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Los Angeles Times
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
What's new at SoCal theme parks this summer — from lively night shows to ‘Jaws' doughnuts
Summer in SoCal doesn't just mean beaches or bleachers. It's an ideal, albeit crowded, time to visit one of our many theme parks. No matter which park you choose, there's a water ride or two to cool you off and a host of entertainment options. The Disneyland Resort is in the midst of a major anniversary, and Knott's Berry Farm brings back a favorite must-see — or must-play, rather — summer staple. Six Flags Magic Mountain is introducing more theatrics, and Universal Studios Hollywood has made some refreshing tweaks to one of its classic attractions (hint: bring a poncho). Here's a look at the summer highlights at each park. The Disneyland Resort is celebrating a major birthday this July 17, although the party started early in May. Much of the key entertainment happens in the evening. The new 'World of Color Happiness!' at Disney California Adventure brings water-based projection effects to the park's lagoon, alongside a storyline centered on the characters of 'Inside Out.' Disneyland has brought back the lively, LED-driven parade that is 'Paint the Night,' an upbeat and festive jolt of energy that serves as an exclamation point on a day at the park. If fireworks are more to your liking, 'Wondrous Journeys' illuminates the skies above Walt Disney's original Magic Kingdom via a show that serves as an ode to the company's century of animation achievements. Nostalgia is always an invited guest at a Disneyland party, and those who want to relive memories of years spent at the park should not miss 'Tapestry of Happiness,' a five-minute love letter to Disneyland that uses the facade of It's a Small World as a canvas while nodding to the artistry of Mary Blair, the Disney legend responsible for much of the look and tone of the ride whose building the show graces. And coming July 17 will be a show that resurrects Disney as an audio-animatronic, temporarily displacing 'Great Moments of Mr. Lincoln' at the Main Street Opera House. Disney artisans promise that the robotic figure will be one of its most lifelike to date. There are treats galore and even food offerings that nod to Disneyland's past (look for the decadent apple pancake rolls). The birthday festivities run into next year, although some offerings will pause for Halloween and holiday programming. No matter the park, the key touchstones of great theme park theatrics are similar. Expect a pun or two and some heightened emotions — and don't be surprised if there's tinge of hokeyness. But in a good way. Like an actor approaching you with a bucket of water and asking, politely, if you would like it dumped on your head. Or another excitedly talking you into having a curly mustache painted on your face. Knott's Berry Farm's now-annual summer offering 'Ghost Town Alive!' turns all of the park's ol' West area into a stage, and it's a hoot. 'Ghost Town Alive!' is designed to be played. Approach, for instance, the post office in the fictional town of Calico, and you may be handed a package to deliver — only now you're caught up in randomly weird storyline. The narrative has some key beats, but daily shenanigans are often improv-based, and you may find yourself robbing a bank, working as a matchmaker or taking part in a facial hair contest. Every day in 'Ghost Town Alive!' is a little different. If you're willing to put yourself out there, don't be surprised if you forget there are coasters to ride, as 'Ghost Town Alive!' is a gateway to an alternative reality where wackiness reigns. While in Calico, don't miss the summer show 'Miss Cameo Kate's Western Burle-Q- Revue' at the Bird Cage Theatre. It's a 20-minute cabaret-style performance, complete with a torch song and a cancan finale, the latter just a tad risqué. In the evening, Knott's Summer Nights programming brings live music to an assortment of lands. While acts may vary, expect an emphasis on acoustic, rockabilly and Western stylings spread across six stages, turning the park into a mini live music venue. The Valencia coaster park this summer is leaning into superhero properties. The likes of Batman, Superman, Catwoman, the Joker and more are taking part in an evening show that marries dance parties, stunt shows and audience participation. Its 'DC Heroes and Villains Fest' runs weekends throughout the summer beginning June 20, with festivities starting at 5 p.m. There's a plot each night, and it centers on villains trying to spoil a statue dedication to Batman. Audiences are said to be able to align with heroes or villains to see who has control of Gotham City each evening. Expect a stunt show finish and plenty of silliness, such as a dad joke or strength contests. Dance events will center on Catwoman, the Joker and Harley Quinn, nonheroes who will be trying to woo guests with family-friendly entertainment. While 'DC Heroes and Villains Fest' had yet to begin at the time of writing, Magic Mountain is hoping for a theater-heavy experience. 'A lot of my team comes from New York, the Broadway side,' Mike Ostrom, manager of entertainment and events for the park, told immersive podcast No Proscenium. 