Disneyland marked its big 60th anniversary on Friday with a small but nostalgic celebration that included a rededication ceremony featuring a performance by Disney Legend Richard Sherman, retro photo spots, and a pre-parade honoring original 1955 Cast Members. In addition to the park’s 60th birthday, the new Disneyland Band debuted, bringing a new sound to a classic Disneyland fixture.
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We’ve got a full re-cap of Disneyland’s 60th birthday today, so let’s get started!
| Happy 60th Birthday, Disneyland! |
Guests entering the Resort Friday morning were given complimentary copies of the OC Register’s commemorative sections for Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure had special commemorative guide maps and “I WAS THERE” buttons for guests.
The map featured the usual present-day map as well as a fold-out replica of Disneyland’s opening-day guide. (Click for larger versions)
Cast Members lined Main Street in the early morning wishing guests a “Happy birthday”
Guests could pose with “I WAS THERE” signs throughout both parks
Screens set up in both parks displayed fan photos submitted via Twitter and served as viewing areas for the morning’s rededication ceremony.
Never mind that the Town Square screen blocked Walt’s firehouse apartment window.
A look down Main Street before July 17th’s early 7 a.m. rope drop.
At 10 a.m., Walt Disney’s opening day dedication speech played throughout Disneyland and Resort President Michael Colglazier took to the stage to commemorate the park’s 60th anniversary. Colglazier’s stiff 20-minute ceremony discussed the the 60-year legacy of Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom and included the announcement of Disneyland’s new “Million Dollar Dazzle” grant program.
Below, watch a video of the entire ceremony:
Colglazier, along with Disneyland Ambassadors Allie Kawamoto and Jessica Bernard, announced the new “Million Dollar Dazzle” philanthropic program that will surprise one or more local non-profit every month throughout Disneyland’s Diamond Celebration with a $60,000 gift. The program will total more than $1 million in grants awarded by the end of the Diamond Celebration, with the first organization being the Girl Scouts of Orange County.
Below, Michael Colglazier discusses the new Million Dollar Dazzle program:
Colglazier then welcomed Disney Legend Richard Sherman and Broadway star Ashley Brown to the stage to perform Walt Disney’s favorite song, “Feed the Birds.”
Following “Feed the Birds,” Colglazier invited Sherman and Brown to lead the crowd in another Disneyland birthday tradition – a “Happy Birthday” sing-along.
Disney characters joined the sing-along on stage which ended in a burst of fireworks and confetti.
Below, some b-roll footage of the ceremony from Disney:
In both parks, six nostalgic photo spots allowed guests to celebrate the 60th with a snapshot.
The Tomorrowland photo spot depicted a vintage Tomorrowland that arguably looks better than Disneyland’s current Tomorrowland.
In Mickey’s Toon Town, the photo-op showcased the Skyway.
Frontierland featured an old Stagecoach on Big Thunder Trail.
In Critter Country, guests could take a picture with the Mine Train
And in Disney California Adventure, you could take a nostalgic snapshot with the old Disneyland parking lot near Grizzly Peak.
Celebrate with a picture at the old Disneyland Marquee in Hollywood Land.
Throughout the day, Disneyland offered free birthday cupcakes at distribution locations in both parks.
All-you-can-eat birthday cupcakes!
Disneyland honored Cast Members both past and present in a special pre-parade just before the afternoon performance of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade.
The pre-parade featured original Cast Members, including Disney Legends like Ron Dominguez, Bob Gurr, Marty Sklar, Dick Nunis and others. Below, former Disneyland Project Manager Bob Penfield.
Below, watch the full pre-parade:
Cast Members from today walked along the parade route in between cars with original Cast
Below, Harold Christopher.
Disney Legends Bob Gurr and Marty Sklar
Disney Legends Dick Nunis…
…and Jack Lindquist.
