Disneyland turns 70 next year. Here’s everything planned for the bash, beyond

2025 is going to be a big year for Disneyland and a particularly great time to visit.

Not only will the Happiest Place on Earth turn 70 years old, but guests will find 340 days of special celebrations, festivals or other limited time offerings throughout the year, the California resort announced Thursday. Those include a new after-hours 90s Nite, the return of the beloved Paint the Night nighttime parade, and the debut of the first ever audio-animatronic of Walt Disney.

“We're at a moment in time, 70 years after Disneyland opened, where we feel that the technology has caught up with our ambition to tell Walt's story and to let the newest generation of Disney fans experience what it felt like to be in a room with Walt,” Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro told USA TODAY at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience this summer, noting its special importance to him as a cast member who started at Disneyland 26 years ago.

Here’s everything Disneyland has planned for its 70^th anniversary and the rest of 2025 to help plan ahead.

Disneyland's 70^th Anniversary

Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, but its 70^th anniversary celebration will kick off on May 16 and run through summer of 2026. The theme will be “Celebrate Happy.”

As part of the festivities, the resort will bring back several popular past experiences, including the “Paint the Night” nighttime parade and “Wondrous Journeys” nighttime spectacular at Disneyland Park, with fireworks on select nights. The “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade will return to Disney California Adventure. Note, both “Wondrous Journeys” and “Better Together” will pause during the resort’s Halloween and holiday celebrations and resume after those seasons are over.

The 70^th anniversary celebration will also include a new nighttime spectacular called “World of Color Happiness!” and new nighttime projections on Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure. Disneyland Park will get a new character cavalcade, new projections on the facade of “it’s a small world,” new outfits for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, and special decor on Sleeping Beauty Castle. A new anniversary theme song called “Celebrate Happy” will also play throughout the celebration.

The audio-animatronic of Walt Disney will debut May 16 as part of a new attraction called “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” that starts with a cinematic presentation on his life and wraps with a visit to Disney’s office, with the audio-animatronic. Unlike limited-time 70^th anniversary experiences, the attraction will stay on and after its initial run, play in rotation with The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at Disneyland Park’s Main Street Opera House theater.

Returning festivals and celebrations

Many of Disneyland’s special offerings and seasonal celebrations are included with the price of standard admission, like these next year:

• Lunar New Yearat Disneyland California Adventure – Jan. 17 - Feb 16

• Anaheim Ducks Day at Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney District – Jan. 24

• Celebrate Gospel at Disneyland Park – Feb. 8 and 15

• Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival – Feb. 28 - April 21

• Season of the Force at Disneyland Park – March 28 - May 11

• Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party at Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney District – Summer dates to come

• Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort – Aug. 22 - Oct. 31

• Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park – Aug. 22 - Nov. 2

• Holidays at the Disneyland Resort –  Nov. 14 - Jan. 7, 2026

After-hours events

Disneyland’s after-hours events are not included with standard park admission. They require separate, special tickets and quickly sell out. Next year, there will be four uniquely themed Disneyland After Dark events and Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party, each spanning multiple nights.

Sweethearts’ Nite – Jan. 21, 23, 28; Feb. 4, 6, 9, 11, 13

This event isn’t only for couples, though it celebrates love with iconic Disney pairs, a royal ball, a new cavalcade, and more. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Dec. 12, 2024.

90s Nite – March 4 and 6

This new event will feature dance parties, sing-alongs and “90s on Parade,” which will throw back to past parades like “The Lion King Celebration” and “Mulan Parade.” General public ticket sales also begin Dec. 12, 2024.

Star Wars Nite – April 8, 10, 22, 24, 29 and May 1, 4, 6

Disneyland says the event will feature special character greetings, “unique gatherings and out-of-this-world photo opportunities.” Details on ticket sales will be announced later.

Pride Nite – June 16 and 18

This celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community first debuted at Disneyland in 2023 and returned this year. Next year’s event will include “rainbow projections, colorful décor, fabulous entertainment and more,” according to the resort. Allies are welcome. Details on ticket sales will also be announced later.

Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party

Next year’s Oogie Boogie Bash will be the longest yet, held on 31 select nights and starting even before daytime Halloween Time festivities at the resort. Details on ticket sales will be revealed later.

• Aug. 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31

• Sept. 2, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30

• Oct. 2, 5, 7, 9, 12,14,16,19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 31

How much is a 1-day Disneyland ticket?

Disneyland prices vary by date and demand.

A nondiscounted one-day, one-park ticket to either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure starts at $104 for guests over age 9. The starting price for a Park Hopper add-on is $65.

Can I go to Disneyland without a ticket? How to experience the magic beyond the parks

How to save

Several promotions are available for 2025.

The resort’s popular $50 kids ticket offer is back for visits between Jan. 7 through March 20. That’s nearly half off the regular starting price of one-day, one-park tickets for kids ages 3 to 9.

Southern California residents can buy a specially priced three-day ticket bringing prices down to $67 a day for visits between Jan. 1 through May 15.

Details on discounted hotel stays and special promotions for military service members and Magic Key (annual pass) holders are also available on the resort’s website.

And for guests visiting this year, Disneyland is currently offering a buy two days, get one free ticket deal to Disney+ subscribers visiting through Dec. 27, 2024.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disneyland is turning 70, debuting 90s Nite, reviving Paint the Night