Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Party: How to Join for Cheap

As Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, turns 70 this summer, Disney is doing what it does best: throwing a massive, magical celebration filled with nostalgia, innovation and Instagrammable snacks.

The 70th Anniversary Celebration, themed “Celebrate Happy,” launched May 16, 2025, and runs through summer 2026. Expect new parades (including my favorite nighttime parade in Disney history), updated entertainment, and a fresh slate of historical and technological showcases — all of which add new reasons to visit (or in many of our cases, revisit) The Happiest Place on Earth.

I attended a multiday media preview, in which Disney covered my hotel and park tickets. But I also bought my dad a ticket and paid for meals and experiences out of pocket. That gave me firsthand insight into what’s worth splurging on during this big Disney party — and how you can save.

What’s new at Disneyland’s 70th celebration?

The celebration has added a fair amount of new experiences that blend Disney history with cutting-edge technology:

“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” (New attraction)

Located at the Main Street Opera House, this new 17-minute show begins with a cinematic journey titled One Man’s Dream and culminates in a pretty neat Audio-Animatronics encounter with Walt Disney himself. Walt’s figure — the most lifelike ever created by Imagineering — shares stories using his own words, sourced from archival recordings.

Enhanced decor and photo ops

From a 50-foot castle sculpture in the esplanade to celebratory icons across hotels and Downtown Disney, photo ops abound.

Return of Paint the Night

This nighttime parade is like if Mickey Mouse met Burning Man. Don't miss it. It runs most nights in Disneyland park.

A new version of World of Color

“World of Color Happiness!” is a revised version of the nighttime water and light show at Disneyland’s sibling park, Disney California Adventure.

This new show combines audio from Walt Disney’s 1955 opening-day speech with imagery from newer Disney films, including “Inside Out,” “Tangled” and “Encanto.”

Additionally, World of Color Happiness offers themed dessert parties with reserved seating if you want to guarantee a better view (with an extra cost, of course).

More small shows to surprise and delight

Not every show at Disney is a big production. Smaller-scale shows are even more charming.

The “Celebrate Happy” cavalcade is basically a mini-parade through the park. This one features some characters you might not be familiar with, like Duffy (Mickey Mouse’s bear, according to Disney lore) and ShellieMay (Duffy’s friend, who is also a bear).

By night, the “it’s a small world” facade glows with a tribute to Disneyland's seven-decade history by way of the “Tapestry of Happiness” projection show. The show honors Disney artist Mary Blair, who famously worked on films such as “Cinderella” and “Alice in Wonderland,” and helped design the “It’s a Small World” ride.

Over at Carthay Circle in Disney California Adventure, there's a mini-show called “Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit of Magic Every Night."

“So Much That We Share: A Tribute to the Sherman Brothers”

Playing at the Main Street Cinema, this film highlights Disney’s iconic musical duo and unveils a new verse by Richard M. Sherman, now featured in the finale of the it’s a small world attraction.

Interactive tech

The hot new souvenir for the celebration is what's called the “Key to Disneyland.” This oversized key unlocks interactive experiences throughout the park. When you complete them all, you receive a pin.

But here’s the deal: the key costs extra (about $60), and it’s probably not worth it for most people. While the idea is fun in theory, in practice the key is bulky, not very convenient to carry and adds one more thing to juggle as you move through the parks.

The good news? You don’t need the key to enjoy the hunt. All nine “lock” locations are clearly marked, and you can just hang out nearby and see the special effects via someone else's key. If you're more about the memories than the merch, skip the key.

One more thing: if you already own a MagicBand+ or are willing to buy one (and these are generally more useful than the Key to Disneyland), you unlock separate interactive experiences. For the 70th, MagicBand+ wearables trigger unique effects around the resort, including during the “Paint the Night” parade.

More than 70 new food items

Most seem to be basically made for Instagram (but they're tasty too). Some treats, like a churro doused in ube sprinkles, are purple to match the event’s color palette. Others nod to the past, like the W.E.D. Chili Cheese Baked Potato named after Walt Disney’s initials. It’s a dish Walt Disney might’ve ordered, as he famously loved chili.

A historical walking tour

A historical walking tour costs an additional $120 per person, but might appeal to diehard Disney nerds like me. It covers Disney’s seven decades of history, including rides on some of the park’s original attractions (without having to wait in the standard line), plus some included snacks and reserved parade seating.

How to join Disneyland’s 70th on a budget

The real magic is a trick you’ll have to pull off yourself — finding ways to save. Here are my go-to tactics.

Buy discounted tickets this summer

For visits through August 14, 2025, Disney’s Anniversary Ticket Offer lets you score four-day tickets for about $100 per day. Better yet, authorized resellers like Undercover Tourist often sell them for less. I bought my dad’s ticket from there and saved $20.

Military personnel, Southern California residents and those with access to corporate discounts might also be able to score discounted Disney tickets.

Don’t sleep on points

Staying on-site? Disney’s Grand Californian and Disneyland Hotel are offering up to 20% off weeknight stays this summer and again from Aug. 17–Dec. 19, 2025.

One of the best reasons to stay at a Disney-owned hotel is the early entry benefit. If you have a theme park ticket, you can enter the parks 30 minutes before everyone else, which can be key to getting on popular rides before the lines get too long. I used my Disneyland Hotel key to make a beeline to Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout before a line had formed.

If you don’t plan to use early entry, staying elsewhere might offer better value. Many hotels within walking distance are bookable on points, and some even offer free breakfast.

Some of the closest hotels with free breakfast are:

• Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center: Category 4 (12,000 – 18,000 World of Hyatt points per night).

• Hyatt Place at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center: Category 4 (12,000 – 18,000 World of Hyatt points per night).

• Home2 Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort: Standard rooms start at 65,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

• SpringHill Suites Anaheim Resort/Convention Center: Standard rooms start at 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Bring your own snacks, then splurge strategically

Disneyland is surprisingly cool with you bringing your own food (with a few exceptions; for example, glass containers aren't allowed). You can save on food by packing a meal, snacks and reusable water bottles.

But leave some room in your budget (and your belly) to splurge on the limited-time food items specific to Disney's 70th. Among the best values are:

• Pulled pork mac and cheese in a bread bowl (Refreshment Corner, Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A.): This delicious entree is served with the bread bowl’s lid on the side. It could easily feed two people.

• Popcorn buckets and drink sippers: These come in multiple designs, including some that feature the Abominable Snowman from the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride. And they double as souvenirs!

• World of Color Dessert Party: This one’s admittedly a huge splurge at $94 per person, but I have strong feelings about it. I’m 4’10”, and every “standing room” fireworks or show viewing I’ve ever attended is just someone’s armpit in my face. This comes with actual seats, a fancy dessert box, unlimited nonalcoholic drinks (plus one adult beverage if you’re 21+) and a killer view. On a packed summer night? Worth it.

Don’t skip Downtown Disney

You can still join the Disneyland 70th Anniversary fun without a park ticket by strolling through the adjacent, free-to-enter Downtown Disney District. But keep in mind that individual attractions may cost extra. For example, you might go bowling at Splitsville, with prices starting at just $21 per person.

Several Downtown Disney restaurants are adding their own special menu items for the park's 70th anniversary. Beignets Expressed has a blueberry cobbler beignet, and Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes has a “Cotton Candy Crazyshake” with purple and pink rock candy. On the adult beverage front, Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio puts a spin on a classic with the French “70” — a bubbly lavender gin cocktail.