Disneyland Resort’s 70th anniversary celebration kicked off with a bang—literally, if you count the sound of hundreds of guests rushing down Main Street, U.S.A. in the early morning hours to grab a hot-ticket collectible. Crowds flocked to The Emporium before 8:00 a.m. on May 16, hoping to snag the interactive Key to Disneyland.
Earlier this month, Disneyland Park opened its gates to massive crowds eager to take part in the Disneyland70 festivities. While the park’s official anniversary date isn’t until July 17, celebrations began on May 16, with new and returning parades, several nighttime shows, themed food, and limited-edition merchandise launching across Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
But nothing drew more attention—or bodies—than The Emporium, Disneyland Park’s iconic flagship store. As soon as the park opened, crowds stormed the location hoping to get their hands on the Key to Disneyland, a $59.99 oversized collectible key tied to an interactive in-park experience. The result? Packed aisles, wall-to-wall shoppers, and a retail scene that looked more like a Black Friday rush than a Disney souvenir launch.
TikTok user @reynaandroman captured the moment in a video that shows hundreds of people crowding the store:
@reynaandroman This morning is CRAZY For the Key to Disneyland! 🔑🏰 Secured 2 Before they Sell out Stay tune for part #2 Finding out what pins we get Full Vlog will be up in YouTube Link in bio. #disney #disneyland #keytodisney #keytodisneyland #fyp #fypシ #fup #fupシ #distok #70yearsofdisney
While many guests were simply trying to grab a souvenir, others believe resellers contributed to the crush. Some Disney Parks fans say Disneyland Resort doesn’t do enough to stop them from overpurchasing exclusive items to make a quick buck online.
The Key to Disneyland sold out quickly, but is expected to return throughout the Disneyland 70 celebrations, which run into summer 2026. Merchandise cast members across Disneyland Resort can help guests locate remaining stock if the keys are unavailable at The Emporium.
Outside The Emporium, the rest of the Disneyland70 celebration brought back longtime guest favorites like the Paint the Night parade and Wondrous Journeys fireworks show, along with newer additions like “World of Color Happiness” and the “Celebrate Happy Cavalcade.” Some experiences, including the “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” animatronic show and a new Sherman Brothers verse in “it’s a small world”, will debut on July 17.
Is the Key to Disneyland worth it? Disney Dining would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
