While there are Disney Parks all over the world, there is always something special about the first one. And right now, Disneyland is celebrating the park, which started it all the way back in 1955 – its 70 -year anniversary and you can say it is throwing a party.
And it celebrates the past and looks at the future. As the celebration is swinging, you will see the return of classic spectacular at night and the introduction of brand new, updates to some fan favorite attractions, a trove of new bite to eat and drink, good, drink and a heavy dose of technology to push the immersion.
I had the chance to visit Disneyland for the 70 -year anniversary, and it was also my first time in the park. It was enough to say it was a lot to go in and explore, and a heck of a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the BDX droids were not there as these small, personable droids are currently on a world tour where their next stop is Disneyland Paris. However, the 70 -year anniversary activities kept me plenty busy.
So now I share my five favorite things about Disneyland’s 70. Party, and why now is the best time to go, whether it’s your first time or you know the park as the back of your hand.
Magicband+ unlocking special experiences
Magicband+ is already an important part of the experiences at Disney Parks globally, I am used to wearing one in Disney World and even used it to become a bounty hunter in Batuu in Galaxy’s Edge, but for Disneyland 70th it unlocks a technical, immersive experience at any time, day or night.
Remembering several of Disneyland’s original attractions in the day is new booths that are the theme of each of them, and you guessed the place to scan your Magicband+. When you scan your band, the machine plays sounds and turns on the theme of rides, but your Magicband+ will also vibrate and turn on thanks to a built -in haptic engine and a number of LEDs.
On the Jungle Cruise near Skippers’ Cabinets, it even printed a ticket for a VIP tour on ‘The World Famous Jungle Cruise’, who tells me I would be aboard “Mekong Maiden.” It is not an actual ticket, but definitely a lovely memorial.
You will have to go on a treasure hunt around the park to find them all. These booths are also in a fantasy country -window at Bibbidi Bobbbidi -Boutique, in Frontierland near the Silver Spur Supplies, and on Main Street near the front of the park is Tilly’s stand. There will soon be one at the autopian traction in Tomorrowland. The experience will vary, but you need a magic band+ to unlock it and create a memory.
Magicband+ can be purchased in the park or in advance from the Disney store for $ 34.99. The laptop can be your park ticket, a form of payment and a key to lock interactions around the park. You can monitor battery level, perform software updates and link it to your Mydisney account to link tickets via the Disneyland app for Android or iOS -it is synchronized via Bluetooth.
Two brand new projection shows, and a fireworks show the return
Disney is known for its live entertainment productions – be it projecting on water with World of Color at Disneyland or with full fireworks. Still, Disneyland’s entertainment offerings extend to the 70th higher and wide.
A highlight for me were two new projection recordings that transformed the outer frame of It’s a little world Attraction at Disneyland and Cathay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure to vastly colorful, animated screens with speakers hidden throughout the area playing a bouncing soundtrack that viewers can enjoy.
@Jakekrol ♬ Original Sound – Jake Krol
While Cathay Circle is a restaurant, its unique front and triangular finish constitute a distinctive canvas for Disney’s complex projection system. The resulting light show is impressive and speaks to Disney’s technology and projection mapping expertise. This show runs at night for about three minutes and is called “Celebrate Happy: Little Bit of Magic.”
Similarly, it is a small world’s outer shell is a good bit larger, but not only a long flat surface – instead it has different heights and depths where some parts are closer to roads and other parts further back. The result is “Tapestry of Happiness” Show that draws from Disney’s extensive catalog of characters and history lines, but more importantly, other parts of the park, including Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Scenic projection design is performed in the style of Mary Blair, the original art director for the trip.
@Jakekrol ♬ Original Sound – Jake Krol
Both projection shows contain excellent sound, though my eagle eyes couldn’t clarify exactly where Disney hid the speakers. Believe me, though, it’s going to be lots high. The hiding of technology is used to show the stories and bring the facade to life with sound all around, which essentially is how Disney creates most of these experiences.
Similarly, Disneyland also brings back a fan-favorite fireworks evening shooting back, but it’s more than just rockets in the sky. The entire Sleeping Beauty Castle acts as a screen for projectors to show vivid animations – many of which are custom – but this also extends to other nearby buildings and Down Main Street.
In addition, “Baymax” from Big Hero 6 is through the power of what I think is a drone of some kind, accompanied by fireworks and epic projections. “Winging Travel” runs most nights and lasts just over 15 minutes, so be aware that the weather should be right.
