Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary is just around the corner, beginning their festivities on May 16th running through the summer of 2026. News has trickled through over the course of the last year and today brought some exciting announcements! In this post, we’ll share the new details and add commentary about each addition. Unlike our usual posts where I save the commentary until the end, I’ll add it after each news blip.
For now, we’ll leave off any news that had already been announced. That includes Wondrous Journeys, the Pixar Parade at DCA, the Walt Disney animatronic show, character costumes and a few other minor additions. Everything else will be covered in this update. Let’s get to it!
“World of Color Happiness!” at Disney California Adventure Park
This all-new “World of Color” show is inspired by Walt Disney’s words from the opening day park dedication from seven decades ago: “To all who come to this happy place… welcome!”
This nighttime spectacular will explore “happy” through a kaleidoscope of emotions, hosted by Joy and the other Emotions from the hit Pixar Animation Studios films “Inside Out” and “Inside Out 2.” Along the way, the Emotions manifest music and moments from other favorite Pixar Animation Studios’ stories, including “Turning Red” and “The Incredibles,” as well as Walt Disney Animation Studios’ stories, including “A Goofy Movie,” “Tangled,” “Encanto” and so many more.
“World of Color Happiness!” will transform Paradise Bay with a brilliant array of signature fountains, dynamic lighting, colorful lasers, fog and dramatic flame effects, painting musical memories with all the wonder that only “World of Color” can create.
In addition to featuring classic Disney songs and other iconic favorites, Boyz II Men will lend their legendary R&B vocals in a rendition of “Rainbow Connection,” and FITZ — frontman and namesake of multi-platinum hitmakers Fitz and the Tantrums — will debut a new original song just for “World of Color” titled “Makes Me Wanna Move.”
But that’s not all … the fun starts even before “World of Color” begins with a special message from some familiar faces. With the guidance of Joe the Legal Weasel, more than a dozen of The Muppets will deliver their message through vivid projections and expressive fountains ahead of the show.
Commentary
The Muppets having a presence in the new World of Color was not on my 2025 Disney Parks bingo card. I would have been ecstatic just with the announcement that Boyz II Men is doing a cover of Rainbow Connection for the show. Then they added in that there will be a Muppets preshow featuring Joe the Legal Weasal?? Does this mean I can’t say anything mean about Disney Parks for the next week? Month? Year?? Scraps upcoming posts about Walt Disney Studios Park.
Iterations of World of Color have been hit or miss over the years, with a larger emphasis on miss. It’s an incredibly hard show to get the pacing right for and makes the original version all the more impressive. With this news, I will probably like it no matter how objectively good or bad it is. The Muppets are one of those entities that cuts through my nostalgia guarded heart and always hits.
On top of that, the rest of the show sounds promising. I prefer World of Color(s) to focus on Pixar films or newer Disney animation. Fitting in the Goofy Movie will surely be a fan favorite segment. And we are always here for an original song. The news mentions the show being energetic in a few different ways, which I think is where World of Color needs to go. This seems like a perfect time to break out the patented (don’t look it up) Wandering in Disney Excitement Meter, based on a scale of 1-10:
Wandering in Disney Excitement Meter: 10, thanks to the Muppets and Boyz II Men.
“Paint the Night” Parade at Disneyland Park
This fan-favorite, dazzling nighttime parade will make its grand return to Disneyland for the 70th celebration, lighting up Main Street, U.S.A., with stunning color and more than a million brilliant LED lights.
Mickey Mouse uses his vivid imagination to harness the power of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust and “Paint the Night” in Disney dreams, bringing to light beloved characters and stories from Pixar films such as “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” and “Toy Story” and Disney Animation films including “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and more.
The “Paint the Night” parade features innovative floats, vibrant costumes, incredible special effects, unforgettable music and energetic performances. Plus, Anna and Elsa will rejoin the parade on the fan-favorite float inspired by Disney Animation’s “Frozen” when it makes its return to Main Street, U.S.A., for the first time since its initial run.
Commentary
There’s not much to add here, the real news in this blip is that the Frozen float joins the fun. That’s great! The more floats the better, especially when it comes to nighttime parades. I like Paint the Night, although maybe not quite as much as some, and am eager to see Disneyland with a parade again. The excitement for this should be through the roof and I would expect packed streets around parade time for months.
Wandering in Disney Excitement Meter: 8
“Tapestry of Happiness” at Disneyland Park
At Disneyland, the facade of “it’s a small world” will come to life each night through light, music and projection effects. “Tapestry of Happiness” will create an animated mosaic of Disneyland attractions, moments and memories brought to life in a unique style inspired by the work of legendary Disney artist Mary Blair. It will feature the original 70th celebration theme song “Celebrate Happy,” along with nods to recognizable Disneyland tunes from across the decades.
