The Walt Disney Company marks its 100th anniversary in 2023, and the Disneyland Resort will celebrate the Disney100 milestone with new experiences and entertainment, décor, specialty treats and more throughout the year, beginning 27JAN 2023.
The festivities at Disneyland Resort begin on 27JAN with the grand opening of Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway and the debut of new nighttime spectaculars by Disney Live Entertainment: "World of Color – ONE" and "Wondrous Journeys." More offerings will arrive throughout 2023, including the return of the "Magic Happens" parade on 24FEB, reopening of Mickey's Toontown on 08MAR and new developments at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort coming later this year.
"We are excited to bring this milestone celebration to life right here at The Happiest Place on Earth," said Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock.
New attractions and entertainment
The new, family-friendly attraction Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway makes its Disneyland Park debut on 27JAN. Inside the El CapiTOON Theater in Mickey's Toontown, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway transports guests into the cartoon world of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, where they board a train engineered by Goofy and embark on an adventure with twists and turns.
To experience Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, guests will be required to join the complimentary virtual queue, which is accessible only via the Disneyland app. The virtual queue enrollment times will be twice daily, at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. PT. More information on the virtual queue system is available at Disneyland's web site. According to Disney, guests may also get quicker entry to this attraction with the purchase of an individual Lightning Lane arrival window, subject to availability.
"World of Color – ONE" at Disney California Adventure Park celebrates the storytelling legacy started by Walt Disney. Featuring a new original song, "Start a Wave," this new nighttime spectacular brings some of iconic characters to life. According to Disney, this is the first Disneyland Resort nighttime spectacular to feature characters, music and moments from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, the Avengers and Star Wars in the same production.
Guests will be able to access viewing areas for "World of Color – ONE" through the virtual queue system available only via the Disneyland app. Distribution for the complimentary virtual queue will begin at noon, daily, subject to availability. More information is available at Disneyland.com. If the virtual queue reaches capacity, guests can check in with a cast member at the Paradise Bay viewing area shortly before "World of Color – ONE" begins for walk-up viewing options. Joining the virtual queue is not required, but according to Disney, it is highly recommended as walk-up viewing options for each performance are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
"Wondrous Journeys" at Disneyland Park features nods to every Walt Disney Animation Studios film over the last century and a new song, "It's Wondrous." The nighttime spectacular builds upon the park's projection effects to turn Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, the façade of "it's a small world" and the Rivers of America into an artist's canvas. On select nights, "Wondrous Journeys" goes even bigger with the addition of fireworks.
According to Disney, MagicBand+ builds on to "World of Color – ONE" and "Wondrous Journeys," with dancing lights and vibrations synchronized to both spectaculars.
A new exhibit, The Disney Gallery Presents: Disney 100 Years of Wonder, will be on display at Disneyland Park. Inspired by Walt's vision for Disneyland to be where his films come to life in the real world, the exhibit pays tribute to Disney films that became Disneyland Resort attractions, park experiences that later inspired Disney films and more. Guests can see artwork created by original Disney animators for some of Walt's early films, alongside artwork concepted by original Disney Imagineers to recreate those stories in the park – in addition to an animator's desk, a model of a multi-plane camera and more.
Disney100 offerings at Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney District and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will be adorned in platinum-infused décor – including platinum statues and medallions scattered across the resort. Later in 2023, MagicBand+ will interact with select décor.
Walt Disney's original Sleeping Beauty Castle will be dressed in platinum banners and bunting, accented by a cabochon, two water fountains in the surrounding moat and a wishing star shining on the tower above. At Disneyland Park, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals will don new outfits.
Guests can enjoy more than a dozen specialty food and beverage items, such as the platinum trifle and old-fashioned cream soda, and novelties like the Disney100 Mickey Mouse sipper and platinum Mickey Mouse balloon bucket.
Disney fans can also bring the celebration home with commemorative Disney100 merchandise and collectibles released throughout the year, including the Disney100 Platinum Celebration Collection, special MagicBand+ designs, collectible medallions and pressed pennies.
The Disney100 celebration extends to the Downtown Disney District with platinum décor, photo opportunities and special menu items at select dining locations.
More to come in 2023
The "Magic Happens" parade makes its return to Disneyland Park on 24FEB. Led by Mickey Mouse and his pals, the daytime spectacular celebrates moments from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios films as they are brought to life with floats, costumes and a musical score.
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway will be joined by additional new experiences and returning favorites when the reimagined Mickey's Toontown reopens on 08MAR 2023. The land will feature more play activities and attractions than before, in addition to grassy play spaces for guests of all ages. Interactive play areas such as CenTOONial Park, Goofy's How-To-Play Yard and Donald's Duck Pond create opportunities for families and young children to play together inside Disneyland Park, and guests can enjoy classics like Mickey's House, Minnie's House and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin once again.
In the spring, guests are invited to experience seasonal offerings and returning fan-favorite events at the Disneyland Resort. Disney California Adventure Park is ringing in the Year of the Rabbit with the Lunar New Year celebration through 15FEB, and the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns 03MAR through 25APR.
Alongside the Disney100 anniversary celebration, the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will debut new developments later this year. Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel will become Pixar Place Hotel. The Villas at Disneyland Hotel – a new, 344-room tower – can immerse guests in decades of animated classics through a blend of contemporary designs and classic artworks inspired by Disney Legends.
For more information, visit Disneyland's web site.
