Next year is set to be a big one for the Disneyland Resort. Walt Disney’s original park will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2025 a nearly year-and-a-half-long celebration. Festivals will take over Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, new nighttime shows will light up the sky, and the return of fan-favorite entertainment will surely lure families into the parks.
While I’m excited about all that Disneyland in 2025 offers, I’m most excited about Disneyland’s 70th anniversary. The iconic celebration kicks off May 16, 2025, and runs through summer 2026, so everyone, including myself, will have plenty of time to get to the Disneyland Resort to celebrate this milestone. And the 70th anniversary isn’t the only big festivity happening at the parks next year. So what exactly is coming to Disneyland in 2025? Keep reading to find out.
The Disneyland Resort 70th Anniversary Celebration kicks off May 16, 2025
There’s nothing I love more than a birthday party, and Disneyland’s 70th will be a big one. According to Disneyland, guests will get to, “‘celebrate happy’ with limited-time entertainment, colorful decor, themed food and beverage, collectible merchandise, and so much more.” The celebration will take place throughout the Disneyland Resort, including both theme parks, the Downtown Disney District, and the three Disneyland hotels.
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Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle will be picture-perfect with all-new bunting and a new medallion celebrating the occasion. And Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their pals will get custom outfits just for the occasion. You can see them all daily in Town Square at Disneyland Park starting May 16, 2025.
New and returning nightly entertainment in 2025 at Disneyland
Nighttime entertainment is a staple at the Disneyland Resort. At both parks, you can find new and returning favorites.
New nighttime entertainment
The incredible entertainment lineup starts with an all-new World of Color show at Disney California Adventure called “World of Color Happiness!” inspired by Walt Disney’s dedication speech of Disneyland. During the presentation, Walt said, “To all who come to this happy place… welcome!” and that moment leads into a nighttime spectacular that will explore the emotion of happiness. The show is hosted by Joy and the other emotions from Pixar Animation Studios’ Inside Out and Inside Out 2. The show will also feature music and emotions from movies like Turning Red, Tangled, A Goofy Movie, The Lion King, and more.
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Both parks are also getting a new nighttime projection show. At Disney California Adventure, guests can gather around Carthay Circle Restaurant for a short show with music, lights, and projections. At Disneyland Park, a projection show will debut on the facade of “it’s a small world.”
Returning nighttime entertainment in 2025 at Disneyland
Since it was teased on social media, fans have been buzzing about “Paint the Night” returning to the Disneyland Resort. The iconic parade has an incredible soundtrack and larger-than-life floats with more than a million LED lights. Well, fans, including myself, can start lining Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Park because Paint the Night returns on May 16, 2025.
In addition to “Paint the Night,” “Wondrous Journeys,” the popular nighttime spectacular, is returning to Disneyland Park. The show celebrates the legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios movies through music and projections. You can catch the show on Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, “it’s a small world,” and the Rivers of America. On select nights, the show will also include fireworks. If you plan on being at Disneyland on fireworks nights, I suggest watching from Main Street, U.S.A., or Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Daytime entertainment at Disneyland Resort in 2025
During the day, there’s lively entertainment coming to both parks too. Over at Disney California Adventure, the “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade will take to the streets of the park. The parade features nearly 30 Pixar characters from beloved movies like Up, Turning Red, and more. And over at Disneyland Park, a new character cavalcade called “Mickey and Friends Celebrate Happy!” will make its way along the parade route throughout the day.
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Throughout all of these offerings, guests will hear a new theme song, “Celebrate Happy,” which is sure to be stuck in everyone’s head for days after a trip to Disneyland ends.
Walt Disney — A Magical Life opens May 16, 2025
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, it was announced that Walt Disney Imagineering was working on a new show for the Main Street Opera House theater featuring the first Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney. The show, dubbed Walt Disney — A Magical Life will make its grand debut to guests at Disneyland Park on May 16, 2025. The attraction will feature a cinematic presentation of Walt Disney’s journey, culminating in a visit with Walt in his office. This is one new attraction at Disneyland that I can’t wait to see.
