Disneyland 70th Anniversary Thread - Wishlist, Rumors, Speculation, Announcements

[PiratesMansion]

The more we have had to sit with the whole idea of the 70th, the more it frustrates me. I was excited for it. Now, on the eve of its launch, I should be feeling hyped. Instead, I'm annoyed.

On one hand, I'm happy that Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys are back; some of the smaller touches they're adding sound nice. I look forward to seeing everything on my trip later this summer.

But I can't help but linger on the obvious conclusion, that PTN and Wondrous Journeys running shouldn't have been something brought back for a temporary event or something conditional; they should have been running this whole time anyway.

It's not like we all made up the notion that people loved these shows.

It's not like they wouldn't have rolled out some new snacks without the 70th happening.

For all of their celebrating and expanded offerings, there's still a gently-used day parade that isn't running for literally no reason other than cost savings.

Putting all of these offerings on hiatus frequently is not quite the same as pay walling something, but it's not terribly far off either. This whole thing is such an artificial contrivance the more I sit with it, and for what? Cost savings? Running MSEP instead for the Quadrilionth time? To satisfy the increasingly unhinged opinions of DL's entertainment department? I couldn't quite say. Almost certainly all of those things to varying degrees and others I'm neglecting. But I'm about at the point where I just want them to run the dang park competently and consistently and without trying to get us to pat them on the back for things they should be doing anyway.

 

[brb1006]

The more we have had to sit with the whole idea of the 70th, the more it frustrates me. I was excited for it. Now, on the eve of it's launch, I should be feeling hyped. Instead, I'm annoyed.

On one hand, I'm happy that Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys are back; some of the smaller touches they're adding sound nice. I look forward to seeing everything on my trip later this summer.

But I can't help but linger on the obvious conclusion, that PTN and Wondrous Journeys running shouldn't have been something brought back for a temporary event or something conditional; they should have been running this whole time anyway.

It's not like we all made up the notion that people loved these shows.

It's not like they wouldn't have rolled out some new snacks without the 70th happening.

For all of their celebrating and expanded offerings, there's still a gently-used day parade that isn't running for literally no reason other than cost savings.

Putting all of these offerings on hiatus frequently is not quite the same as pay walling something, but it's not terribly far off either. This whole thing is such an artificial contrivance the more I sit with it, and for what? Cost savings? Running MSEP instead for the Quadrilionth time? To satisfy the increasingly unhinged opinions of DL's entertainment department? I couldn't quite say. Almost certainly all of those things to varying degrees and others I'm neglecting. But I'm about at the point where I just want them to run the dang park competently and consistently and without trying to get us to pat them on the back for things they should be doing anyway.

I'll never forget the days leading up to the official kickoff of Disneyland's 60th Anniversary: Diamond Celebration between Summer 2024 and 2025. Disney did tons of marketing and actually created heartfelt commercials and videos. I hadn't seen Disney put that much effort since the 100 Years of Magic Celebration.




While the actually anniversary offerings wasn't perfect. At least it actually felt special!


Compared to previous anniversaries for Disneyland the other Disney Parks. Disney's been unusually low-key when it comes to promoting Disneyland's 70th Anniversary. Most of the anniversary news would break on the Disney Parks Blog a few months before the kickoff. The 70th Anniversary Theme "Celebrate Happy" lacks the emotion and timelessness as "Forever Young" and "Remember When".





Also ENOUGH WITH THE ANNIVERSARY/CHARACTER CAVALCADES!!! instead of a REAL ANNIVERSARY PARADE (I'm talking to you too Walt Disney World)! If Tokyo/OLC and Paris can still make anniversary parades then why not WDW and DL?

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

Eh, I'm sure we'll get a new parade and new fireworks for the 75th. Plus some new attraction opening (I expect they would want the Avengers Campus expansion for the Olympics year rather than holding it back for the 75th though, so maybe Coco? Avatar will probably take longer.) This is just a placeholder "gotta do something" anniversary year. 75th they'll go bigger, no doubt.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

The more we have had to sit with the whole idea of the 70th, the more it frustrates me. I was excited for it. Now, on the eve of it's launch, I should be feeling hyped. Instead, I'm annoyed.

