Disney has confirmed the retirement of its cherished Magic Happens parade at Disneyland Park, effective immediately.
This decision comes as the resort prepares for its milestone 70th-anniversary celebrations in 2025, leaving many fans questioning why such an integral part of the park experience has been left out.
A Storied Tradition in Disney Parks
Parades have been a hallmark of Disney theme parks since 1955, with their inaugural debut at Disneyland during Thanksgiving. Fast forward to 2024, and every Disney resort globally still hosts at least one parade. While some parks, such as Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, phased theirs out years ago, others have maintained seasonal or year-round spectacles that continue to delight audiences.
Since 2020, Disneyland Park’s centerpiece parade has been Magic Happens. This vibrant production premiered as part of the park’s short-lived 65th-anniversary celebrations but faced unfortunate timing, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced Disneyland’s closure just weeks later.
After a long hiatus, it returned in February 2023 to rave reviews, featuring stunning floats, dazzling costumes, and a catchy theme song by Todrick Hall that quickly became a fan favorite.
The End of Magic Happens
As is customary, Magic Happens was paused on August 22, 2024, ahead of the park’s Halloween celebrations.
Fans had widely anticipated its return in early 2025, but Disney has recently confirmed that Magic Happens will not be coming back for the resort’s 70th anniversary in 2025.
To fill the gap left by Magic Happens, Disneyland Park will bring back Paint the Night. This beloved nighttime parade, which debuted in 2015, is known for its dazzling light displays and energetic music. Its initial run at Disneyland Park lasted until 2017, after which it moved to Disney California Adventure Park in 2018. However, the transition forced the removal of its Frozen (2013) float due to height restrictions imposed by the park’s Red Car Trolley overhead wires.
With the parade returning to its original home in May 2025, speculation is already brewing about whether the missing Frozen float—or other new additions—might be incorporated into its revamped lineup.
Meanwhile, Disney California Adventure Park will host Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration. This updated daytime parade is a fresh iteration of the Pixar Play Parade, which sporadically ran between 2008 and 2017. Scheduled to launch in May 2025, it will highlight beloved Pixar characters in a colorful celebration of friendship and teamwork.
Yet, despite these announcements, Disneyland Resort finds itself without a dedicated daytime parade at Disneyland Park—a decision that we’d say arguably undermines the resort’s aim to celebrate 70 years of themed magic.
Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary
Putting aside our bitterness over Magic Happens for a moment, Disneyland’s upcoming 70th-anniversary celebrations are clearly trying to strike a balance between nostalgia and innovation.
A new Walt Disney-themed attraction, complete with an animatronic figure of Walt himself, will offer a unique tribute to the man behind the magic. The anniversary will also see the return of the Wondrous Journeys nighttime spectacular, a show brimming with nods to Disney’s storied past (and one we’d gladly welcome back on a permanent basis, having seen it during its Disney100 run).
Over at Disney California Adventure Park, the debut of the brand-new nighttime show World of Color Happiness! will offer a fresh take on the park’s iconic water and light show. Drawing inspiration from Walt Disney’s opening-day dedication speech, the new production will feature music and scenes from beloved films such as The Lion King (1994), A Goofy Movie (1995), and Tangled (2010), presented the heartfelt emotions of the Inside Out franchise.
While these new offerings promise memorable experiences, the absence of a daytime parade at Disneyland Park still feels like a glaring omission. Parades and fireworks have long been the cornerstones of a quintessential Disney castle park day, and their absence diminishes the sense of nostalgia and magic that Disney’s anniversaries typically evoke.
The End of Magic Happens: A Missed Opportunity?
Disney’s decision to retire Magic Happens without a replacement leaves fans divided. Many believe the parade captured the essence of Disney’s storytelling with its intricate floats, iconic music, and vibrant energy. The parade’s untimely end feels especially disappointing given its turbulent history, debuting on the cusp of a pandemic and receiving limited time to shine.
As Disneyland approaches its 70th anniversary, questions linger about whether the park has truly delivered a celebration worthy of its legacy. For many, the absence of Magic Happens represents more than the loss of a parade—it’s a missed opportunity to honor the park’s rich history and create lasting memories for a new generation of guests.
How do you feel about the end of Magic Happens?
