A red vintage car and a colorful cake-themed parade float travel down a street lined with spectators during the 69th Anniversary Cavalcade. A performer holds streamers near the float decorated with balloons and a character in blue and yellow attire.

Disneyland Resort Honors 69th Anniversary with Celebratory Cavalcade

Phil Wood

On July 17, 2024, Disneyland Resort celebrated its birthday with a special 69th-anniversary cavalcade on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park.

Disneyland 69th Anniversary Cavalcade

Parade with performers carrying a "Happy Birthday Disneyland" banner, flanked by crowds on both sides. In celebration of the 69th Anniversary Cavalcade, performers holding colorful balloon clusters walk along a street in the theme park.

Despite the 69th anniversary not being a milestone, Disney is still taking the time to celebrate it. And like with the 68th anniversary, Disneyland has hosted a cavalcade in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A.

A group of people in colorful outfits hold large bunches of balloons and a banner as they participate in the 69th Anniversary Cavalcade parade. Spectators line both sides of the street.

Two Cast Members carrying a blue balloon-filled banner with “Happy Birthday Disneyland” on it led the way. On each end of the banner, blue, white, yellow, and green balloon bundles soared into the sky.

Performers in colorful outfits dance on a brick-paved street while a crowd watches during the festive 69th Anniversary Cavalcade. A person holds a bunch of colorful balloons on the right.

Behind the banner carriers, Cast Members danced their way down the street. The women wore red skirts, yellow belts with bows, black shirts with white polka dots, and red shoes. The men wore black shoes, red and white sweatpants, yellow t-shirts, and black unbuttoned button-downs.

A festive parade marking the 69th Anniversary Cavalcade features characters in animated costumes aboard a red vehicle adorned with colorful balloons. Onlookers watch from the sidewalk near brick buildings and shops.

The Disneyland Fire Dept. Engine No. 1 drove in Mickey and Minnie Mouse for the festivities. The car was decorated with multi-colored balloons and a golden “69” balloon duo.

A lively 69th Anniversary Cavalcade features costumed characters and performers launching confetti into the air. Onlookers line the sidewalks, and colorful buildings and trees are visible in the background.

Some dancers had streamer poppers that they let off into the sky.

Costumed character of a tall anthropomorphic dog and performers in colorful clothing walk in the 69th Anniversary Cavalcade on a brick-paved street surrounded by buildings and trees.

Goofy, Chip and Dale, and Pluto followed behind with the Dapper Dans in tow.

A marching band in blue and white uniforms plays instruments as they walk in the 69th Anniversary Cavalcade parade. Colorful ribbons are seen on the ground, and spectators sit along the street, watching the performance.

The Disneyland Band followed behind, ready to make some music.

A lively 69th Anniversary Cavalcade features a vintage, double-decker bus decorated with colorful balloons and characters, parading down Main Street as a crowd of onlookers captures the moment on a sunny day.

The double-decker Omnibus was next, carrying more balloons and various Disney characters.

A vibrant Disney 69th Anniversary Cavalcade parade float decorated with colorful balloons and flowers carries costumed characters, including a woman in a blue dress, two others in pink and red dresses, and a white animal character.

We spotted Miguel, Snow White, Cinderella, Mulan, and Geppetto. Behind the bus were more Disney Princesses and heroines, including Mirabel, Moana, and Merida.

A costumed character in a blue outfit and a performer in a green dress delight the crowd during the 69th Anniversary Cavalcade at the themed park, with various shops setting a charming backdrop.

Genie and Jasmine from “Aladdin” followed close behind, carrying matching streamers.

A 69th Anniversary Cavalcade parades down a brick street with costumed characters, including Snow White and Belle, as onlookers sit and stand on the sidewalk outside storefronts, some shaded by umbrellas.

Next up were Belle, Gaston, Cruella, and the Evil Queen.

A red vintage car and a colorful cake-themed parade float travel down a street lined with spectators during the 69th Anniversary Cavalcade. A performer holds streamers near the float decorated with balloons and a character in blue and yellow attire.

Another Main Street vehicle brought up the rear, with Donald Duck and Daisy Duck in tow. Behind them was a massive, three-layer birthday cake, covered in balloons. A balloon candle towered from the top layer.

The soundtrack for the cavalcade was a combination of the lyrics to the 50th anniversary countdown song “At the Happiest Place on Earth” played over new orchestrations of the underlying theme for “Mickey’s Happy Holidays,” a cavalcade that runs annually at Disney California Adventure.

One notable change from last year’s anniversary cavalcade is the dancer costumes are all brand new. In 2023, parade performers wore purple, blue, and green shirts with prints of Mickey on them that were used during the cavalcade offered in the wake of the pandemic.

Disneyland Park is the original Disney theme park, and opened on July 17, 1955. Disneyland Resort added Disney California Adventure on February 8, 2001.

Watch our video of the full cavalcade:

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