On one hand, I'm happy that Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys are back; some of the smaller touches they're adding sound nice. I look forward to seeing everything on my trip later this summer.

But I can't help but linger on the obvious conclusion, that PTN and Wondrous Journeys running shouldn't have been something brought back for a temporary event or something conditional; they should have been running this whole time anyway.

It's not like we all made up the notion that people loved these shows.

It's not like they wouldn't have rolled out some new snacks without the 70th happening.

For all of their celebrating and expanded offerings, there's still a gently-used day parade that isn't running for literally no reason other than cost savings.

Putting all of these offerings on hiatus frequently is not quite the same as pay walling something, but it's not terribly far off either. This whole thing is such an artificial contrivance the more I sit with it, and for what? Cost savings? Running MSEP instead for the Quadrilionth time? To satisfy the increasingly unhinged opinions of DL's entertainment department? I couldn't quite say. Almost certainly all of those things to varying degrees and others I'm neglecting. But I'm about at the point where I just want them to run the dang park competently and consistently and without trying to get us to pat them on the back for things they should be doing anyway.

Disneyland’s 70th is the new WDW’s 50th!

 

[Disney Analyst]

The 70th was never going to be a big big anniversary, that’s being saved for the 75th.


I expect that to be very in line with the 50th.

 

[Professortango1]

I sense just a wee bit of sarcasm in this post....

Sadly, no. I just earnestly liked Rocket Rods. I was 14 when they debuted, so I loved them and was so happy that Peoplemover was gone. I definitely see the issues with them, but they were a much needed shot in the arm of the tired Tron tunnel and other laughably dated elements of the PM.

 

[coffeefan]

Sadly, no. I just earnestly liked Rocket Rods. I was 14 when they debuted, so I loved them and was so happy that Peoplemover was gone. I definitely see the issues with them, but they were a much needed shot in the arm of the tired Tron tunnel and other laughably dated elements of the PM.

Exactly, it was so much fun! I only remember riding it once as a kid along with my siblings and cousins, but it formed a core memory. Luckily, we had a smooth ride experience, but I know now that wasn't the case for everyone. Too bad they had to go.

 

[Disney Irish]

Sadly, no. I just earnestly liked Rocket Rods. I was 14 when they debuted, so I loved them and was so happy that Peoplemover was gone. I definitely see the issues with them, but they were a much needed shot in the arm of the tired Tron tunnel and other laughably dated elements of the PM.

I never got to ride it because that was a time I wasn’t going to DL as I just started my career. But like many things in that era, especially TL98 as a whole, it came up very very very short due to penny pinching. Had they redone the track as intended with the banked turns I imagine it would still be running today.

There is a reason many rather have the PM back and it’s because it was a far superior attraction than the budget version of Rocket Rods that we got, even in the outdated condition it was when it closed in 95.

 

[Professortango1]

I never got to ride it because that was a time I wasn’t going to DL as I just started my career. But like many things in that era, especially TL98 as a whole, it came up very very very short due to penny pinching. Had they redone the track as intended with the banked turns I imagine it would still be running today.

There is a reason many rather have the PM back and it’s because it was a far superior attraction than the budget version of Rocket Rods that we got, even in the outdated condition it was when it closed in 95.

I never appreciated PeopleMover. As an adult now, I definitely understand it more, but it was so outdated. Even the budget Rocket Rods were an improvement. If they had only banked those turns, it would have been killer.

I miss Rocket Rods and HISTA. Heck, I even miss Innoventions compared to what we have now. TL 98 was a mess, but if take it over any other era of TL, especially now.

 

[coffeefan]

Speaking of TL, Mice Chat dropped this little tidbit on their latest live.

 

[jrhwdw]

 

[DCBaker]

Disneyland has released official photos of The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade:

 

[chadwpalm]

The more we have had to sit with the whole idea of the 70th, the more it frustrates me. I was excited for it. Now, on the eve of it's launch, I should be feeling hyped. Instead, I'm annoyed.

On one hand, I'm happy that Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys are back; some of the smaller touches they're adding sound nice. I look forward to seeing everything on my trip later this summer.

But I can't help but linger on the obvious conclusion, that PTN and Wondrous Journeys running shouldn't have been something brought back for a temporary event or something conditional; they should have been running this whole time anyway.

