Disneyland 60th Diamond Anniversary Celebration: 25 Things To See at the Parks

Happy 60th Anniversary Disneyland! 

On this very day 60 years ago, July 17, 1955 Walt Disney proudly stood in front of guests, members of the media and VIPs to deliver this dedication speech that still makes Disney fans swoon everytime we hear it:

“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 savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”

(Awesome photo courtesy of: @DisneylandPost on Instagram - follow him!)

Uncle Walt hoped Disneyland would be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world. He knocked it out of the Park (pun intended) after all, it's nicknamed "the Happiest Place on Earth." Year after year thousands of people visit Disneyland Resort to experience a one-of-a-kind place where they can let their imaginations soar and truly be a kid again. Disneyland is your land and now more than ever, it's the place where dreams come true.

Now, more than ever, Disneyland Resort is the place where dreams come true. Disneyland has made our families dreams come true many times and continues to do so. Visiting Disneyland Park when we were little girls was something out of a fairytale. Even more magical is seeing the Parks through the eyes of our children when we became mothers. That's the thing about Disneyland. It's always been there for us. It's a constant in all of our lives. A favorite place to visit to celebrate victories or a place to cheer us up when we've had a rough week. We believe in the magic. We are a family of dreamers. That's why we feel so at home at Disneyland Resort, we're surrounded by like-minded people who appreciate the pixie dust just as much as we do. While looking back in our family photo albums of Disney memories, what started in black and white has now turned into the Wonderful World of Color! Walt Disney's legacy continues to be passed down from generation to generation. We are proud to be part of the one and only Mickey Mouse Club!

(Beautiful photo courtesy of: @princepogiatdisney on Instagram - follow him!)

The magic is in the dazzling details at Disneyland Resort and even more so now with the 60th Diamond Anniversary Celebration and we're happy to share with you some of the sparkling sights!

Ticket Booths - Let the Celebration Begin

Park Tickets with Bling

(Adorable photo courtesy of: @bibbidibonnie on Instagram - follow her!)

Entrance of Disneyland - A Magical Welcome

Diamond Studded Light Posts

Decorative Bunting on Main Street U.S.A.

Brightly Colored Anniversary Mickey Balloons

Newly Enchanted Main Street Windows

Special Edition Mickey Mouse Ears

Peter Pan's Flight (newly re-imagined)

(Attraction photo courtesy of: Disney Parks Blog - check them out!)

Delightfully Sweet Treats

(Yummy photo courtesy of: Disney Parks Blog - check them out!)

A New Yeti (on Matterhorn Bobsleds)

(Scary photo courtesy of: Disney Parks Blog - check them out!)

Sleeping Beauty's Castle (Day & Night)

Lilly Belle - All Dressed Up

Paint the Night - New Electrical Parade

Bedazzled Beverage Cups

Characters All Dolled Up 

The Hatbox Ghost Returns (Haunted Mansion)

Limited Edition Disney Pins

(Adorable photo courtesy of: @miss.angiepickles on Instagram - follow her!)

Disneyland Forever Fireworks Spectacular

(Incredible photo courtesy of: @jtoddkey on Instagram - follow him!)

The Esplanade - A Banner Tribute

 Entrance of Disney California Adventure - Crowning Glory 

A Diamond Jubilee at Carthy Circle

World of Color - Celebrate!

Collectible Diamond Anniversary Merchandise

Diamond Mad T Party

What part of the 60th Anniversay are you most excited about?

   

Looking for Mickey Quest at the Disneyland Resort

Disney fans! Are you looking for an adventure? There's a new challenge coming to the Disneyland Resort this month, starting July 16, 2015. We're excited to share about "LOOKING FOR MICKEY QUEST" with our readers! Are you up for the challenge?

In the spirit of the Egg-Stravaganza and the Adventureland Trading Company, the Looking for Mickey Quest is a scavenger hunt type of activity where you buy a map and find hidden Mickeys throught both Disney Parks. We always love doing these extra fun activities. They are the cherry on top of an already magical experience at the Disneyland Resort! Plus it gives you a chance to score on some limited edition, collectible Disney swag, which we think is really awesome!

(Awesome photo courtesy of: @spedstick on Instagram, thanks Paul!)

Here are the details straight from the Disney Parks Blog:

Two Ways to Play and How it Works!

There will be a “Looking for Mickey Quest” themed to both Disneyland park and to Disney California Adventurepark. The locations, clues, hidden Mickeys and surprises for each Quest will vary. Purchase a Quest Guide from one of the parks and follow the clues that will direct you to the location where each hidden Mickey can be found. Once you arrive at the location, scratch off the answer to reveal if you have found the hidden Mickey. Whether your answers are right or wrong, return with your Quest Guide to the redemption location to pick up a surprise.

Disneyland Park

The Disneyland park “Looking for Mickey Quest” Guide has twenty (20) questions and can be purchased for $19.95, plus tax, at the following locations: Disneyana, Gag Factory, Pieces of Eight and Star Trader. Quest Guide comes with a specially themed lanyard. Available while supplies last. No discounts apply. Limit TWO (2) per guest.