@Jakekrol ♬ Original Sound – Jake Krol
70. Touch for an iconic turn
Now I’m a big fan of Toy Story-a of my favorite movies that is downward-so it makes sense that I enjoy a spin around the Toy Story Midway Mania. It just happens that it is also a very technically-infunded trip, with blasters mounted in a riding vehicle that will turn and stop in front of large 3D screens. Goals – Think Bullseyes and Dartboards – appear on the screens so you can score points by shooting the wheel.
A rolling soundtrack also accompanies it, interactions with characters such as Buzz, Woody and Green Army Men, as well as bursts of air shooting, and again, rather chaotic visuals.
It was always a race with points where you would hit the highest goals – ie. 500 or 1,000 or 2,000 – but Disneyland lets you roll even higher on the leaderboard, up to 70 or 7,000 if you want, as they have added special items to the game.
Walt Disney Imagineering team used a little more than a software-based update to smooth out an already loved attraction, making it feel fresh and new to the 70th anniversary.
Another trip that received an update was that it is a small world, with miguel from Coco like a doll. This classic movie is now streaming at Disney+, one of the best streaming services. You can also watch Toy Story 1 to 4 there and watch my colleague Lance Ulanoff Packpack Pixar Typeestry – one of the first software that the company made before Toy Story and countless other movies.
Tasty new food but there is no need to wait in line
I mean what is a party without food? And Disneyland answered the call by rolling out 70 new foods – from coffee to fuel through the day to one 70. Things Dessert that was super good. There is something for everyone and all these lightweight bite and drinks are available in stores throughout the park.
They are all in demand, which leads to some long lines, but here is the best tip I can offer you. Please use mobile ordering via the Disneyland app on iOS and Android. Not only does it allow you to skip the line and take a new trip around Dumbo or any other attraction, but it is also much more trouble -free.
When you are in the park, open the Disneyland app, select the three lines in the lower right corner, press ‘Order Food’, select the location and make your choices. You get a window to return and once you are nearby, press “I’m here, prepare my food” to let them start cooking. Then you will receive a review with the window number to go to, share your name and order name, and you are ready for a delicious meal.
The best part, if you are on an iPhone, is that it supports live activities – so you can press “I’m here” right from the lock screen without having to unlock and navigate through the app.
A parade with over a million joints -lights, all synchronized
The jaw-dropping moment, and maybe even a Hallelujah event for fans of Disneyland, is the return of Paint the Night Parade. Yes, it is choreographed beautifully with excellent artists and exciting songs, but the real sight is the pure amount of color.
As the name suggests, floats, characters and costumes are all decorated with LEDs that glitter, glow and flash, all in a unified, synchronized beat to the music. It looks incredible at night. There are eight moments of the parade spanning floats and artists over several Disney franchises – Tinker Bell, Monsters Inc., Cars, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, Disney Princesses, Frozen and Mickey and Friends.
It’s super impressive, just check out the video and photos, but it goes beyond just LED string lamps. Take Monsters Inc. Float, on which Sulley and Mike Wazowski run – it is over 21 meters long with 17,000 points of light, but also contains five doors, as seen in the film that turns and rotates with over 40 LED Video panels.
Or with cars, in addition to Lightning McQueen, the classic Mack truck is re -launched with an open rear trailer composed of glowing balls that are tight and filling the entire room – in fact, the glowing depth creates from 27,000 balls and 2,000 meters of LED neon lining the trailer.
All of these LEDs are controllable, and Disney Live Entertainment uses them all to create a show that pairs them with sound speech and classic songs. Disney shared that there are more than 200 control universes to serve the parade.
In addition, a few extra LEDs light up and ‘dance’ like those built into your Magicband+when the different floats pass. It’s magic, yes, RFID and know your location.
All in all, this is just scraping the surface of Disneyland’s 70th party. There are also more iconic character art installations set up around the resort that your Magicband+ will respond to, a barkable ‘Key to Disneyland’ that interacts with memorable keyholes around the parks, a Mickey Mouse Popcorn Bucket responding to “Hey Mickey,” and a bubble water with a USB-C gate to use-lining lyde power.
Then, of course, there are all the classic rides, several parades and “World of Color: Happiness”, another Evening Show where you can vote on certain characters to appear.
The 70th party takes place for a year so there is plenty of time to get out there and enjoy it all. I certainly hope that all these technical immersion and entertainment-enhancing moments also stay around and are transferred to other parks.
