Disneyland Resort is seeing some of its most intense crowd levels in recent memory, so much so that some guests are leaving the parks without riding a single attraction. Just over a week into the 70th anniversary celebration at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, overwhelming mid-week crowds have left guests stunned, frustrated, and, in many cases, stuck in long lines that go nowhere.
The Disneyland70 festivities officially kicked off on May 16, 2025. While Disneyland’s actual birthday isn’t until July 17, the celebration has already brought in significant fanfare, with limited-edition merchandise, specialty snacks, and new entertainment offerings drawing large crowds from near and far.
At Disneyland Park, guests are enjoying the return of the beloved “Paint the Night” electrical parade and Wondrous Journeys fireworks. New additions include the “Celebrate Happiness” character cavalcade and the “Tapestry of Happiness” nighttime projection show on the facade of “it’s a small world”, which now features two new Coco (2017) dolls as part of the anniversary enhancements.
Over at Disney California Adventure Park, visitors can catch the interactive “World of Color Happiness” nighttime show and Disneyland70 additions to Toy Story Midway Mania!. The “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration” parade also made its grand return.
But while the Southern California Disney parks are bursting with anniversary-themed offerings, they’re also bursting at the seams. On Tuesday, TikTok user @ayy.ariannaaa shared her difficult experience navigating the crowd-packed park.
“Didn’t even get on a ride,” she wrote alongside a video showing shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on Disneyland Park’s Main Street, U.S.A.
@ayy.ariannaaa Didn’t even get on a ride today 🥲 #fyp #disney #disneyland #crowded #may #magickey
Another guest, TikTok user @brazzledazzledad, was quickly overwhelmed by the crowds when he visited Disneyland Resort to collect a complimentary “Paint the Night” poster for Magic Key holders. “I honestly am in disbelief how insanely crowded it is today on a random Tuesday afternoon,” he said. “… Don’t these people have jobs?”
@brazzledazzledad It’s shockingly busy at Disneyland for a Tuesday! #disneyland #disneylife #disneytiktok
Though Disneyland Resort hasn’t commented on the recent surge in attendance, many believe the combination of new entertainment offerings and upcoming Magic Key blockout dates is driving more traffic than usual.
More crowd-inducing events are still on the horizon. On the Southern California Disney Resort’s actual anniversary, Disneyland Park will debut a new song verse by the Sherman brothers on “it’s a small world.” The Main Street Opera House will also premiere “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” an all-new stage show featuring the first-ever Walt Disney audio-animatronic and rare treasures from the Walt Disney Archives.
If you haven’t made it to Disneyland70 just yet, don’t worry. The celebration will continue through summer 2026, giving Disney Park guests plenty of time to enjoy the magic—ideally, with shorter wait times.
Have you ever seen Disneyland Resort this crowded? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
