Disney announced a lineup of entertainment, parks offerings, and community engagements for their “Disney Celebrates America” campaign, including a 24-hour multi-platform broadcast and primetime special.
Disney Celebrates America
Disney says the initiative reflects their legacy of helping to shape the American story by “showcasing the imagination, optimism, and sense of possibility that connects generations.”
“As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, ‘Disney Celebrates America’ is our way of honoring this historic milestone by celebrating the people, places, and shared moments that define who we are,” said Ken Potrock, President of Major Events Integration, The Walt Disney Company. “Through immersive and creative park experiences and unprecedented broadcast moments, Disney invites everyone to come together and celebrate America in a truly meaningful way by reflecting on where we’ve been and imagining the extraordinary future we can create together.”
Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness
On June 29, ABC will air the 2-hour primetime special Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness hosted by 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts from Walt Disney World Resort and national correspondent Will Reeve from Disneyland Resort.
From Main Street, U.S.A. and its turn-of-the-century nostalgia to Tomorrowland where the nation lifts its gaze to the future, each stop will play host to true tales of American “firsts.” In this coast-to-coast event, Disney Parks and attractions are the portal through which America’s greatest stories, triumphs, and traditions are celebrated.
The special will air from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT.
24-Hour July 4th Broadcast
Beginning the evening of July 3 and continuing through July 4, ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ESPN, and National Geographic will present an unparalleled 24-hour, cross-platform broadcast spanning ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, FX, Freeform, ABC News Live, ESPN, and ABC Owned Television Stations and affiliates.
Led by World News Tonight anchor David Muir and featuring anchor Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America co-anchors Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan, Nightline co-anchors Juju Chang and Byron Pitts, 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts, Prime anchor and World News Tonight Sunday anchor Linsey Davis, The View co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Sara Haines along with more of the ABC News team and talent, the expansive programming event takes viewers across all 50 states to explore the people, places, and defining moments of the nation’s 250-year history.
Featuring live celebrations, immersive storytelling, performances, and reporting from locations across the country, the broadcast delivers a comprehensive, daylong tribute to America’s past, present, and future.
Alongside a special edition of Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir, and Nightline, curated segments include:
- Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash is a one-of-a-kind live celebration with must-see performances by iconic artists and musical acts spanning multiple genres. In collaboration with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and ITV America Nashville, hundreds of thousands are expected to gather in-person in the heart of downtown Nashville for this milestone event, which will also feature one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the United States set to a live score by the GRAMMY® Award winning Nashville Symphony.
- Countdown to America’s 250th reporting features rare access inside the Statue of Liberty with a once-in-a-lifetime tribute, produced in close partnership with the Consulate General of France in New York
- GMA’s “50 States in 50 Weeks: America The Beautiful,” a culmination of the showcase series of the beauty of America’s land and people
- Dawn of America tracing American history from colonial times through the Declaration of Independence
- A look at the brave U.S. military service members, veterans, and their families who have helped defend their country for two and half centuries
- America Expands Westward highlighting America’s growth through a cross-country adventure including broadcasts from Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder with celebrations from Ketchikan, Alaska
- Innovation and Invention presenting a special look at the birth of Hollywood cinema, the history of American fashion, the space race, and more
- Wonders of America, a special collaboration between ABC News anchors and National Geographic Explorers
The Wonders of America broadcast segment will feature the newly announced “Seven Natural Wonders of America,” a list created in collaboration between National Geographic and ABC News, highlighting the extraordinary and awe-inspiring locations across the country that represent the beauty of the United States of America. The first wonder revealed Tuesday on Good Morning America was the Hawaii volcanoes, with six more sites to be revealed on the Fourth of July during the broadcast with on the ground reporting from ABC News talent.
National Geographic will further explore the nation’s stories through an expansive summer storytelling package across print, digital, and social platforms launching June 16.
ESPN’s flagship news and information program, SportsCenter, will present a special two-hour edition live on ABC on July 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. PT/5 to 7 p.m. ET, celebrating the people, moments, and stories that have shaped American sports culture. Co-hosted by Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson, the program will feature live reports from SportsCenter anchors across the country alongside original storytelling, historical retrospectives, and talent-driven segments from ESPN’s top personalities. Coverage will include features on iconic American sports moments and the enduring cultural impact of sports in America, complemented by essays and SC Featured storytelling.
