Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary Celebration

Photo Source: Disneyland PR

July 17, 2015, marks 60 years for Disneyland, and the theme park is gearing up for a giant diamond-studded celebration. Beginning May 22, Disneyland will debut a very special celebration, the Disneyland Diamond Celebration, which will include three new nighttime spectaculars.

If you're planning a trip to Disneyland this summer, here's a look at some of the highlights from the upcoming 60th Anniversary celebration.

24-Hour Event in May

To kick off the Diamond Celebration, Disneyland is holding a special 24-hour event. The all-night celebration, which includes dancing and character encounters in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, begins at 6 am on May 22 and concludes at 6 am on May 23.

Paint the Night

For the 60th anniversary celebration, Disneyland Park is bringing over the new parade from Hong Kong Disneyland. Paint the Night has been a huge hit in Hong Kong, and now guests in California can experience it as well. In Paint the Night, Mickey Mouse mixes his imagination with Tinker Bell's pixie dust to create a very special paint. With a dip of his brush, you'll be amazed at the Disney dreams Mickey Mouse conjures up.

More than 1.5 million LED lights make up the floats in the Paint the Night Parade, which will make this the first all LED parade in Disneyland Resort history. Look for your favorite Disney characters to make an appearance in Mickey's dream. Special appearances by some of Mickey's pals include characters from beloved movies like Frozen, Toy Story, Monsters, Inc, Cars, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. Look for live performers to have costumes that light up as well.

Longtime Disney fans will appreciate the nostalgic touch of the Electrical Parade drum making an appearance during the new Paint the Night Parade.

Disneyland Forever Fireworks

Disneyland is preparing to debut a new fireworks show that is of epic proportions. Disneyland Forever will feature brilliant pyrotechnics, along with impressive projections along Main Street U.S.A., the Matterhorn, and the facade of It's a Small World. The light projections are called projection mapping technology and will be used to project characters and scenes from popular Disney and Pixar movies.

Disneyland Forever Fireworks will also feature two original songs: Live the Magic and Kiss Goodnight, written by Disney Legend Richard Sherman.

World of Color Celebrate!

The nighttime spectacular, World of Color, at Disney California Adventure is also getting a makeover for the 60th Anniversary celebration. The new show will be World of Color Celebrate! Animated imagery, live-action footage, lasers, fountains, special effects, and a new musical score tell the legacy of Walt Disney and Disneyland. Expect to see Disneyland attractions as you've never seen them before!

Diamond Decor

Both Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventures Carthay Circle will receive a face-lift for the 60th anniversary as well. They are being overhauled with diamond exteriors to give them extra sparkle for the special event.

The sparkle extends beyond the theme park walls, with diamond-studded elements being added to Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resort Hotels. Surrounding streets in Anaheim will also feature Diamond Celebration decor and festive banners.

Look for new Diamond celebration merchandise and new food items to round out the festivities.

What are some of your favorite Disney memories?

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Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.