When big brother or sister celebrates a birthday, of course you invite their little sibling to the party, right?
Disney California Adventure might be well into its 20s, but it forever remains the little sibling to Disneyland, which turns 70 this summer. The Disneyland Resort is kicking off its 70th anniversary celebration this Friday, and fans will find plenty to "Celebrate Happy" in DCA, too.
The resort is hosting a big media event this week for the 70th celebration kickoff, and today the focus was on everything happening for the event at Disney California Adventure.
In the afternoons, the big event is the return of Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!, the daytime parade that debuted at the park last spring for Pixar Fest. It's a fine opportunity to see many of fans' favorite Pixar characters, riding on floats to an upbeat tune.
The unavoidable and uncontroversial message here is that it's better to celebrate with friends than alone - and presumably with your Pixar friends here at the Disneyland Resort. After all, if you were just going to celebrate with IRL friends, you wouldn't all need to buy theme park tickets, would you?
But if you have, there's more to enjoy at DCA. Also for the 70th anniversary, Toy Story Midway Mania has added 70th anniversary stickers to select targets throughout the ride.
There's also a short projection show with Tinker Bell dusting the Carthay Circle Theater with some 70th anniversary magic, to the Jonas Brothers' "Celebrate Happy" theme song.
Beyond that, you can find special 70th anniversary decor in the park, as well as merchandise in shops all over the resort.
But the headliner at Disney California Adventure for the Disneyland 70th Celebration is a new version of the park's nighttime spectacular - World of Color Happiness! Fans can vote via the Disneyland app for one of four Inside Out emoticons to be featured in that night's performance, creating an opportunity to make one show different from another. Though, to be fair, with changing wind conditions, variance always been an element of World of Color.
With this, the seventh full-length World of Color production, Disney is playing off its slogan as "The Happiest Place on Earth," and the corresponding "Celebrate Happy" theme of the 70th celebration to give us a production focused on the emotion of happiness.
Yes, the Inside Out crew will play prominently in the show, but Disney has turned over the preshow safety introduction to another crew of characters - also celebrating their 70th anniversary this year - The Muppets. Because who says "safety" more than The Muppets? Okay, pretty much anyone.
As for the show itself, it's a warm collection of Disney hits, including some not yet given enough love in the parks, including Powerline's "Eye to Eye" from "A Goofy Movie" and "I've Got a Dream" from "Tangled."
Ultimately, it continues the theme of finding happiness in togetherness, using two versions of "Rainbow Connection," including one by Boys II Men, to great effect.
You gotta love when a younger sibling is there to support the family, right?
Check back with us tomorrow for more coverage from the Disneyland 70th Celebration.
For discounts on admission to the parks, including a 70th Anniversary Ticket Offer that saves from $77-111 a ticket, Disneyland theme park tickets page.
For assistance in planning a complete Disney vacation, including on-site hotels and benefits, please contact our travel agent for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.
Finally, to keep up with more Disney and theme park news, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekly newsletter.
We were there just last week to see the signs although sadly missed the World of Color bit. However, it was terrific, especially Disneyland Hotel and great to see it in an anniversary year.
I just hope the underwhelming nature of this celebration is foreshadowing of a MASSIVE 75th Anniversary. I do think the "70" overlays on TSMM are really cute, but it does undermine the long time top scorers on the attraction with these augmented targets.
I see it Disney making up for how the 65th was amid the pandemic so the park closed down.
I will have more later today, but - yeah - this is a minor anniversary, bumped up a bit by the loss of the 65th due to the pandemic. The standard will be much, much higher for the 75th.
I just want the merch. Specifically, the 70th anniversary jersey. I'm a size medium if you're wondering. :)
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
Walt would be Proud.....
And here's to another 70!!!