6 Reasons to Visit Disneyland for the 70th Anniversary

On July 17, 1955, Walt Disney famously declared, "To all who come to this happy place: welcome,” as he opened the gates at Disneyland. Seven decades later, Disneyland continues that legacy with its Celebrate Happy 70th Anniversary festivities. From now through summer 2026, guests can look forward to an extensive roster of surprises and activities throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. 

There are more than 70 new food items to try, a new World of Color show (with a special Muppets pre-show) and the glorious “Paint the Night” parade returns. Read on for the top six reasons to visit the parks during this momentous event. Then let AAA help you save big and plan for the trip of a decade!

1. Disney’s iconic parades and a new cavalcade

Disneyland fans will be thrilled to welcome back a few favorites arriving for the 70th Anniversary celebration. The spectacularly radiant “Paint the Night” parade is the pinnacle of Disneyland's excellence. More than a million LED lights illuminate larger-than-life floats down Main Street U.S.A., led by Tinker Bell and Peter Pan, with stunning floats that feature Ariel and King Triton from The Little Mermaid, Anna and Elsa from Frozen and of course, Mickey Mouse & Friends. This has to be the most enchanting parade I’ve ever seen, and no photos can do it justice.

Over at Disney California Adventure, the charming and delightful daytime parade “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” returns two daily shows. Catch Mickey and Minnie in their sharp 70th party wear at The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade as they parade down Main Street. There’s even a fun appearance from the rarely-spotted Duffy and ShellieMay! Throughout the celebration, you’ll hear the new Jonas Brothers’ song “Celebrate Happy,” written to honor the anniversary. The song is catchy and will have you singing along in no time!

2. Captivating nighttime spectacles

If you stick around the parks after sunset, you’ll be treated to three incredible nighttime spectaculars spanning both parks. Disney California Adventure’s new “World of Color Happiness!” in Pixar Pier’s Paradise Bay is a grand-scale fountain show exploring the meaning of “happy” with characters from Pixar Animation Studios films “Inside Out” and “Inside Out 2.”

Make sure you arrive here early as there’s a special Muppets pre-show featuring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and many other favorite Muppets, offering a playful take on the safety announcements. Be mindful that you will get wet in the splash zone areas, though you’ll feel the dramatic flame effects from just about anywhere you’re standing.

Don’t pass up the new “Tapestry of Happiness” at “it’s a small world.” This latest projection show brings the facade of the beloved attraction to life, telling the story of Disneyland through the art of legendary Disney artist Mary Blair. Blair was responsible for the creative vision of “it’s a small world” and concept art for beloved Disney animated films, including Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Cinderella.

The 5-minute show runs approximately every 30 minutes every night. The Wondrous Journeys fireworks show continues, illuminating decades of favorite characters on Sleeping Beauty Castle. The highlights are seeing Tinker Bell floating in the air and Baymax soaring past the castle. 

3. 70+ inspired new bites

Behold a treasure map of more than 70 new specialty food items throughout Disneyland Resort. Foodies will delight in seeking out the many celebratory bites, including the 70th Celebration Churro, rolled in ube sugar with marbled blue raspberry icing drizzle and sprinkles; the BBQ Chicken & Pineapple Pizza Slice at Alien Pizza Planet; and the Peach Cobbler Funnel Cake Fries at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. Collectors will also want to snag the unique 70th Anniversary Buckets and Sippers, most notably the Disneyland 70th Celebration Mickey Mouse Bucket with a talking Mickey and the Disneyland 70th Celebration Abominable Snowman Sipper, inspired by the Matterhorn Bobsleds. 

4. Fun attraction additions

A few new magical touches have been added to attractions in each park. At “it’s a small world,” Miguel and Dante, from the Pixar animated film “Coco,” join sunny Mexico. Over at Disney California Adventure, Toy Story Midway Mania! is sporting a fun overlay of special 70th Anniversary stickers. You’ll find the score-enhancing additions throughout the carnival-inspired games, transforming many 100 and 1,000 targets into 700 and 7,000, respectively. It was a blast seeing my top score multiply faster than ever!

5. All the park decor and activations

You'll first notice the new celebratory sculpture in the esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure when entering the parks. Inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle, this striking 50-foot sculpture is a beautiful tribute to the park’s anniversary. Look for the golden charms that represent Disneyland’s five original lands. You won’t miss a vibrant and festive overlay throughout the park, most notably on Main Street, U.S.A., with the anniversary’s signature blue, pink and purple splashed throughout with banners.

Pro tip: The best photo spot is in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, where an elegant 70th Anniversary medallion marks the occasion. 

6. Magical merch

Bring the fun home with all the stylish Celebrate Happy merch. A lineup of new apparel, accessories and fun collectibles playfully captures the spirit of the anniversary. The go-to item will be the Red Trolley conductor, a bright and cheerful Mickey Ear cap covered in gold sequins and a subtle “70” medallion. For the ultimate 70th adventure, the Key to Disneyland is the all-new interactive experience available at many shops throughout the resort. Gather your group for a fun scavenger hunt of all Disneyland Park’s nine lands, scouting out kiosks where your key will unlock a special activation. Upon completing your ninth unlocking, your key will reveal one of nine special keepsake pins celebrating the 70th Anniversary.

Save Big on Disneyland’s Celebrate Happy 70th Anniversary with AAA

AAA Members can save up to $104 on specially priced 3-day and 4-day tickets to Disneyland Resort during the 70th Celebration! Start planning your visit to the Happiest Place on Earth.