Paint the Night parade, Disneyland Forever fireworks, new World of Color announced for Disneyland 60th anniversary celebration

in Disney, Disneyland Resort, Entertainment, Events, Theme Parks

At a special after-hours event tonight, Disneyland revealed its plans for their upcoming 60th anniversary. The diamond-infused celebration will begin May 22, 2015 with no announced end date.

Shawn Marshall of Parks and Cons was there for Inside the Magic to cover the announcements.

The most exciting additions to Disneyland for the 60th anniversary will be a new parade and new fireworks show, using modern technology to light up the nights in the park.

Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs and Steve Davison, executive for parades and spectaculars with Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment, were on hand for the announcements.

“Disneyland Forever” will be a high-tech new fireworks show like no other, featuring immersive projections and more special effects all up and down Main Street USA and throughout the park, including on It’s a Small World, the Matterhorn, along the Rivers of America using Fantasmic fountains, and more.

Included will be sequences from “Peter Pan,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Tangled,” among others. The show will feature two original songs, “Live the Magic” and “Kiss Goodnight,” written by Richard Sherman.

As part of the announcement, Disneyland demonstrated what the Main Street projections will look like, including “Tangled” lanterns.


Video: Disneyland Forever fireworks announced with projection preview for 60th anniversary


The dazzling “Paint the Night” parade from Hong Kong Disneyland is also coming to Disneyland in California for the 60th anniversary. This new nighttime parade has floats and costumes that light up with more than 1.5 million LED lights. It will be similar but not identical to the Hong Kong version of the parade, featuring just under 80 performers. “Frozen” will be part of this parade, including appearances by Anna and Elsa.


Video: Paint the Night parade announced for Disneyland 60th anniversary




Also included in the 60th anniversary celebration, will be a new edition of “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure called “World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney,” prominently featuring Mickey Mouse taking guests on a journey through decades of animated moments.


Video: World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney announced for 60th anniversary


Both Sleeping Beauty Castle and Carthay Circle Theater will be adorned with sparkling decor throughout the celebration while diamond decorations and banners in shades of blue will be featured throughout the resort.

Disneyland’s entertainment team took part in a Q&A session with attending press following the announcements: Steve Davison – Executive for parades and spectaculars for Walt Disney Creative Entertainment, Sayre Wiseman – Executive Producer of World of Color Celebrate!, John Addis – Show Director of Disneyland Forever fireworks, Tracy Halas – choreographer of Paint the Night.

There, Davison promised everything shown off tonight is “just the beginning” of their plans to celebrate the 60th anniversary, with much still to be decided. A primary goal of theirs has been to have guests be able to enjoy the celebration throughout the park, not just from the hub in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. There will be “”surprises hidden all over the park” for guests to find.

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