Disney California Adventure Park

The Disney California Adventure park “Looking for Mickey Quest” Guide has ten (10) questions and can be purchased for $12.95, plus tax at the following locations: Elias & Co., Off the Page, Oswald’s, Radiator Springs Curios and Tees, Hats and Tattoos. Quest Guide comes with a specially themed lanyard. Available while supplies last. No discounts apply. Limit TWO (2) per Guest.

(Cool photo courtesy of: @disney_pinhead on Instagram, thanks Blair!)

Whether you choose to search for the hidden Mickeys or not, return with your “Looking for Mickey Quest” Guide to the respective redemption location before July 31, 2015, to pick up your surprise. Note: The Quest Guide must be redeemed at the redemption location within that specific park. The surprise will vary based on which quest and which park you decide to conquer.

Disneyana in Disneyland park

Elias & Co. at Disney California Adventure park

Theme park admission is not included, however is required to participate in this event. Event is not subject to discounts. Event information subject to restrictions and change without notice. Looking for Mickey Quest starts on July 16, 2015 and goes while supplies last.

Enter the #Disneyland60Contest from Disney Parks Blog

Do you have old photos of yourself at the Happiest Place on Earth from 5, 10, 20+ years ago? Us too! Well guess what? The fine folks at Disney Parks Blog want to see them. You may or may not have heard of the Disneyland Through The Decades photo contest going on right now on. It's easy to enter, just upload your old photos from the Disneyland Resort. Tag them on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #Disneyland60Contest. Get them in by the deadline August 27, 2014. Then get ready to vote for your favorites on Disney Parks Blog. Cool prizes to be won! Official details below!

*The photos below was taken of Jessica, by Tracey at Disneyland, while she participated in a parade down Main Street U.S.A. with fellow students (band & cheer squad) from John Burroughs High School, circa 1994.*

How to enter:

Each week, @Disneyland on Instagram will be asking for your special photo memories from a specific decade. (Regardless of the weekly decade inspiration, you can share a favorite photo from any of the decade periods between now and August 27, 2014.)

Post your photos on Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtag #Disneyland60Contest by August 27, 2014, and make sure to let us know the decade in which the photo was taken in the description or tweet.

Make sure your entry is official! 

To be considered an official entry, your photo must be shared as a new Instagram post with the contest hashtag and the decade in which the photo was taken in the description. Hashtagging an old Instagram photo post will not be considered an official entry. Feel free to screen grab it and re-upload it to Instagram to enter if you have a photo already posted on the channel.

When the submission period is complete, we’ll select the top five photos from each decade, and Disney Parks Blog readers will vote for the top photo from each of the Disneyland Decades. Each decade winner will receive a special Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration prize. Then, we’ll give you the chance to vote for one Grand Prize winner from among the winners of each decade. This lucky fan will win a trip to the start of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration in spring 2015!

For complete rules, click here.

Happy Birthday Disneyland: Celebrating the Park's 59th Anniversary

Yesterday, July 17th, the Disneyland Resort celebrated its 59th anniversary with a festive ceremony for guests! We are always up for a party, especially one celebrating the happiest place on earth! 

Happy Birthday Disneyland!

"The popularity of Disneyland through the past 59 years celebrates Walt Disney’s dream of a place where family members of all ages can have fun together in a safe, clean atmosphere that emphasizes imagination and extraordinary guest service. Since 1955, dignitaries, heads of state, celebrities and more than 700 million guests have passed through the gates of a place that Walt imagined as “a source of joy and inspiration to the world.”

Looking ahead to next year to the 60th anniversary, Disneyland Resort will launch a dazzling yearlong Diamond Celebration that salutes 60 years of magic, in the spring of 2015. We are so excited for the things to come! Next year is going to be awesome! The Diamond Celebration logo was also unveiled yesterday as part of the annual July 17 anniversary celebration. That's enough bling to make any Princess swoon.

 Guests visiting Disneyland yesterday, were lucky enough to join fifty-nine Disney characters on Main Street, U.S.A., (that's a lot of characters) to hear a recording of Walt Disney’s opening day “welcome” speech (which always gives us the chills) and sing “Happy Birthday” in a festive marking of the 59th anniversary. You can see the video HERE.

Disney invites generations of guests to share their favorite memories through photos taken at the Disneyland Resort. You can submit photos that represent your memories from the Disneyland Decades – 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000 to the present. Using the hashtag #Disneyland60Contest, then share your photos via Twitter or Instagram by August 27, 2014. For complete rules, see the post on the Disney Parks Blog. Readers of the Disney Parks Blog will vote for the top photos and one lucky guest will have a chance to win a trip to the Disneyland Resort for the start of the 60th anniversary celebration in Spring 2015.

Look for more Diamond Celebration updates throughout the year on Disney Sisters and the Disney Parks Blog. 

 Both park images courtesy of Disneyland Park. 

Diamond Celebration Logo © Disney.