What Disneyland Is Today
Disneyland is a flagship theme park resort in Anaheim, California, opened by Walt Disney in 1955 and now comprising two parks, hotels, and the Downtown Disney District. It blends classic attractions like Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland with newer areas themed to Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel stories.[2]
As a major driver of tourism in Southern California, the resort’s evolution directly affects local hotels, restaurants, and transportation networks.[5] The current wave of investments aims to refresh the guest experience while managing crowding and extending the length of stays.
70th Anniversary and 2025–2026 Updates
From May 16, 2025 through August 9, 2026, Disneyland Resort is celebrating its 70th anniversary with special entertainment, décor, and limited-time offerings across both parks.[8] Disney California Adventure introduced the new World of Color – Happiness! nighttime spectacular on May 16, 2025 as the signature show of the celebration, replacing some seasonal World of Color offerings during this period.[1][6]
At Disneyland Park, the event calendar for 2025 features seasonal entertainment, after-hours events, and the debut of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” at the Main Street Opera House, alongside recently updated experiences like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and enhancements to New Orleans Square and Bayou Country.[2] Resort hotels are also being refreshed, with phased guest-room renovations and a new club lounge at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, plus an extensive refurbishment of the Napa Rose restaurant extending into 2026.[1][3]
New Attractions and the DisneylandForward Expansion
Disney is preparing several major additions to Disney California Adventure, including an expansion of Avengers Campus with a new Avengers Infinity Defense thrill ride, with construction beginning in 2025 and requiring changes like the end of Red Car Trolley service in that area.[1][2] A Coco-inspired boat ride will also be built near Paradise Gardens Park and Pixar Pier, bringing the world of Coco and the Land of the Dead to life for guests.[1]
Longer term, an Avatar experience is planned to replace Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue and take over much of the Hollywood Backlot, with a large-scale boat ride and immersive environments projected for the early 2030s.[1][4] All of this fits within the broader DisneylandForward plan, which the Anaheim City Council approved in May 2024, giving Disney new flexibility to develop additional theme park areas, hotels, dining, and a major new parking and transportation hub with about 6,000 spaces and a new arrival experience on the east side of the resort.[1][5]