Disney has officially kicked off its year-long celebration of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, and we were thrilled to be invited to a preview of all the exciting festivities planned for Summer 2026. This comprehensive guide will give you the inside scoop on everything from entertainment and culinary delights to exclusive merchandise and more.
From the dazzling return of Paint the Night to nostalgic food offerings and the introduction of the interactive Disneyland Key, there's a wealth of experiences to anticipate when planning your visit. Below, we've outlined the twelve highlights you should know about Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration. Let us know what excites you the most!
- Paint the Night Is Back With Elsa, Anna, and Over One Million LED Lights
- Disneyland is More Affordable Thanks to Limited-Time 70th Anniversary Ticket and Disneyland Hotel Offers
For those planning a visit during Disneyland's 70th anniversary, Disney is offering special deals to make your trip more budget-friendly. You can purchase a multi-day theme park ticket starting at just $360 for a special 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 don’t need to be used on consecutive days.
If you're looking to stay on-site, you can save up to 20% on select stays at the Disneyland Hotel during the same period. This not only makes your trip more affordable but also allows you to experience how the Disneyland Hotel is marking its own 70th anniversary with unique decorations, themed in-room celebrations, and exclusive beverages.
Staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel also means you're just steps away from Downtown Disney, which is decked out for the occasion with 70th anniversary medallions and favorite Disney characters, perfect for memorable photos. The path to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure continues to offer its diverse food and shopping experiences.
- World of Color Happiness! - A New Version of the Disney California Adventure Water Show Featuring Inside Out
Inside Out’s emotions take center stage, with Joy and other emotions featured prominently in the logo. Guests can influence the story by voting on which emotion— Sadness, Anger, Disgust, or Envy—appears in different scenes via the Disneyland app.
The show also includes a new pre-show featuring The Muppets, who are celebrating their own 70th anniversary. The musical highlights include a special rendition of ‘Rainbow Connection’ by Boyz II Men and a new original song, ‘Makes Me Wanna Move,’ by FITZ.
For a deeper dive into another impressive show, check out our thoughts on 2023’s World of Color - ONE for Disneyland’s 100th anniversary.
- Wondrous Journeys Celebrates Over 60 Walt Disney Animation Studios Films With Fireworks, Projections, and Music
The show remains largely unchanged but continues to be a favorite among guests of all ages. The experience varies slightly depending on your location within Disneyland, with unique moments at Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America, and the façade of it’s a small world.
Read more about Wondrous Journeys in our Disney 100th Anniversary Guide, a must-see filled with heart, emotion, and special moments.
- Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Shines a Spotlight on the Importance of Friendship with Toy Story, Coco, and More
The parade retains the same fun and meaningful message it carried during its debut at Pixar Fest 2024. 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.”
- Tapestry of Happiness Brings a Special Projection Show to it’s a small world that Celebrates Disneyland’s Past
Inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair, 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 Jonas Brothers’ ‘Celebrate Happy’ theme song weaves together the melodies of these classic experiences, creating a truly memorable spectacle.
Additionally, Coco's Miguel and Dante have been added to it’s a small world just in time for the anniversary, and a new verse from the late Richard M. Sherman will be added on July 17.
- The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade at Disneyland Stars Duffy and ShellieMay
Now, Duffy and ShellieMay have their chance to shine in the U.S., joining other Disney favorites in this delightful, smaller-scale parade.
- Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! Is the Perfect Place to Take Your Kids For Some Dancing and Fun
The music is lively and fun, making it a perfect spot to cool off and let the kids burn some energy with their favorite characters!
- Disneyland 70th Merch, Led by the Disneyland Key, Is a Celebration of Today and Yesterday
Each land has a not-so-hidden lock with a keyhole that perfectly fits the key. When unlocked, each one offers a unique experience, such as playing music, displaying lights, and adding the land’s icon to your key. You don't need to complete this on a single visit, as progress is saved.
Once all locks are unlocked, head to the Mickey Topiary Finale lock by the park's entrance to reveal the final surprise. After inserting the key, bubbles celebrate the achievement, and a secret compartment in the key opens to reveal one of nine commemorative trading pins representing Disneyland's lands.
Disneyland 70th Anniversary Merch
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You can explore all the 70th Anniversary merchandise offerings in the slideshow above and with the link right here.
- Disneyland Food and Drinks Offer a Window Back in Time With a Delicious Twist
One of the joys of visiting a Disney Park during a special event is sampling the new food and drink offerings. For the 70th anniversary, over 70 items are available, blending new delights with dishes inspired by Disneyland’s past.
Chef Steven Medina and his team have crafted a menu that gives guests a taste of what it was like when Disneyland first opened. Highlights include a Banana Split and Apple Pancake Rolls, both recreations of items from the park’s opening day.
Disneyland 70th Anniversary Food and Drinks
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Among the new offerings, the 70th Celebration Churro stands out, featuring an ube sugar coating, marbled blue raspberry drizzle, and colorful sprinkles that match the anniversary's purple, blue, and pink palette.
Check out all the 70th anniversary food offerings in the slideshow above and right here!
- Toy Story Midway Mania!, Carthay Circle, Downtown Disney, and Much More
Disneyland's 70th anniversary brings a host of new experiences, including a refreshed Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney California Adventure. The attraction now features 70th anniversary stickers placed by Andy, which offer bonus points when hit, adding a fun twist to this popular ride.
Over at DCA, Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit of Magic Every Night will light up the exterior of Carthay Circle with stunning lights, projections, and a special appearance by Tinker Bell. The Animation Courtyard, one of Disneyland's most beloved spots, now showcases Encanto, Coco, Soul, The Princess and the Frog, Zootopia, and Moana.
For MagicBand+ users, there are special interaction points throughout the park, including at Jungle Cruise and Frontierland, that offer fun experiences and even print out commemorative tickets.
- Walt Disney - A Magical Life and More Experiences to Come
While the celebrations for Disneyland’s 70th anniversary kick off on May 16, the actual anniversary falls on July 17, coinciding with the debut of Walt Disney - A Magical Life. This marks the first time Walt Disney will be brought to life as an Audio-Animatronic, welcoming guests into his office to share his story.
We recently visited Imagineering to learn more about this project; you can read about how Disney is bringing Walt back to life. This experience will open alongside the Evolution of a Dream exhibit, featuring items from Walt’s past and a tribute to the history of Disney’s cast members.
For more, explore our story of how a century of Disney Magic began and our list of the 25 best Disney animated movies of all time.