Festivals, events, and more take over in 2025 at Disneyland
Besides the exciting 70th anniversary celebrations at Disneyland in 2025, the new year will bring a whole calendar of events and festivals to the resort.
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure is the first big event of the year. The month-long festival celebrates Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean traditions to ring in the Year of the Snake. During the event, you can see Mickey and Minnie Mouse in new outfits representing traditional Korean garb, plus a mini-parade featuring Mulan, and six Lunar New Year marketplaces for tasty food. Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park takes place January 17 through February 16, 2035.
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Anaheim Ducks Day
Hockey fans will want to make their way to Disney California Adventure or the Downtown Disney District for Anaheim Ducks Day on January 24, 2025. In the park, fans can enjoy a player cavalcade, themed games, and more. At the Downtown Disney District, a fan zone with entertainment and activities will be available.
Celebrate Gospel at Disneyland Park
On February 8 and 15, 2025, the annual resort tradition of Celebrate Gospel returns to Disneyland Park. The concerts will feature community choirs and award-winning artists.
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
If you’re looking for a fun foodie event look no further than the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, which kicks off February 28 and runs through April 21, 2025. The festival celebrates the bounty of the Golden State with ten food marketplaces, entertainment, and the return of Soarin’ Over California.
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Season of the Force at Disneyland Park
Star Wars fans will want to make reservations to visit the Disneyland Resort during the Season of the Force at Disneyland Park. The celebration of a galaxy far, far away kicks off March 28 and runs through May 11, 2025. During Season of the Force, guests can see “Fire of the Rising Moons” projection show inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, plus Hyperspace Mountain will return in Tomorrowland.
Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party
For one day during the summer, (the exact date has not been announced), Disney California Adventure will celebrate all things Disney Jr., with characters, entertainment, and activities for families with young children.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
One of my favorite times of year to visit the Disneyland Resort is Halloween. The characters don Halloween costumes, and the parks are decked out to the nines. Ride overlays and themed food and beverages are a big part of this spooky time of year. Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort returns from August 22 through October 31, 2025.
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Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park
From August 22 through November 2, 2025, your family can celebrate the bonds of family and Día de Los Muertos alongside characters and performers inspired by Pixar’s Coco.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
The holidays at the Disneyland Resort are truly magical, with resort-wide entertainment, decor, limited-time events, and more. The holidays at Disneyland start November 14, 2025, and run through January 7, 2026.
After-hours and separately ticketed events in 2025 at Disneyland
2025 will bring a lot of separately ticketed events to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. The biggest event is Oogie Boogie Bash — A Disney Halloween Party, which has more nights than ever before with 31 party dates. The party starts on August 17 and runs on select nights through October 31.
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Additionally, Disneyland After Dark-themed parties will return. This year, there are four themed parties with dates from January through June. These include Sweethearts’ Nite, 90s Nite, Star Wars Nite, and Pride Nite.
Smaller openings and closures to know about in 2025 at Disneyland
It was announced at D23 that Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure would be expanding with two new attractions. Construction on the project begins in 2025. But because of the work at the park, the Red Car Trolley will be closing. The last day to ride the candy apple red street car will be February 8, 2025.
The downtown Disney District is also getting new stores and eateries. Early 2025 will bring Disney Wonderful World of Sweets shop and Parkside Market dining hall to the shopping and entertainment complex.
Save money on your next Disneyland Resort vacation
With the launch of all of this news, Disneyland is also launching a new hotel deal. Starting December 5, 2025, you can save up to 30 percent on select stays of four nights or longer at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Stays should be booked for arrival between May 16 to September 26, 2025.
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Other great deals at Disneyland for the first part of 2025 include Southern California Resident 3-day tickets for $67 per day from January 1 through May 15, 2025; Kids’ tickets for as low as $50 per child for one-day, one-park tickets from January 7 through March 20, 2025; and Magic Key Holders hotel discounts of up to 25 percent on select rooms from Sunday to Thursday nights from January 7 through March 20, 2025.
All of Disneyland’s current ticket and hotel offers can always be found on its offers and discounts page on its website.