“Tapestry of Happiness” will be a visual love letter to Disneyland, bringing all of us together through memories of The Happiest Place on Earth. It will remind us that no matter how old we are or where we call home, we all come together in this magical place through the eyes of our inner child, finding happiness in a unique and personal way.
Commentary
This sounds fantastic! It would sound even more fantastic if the song wasn’t titled ‘Celebrate Happy’ but I digress. Anything celebrating Disneyland and focusing on the park specifically is good by me. I care less about the company brand and more about parks wing, but I’m knowingly in the minority there. Anyway, this bit of news seems to scratch the itch for those that frequent the parks more often.
I also like the 70th anniversary approach of adding a bunch of nighttime activities to Disneyland. Assuming that Fantasmic! and Fire of the Rising Moon Fireworks are still planning to run during the summer the different options include: Paint the Night (DL), Tapestry of Happiness (DL), Wondrous Journeys on Main Street or elsewhere in the park, Fire of the Rising Moon Fireworks and Fantasmic! That’s before even considering World of Color Happiness at DCA. Compared to last summer, this is an exceptional increase.
This little blip of news hits all of the right notes for me, much like the World of Color news did. Give me Mary Blair nods, Disneyland songs and a classic facade to project it on and I’m going to be excited! I think Tapestry of Happiness has a chance to be an under the radar hit.
Wandering in Disney Excitement Meter: 9
“The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade” at Disneyland Park
Disneyland park will debut a new character cavalcade called “The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade.” As it winds its way along the parade route, favorite characters will encourage you to dance and clap along in an energetic and contemporary celebration of seven decades of happiness. You may spot pals including Goofy and Max in their 70th attire, as well as friends not often seen at Disneyland, like Duffy and ShellieMay!
Commentary
I’m not convinced that I’m just dreaming all of this news and no one has woke me up. One of the only things that could get me to pay attention to a character cavalcade is adding our favorite teddy bear, Duffy, to it! Not only that but we get ShellieMay and Max?? Did someone brainwash Bob Iger with a ‘not everything needs to be corporate synergy’ chant? Anyway, catch the mid-30’s man wildly waving at Duffy amongst a sea of children on May 16th at Disneyland. Please don’t quote me on that.
Wandering in Disney Excitement Meter for the Cavalcade: 7
Wandering in Disney Excitement Meter for Duffy & ShellieMay: Turn it up to 11!
Anniversary Décor Throughout Disneyland Resort
In the esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure, you won’t be able to miss the contemporary 50-foot sculpture inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle with colorful glass panels and golden charms representing the five original lands.
When you step through the gates of Disneyland park, floral Mickey will welcome you to the celebration with a display of vibrant flowers, and multi-colored banners and bunting will decorate Main Street, U.S.A. In the heart of Town Square, you’ll spot an installation featuring Mickey and Minnie created just for the anniversary.
An elegant medallion will adorn Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure park will also be decked out in 70th colors. In the evenings, the exterior of the restaurant will invite everyone to “celebrate happy” during a special moment filled with music, lights and projection effects. Set to the tune of “Celebrate Happy,” this interlude further illuminates Carthay Circle and Buena Vista Street with twinkling lights, dynamic projections and bursts of color.
70th décor will also extend into the Downtown Disney District and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.
Commentary
I don’t need to comment on this one until I actually see it in person. They usually do a good job with anniversary decor at Disneyland and the concept art looks promising.
Wandering in Disney Excitement Meter: 6
New Magic on Beloved Attractions
We’re even adding special touches to some attractions throughout Disneyland Resort in time for the celebration!
In sunny Mexico in “it’s a small world” at Disneyland, Miguel and his trusted alebrije, Dante, from the Pixar film “Coco” will join the other children in song. Silhouetted by a stunning marigold bridge, you’ll be able to spot this new addition when the attraction reopens April 25, 2025.
Even the toys are celebrating! On Toy Story Midway Mania! in California Adventure, look for nods to the 70th anniversary as you compete for the highest score on carnival-inspired games.
Commentary
Again, there’s not a lot to add here. Adding Miguel to Small World makes sense, he’s absolutely adored and will fit right in with the other Disney characters in the attraction. This feels less of a 70th anniversary addition and more of an addition to it’s a small world moving forward. I’m happy with that.
Over at Toy Story Mania, I hope the change leads to a short refurbishment of the ride where they clean it up a little. It will be fun for the regulars to have some new gameplay with different areas to target. This is a nice, little unexpected change! Hopefully it adds some more fun to a longstanding ride.
Wandering in Disney Excitement Meter: 5
That’s the news for now! I’m sure more will be shared later and we’ll cover it here.
What are you most excited for at Disneyland Resort’s 70th Anniversary? Let us know in the comments, along with any questions you might have! Planning a trip to Disneyland Resort? Check out our Disneyland Trip Planning Guide to help you out. This site will have you covered for discount tickets. If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends and like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!
Categories: News, Rumors and Commentary
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