'So we're trying to bring a lot of theatrical elements and story arc and all those things that involve the crowd, the participants, to really get involved in what they're seeing.' Jurassic World — The Ride is already an attraction designed to get you soaked. This summer, however, Universal Studios has made the ride even wetter, thanks to additional dinosaurs and new geysers. Look for four additional Dilophosaurus figures — those mid-size dinos with ornate, skull-like fans surrounding their head — throughout the ride. Otherwise known as 'spitters,' they do exactly that — spit water at guests in boats. Additionally, once the boat lands after the ride's 84-foot drop, guests will be welcomed with a loud roar and an explosion of new water geysers. Ponchos are recommended. The additions are part of what Universal is calling Mega Movie Summer. The event focuses on treats themed to 'Jaws,' 'Back to the Future' and more — look for a giant doughnut with a shark bite taken out of it, or relax with a lobster roll — as well as photo opportunities and character meet-and-greets. For example, a 'Jaws' photo spot features the return of the park's hanging shark and a chance to meet actors portraying shark hunter Quint and Amity police chief Brody. A 'Back to the Future' location has the DeLorean time machine and actors inhabiting the roles of Marty McFly and Doc Brown as well as an appearance from canine companion Einstein. Once Universal extends its hours on June 28, a projection show will take over Hogwarts Castle in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Elsewhere, characters from 'Wicked' continue to meet guests, and Universal has introduced a 730-pound sculpted Toothless figure from 'How to Train Your Dragon.'
The Age
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Disneyland is about to turn 70, and it's pulling out all stops
Disneyland in Anaheim, 40 kilometres south-east of Los Angeles, has just kicked off its 70th anniversary celebrations and millions are expected to join the party. It was estimated in 2021 that 750 million or so visitors had walked through the gates of the beloved Southern California park since it opened in 1955. Add in a stream of up to 17 million a year, only interrupted by the pandemic, and the billionth visit doesn't seem too far away. Disneyland is not only the blueprint for the international family of Disney parks – 12 in total – Disneyland inspired the modern theme park concept as we know it. Walt Disney, founder of The Walt Disney Company, showed prescience with his famous inauguration dedication: 'To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past… and here youth may savour the challenge and promise of the future.' It was a hit from that get-go, but it's that sense of wonder for all ages that has ensured its endurance. Also, Disneyland never rests on its laurels. Originally a three-dimensional testimony to the imagination and sentimentality of the genius animator Walt Disney, Disneyland has changed with the times and tastes. Another great mark of its enduring knowledge of what people want is its love of a good party. For the 70th anniversary, the park is pulling out all stops. Now called Disneyland Resort as it comprises two parks (sister attraction Disney California Adventure Park is next to it) and three hotels, the celebrations, which will run well into 2026, include the 'Paint the Night' parade featuring floats illuminated by more than a million LED lights. Also for nocturnal visitors, 'Wondrous Journeys' is an after-dark projection effects show set to music that honours the Walt Disney Animation Studios films. It's accompanied by fireworks on some nights.
Sydney Morning Herald
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Disneyland is about to turn 70, and it's pulling out all stops
Disneyland in Anaheim, 40 kilometres south-east of Los Angeles, has just kicked off its 70th anniversary celebrations and millions are expected to join the party. It was estimated in 2021 that 750 million or so visitors had walked through the gates of the beloved Southern California park since it opened in 1955. Add in a stream of up to 17 million a year, only interrupted by the pandemic, and the billionth visit doesn't seem too far away. Disneyland is not only the blueprint for the international family of Disney parks – 12 in total – Disneyland inspired the modern theme park concept as we know it. Walt Disney, founder of The Walt Disney Company, showed prescience with his famous inauguration dedication: 'To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past… and here youth may savour the challenge and promise of the future.' It was a hit from that get-go, but it's that sense of wonder for all ages that has ensured its endurance. Also, Disneyland never rests on its laurels. Originally a three-dimensional testimony to the imagination and sentimentality of the genius animator Walt Disney, Disneyland has changed with the times and tastes. Another great mark of its enduring knowledge of what people want is its love of a good party. For the 70th anniversary, the park is pulling out all stops. Now called Disneyland Resort as it comprises two parks (sister attraction Disney California Adventure Park is next to it) and three hotels, the celebrations, which will run well into 2026, include the 'Paint the Night' parade featuring floats illuminated by more than a million LED lights. Also for nocturnal visitors, 'Wondrous Journeys' is an after-dark projection effects show set to music that honours the Walt Disney Animation Studios films. It's accompanied by fireworks on some nights.
