Disneyland's Major Changes: 70th Anniversary, New Lands, Dining & More!

Disneyland's 70th Anniversary Celebration

• 🥳 Disneyland Resort is celebrating its 70th birthday from May 16th, 2025, to August 9th, 2026.
• ✨ Festivities include the return of the Wondrous Journeys Nighttime Spectacular, Mickey and Friends' Celebrate Happy Cavalcade, It's a Small World tapestry of happiness, and the Paint the Night Parade.
• 🍔 Limited-time 70th anniversary eats and sweets are available, including special treats at Jolly Holiday on Main Street.

Hotel Perks and Downtown Disney Dining

• 🏨 Early theme park entry for Disney hotel guests has been removed as of January 5th.
• 🎟️ In its place, Disneyland hotel guests receive one Lightning Lane per person per stay, usable on most rides except Radiator Springs Racers and Rise of the Resistance.
• 🍽️ Downtown Disney is set to welcome new dining options in 2026, including Bobo Go (boba tea), Arthur and Sun Steak and Bourbon, Pearl's Roadside Barbecue, Porto's Bakery (with a sit-down concept), and a two-story Earl of Sandwich featuring a gastro pub called Gordon Ramsay at the Carnaby Tavern.
• 🌟 The Napa Rose restaurant at the Grand Californian Hotel is undergoing refurbishment and will reopen in early 2026 with a new menu and updated ambiance.

Disney California Adventure Transformations

• 🏗️ Disney California Adventure is undergoing significant transformations, including the closure of the red car trolley for Avengers Campus expansion.
• 💥 The expanded Avengers Campus will feature two new attractions: Avengers: Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab.
• 🌳 Monsters, Inc., Mike and Sully to the Rescue will close in early 2026 to make way for a new Avatar Land, themed around the newer movies and featuring a boat attraction.
• 🎶 A new Coco attraction is planned near Paradise Gardens Park, focusing on music and slated to begin construction in fall 2026.

New Entertainment and Magic Key Updates

• 🌃 Disney After Dark events will return in 2026 with themes like Sweethearts Night, Disney Channel Night, Star Wars Night, Pride Night, and a new '70 Years of Favorites' event.
• 🚀 Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will receive updates on May 22nd, coinciding with the Mandalorian and Grogu film, enhancing the engineer role.
• ✈️ Soarin' Across America will debut at DCA on July 2nd, 2026, as a temporary overlay celebrating America's 250th anniversary.
• 🔑 A new Explore Key annual pass will debut on January 13th, replacing the Enchant Key, offering weekday access in June and July for $999.
• 💙 Bluey's Best Day Ever show will debut at the Fantasyland Theater on March 22nd, 2026.

Disneyland Forward Initiative

• 💡 The Disneyland Forward initiative aims to rezone parts of Disneyland property for new lands, attractions, and hotels, backed by a $1.9 billion investment plan.
• 📜 The Anaheim City Council approved the project in May 2024, paving the way for potential new lands inspired by Black Panther, Tangled, Frozen, Zootopia, Peter Pan, Tron, and Toy Story.
• 🗓️ The D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Experience convention in August 2026 may reveal more about these future projects.