Disneyland Resort is making a big change on Wednesday afternoon: Parts of Fantasyland will be closed to day guests on May 14 for a “private event.”
This closure comes just ahead of Disneyland Resort’s highly anticipated 70th anniversary celebrations, which are set to officially begin on May 16, 2025. While the park’s official birthday isn’t until July 17, much of the Disneyland70 offerings will kick off a few months early, giving Disney Park guests ample time to join the anniversary fun. Special decorations, including a massive 50-foot sculpture of Sleeping Beauty Castle, are already starting to appear around Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in preparation for the celebrations.
In addition to the anniversary decorations, Disneyland Park will debut several new offerings as part of Disneyland70. Friday will mark the debut of the new “Celebrate Happy Cavalcade”, featuring fan favorites like Duffy and ShellieMay, as well as the “Tapestry of Happiness” projection show on “it’s a small world.” Evening festivities will include the return of the “Paint the Night” electrical parade and the Wondrous Journeys fireworks show. Mickey Mouse and friends will even sport special anniversary-themed outfits!
Disney California Adventure Park is also joining in the celebration with a variety of new experiences. The park will feature the all-new “World of Color Happiness!” nighttime show and a Disneyland70–themed upgrade to Toy Story Midway Mania!. Guests can also enjoy the return of the popular “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade.
This week, a media event will take place to preview some of the Disneyland70 offerings. As part of the event, key locations in Fantasyland will close at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, with guests being redirected to other areas. @laughing_place shared a photo of a sign in the lobby of Disneyland Hotel notifying guests of the closure:
Select locations in Fantasyland will be closing at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow due to the #Disneyland70 media event.
Select locations in Fantasyland will be closing at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow due to the #Disneyland70 media event. pic.twitter.com/ZMdS8LKTKp
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) May 13, 2025
This closure will affect several parts of Fantasyland, but the specific locations being closed have not been disclosed. The land should reopen on Thursday morning.
While many of the exciting Disneyland70 experiences will begin later this week, some anniversary offerings won’t start until July 17, including the addition of a final song verse written by the late Sherman brothers on “it’s a small world”, and the new “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” show at the Main Street Opera House. This new show will feature the first-ever audio-animatronic version of Walt Disney and artifacts from the Disney Archives, replacing Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln during its initial run and later alternating performances with the original show.
Have you attended a private event at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
We were there the day of the closure, they sent a notification to our apps as well as posting signs. They re opened in the evening after the parade but kept the castle closed for the evening show. Storybook reopened but the rest of Fantasyland stayed closed. The event seemed to be recorded due to the equipment we day after we were allowed to walk through again.