Los Angeles Times
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Everything you need to know about Disneyland's biggest event of the decade
The Disneyland Resort is turning 70 in July, and it has never missed an opportunity to throw a party — especially one rooted in nostalgia. For the year-long event, a number of fan favorites are making their return, in addition to some new shows and tweaks to favorite attractions. The festivities officially launch May 16, although not all offerings will be available right away. Some will be rolled out to coincide with Disneyland's official birthday on July 17. The celebration is planned to last through summer 2026. Here's everything you need to know about the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration — including details on a ticket deal. The return of a fan-favorite parade. Evening parade Paint the Night made its debut in Anaheim during Disneyland's 60th anniversary a decade ago, and it's back for the 70th. A sort of spiritual successor to the on-again/off-again Main Street Electrical Parade, Paint the Night has a fast-moving soundtrack, more than 1 million LED lights and glittering, shimmering floats that honor franchises such as 'Toy Story,' 'Frozen' and 'Cars.' Paint the Night is a vibrant, high-energy show that intersperses dance, tech and the requisite amount of evening sparkle. A legendary ride gets an update. It's a Small World is so filled with details — playful dolls, adorable creatures, colorful vignettes, all of it designed in the style of artist Mary Blair — that it's impossible to see all of it on one ride through. And when the attraction reopens on May 9, it will have even more characters, as Disney is adding Miguel and Dante from the film 'Coco' to the ride's Mexico section. That's not the only tweak planned for this legendary ride. Coming in July will be an additional verse to its memorable song, this one written by original co-composer Richard Sherman shortly before his death in 2024. Sherman wrote the verse to celebrate the song's 60th anniversary, as the attraction opened at the New York World's Fair in 1964 before being installed at Disneyland in 1966. A new projection show comes to It's a Small World. The work and style of Blair also will be honored via a new projection experience that will unfold on the façade of It's a Small World. Titled 'Tapestry of Happiness,' this nighttime show, described by Disney as an 'animated mosaic of Disneyland attractions, moments and memories,' will include many songs associated with the park as well as the new tune 'Celebrate Happy.' Expect a projection show that digs into Disneyland history and is high on nostalgia, with no doubt a moment or two designed to bring longtime fans to tears. An evening performance that celebrates animation. The fireworks show 'Wondrous Journeys' will return for Disneyland's 70th. Introduced for the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Co., 'Wondrous Journeys' focuses on the history of the company's animated works. Some fine print: Not every night of 'Wondrous Journeys' will feature fireworks, but it remains one of Disney's better-received evening shows, as it features snippets of more than 60 films as well as nods to many shorts that helped define the studio. Say hello to Duffy. First, the bad news: The terrific, contemporary dance-focused parade Magic Happens is currently not slated to run during Disneyland's 70th anniversary. The consolation prize? Disneyland is introducing a new afternoon character cavalcade that will feature some 70th-anniversary attire and the arrival of rarely seen characters at Disneyland, such as Duffy and ShellieMay. The teddy bear characters are international Disney superstars, and cult favorites among American Disney fans. Take a tour that honors Disneyland history. Disneyland will launch a new guided tour for its 70th anniversary, this one focused squarely on the history and development of the park. The two-hour experience, available for an additional charge, will be available for booking beginning April 24. Disney says the tour will place a special emphasis on the park's opening-day attractions, as well as Walt Disney's original vision for the park. Speaking of Walt ... Opening July 17 will be a show in the Main Street Opera House that will celebrate the life and legacy of the park's patriarch. 'Walt Disney — A Magical Life' will for the 70th anniversary displace the show centered on Abraham Lincoln, and will feature the first-ever audio-animatronic of Disney, which the company has teased is its most lifelike figure to date. The figure, images of which the company is currently keeping under wraps, will be brought to life via audio recordings and will be situated in a setting designed to evoke Walt's office. After the show's initial run during the 70th, it will play in tandem with 'Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln.' The exit hall for the attraction will feature concept art for Disneyland attractions in the works. Explore Disney tech at a historical art exhibit. Guests likely will want to arrive early for 'Walt Disney — A Magical Life' once the show launches, as the gallery in the Opera House will be filled with a new exhibit developed by the company's archives department in collaboration with San Francisco's Walt Disney Family Museum as well as Walt Disney Imagineering, the secretive arm of the company devoted to theme park experiences. First, explore a selection of photographs and artifacts from before and during the Walt era that helps tell the Disneyland development story. Many items, including never-before-shown artifacts from Disney's private Disneyland apartment, are on loan from the Walt Disney Family Museum. A final section will be dedicated to the development of audio-animatronic figures, looking at Walt's passion for the creations and how they have evolved over the decades. A brand-new 'World of Color' show that you can vote on. 