It's not like we all made up the notion that people loved these shows.

It's not like they wouldn't have rolled out some new snacks without the 70th happening.

For all of their celebrating and expanded offerings, there's still a gently-used day parade that isn't running for literally no reason other than cost savings.

Putting all of these offerings on hiatus frequently is not quite the same as pay walling something, but it's not terribly far off either. This whole thing is such an artificial contrivance the more I sit with it, and for what? Cost savings? Running MSEP instead for the Quadrilionth time? To satisfy the increasingly unhinged opinions of DL's entertainment department? I couldn't quite say. Almost certainly all of those things to varying degrees and others I'm neglecting. But I'm about at the point where I just want them to run the dang park competently and consistently and without trying to get us to pat them on the back for things they should be doing anyway.

FOMO has been a marketing ploy since the Eisner era when they would put their animated movies in "The Vault" and release them for a short time every 7 years.

If you only do things for a short period of time every so often it generates a sense of FOMO in people and they feel they have to go experience it (or buy it) bringing in huge crowds (and money).

 

[chadwpalm]

The 70th was never going to be a big big anniversary, that’s being saved for the 75th.


I expect that to be very in line with the 50th.

Let's hope so. Since the 70th ends at the end of summer 2026 that leaves them only a little over 3.5 years before the huge 75th would start.

IDK....I hope we get a huge 75th, but part of me feels like they wouldn't have done a 70th and held out to push budget toward the 75th. I guess time will tell.

 

[eddie104]

Let's hope so. Since the 70th ends at the end of summer 2026 that leaves them only a little over 3.5 years before the huge 75th would start.

IDK....I hope we get a huge 75th, but part of me feels like they wouldn't have done a 70th and held out to push budget toward the 75th. I guess time will tell.

That’s what confuses me.

Why is Disneyland having a 70th and 75th celebration ?

 

[PiratesMansion]

The 70th was never going to be a big big anniversary, that’s being saved for the 75th.


I expect that to be very in line with the 50th.

My issue isn't that it's not a big anniversary; my issue is that they're doing something they should have been doing this whole time and trying to pretend that they're doing something special.

I suppose I'm glad PTN is running all year, but I have to say I'm a little frustrated that I'll get to "enjoy" Believe! while likely being deprived of WOC Seasons of Light. I'd have personally preferred the opposite. If it wasn't for the fact that it was cheaper, lower impact, and people tend to be fine seeing the same Christmas stuff over and over and over again in a way they aren't for other holidays, Believe would likely be long gone.

Although the Disneyland website currently shows that WOC SOL will be returning in 2025, complete with dates. Perhaps they just haven't adjusted the website yet, or perhaps they're going to surprise me and play both (I doubt it).

Disneyland has released official photos of The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade:

I mean, I guess.

FOMO has been a marketing ploy since the Eisner era when they would put their animated movies in "The Vault" and release them for a short time every 7 years.

If you only do things for a short period of time every so often it generates a sense of FOMO in people and they feel they have to go experience it (or buy it) bringing in huge crowds (and money).

Most definitely, but it's also much more blatant than it used to be. They didn't do things like just not run their day parade for funzies in the past.

That’s what confuses me.

Why is Disneyland having a 70th and 75th celebration ?

75th is a much bigger deal and is one of the big milestone anniversaries, much like a 25th anniversary is treated as more significant than a 20th.

 

[TP2000]

The more we have had to sit with the whole idea of the 70th, the more it frustrates me. I was excited for it. Now, on the eve of it's launch, I should be feeling hyped. Instead, I'm annoyed.

Thank you, your entire post was spot on and perfectly said. And you are right, this is just annoying.

It's annoying that they go back to about 70% of what they used to do normally, before ticket prices raised 50% or 60%, and smile and lie and pretend this is a "celebration". No it's not a celebration, it's a cutback and a major downgrade.

Calling that "annoying" is rather mild and very polite. There's a few other words I can think of for what TDA is doing here.

The 70th was never going to be a big big anniversary, that’s being saved for the 75th.


I expect that to be very in line with the 50th.

