Disneyland Resort celebrated its 68th anniversary today, July 17, with a special cavalcade on Main Street, U.S.A.
Disneyland 68th Anniversary Cavalcade
Though 68 isn’t a “big” anniversary like the 70th probably will be, Disneyland has celebrated past anniversaries with similar cavalcades.
The cavalcade was led by dancers with a “Happy 68th Birthday” banner.
Disneyland Park opened on July 17, 1955. Unlike Walt Disney World, almost 50 years passed before Disneyland Resort’s second park, Disney California Adventure, opened on February 8, 2001.
Mickey & Friends were in their Disney100 outfits on the first float.
The float was decorated with purple and platinum balloons, some of which said “68.”
Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto were on the front of the float.
Mickey, Minnie, Chip, and Dale were on the back.
They were followed by the red jitney carrying the Dapper Dans, Pinocchio, and Geppetto.
After that was the Disneyland Band.
The band played played “Happy Birthday” and “It’s Wondrous.”
The omnibus carried more Disney characters, including Miguel from “Coco,” Cinderella and some of her mice friends, Gaston, Belle, Cruella De Vil, Snow White, Aurora, and Ariel.
It was also decorated with purple and platinum decorations featuring the number 68.
Purple and platinum are the Disney100 colors, so Disneyland utilized them for this one-day celebration.
More characters followed on the ground.
These characters included Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Wendy, Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Moana, Merida, Tiana, Mirabel, Mary Poppins, Bert, and Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee.
The red car carried Alice and the Mad Hatter.
Alice and the Mad Hatter were joined by the Disneyland Resort Ambassadors.
At the back of the cavalcade was a giant cake float.
The three-tiered cake was yellow with white frosting and red Mickey heads.
Watch our video of the cavalcade below.
A 68th anniversary pin is also available at Disneyland today.
Year-round right now, the resort is celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company with various special festivities, collectibles, and experiences.
Disney 100 Years of Wonder
Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder (or Disney100 for short) is being celebrated across the world at Disney Parks and Resorts.
The 100 Years of Wonder celebration began at Disneyland Resort, where guests can enjoy “Wondrous Journeys” at Disneyland and “World of Color – ONE” at Disney California Adventure. There is a platinum Mickey statue (which initially had to be fixed because the Walt Disney quote on the base was incorrect) and a platinum Minnie statue.
Disneyland Resort is offering the “Celebrating Disney100 at the Disneyland Resort” guided tour, including a walk through both parks, the drawing experience at Animation Academy, a digital download of a photo taken in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, a Disney100 snack, reserved viewing for the Magic Happens parade, and a limited-edition pin.
Disney debuted a new short to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney Animation Studios at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The studio brought more than 40 voice actors in to reprise their roles and pulled from the archives to use dialogue from past actors like Robin Williams as the Genie. “Once Upon a Studio” combines 2D and 3D animation alongside live action to create a tribute to the studio’s century-long legacy. The short will be attached to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish” upon its release later this year on November 22.
What do you think of the anniversary festivities for Disneyland and The Walt Disney Company? Are you already thinking of a trip to California for the 70th? Let us know in the comments.
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