The party might have started in May, but Disneyland officially celebrates its 70th birthday today.
The day's festivities started with a predawn party for the Disneyland Resort cast. The resort's 70th anniversary hot air balloon welcomed cast members on the park's hub, as a DJ played music and cast members queued up for photo ops and a commemorative ear hat giveaway.
As the sun rose over the park, Disneyland's security team welcomed the Dapper Dans and Disneyland Band for a special, 70th anniversary flag raising ceremony.
After that, Disney CEO Bob Iger joined the Disneyland cast on Main Street for a live televised ringing of the bell to open the day's trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Then everyone gathered for a birthday cast photo.
D'Amaro and Iger then greeted Disneyland fans at the front of the park as it opened for the day.
Finally, in the afternoon, Disneyland invited park guests to sing Happy Birthday to the park in a special birthday edition of the Celebrate Happy Cavalcade.
Disneyland opened July 17, 1955. The resort has been celebrating with an open-ended 70th anniversary event that started in May. The Disneyland 70th Celebration includes the return of the Paint the Night parade and Wondrous Journeys nighttime spectacular at Disneyland and the Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration parade and the new World of Color Happiness at Disney California Adventure. The Tapestry of Happiness projection show on the It's a Small World facade, Tinker Bell projection on Cathay Circle, and Celebrate Happy Cavalcade on Main Street complete the entertainment for the celebration.
Joining the party today are the new Walt Disney - A Magical Life show in the Disneyland Opera House, featuring the first Audio Animatronic figure of Walt Disney. Disneyland also has added a new verse by the Sherman Brothers to It's a Small World, a change that is documented by "So Much That We Share: A Tribute to the Sherman Brothers," now showing in the Main Street Cinema.
For discounts on admission to the parks, including a 70th Anniversary Ticket Offer that saves from $77-111 a ticket for visits through August 14, Disneyland theme park tickets page.
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They probably charged admission for the Cast Members to attend their own party. And Lightning Lane for cake
Glad I got there earlier this year and still magical.
My parents didn't take me to Disneyland on its opening day but it was not long after. I'm not sure which is the bigger shock, Disneyland's age or mine.
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Doesn't look a day over 50......
I always wished Walt could have lived longer to see all of The Disney creations...