Disney has officially confirmed that one park’s popular daytime parade will not be performed in 2025, marking the end of a beloved tradition.
A Storied History of Disney Parades
Parades have been a hallmark of Disney theme parks since 1955, starting with Disneyland’s Thanksgiving parade led by Walt Disney himself and Fess Parker as Davy Crockett. This inaugural event, showcased during an episode of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color titled “Holiday Time at Disneyland,” set the stage for what has become a timeless Disney tradition.
Today, every Disney resort worldwide hosts at least one parade, although not all parks maintain them year-round. Some, like Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, discontinued their parades years ago. Typically, these events align with seasonal themes, with certain parks retaining long-standing staples.
The Rise and Fall of Magic Happens
Disneyland Park introduced Magic Happens in 2020 as part of its 65th-anniversary celebrations. Unfortunately, its debut was cut short due to the COVID-19 shutdowns just weeks later.
The parade—featuring an infectious theme song by Todrick Hall—made a triumphant return in February 2023, only to be paused again on August 22, 2024, ahead of the Halloween season.
Fans anticipated its post-holiday return, but Disney’s 2025 schedule revealed no mention of Magic Happens. Yesterday, Disney confirmed the parade’s permanent cancellation, leaving many disappointed.
Paint the Night Steps In
When one door closes, another parade enters… Or something along those lines, anyway. Disney has confirmed that Paint the Night – a beloved nighttime parade that originally debuted in Disneyland Park in May 2015 – will be returning in May.
After a two-year run, the parade moved to Disney California Adventure Park in 2018, where its Frozen (2013) float was removed due to height restrictions. With its return to Disneyland in May 2025, we’ll be keen to see if the Frozen float will also be reinstated.
Although Disneyland is sans daytime parade for 2025, Disney California Adventure Park will step in with Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration. This parade, an updated version of the Pixar Play Parade from 2008 to 2017, recently ran during Pixar Fest earlier this year.
Despite this addition, Disneyland’s absence of a daytime parade is notable, particularly during an anniversary that otherwise leans heavily on nostalgia.
70th Anniversary Highlights
Disneyland Resort’s 70th-anniversary celebrations include several exciting new (or new-ish) additions. Highlights include:
- Wondrous Journeys: A nighttime spectacular celebrating Disney’s storied history that originally launched for Disney100 (and is deeply beloved by parkgoers).
- Walt Disney – A Magical Life: Featuring Disney’s first ever Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney.
- World of Color Happiness!: A revamped show at Disney California Adventure Park inspired by Walt’s iconic opening day speech. This iteration incorporates scenes and music from classics like The Lion King (1994), A Goofy Movie (1995), and Tangled (2010).
A Missed Opportunity?
Parades and fireworks have always been the cornerstones of a Disney castle park experience. The absence of a daytime parade at Disneyland Park during its 70th anniversary feels like a significant oversight. While Paint the Night and other additions aim to fill the gap, the nostalgia-heavy celebration seems incomplete without this cherished tradition.
How do you feel about the end of Magic Happens?
Let’s just rename Disneyland daytime experience The Magic doesn’t Happen. Gotta love it charge more offer less and don’t forget the fabulous $379 per day add-on for skip the line all day any ride experience. Disney sucks they can go pound sand.
After watching “Magic Happens” twice every day I was at the park, I will miss it, but I will continue watching the parade on YouTube. Thanks to all the people who posted. The parade just makes me so happy!
Let’s just make easy on disney, just give them all the money you were going to spend there and they will hand you a post card or two to remember your visit. They took something away so now the rates will go up. The question is how much and how many times will they raise in 2025. Haven’t gone since 2019 and no urge to go back. Used to go every 5 years but no more.
Putting more people out of work to put more money in the pockets of the share holders
I am very grateful to have visited Disney when entertainment was a higher priority than expensive rides that give you a few minutes of joy. I was fortunate to see Magic Happens in March 2023. I loved it so much and planned to go across the country again just for that parade. Maybe I should thank Disney for the cost savings? I remember when even Epcot had daily parades, now it’s known for drinking around the world. Entertainment serves more people for longer periods of time.