Disneyland’s new ‘World of Color’ tugs at your emotional heartstrings

The Disneyland creative team has made a mesmerizing work of wonder and beauty with the new “World of Color” water show that tugs on your heartstrings with the help of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anxiety and other emotions from “Inside Out.”

The new “World of Color Happiness” water show will debut on Friday, May 16 at Disney California Adventure as part of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.

Disneyland unveiled the new nighttime spectacular on Tuesday, May 13 during a media preview of “World of Color Happiness.”

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The water show on DCA’s Paradise Bay employs high-definition digital projections on mist screens combined with 2,000 fountains, lights, laser, fog and pyrotechnics.

Disney Live Entertainment uses the expansive canvas of Paradise Bay and a whole new set of tools in its water show toolbox to tell the visual story of “World of Color Happiness” in compelling and thrilling ways.

You’ll want to show up early for the new “World of Color” so you don’t miss the pre-show safety spiel from Kermit, Gonzo and a dozen other Muppets — done in a zany song-and-dance number like only the Muppets can do.

Kermit has been tasked with finding just the right Muppet to deliver the “Legal Shmegal” warnings before the show, with several woefully bad auditions. The Great Gonzo thinks it would be a great opportunity for one of his stunt spectaculars. As time runs out, the safety spiel gets delivered as fast as a radio disclaimer for an ambulance chasing lawyer.

The Happiest Place on Earth leans into the theme of happiness with the new “World of Color” water show hosted by Joy from “Inside Out” that drew inspiration from Walt Disney’s opening day dedication speech at Disneyland in 1955.

Joy’s “Inside Out” co-stars Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui make cameo appearances throughout the show that explores a kaleidoscope of emotions.

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“World of Color Happiness” starts out very quietly, but it doesn’t take long for Joy to pick up the pace with a “zap a dap a do bap” drum beat. I found myself tapping my feet and rocking my head back and forth to the music throughout the show.

Plenty of other Disney and Pixar characters share the spotlight during “World of Color Happiness” with moments from “The Lion King,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Frozen,” “The Incredibles,” “Turning Red,” “Wish” and “A Goofy Movie” films projected on water screens in DCA’s Paradise Bay.

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My favorite part of the show featured familiar scenes of happiness from Disney films playing inside massive bubbles on the mist screens while smoke-filled bubbles floated over the audience.

The musical backbone for the “World of Color Happiness” soundtrack is provided by the new song “Makes Me Wanna Move” — written just for the show by Fitz and the Tantrums frontman Michael Fitzpatrick.

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The show is filled with unexpected moments of surprise and delight, including extended musical numbers with the Snuggly Duckling pub thugs from “Tangled” singing “I’ve Got a Dream” and super strong sister Luisa Madrigal sharing the stress of trying to make everyone in the family happy during “Surface Pressure” from “Encanto.”

Disneyland debuted a new gimmick during the preview show where DCA visitors get to vote for one of four “Inside Out” characters they want to play a starring role: Sadness, Anger, Disgust or Envy.

“World of Color Happiness” will run at 9 p.m. most evenings with a second show at 10:15 p.m. on busier nights.

The new water show is expected to run through at least summer 2026 when the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration comes to an end.

Disneyland will once again use a virtual queue for “World of Color” to assign viewing areas with distribution starting at noon through the Disneyland app.

Walk-up viewing will be available starting 30 to 45 minutes before showtime.