Disney has officially kicked off its year-long celebration of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, inviting us to preview 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 expect during this special occasion.

From the return of the beloved Paint the Night parade to nostalgic food items and the innovative Disneyland Key that unlocks surprises throughout the park, there's a lot to anticipate when planning your visit. Below, you'll discover the twelve key highlights of Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration. We're eager to hear which aspect excites you the most!

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, is generating significant excitement leading up to the 70th anniversary celebrations. Originally concluding its run in 2016, it's now back with over one million LED lights, the inclusion of Frozen's Anna and Elsa, and more enchanting elements.

2. 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 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 enjoy savings of up to 20% on select stays at the Disneyland Hotel between May 16 and August 14. This offer also allows you to experience the hotel's own 70th anniversary celebrations, featuring special decorations, themed in-room celebrations, unique beverages, and more.

Staying at a Disneyland Resort also means you're just steps away from Downtown Disney, which is decked out for the occasion. Alongside 70th anniversary medallions featuring beloved Disney characters—perfect for photo opportunities—and other decorations, the path to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure continues to offer a variety of 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 latest nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure, marking the seventh iteration of World of Color since its debut in 2010. This show celebrates happiness with over one million water fountains and projections, drawing inspiration from Walt Disney's opening day park dedication, "To all who come to this happy place… welcome!"

Inside Out's emotions take center stage in World of Color Happiness!, with Joy and the other emotions featured prominently in the logo. Guests can interact with the show by voting on the Disneyland app to determine whether Sadness, Anger, Disgust, or Envy appear in various scenes.

World of Color Happiness! also introduces a new pre-show featuring The Muppets, celebrating their own 70th anniversary. The musical highlights include a special rendition of 'Rainbow Connection' by Boyz II Men and an original song, 'Makes Me Wanna Move,' by FITZ.

For more on another remarkable show, check out our thoughts on 2023's World of Color - ONE for Disneyland's 100th anniversary, known for its emotional depth and stunning visuals.

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

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

While the show remains largely unchanged, it continues to enchant 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.

For more insights, read our thoughts on Wondrous Journeys in the Disney 100th Anniversary Guide. This is 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 beloved characters from Pixar films like Toy Story, The Incredibles, Turning Red, Luca, Soul, Coco, Inside Out, Monsters, Inc., and Up.

The parade remains nearly identical to its debut during Pixar Fest 2024, maintaining its fun and meaningful message.

"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," said Susana Tubert, creative director at Disney Live Entertainment. "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 the delightful surprise of the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Media Preview. For about five minutes, this show transforms the façade of it's a small world with projection effects and music, celebrating Disneyland's history in a beautiful way.

Inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair, who designed it's a small world, the show highlights 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 experience is enhanced by weaving songs from these attractions into The Jonas Brothers' 'Celebrate Happy' theme song for the 70th anniversary.

Adding to the celebration, Coco's Miguel and Dante have been integrated into the it's a small world attraction. Additionally, a new verse by the late Richard M. Sherman will be added to the attraction on July 17.

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

We were particularly excited to see The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade, led by Duffy and ShellieMay, at the 70th Anniversary Media Preview. Originally designed as the "Disney Bear" for Disney World's Disney Springs in 2002, Duffy's popularity soared at Tokyo Disney Resort, where he received a name, a story, and friends like ShellieMay.

Now, Duffy and ShellieMay get their moment to shine stateside alongside other Disney favorites in a smaller, yet captivating parade that's definitely worth watching.

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, tailored for younger guests. It encourages kids to dance and sing along with Mickey and his friends.

In this adventure, Mickey and Minnie search for Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto, who are missing from their party. The journey takes them through differently themed houses, two of which feature bubbles and fake snow, adding to the fun.

With its upbeat music, this show is a perfect way to escape the heat and let the little ones burn off some energy with their favorite characters.

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 with. The team at Disney aimed to honor both the present and the past, with the standout item being the Disneyland Key.

This interactive key allows guests to "unlock magic" across all nine lands in Disneyland. Each land has a hidden lock and keyhole that, when unlocked, triggers special effects like music and lights, and adds the land's icon to your key.

You don't need to unlock all nine lands in one visit, as the key saves your progress. Once you've unlocked each one, head to the Mickey Topiary Finale lock near the park entrance for the final surprise. After inserting the key, bubbles will celebrate your achievement, and a secret compartment in the key will reveal one of nine commemorative trading pins, each representing a Disneyland land.

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Merch

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You can explore all the 70th Anniversary merch offerings in the slideshow above and with the link right here.

10. Disneyland Food and Drinks Offer a Window Back in Time With a Delicious Twist

One of the highlights of visiting a Disney Park is trying the new food and drink offerings during special events, and the 70th anniversary is no exception. With over 70 items to sample during this year-long celebration, guests can enjoy both new delights and dishes inspired by Disneyland's past.

Chef Steven Medina and his team have crafted a special menu that gives guests a taste of Disneyland's opening day. You can try recreations like the Banana Split and Apple Pancake Rolls, which were served when the park first opened its gates.

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Food and Drinks

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Among the new offerings is the 70th Celebration Churro, a twist on the park classic with an ube sugar coating, marbled blue raspberry drizzle, and colorful sprinkles that match the anniversary's purple, blue, and pink theme.

You can 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

Disneyland's 70th anniversary offers a plethora of experiences, including a fresh update for Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney California Adventure. The attraction now features 70th anniversary stickers placed by Andy, which, when hit, award bonus points, adding a fun twist to this popular ride.

Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit of Magic Every Night will light up the exterior of Carthay Circle with projections, lights, and a special appearance by Tinker Bell. Animation Courtyard, one of my favorite spots in Disneyland, now includes 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, where you can print out commemorative tickets celebrating this milestone.

12. Walt Disney - A Magical Life and More Experiences to Come

While the 70th anniversary celebrations begin on May 16, the actual anniversary falls on July 17, coinciding with the debut of Walt Disney - A Magical Life. This experience marks the first time Walt Disney will be portrayed as an Audio-Animatronic, welcoming guests into his office to share his story.

We recently visited Imagineering to learn more about this project, and you can read all about how Disney is bringing Walt back to life. This experience will open alongside the Evolution of a Dream exhibit, showcasing items from Walt's past and celebrating the history of Disney's cast members.

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