I don't think any of us expected the 70th to be like the 50th, or a big anniversary in any way. I wouldn't even expect them to treat the 70th as big as they did the 60th, when they were leveraging the Billions they had invested in the previous decade on fixing DCA and expanding the Resort as a whole.

But it is not unrealistic to expect the 70th to be just as nicely done and well thought out as the 30th, the 35th, the 40th, the 45th, or the 60th. They get a pass on the 55th because that was during MAJOR construction.

The 70th is offering less than during the Resort's 61st through 64th years, but is charging a lot more for it and branding it as a "Celebration". That's not something most fans are going to pretend we don't see.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Thank you, your entire post was spot on and perfectly said. And you are right, this is just annoying.

It's annoying that they go back to about 70% of what they used to do normally, before ticket prices raised 50% or 60%, and smile and lie and pretend this is a "celebration". No it's not a celebration, it's a cutback and a major downgrade.

Calling that "annoying" is rather mild and very polite. There's a few other words I can think of for what TDA is doing here.



I don't think any of us expected the 70th to be like the 50th, or a big anniversary in any way. I wouldn't even expect them to treat the 70th as big as they did the 60th, when they were leveraging the Billions they had invested in the previous decade on fixing DCA and expanding the Resort as a whole.

But it is not unrealistic to expect the 70th to be just as nicely done and well thought out as the 30th, the 35th, the 40th, the 45th, or the 60th. They get a pass on the 55th because that was during MAJOR construction.

The 70th is offering less than during the Resort's 61st through 64th years, but is charging a lot more for it and branding it as a "Celebration". That's not something most fans are going to pretend we don't see.

As someone who only really checked into this fandom around the 50th, I don’t have much experience with the previous celebrations. But out of all the ones that have happened in my time, I’d say the 70th is the most grandiose of the “in between” years that I’ve seen (50th is #1, 60th #2, and 70th a clear third place).

A decent decor package, some really fantastic merch, a cute cavalcade, an original song, a new WOC, a heartwarming projection show, bringing back two fan favourite spectacles, the magic band activations, the key lock scavenger hunt.

And still to come, Walt Disney show, the new verse for IASW, and the documentary playing in the Main Street Cinema all about that verse.

Honestly, I am pleased. This feels grander than MK’s 50th.

 

[mickEblu]

As someone who only really checked into this fandom around the 50th, I don’t have much experience with the previous celebrations. But out of all the ones that have happened in my time, I’d say the 70th is the most grandiose of the “in between” years that I’ve seen (50th is #1, 60th #2, and 70th a clear third place).

A decent decor package, some really fantastic merch, a cute cavalcade, an original song, a new WOC, a heartwarming projection show, bringing back two fan favourite spectacles, the magic band activations, the key lock scavenger hunt.

And still to come, Walt Disney show, the new verse for IASW, and the documentary playing in the Main Street Cinema all about that verse.

Honestly, I am pleased. This feels grander than MK’s 50th.

The 40th was Indy so that was a big deal but from what I can remember this seems like more of a robust celebration all around. I went to the park after a long break in the 2000’s and didn’t even realize an anniversary celebration was going on for the 55th. Then again I didn’t even realize I was also there during the 50th until recently. 65 was covid and I was at DCA on Buena Vista street with a mask on not even allowed to take it down to drink a sip of water so that was awful. I have a picture with the 35th marquee but don’t remember much about it even though the logo is iconic to me. Can’t remember much about the 45th in 2000 even though I went a couple times that year and was 17 years old. I know because I graduated high school that year. I think the 45th was probably out shadowed by DCA’s grand opening.

Sad that this does seem like a much bigger deal than WDW’s 50th. So yeah I’d say you’re right if we’re talking 35th anni on. Anything earlier than that I wasn’t around or have no recollection of.

Now I just need to find a picture of myself at Disneyland as a three year old for the 30th in 1985 and I can officially say I’ve been to every 5 year anniversary since 1985. Which is cool as I didn’t realize that until writing this post.

 

[eddie104]

Honestly, I am pleased. This feels grander than MK’s 50th.

I honestly don’t feel that way based on what I’ve seen.

Also Covid ruined a lot of stuff for the 50th so I think it’s a horrible comparison.

DL has a ton of anniversaries to choose from so why not choose those to spot differences ?