115. Disneyland 70th Anniversary: Celebrate Happy with Churros, Merch, and VIP Tours (Luxury Travel Edition)

What happens when luxury travel meets the happiest place on earth turning 70? Magic! In this episode, I’m taking you inside Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary celebration: from VIP tours and rare experiences to character meet-and-greets and limited-edition merch. You’ll learn what’s worth the splurge, what’s a hard pass, and how to make your luxury Disney trip actually feel luxurious.

Sites mentioned in this episode:

• Disneyland 70th Foodie Guide: https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/disney-eats-disneyland-70th-celebration-foodie-guide/
• Episode #3: Extra AF Disney Style with Once Upon a Wardrobe
• IG for Idiots Guide to imagineering: https://www.instagram.com/idiotsimagineering/

Connect with Michele on IG: @jetsettingwithmichele or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/MMTinsiders

Contact Michele to plan your next vacation: www.makinmemoriestravel.co/contact

This episode was produced by The Podcast Teacher: www.ThePodcastTeacher.com.

Transcript

Hello, jet setters, and welcome back to another episode of Jet Setting with me. Today we're going to talk all about how Disneyland turns 70. Officially, it's July 17, but the party has started and it goes all the way through next summer. So in this episode, I'm going to take you along with me as we dive into all the special events, exclusive experiences that both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure and actually the whole Disneyland Resort has planned to honor those seven decades of magic. Now, just a little bit of housekeeping before we dive into the actual celebration. I did mention that it has started. The official start date of some of the more magical attractions is July 17th. It is going all the way through next summer.

And there are special anniversary tickets and pricing that allow you to experience all this magic at some discounted prices. And as you'll hear when I sum everything up, if you're that person who reads the last page of the book first, it is 100% worth going for this celebration. So rides at these two theme parks are really spectacular. If you have never been to Disneyland, it truly is the happiest place on earth. That is not as people think. The Magic Kingdom. Yes, all of Disneyland could fit inside the Magic Kingdom. But I have to tell you, it's the original, it's the OG the attractions there are just so much better and magical.

Like the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland is just. It's amazing. It has the Matterhorn. It has Roger Rabbit's cartoon spin around. I mean, there are things that are at Disneyland that you cannot find anywhere else. And then, of course, you have Cars Land, which I know we're gonna see in Florida eventually, but is at Disney's California Adventure, which is just one of the best themed lands there is. It's just everybody needs to experience the west coast and Disney. I will say this is still in housekeeping, believe it or not.

You need to stay on site. I did not stay on site. And I drove. And first of all, I think it took me 20 minutes to get into the parking structure. One good thing, they do have covered parking. I even upgraded my parking because I was so late I was going to miss my tour. And even the walk from the parking garage in preferred parking to Disneyland, I had to go through all the way through Downtown Disney. It was insane.

It was just fucking insane. Like, definitely stay on site. The Disneyland hotel has the monorail. Disney's California Adventure. You can stay right there and walk out that special door at the Grand Californian Resort and Spa. Like, do it. Definitely learn the celebrate Happy Song by the Jonas Brothers. It's heard throughout the celebration.

It's a very catchy tune. It won't stick in your head like that Other Attraction song, which also, by the way, that Other attraction which plays that song that sticks in your head that I won't say out loud is a thousand percent better. At Disneyland, like all the dolls come out every 15 minutes. It's beautiful. It's got like a clock tower. It's just outstanding. You can follow Idiots Imagineering. The link is in the show tunes on Instagram.

If you want to see me lip syncing to this fun tune and spoiler alert. It will make you laugh, maybe cry because you're laughing so hard, but it is a feel happy, feel good song. Okay, I already mentioned the actual date, so now is actually the perfect time to call me and start planning for your family trip later this summer. Okay, so a couple of things that they have new for the Disneyland 70th anniversary and they are really heralding this as heralding this, however you say that word. They are making sure that everybody knows they have a special VIP tour. It's a two hour guided tour. It does get you the special VIP lanyard. It does get you some popcorn.

It gets you one lightning lane access into Mickey and Minnie's runaway railway. And it's supposed to talk to you about the original attractions. You do get a scenic ride aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Disneyland Railroad because those are both original attractions. You are supposed to learn about significant Disneyland moments. You uncover some rarely shared stories as you quote unquote, journey through the festive past. So unbeknownst to us, myself and another travel advisor who produces a lot of Disney content, I wouldn't call her an influencer because she produces content for travel advisors. We, unbeknownst to one another, were both there on the same day. We totally miss one another.

But we both took the tour and there was a Disney podcaster there who I ran into, Carly Wiesel, who some of you may know used to do our travel Agent Tuesday in her Facebook group. And then a Disney food blogger. Yeah, they got to eat at Club 33, but I got to see their merch. So exciting for that. They had also all heard about this tour and it's 100% meh, meh, just meh. And those words are actually from others. My words were, I'm not sure because you do get some priority parade seating at night and you get some free popcorn and you get that free lightning lane. So I was like, was it worth it? And the answer is no.

