What Travel Advisors Should Know about Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary 

Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary celebration, Celebrate Happy, is officially underway, and your clients will likely want in on the action. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are going all out through summer 2026 with new shows, the return of the electrifying Paint the Night parade, a new cavalcade, more than 70 specialty food items, tons of new merch, and so much more.

TMR were at the most recent celebration launch to experience all the new 70th Anniversary additions. We also got expert tips from two Disney VPs on selling a 70th Anniversary Disneyland getaway.

Everything 70th Anniversary

It will be 70 years since Disneyland opened its gates on July 17, 1955, forever changing themed entertainment. “We have a great story to tell,” Lynn Clark, Disneyland Resort vice president of sales and services, shares with TMR, adding, “This 70th celebration is giving our travel partners some great tools to go back and work with their clients.”

A catchy new tune: Created for the 70th Anniversary, your clients will delight in the catchy new Jonas Brothers song “Celebrate Happy,” which is heard throughout both parks in many ways during the celebration.

“World of Color Happiness” at Disney California Adventure Park: Nights at Disney California Adventure Park are now happier and more colorful with the new “World of Color Happiness” show at Pixar Pier. The show celebrates all things happy, carrying Walt Disney’s words from Disneyland’s opening-day dedication: “To all who come to this happy place… welcome!” The new nighttime spectacular features the characters from Inside Out as they explore what “happy” means. Encourage your clients to get there early, as there’s a playful pre-show featuring a dozen of the Muppets characters.
Pro tip: A virtual queue in the Disneyland app is available at noon each day. The virtual queue for World of Color Happiness is not required, but it’s highly recommended.

Paint the Night returns: The beloved nighttime spectacular Paint the Night parade returns for the 70th Anniversary in all its radiant glow. Inspired by the classic Main Street Electrical Parade, this dazzling showcase is supercharged with 1.5 million LED lights and grand floats themed to Disney and Pixar favorites like Frozen, Cars, Toy Story, Beauty and the Beast, and Monsters, Inc.
Pro tip: The best viewing spot with the fewest crowds is at the beginning of the parade route, in front of it’s a small world.

An expanded “it’s a small world”: Your clients will want to know about the fun new additions to the it’s a small world attraction for the 70th celebration, most notably Pixar’s Coco, including Miguel and his dog Dante in the Mexico scene. The catchy and delightful small world tune gets a new third and final verse on the park’s official anniversary, July 17. Encourage your clients to check out the new it’s a small world nighttime projection show, Tapestry of Happiness. The attraction’s intricate facade is illuminated to tell the story of Disneyland, with animated mosaics inspired by works by Disney artist Mary Blair. The show is beautiful and stirring and will quickly become a guest favorite.
Pro tip: The best time to catch Tapestry of Happiness is while waiting for Paint the Night in the prime viewing spot.

Top scores on Toy Story Midway Mania: Your client will revel in topping their all-time score at Toy Story Midway Mania in California Adventure. The new 70th Anniversary overlay features targets with special “70th” stickers, turning 100-point targets into 700 points, and 1,000 into 7,000. The new additions quickly multiply the excitement on these carnival-inspired games.

A new “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” Perfect for an air-conditioned escape, all ages will enjoy Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, the new kid-friendly dance party joining the 70th Anniversary. The cute story follows Mickey and Minnie as they seek out their friends to join in on their dance party. The 25-minute show plays up to six times daily at the Disney Theater at Disney California Adventure Park.

Fun Disneyland MagicBand+ activations: New pop-up stations can be unlocked throughout each park with the tap of your client’s MagicBand+. Each station features a delightful moment, followed by a collectible card, adding a touch of whimsy to exploring the park. Encourage your client to don a MagicBand+ for a heightened experience, as it comes to life with lights and vibrations. It interacts with all versions of the show, including fireworks and Fantasmic! The same MagicBand+ (and MagicBand+ only) can be used throughout Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney Cruise Line ships.

New looks: Mickey and Minnie are sporting new party outfits for the anniversary, and the best place to see them all at once is in the new Celebrate Happy Cavalcade, which runs twice a day down Main Street. Clients will also delight in spotting the rare appearance of Duffy and ShellieMay in Disneyland.

70+ new food items: Your clients will enjoy sampling the many new and limited-time 70th Anniversary food offerings, including themed treats like the Toy Story alien-inspired 70th Celebration Macaroon at Alien Pizza Planet, a colorful 70th Celebration Churro available at churro carts, and a special-edition Mickey Mouse Club Hat Cookie at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe.

Incredible containers: Your clients will be excited to learn that the new Disneyland 70th Celebration Mickey Mouse popcorn bucket talks! There’s also a vibrantly colored Light-Up Mickey Balloon Bucket and an Abominable Snowman Sipper, inspired by the larger-than-life monster from the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

Selling at Every Price Point

When discussing how travel advisors can work with clients on various budgets, Clark says, “There is something for everyone, and a hotel for everyone.” She adds, “We have our onsite hotels and our Good Neighbor Hotels, which we partner with very closely.” Educating your clients on all lodging options, both Disney and partner, helps meet different price points.

Clark also notes, “Staying longer is something we are advocating and talking about and making possible with our 70th Anniversary ticket offer.” The Disneyland Anniversary Ticket Offer is valid for visits through Aug. 14, 2025, and offers guests the opportunity to visit for as low as $100 per day with a four-day, one-park-per-day ticket (total cost of $400).

Travel Advisors’ Role in Telling the Disneyland Story

When asked how the role of travel advisors has evolved in selling Disneyland, Bainter says, “What I admire so much is how travel advisors take their role so seriously. What we appreciate so much is their care. We know booking travel for anybody can be a lot of work. They take care and time to book a Disney vacation with all the details to help the guest understand everything so that it is an easy and most magical vacation for each guest.”

Clark adds, “With all of our destinations, we’re constantly changing and constantly evolving, and the travel partners have shown a tremendous commitment to taking that journey with us and learning along the way. So when talking with their clients, they can simplify the information and help the client plan the best vacation for themselves.”

Starting Out Selling Disney

When asked what it takes to start selling Disney vacations, Bainter advises, “Visit DisneyTravelAgents.com. It’s our number one source of information.” She also suggests, “Get connected, register on the site, and get started with the College of Disney Knowledge, which is a great way to learn about all of Disney’s destinations.”

Bainter adds, “Our most valuable resource is our cast. We have business development managers in every territory across the country. Their number one job is to make sure that travel advisors have what they need to talk about Disney destinations. I would say, reach out to us, and we will tell you more and bring you into the Disney family.”

Disney’s Continuous Support for Travel Advisors

Bainter expresses the company’s ongoing appreciation for travel advisors: “They are so passionate about giving every guest the best Disney experience. That is invaluable to us, and we’re incredibly grateful for all they do.”