ESPN.com will feature “AMERICA 250 Road Trips: A journey though the mystery and majesty of sports,” a five-day series of stories to mark America’s 250th anniversary on July 4. Five ESPN reporters followed a custom road trip to explore how sports shaped the country’s identity. The visual-heavy presentations will include maps, illustrations, photography, videos, and graphics.
Disney Parks Celebrations
Soarin’ Across America is now open at EPCOT in Walt Disney World Resort and will open on July 2 at Disney California Adventure in Disneyland Resort. The reimagined experience “takes guests on a breathtaking journey across the United States, spotlighting a tapestry of the nation’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes in a uniquely Disney way”.
National Geographic photography and trivia is integrated into the ride queue at EPCOT.
The celebration continues at Walt Disney World with patriotic lighting on Spaceship Earth, special performances from Voices of Liberty, the Electrical Water Pageant, themed décor on Main Street, U.S.A., character experiences, and limited-time merchandise, food, and beverage offerings.
Additional activities include daily flag retreat ceremonies, performances by the Dapper Dans and Main Street Philharmonic, and an extended run of the Portraits of Courage exhibit through Fourth of July weekend. Disney Springs will also have festive décor, plus special performances from the United States Air Force Band of the West.
Disneyland Resort recently hosted Los Angeles Fleet Week with special performances from Navy Band Southwest and a U.S. Navy flyover during a special flag retreat ceremony. An American flag flown over Disneyland Resort was presented to U.S. military leaders as a token of Disney’s appreciation of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th anniversaries.
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse debuted all-new patriotic attire during the event.
Continued Disneyland Resort offerings include special flag retreat ceremonies honoring veterans, themed décor along Main Street, U.S.A. and Buena Vista Street, limited-time entertainment, and specialty food and beverage offerings.
Additional opportunities to celebrate over Fourth of July weekend include a pre-show fireworks tribute ahead of World of Color, the return of the Celebrate America! fireworks spectacular, patriotic themed attire for the Dapper Dans, military band performances, and a celebratory cavalcade honoring America.
Honoring Veterans and Military Families
Throughout the celebration, Disney is continuing its longstanding commitment to honoring U.S. service members, veterans, and their families, a legacy that has been part of the company’s story since its earliest days.
As part of “Disney Celebrates America,” Disney is expanding its relationship with Blue Star Families through a previously announced $2.5 million commitment to help strengthen military families and communities across the country, creating unique moments of connection and celebration powered by Disney. The Walt Disney Company has supported Blue Star Families for over a decade in their work helping U.S. military families across the country.
Disney’s commitment supports a wide range of experiences and programs throughout the anniversary year, including the 25th Disney and Blue Star Books in Washington, D.C. at the Library of Congress, which brought over 500 military children and family members together through the joy of reading and play, including thousands of donated Disney and National Geographic books. Through the years, Disney has donated more than 370,000 books to enrich military families. Families received welcome kits that were assembled by Disney VoluntEARS and participated in additional activities including story time and character moments with Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991) in the largest library in the world. Other character appearances included Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story (1995), Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Sophia the First.
Disney also hosted a special film screening of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (now in theaters) with plans for a screening of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 (debuting June 19) for military families, as well as other events across the country that support families when they need it most. Throughout May, during National Military Appreciation Month, Disney and Blue Star Families worked together to create meaningful moments for military families across the country. This collaboration with Blue Star Families demonstrates Disney’s ongoing commitment to honoring and uplifting those who serve in uniform and their loved ones.
Additional Experiences Nationwide
From themed activities onboard Disney Cruise Line to a Sam Eagle merchandise collection featuring the beloved patriotic character from The Muppets available in select Disney Stores and on DisneyStore.com, there will be many opportunities for fans to join in on the celebration. Disney will continue the countdown to America’s 250th anniversary in the coming months, with even more ways to celebrate on Fourth of July weekend.
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