For one thing, it's not just two hours because you are waiting on the riverboat, which was like 20 minutes behind schedule, both entering the dock and then coming back on the dock. So we were like sitting on the riverboat itself for like 40 minutes, like with nothing to do except, you know, cruise through our phones. That was a time when our guide though, who was an original cast member, she was adorable. She told us some stories that weren't included in the script. But really it just wasn't worth it. What I wish I would have done instead is the railroad VIP tour and the rail. Yeah, where you go on the Walt Disney, the Disneyland railroad and the special car, the Lillabel. So I wish I would have done that or just standard VIP Disneyland tour.

This was just as I said, meh. But there is some really cool live entertainment and some special character meet and greets that are happening for this 70th anniversary. So they've brought back an old fireworks show called Wondrous Journeys. It's an enchanting celebration as described on the Disneyland website. It has wishers, dreamers and artists at the Walt Disney Animation Studios who shared their imagination and talents with the world. It has definitely been updated because it used to have, you know, the old traditional Snow White, Cinderella, Peter Pan, but now it includes Hercules, Princess and the frog. Peter Pan's still there, but we have Frozen, Big Hero 6, Moana and Encanto. And it really does have some state of the art production.

So the whole Main street usa, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Baymax will soar high above Sleeping Beauty Castle. And then of course it also projects on that other attraction that I was trying not to say the name of, It's a Small World, which is in the back part of Fantasyland here on the west coast theme park. Instead of the more familiar Tinkerbell, who flies out the castle, Cindy's Castle at Walt Disney World in the Magic Kingdom, we have the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio who flies out of the much smaller, more adorable, cuter Sleeping Beauty's castle. They have also brought back the Paint the Night Parade. So there's a nighttime parade that goes along with this new but old wondrous Journeys fireworks. The Paint the Night Parade has a million LED lights. It's got a lot of modern, what I consider modern, the Cars family Disney pals. It's a true technical spectacle.

It has lots of stunning colors, a lot of fun surprises. So those are both over the Magic Kingdom. Now over at Disney's California Adventure Park. My favorite nighttime show of any of the Disney nighttime shows anywhere that I have ever seen. And no, I haven't seen the latest and greatest drone show that is happening overseas right now. But of the nighttime shows at all the parks that I have ever seen, World of Color is my absolute favorite. It is phenomenal. It's Disney's California Adventure show and that is an all new World of Color show for the 70th.

It's called World of Color Happiness. If you were to do nothing else, I would say get the dessert party so that you get reserved seating for this show. This update is inspired by Walt Disney's words from the opening day park dedication. So 70 years ago he said to all who come to this happy place, welcome. And they built this whole all new World of Color show around those words. And there's some really cool audience participation that if you're using the Disneyland app and you have notifications enabled you you will get before World of Color starts, you will be able to vote on your favorite inside out emotion. And that emotion, the audience favorite emotion will then appear in the show later on. Also, the Muppets have a pre show appearance.

So again, if you do nothing else for the 70th, like take advantage of this again, it explores, quote unquote, happy through all of our emotions. It's hosted by Joy, of course, from inside out and inside out too. But along the way, the emotions are going to manifest music and moments from other Pixar animation studios. Like I said, they've updated it. It includes Turning Red, the Incredibles, a Goofy Movie, Tangled and Encanto. World of Color is over Paradise Bay. So it's got fountains with lighting. Think the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

But with Disney, it's even better. It has lasers, fog, dramatic flame effects. It was actually after Fantasmic invented fire and water, they took that same technology and creativity and brought it over to World of Color. Remember, Fantasmic originated in Disneyland. It has all the wonder that only World of Color can create. And in addition, there is fun new colorful costumes for the 70th anniversary. And now I tried to channel Donald Duck because I could not. Like I didn't have the right ears.

I was doing this trip on the fly my day at Disneyland, so I definitely was not dressed appropriately. So I refer you to episode number three with Once Upon a Wardrobe. They are going to put some fabulous templates together for the 70th anniversary that goes with these beautiful. I love these new colorful costumes on the furry characters. They're just great. And again, I didn't do well on my own. And I ended up ruining, like completely ruining a shirt because it was the blue from my Donald Duck purse clashed with the yellow of my shirt. And it was hot and it was sweaty and it is ruined.

So check out Once Upon a Wardrobe if you want to make sure to get worthy Instagram pictures. And that is a segue into another thing that is happening for the 70th. There are some special photo ops and lots of special decor. There's new decor for special magic pass photos. You have access to magic pass photos at Disneyland Resort, which you get when you buy a lightning lane. And that's a whole other episode about how well lightning lanes work at Disneyland. And, and yet they still can't figure it out at Disney World. But we won't go there because that's not what this podcast is about.

Just know if you want to buy a lightning lane to get these new special magic pass photos, it's worth every dollar that you're going to spend on it. You also will get photopass lenses. From what I understand, they're like Snapchat lenses, only they're for your Disney photopass and they have uniquely Disney experiences that create some of these photos. To be a little more interactive, you can find them all in the Disneyland app. It is a different app, so just so you know, it's a different app than the Walt Disney World in Florida app. But you can use the same sign in. You can tie your ticket to it once you get in there. So as I was saying, there's also some all new magic shots because there are spots throughout both parks and, and all the resorts, including Downtown Disney, that are decked out and vibrant 70th anniversary decor.