'World of Color Happiness!' is a new lagoon-based show for the 70th anniversary, this one inspired by Walt Disney's original dedication for the park. 'To all who come to this happy place, welcome,' Disney said in July 1955. 'Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America.' Although here's betting the World of Color show — sure to feature impressive fountains, projections and pyrotechnics — doesn't delve too heavily into any 'hard facts.' Some of the animated works featured in the performance include 'Turning Red,' 'A Goofy Movie,' 'Tangled' and 'The Lion King,' and it will be hosted by the blue-haired character of Joy from the 'Inside Out' films. Arrive early and vote via the Disneyland app to see various 'Inside Out' characters — Sadness, Anger, Disgust or Envy — given greater prominence during the show. A new song from Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums fame will be featured in the production, and Boyz II Men have recorded a rendition of 'Rainbow Connection' for it. Carthay Circle will spring to life each night. The façade of the park's upscale restaurant, Carthay Circle, will morph into a performance space. While Disney hasn't detailed too heavily what audiences may expect to see on the building, expect a projection-based show with inventive lighting and music. The projections and lighting will be set to the 70th-anniversary theme song, 'Celebrate Happy,' which is to be recorded by the Jonas Brothers. New surprises adorn Toy Story Midway Mania! While not the first video game-inspired ride, Toy Story Midway Mania! was quite possibly the first successful implementation of one. The ride works well with what is now known as Pixar Pier, a land full of carnival rides and games. It still holds up thanks to its simplicity. Of course, a unique ride vehicle — a carnival car with a spring-action launcher — doesn't hurt. Now, the 2008 attraction will receive an ever-so-slight makeover for the 70th. Look for new animations that nod to the festivities peppered throughout the ride's digital games. A Pixar-focused daytime parade makes a comeback. Last year California Adventure unveiled a new daytime parade, 'Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration,' and it's returning for the 70th. Colorful floats that nod to recent films like 'Luca' and 'Turning Red,' the latter complete with a larger-than-life red panda Mei, are contrasted with smaller, more playful units that touch on 'Toy Story' and 'Monsters, Inc.' Throughout, there's an underlying theme of friendship. A barbecue buffet, with a side of duck. Duck isn't on the menu, but a certain waterfowl is the star of this dinner at the Grand Californian's Storytellers Cafe. Donald's Tales of Adventure Dinner Buffet launches May 16 and features what's described a a campfire-style barbecue. Expect spareribs, fried chicken, prime rib and more, and look for the likes of Donald, Daisy, Clarabelle, Goofy and Pluto in new adventure-inspired outfits. Reservations are recommended and the meal starts at $62 for adults and $36 for children. Specialty merchandise abounds. Disneyland is launching multiple merchandising lines for its 70th anniversary, some of which have already started to infiltrate the parks. The so-called 'celebration collection' features brash colors and new collaborations with Loungefly and Dooney & Bourke. The 'castle collection' is just that, featuring regal wear and jewelry inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle, while the 'vault collection' is where all those seeking Disneyland nostalgia will want to head. The vault collection will be released in waves throughout the year, the first rendition looking at Disneyland maps. The 'Disneyland Resort 70th Anniversary Walt Disney Nostalgia Collection' is said to boast vintage-style accessories and attire outfitted in some of Walt's famous quotes. There's plenty more, including pocket watches and charms, and a giant interactive key that will light up and play music as guests explore the park. And you can see it all for a (slight) discount. Disneyland fans willing to commit to more than a day in the park can take part in a limited-time ticket offer. An anniversary ticket is on sale now, good for visits from May 16 to Aug. 14. It's a three-day, one-park-per-day ticket that sells for $360, which works out to $120 per day. That's a slight savings, as peak spring and summer tickets typically can't be found for less than $142 per day and can run as high as $206. Those who opt in for a four-day $400 ticket will be able to access the parks for $100 per day. The tickets do not have to be used on consecutive days.
