For those with MagicBand+, there are special Disneyland 70th anniversary interaction points at attractions like Jungle Cruise and Frontierland, which print out actual tickets to commemorate this milestone.

12. Walt Disney - A Magical Life and More Experiences to Come While the celebrations for Disneyland’s 70th begin on May 16, the actual anniversary falls on July 17, the same day Walt Disney - A Magical Life will debut. This marks the first time Walt Disney will become an Audio-Animatronic, welcoming guests into his office to share his story.

    We recently visited Imagineering to learn more about this project; for details, read how Disney is bringing Walt back to life. This experience will open alongside an Evolution of a Dream exhibit featuring items from Walt’s past and another celebrating the history of Disney’s cast members.

    For more, check out our story on how a century of Disney Magic began and our list of the 25 best Disney animated movies of all time.