The Omnibus ended the procession filled with today’s Cast Members
July 17th also marked the debut of the all-new version of the Disneyland Band. In March, Disneyland announced the band would expand from 16-to-18 members and debut a new show featuring “high-energy choreography” and “new musical arrangements.” The Disneyland Band as we knew it began breaking up in June when then-conductor Kurt Curtis left to work with the new band. The Band’s June 15th performances were the last from the full line-up, but the last performances on July 16 were the final moments in a now bygone era.
The new Disneyland Band’s debut performances on July 17 debuted a brand new sound and performance style for the iconic Disneyland group. The new band skews far closer to Disneyland’s annual All-American College Band in style and age than it did to the much older and classic-sounding original band. The sound is jazzier and faster-paced than before with the musicians performing much more polished shows with choreography and rehearsed lines.
Below, take a listen with a video of the new band’s full Town Square concert set.
Compare the new band’s Town Square set with the old band’s Town Square concert.
In the evening, guests could celebrate the 60th with dance parties in Tomorrowland and Carthay Circle featuring live bands performing hits from the 1950s.
Disneyland debuted some new merchandise for the 60th last week. Here’s a look at some of it.
A special boxed edition of the new Disneyland souvenir pictorial book (“A Celebration of New Magic and Fond Memories of the Disneyland® Resort”) was released last week packaged with special digital bonus content. The special edition of the book runs $99.95 vs. the $35 price for the regular edition.
A new 60th figurine of Sleeping Beauty Castle is available now and features lights.
A new 60th Mickey bust and Sleeping Beauty Castle figurine
A 60th anniversary Aurora doll is now available as well at a pricey $119.95. Unfortunately, the doll bears little resemblance to the Disney character it’s named after.
Disneyland also recently started new hidden Mickey-themed quests for both parks that you can purchase for $12.95 and get a prize for after completion.
The park is also selling new Chernabog (and World of Color) souvenir sippers that are part of the “Made with Magic” program — they light up with nighttime shows.
Disneyland’s Market House and California Adventure’s Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe are now selling Starbucks-branded Disneyland 60th mugs and cold cups.
- OC Register: First kids of Disneyland persuaded parents to stop at park while on trip to Mexico
- OC Register: Ron Miller, former Disney CEO and son-in-law to Walt Disney, makes rare appearance at Disneyland’s 60th anniversary
- OC Register: Read and purchase the Register’s special commemorative Disneyland 60th Anniversary edition
- Disney Parks Blog: Operation Disneyland documentary gives behind-the-scenes look at how Disneyland was built
- Disney Parks Blog: Disneyland announces Million Dollar Dazzle philanthropy program as part of 60th Anniversary
| This & That |
In Tomorrowland, Disneyland continues with its major overhaul of Innoventions.
While there’s no official word from Disney on what is coming to the space, permits recently issued indicate Disney is installing a new Marvel-themed merchandise location valued at $670,000.
Tarps are now up along the lower level of the building
Finally, a new Diamond Celebration photo spot is now up at the exit to the Haunted Mansion. This photo spot will be up for the remainder of the 60th celebration.
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| Weekly News & Information Round-Up | ||
| Weekly Theme Park Hours July 20—26, 2015 |
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| [B]Disneyland Park[/B] | [B]California Adventure[/B] | |
| Daily: 8 am – 12 am | Daily: 8 am – 10 pm | |
| [CENTER]For a complete listing of theme park hours, visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar[/CENTER] |
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| [center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center] | ||
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| [b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b] | ||
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| [b][center]Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels[/center][/b] | ||
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July 20 — 26
The free Mouseaddict app for iPhone and iPad features more than five dozen categories of searchable resort information, weather forecasts, park and show schedules, the latest news and articles from MiceChat, and more. Download free on the App Store or at mouseaddict.com.
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| [center]Headline Roundup A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.[/center] |
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| That’s it for this week’s 60th birthday recap. Were you in the park for the celebration? What did you think of the new Disneyland Band? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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