On Wednesday afternoon, several areas in Fantasyland will be temporarily closed to Disneyland Park guests as part of an exclusive media event ahead of the upcoming Disneyland70 celebrations. Signs have been posted around Disney Resort hotels to notify guests about the temporary changes to theme park access.
These closures come just days before Disneyland’s 70th anniversary festivities kick off on May 16, 2025. While the park’s actual anniversary won’t occur until July 17, many of the celebrations will start in advance, giving Disney Park guests a chance to enjoy the magic over the next few months. Guests can already spot decorations, including a massive 50-foot sculpture of Sleeping Beauty Castle, in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park as part of the anniversary preparations.
In addition to the anniversary decor, Disneyland has planned a variety of exciting experiences for parkgoers. On Friday, Disneyland Park will debut the “Celebrate Happy Cavalcade,” featuring characters like Duffy and ShellieMay. The “Tapestry of Happiness” projection show will premiere on “it’s a small world.” The evening also brings back fan favorites such as the “Paint the Night” electrical parade and Wondrous Journeys fireworks. Iconic characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be dressed in anniversary-themed outfits.
Over at Disney California Adventure Park, guests can expect the debut of the interactive “World of Color Happiness!” nighttime show and a Disneyland70–themed upgrade to Toy Story Midway Mania!. The “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade will return during the day.
As part of the celebrations, Disneyland Resort has invited members of the press for a media event to preview some of the new offerings. As a result, parts of Fantasyland will be closed at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, with guests being rerouted to other areas of Disneyland Park. @laughing_place shared a photo of a sign in the Disneyland Hotel lobby notifying guests about the closure:
Select locations in Fantasyland will be closing at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow due to the #Disneyland70 media event.
Select locations in Fantasyland will be closing at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow due to the #Disneyland70 media event. pic.twitter.com/ZMdS8LKTKp
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) May 13, 2025
It’s unclear which areas of Fantasyland will remain open on Wednesday afternoon, but the area should operate normally when Disneyland Park opens on Thursday, May 15.
While many of the new offerings for Disneyland70 will start this week, some will be introduced later in the summer. On July 17, “it’s a small world” will introduce a new final song verse written by the late Sherman brothers, and the “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” show will debut at the Main Street Opera House. The new show will feature the first-ever audio-animatronic version of Walt Disney and several archival artifacts in the lobby. It will replace Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln during its initial run and alternate with the original show afterward.
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