This summer marks Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, and “the Happiest Place on Earth” is gearing up for a yearlong tribute to dreams, imagination and magic. Beginning May 16, and continuing through summer 2026, the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration will commemorate seven decades of Walt Disney’s vision brought to life.
It was July 17, 1955, when Disney first welcomed guests through the gates of Disneyland and onto Main Street U.S.A. While the genius behind the Magic Kingdom is well known for saying “It all started with a mouse,” Cal State Fullerton professor emeritus of communications Andi Stein feels that it was Disney himself, and all of his ideas, enthusiasm and innovation, that are the real genesis of Disneyland and everything behind The Walt Disney Company.
Stein, who turned her love for all things Disney into a career researching Walt Disney and his company, was a featured expert in the History Channel’s docuseries, “How Disney Built America,” which aired in June 2024. According to Stein, Disney’s early ideas for Disneyland were not well received by all, with many believing he had moved too far away from his company’s primary mission. Stein believes that with 12 Disney theme parks now operating globally, the dreamer behind the magic was simply ahead of his time.
“Although he had earned a reputation as a visionary for his innovative ideas, even some of (Disney’s) key supporters thought this one was over the top,” Stein said. “As we know, he proved them all wrong when the park was a big hit with the public. Disneyland set the stage for the theme park industry as we know it today, all around the world. And it was just the beginning of a whole new direction for the Walt Disney Company.”
The Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration will feature everything from updated attractions and anniversary décor to reimagined parades and entertainment. There will even be a new anniversary theme song released by the Jonas Brothers titled, “Celebrate Happy.”
But it is the anniversary-branded merchandise that will likely be the biggest draw for Disney enthusiasts. Stein said that for events like a landmark anniversary, the “merchandise is all about creating memories.” Ears, apparel, pins, popcorn buckets and more will be on park-goers’ lists and will be specifically designed to both evoke fond memories of Disneyland’s 70th celebration and inspire visitors to return and relive the magic.
“Nostalgia has always been a big part of Disney’s approach to marketing,” Stein said. “Tugging at the heartstrings by appealing to people’s emotions works amazingly well to keep them engaged with the Disney brand and leave them wanting more. I suspect we’ll see a lot of marketing for the 70th anniversary celebration that is intended to do just that.”
One of the attractions that will receive a refresh in time for the anniversary celebration is the Main Street Opera House, which has historically been home to “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” Beginning July 17, the Opera House will debut “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” a look into Walt Disney’s journey as told through cinematic experience and audio-animatronics. After its initial run, the attraction will rotate with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”
Stein said that while not all die-hard Disney fans see this new feature as appropriate, she believes the attraction will be significant for younger generations who never experienced seeing Walt Disney on television or in person during his lifetime.
“This exhibit has the potential to show park-goers who he really was — not just a name on the screen, but a real person who made a huge contribution to the entertainment industry,” said Stein, author of “Why We Love Disney: The Power of the Disney Brand.”
On campus at CSUF, Stein currently teaches Deconstructing Disney, where students take a deep dive into how Disney and his successors have impacted the entertainment and communications industries, as well as how their marketing practices have shaped The Walt Disney Co.
Next fall, Stein will also teach Tourism Venues and Attractions, a graduate-level course exploring marketing strategies specific to places such as theme parks, museums, zoos and aquariums, including special-events promotion. She hopes to incorporate examples from the Disneyland Resort’s 70th Celebration into her curriculum.
As Disneyland celebrates 70 years of “faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust,” the impact of Disney’s magic continues to shape the imaginations of its visitors while also leaving an indelible mark on the county and surrounding area it calls home.
“The fact that Disneyland has endured for 70 years is a testament to the genius of Walt Disney,” Stein said. “The park is a Southern California fixture. In many ways, it helped put Orange County on the map. I’ve met a lot of people who told me they ‘grew up’ at Disneyland. And for many people — myself included — Disneyland is a place where visitors don’t need to grow up. They can remain eternally young.”