They have giant birthday cakes, they have golden 70s sculptures, nostalgic Disney banners. And so all of the theme parks, resorts, everything is decked out with these new colors, which are kind of a bluish, purplish. A yellow Minnie is not in her or Mickey. They're not in their traditional like black and red. It's really fun. I personally think it looks the best on Chip and Dale. And if you haven't seen photos of it, it is worth doing a quick search on Instagram to see them in their 70th look. There are a couple of ways that you can look back on the beginnings of Disneyland.

There are two different places where you can do that. It was very confusing because before July 17th there was one. But now by the time you hear this, one will be the Disneyland story that is going to alternate with the moments with Mr. Lincoln, which means it's in the quote unquote hall of Presidents, which at Disneyland it's not called the hall of Presidents, it's called moments with Mr. Lincoln. So on July 17th and beyond it will be alternating and what will be happening in Main street will be different. So I'm gonna start over at Main street usa in the Main Street Opera House you will have a new cinematic presentation. It is entitled Walt Disney A Magical Life.

And there will be an all new gallery that showcases the history of Disneyland. There's another 3 1/2 minute film which is an homage to the Sherman brothers. So if you know the story about how making memories travel got its name, then you know I'm a huge fan of the Sherman Brothers. And all of that is happening in the Main Street Cinema and the Main Street Opera House. Lots of new presentations on Main Street USA for the 70th and then back where Mr. Lincoln moments with Mr. Lincoln is the alternating is treasure trove of rare memorabilia tracing the creation of the happiest place on earth and. And the very first Walt Disney audio animatronic.

You get to see a facsimile of his office and there he is talking to you. I am so sad that I didn't get a chance to see this because I was there before July 17th and I'm telling you I might have to go back because I don't want to miss this. There's a scale model of Disneyland park as it looked on the opening day. Which if you haven't figured out by now is July 17, 1955. It's got a carousel horse from the original Merry Go Round. It has behind the scenes photo of Disney. It does have a short film Disneyland the first 50 magical years. It's got rare illustrations, artifacts, artwork and models of attractions.

And then of course the very first audio animatronic, Walt Disney. I am so excited for that to happen. No special celebration that Disney ever has would ever be complete without a full on tasting menu. A year's worth of special treats. I am not going to run through these. The website where you can see every new treat that they developed for the 70th at resorts at both of the theme parks. Again, that's Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. The link is in the show notes but just for a few.

Disneyland is famous for their churros. There's a great debate about which is the best churro. It is always Disneyland. They are made fresh there. Disney World. They are not made fresh. And that is not just me telling you why Disneyland is better. It's because I did Taste the Magic tour at Walt Disney World.

And I know for a fact that their churros are not homemade the same way they are at Disneyland. So of course Disneyland has a 70th celebration churro. And of course they have in place of the traditional beignets that they have always served, they have a celebration beignet. They also have a cookie that's dipped in chocolate and then has a chocolate decoration that is made to look like the original Mickey Mouse hat with the ears, the Mickey hat that originated the ears trend. I mean, talk about old school. It looks like you're a member of the Mickey Mouse Club. They have a 70th celebration macaron, which is filled with birthday cake, buttercream and a confetti cake center finished with a chocolate birthday hat. They also do have some special adult beverages, both at the Mocktail variety and the not so Mocktail variety over at the Carnation Cafe.

And this is a restaurant where you do need reservations. They are giving out a tropical serving up a tropical rum cocktail and a Carl Strauss Brewing Company 70th Anniversary IPA. So interesting to see that they've done some adult beverages. I bet that's a first in the 70 years. And of course, in addition to special food, character readings and attractions, and nighttime entertainment, which I've talked about, you can take a piece of the 70th celebration home with you with the special pins for pin trading apparel. There is of course, custom artwork, a special magic band, plus that would of course work with the new fireworks show and the new world of color. All kinds of keepsakes. So to sum up, is it worth going? Since I started with a very meh tour, in a word.

And yes, if you were planning to go to Florida in the next two years, maybe this is actually a year that you downsize your trip a bit and you head to Disneyland instead. It is less expensive to go there than to go to Florida. There's only two parks instead of four. And therefore you can get it in in less than a full week that you need at Disney World right now. So it could be the year to do that. Of course, the true Disney adult in all of us wants to plus it up by doing. And that would include me. And yes, I'm even looking at you, Mr.

Setting with me. There is a very special Adventures by Disney which pairs Disneyland with the Disney Studios and a private VIP tour of Imagineering. I mean, that gives me chills, just saying all that. And even better, there are actually adult exclusive dates that are left for 2025. But if you want to go in 2026, sometime before that celebration ends. Next summer, there are actually early booking specials. And you can do this. As I said, even with the adventures by Disney, for less than you could go to Walt Disney World.

So I look forward to helping you plan your Disneyland vacations in the near future. Until next week, Jetsetters, safe and happy travels.