“Get ready to be dazzled,” invited Tom Staggs, Chairman of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, as he took the stage Wednesday night before a crowd of invited media and Disney Parks Blog readers. The after-hours event was billed as an exclusive first look at Disneyland's 60th anniversary celebration, and fans and reporters filled Main Street, U.S.A. for the long-awaited announcements.
Sleeping Beauty Castle will be “diamondized” as part of Disneyland's 60th anniversary celebration. Photo © Disney.
Fifteen minutes later, the crowd was buzzing about three new entertainment offerings announced for the Diamond Celebration, officially scheduled to begin on May 22—although it seems that this party may still be very much a work in progress.
We now have more details about the new parade, new fireworks, and new version of World of Color. But Disney officials had nothing to say about the extensive refurbishments that have major rides (and even entire lands) closed for weeks and months in both parks, rumored special events like 24-hour parties to kick off the celebration or mark the actual anniversary date, or merchandise or collectibles planned for the anniversary.
When asked when the Resort planned to make additional announcements about the anniversary, one park spokesman just advised that reporters keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog everyday for updates.
Still, the evening did provide quite a lot to be excited about for fans of Disney's nighttime spectaculars. Watch this video for a look at what's in store from the entertainment division, and keep reading for more details about the three new shows.
World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney
Steven Davison is often referred to as the “human firework” for his energetic presentations to Disney executives, a nickname that is also conveniently shorter than his official title, “Lead Creative Executive of Parades and Spectaculars for Walt Disney Creative Entertainment.” Davison joined Staggs on stage at the event to introduce an anniversary update for the World of Color show at Disney California Adventure.
Steven Davison and Tom Staggs announce “World of Color – Celebrate!” Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney is a completely new version of the popular nighttime show, featuring Mickey Mouse as host. Disney says the show, “will take guests on an inspirational journey through the unparalleled imagination of Walt Disney, exploring his decades-long legacy of memorable animated moments and the dream of Disneyland Park.”
Concept art shows classic Disney animation used for the anniversary edition of “World of Color.” Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Steven Davison and Tom Staggs share artist renderings of scenes from “World of Color – Celebrate!” Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
As the icon of the newly renovated Disney California Adventure, the Carthay Circle Theater is getting the diamond treatment for the anniversary right along with Sleeping Beauty Castle. A Disney press release says the entire Disneyland Resort, and even surrounding streets, will be decorated for the anniversary.
Carthay Circle Theater will boast a diamond medallion as park of Disneyland's 60th anniversary celebration. Photo © Disney.
Paint the Night Parade
It won't be the parade we grew up with, but an electrical parade returning to Main Street, U.S.A. for Disneyland's 60th anniversary. Steve Davison says Paint the Night is a “parade for a new generation, inspired by the original.” If you've heard the name before, that's because Paint the Night debuted at Hong Kong Disneyland in September 2014. Davison says that while the two parades were created in tandem and are similar to each other, the Disneyland edition will not identical to the Hong Kong version.
Steven Davison says Paint the Night is a new Electrical Parade for a new generation, inspired by the original. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Steven Davison and Tom Staggs share concept art of the new Paint the Night parade. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Fans of the original Main Street Electrical Parade will be pleased to know that the iconic “Baroque Hoedown” theme is used in Paint the Night, though Davison describes the arrangement as “fresh” and “wild.” Another nod to the original parade is the oversized drum float, which served as the opening title for the procession.
The Tinker Bell float from the Paint the Night parade in Hong Kong. Photo © Disney.
Paint the Night is the first all-LED parade at the resort, with over 1.5 million individually programmed lights. Lighting on the floats, and even costumes of the 76 performers, will be computer controlled. Senior Show Director John Addis says the parade is “brilliant,” and Davison commented that the floats have the ability to illuminate the buildings around them.
The Paint the Night parade is Disneyland's first all-LED parade, with over 1.5 million lights. Photo © Disney.
Disneyland's new Paint the Night parade will feature 76 performers. Photo © Disney.
Disneyland Forever Fireworks Spectacular
Steven Davison is best known to many Disney fans for his pyrotechnic productions, and the Disneyland Forever show looks to be his multimedia masterpiece. Not content just to fill the sky with fireworks, Davison is using “the largest installation of projection mapping technology in a Disney park” to project animated effects on Sleeping Beauty Castle, “it's a small world,” the Matterhorn, Tom Sawyer Island, and all along Main Street U.S.A. during the show.
Event attendees were treated to a preview of the projections on Main Street, and a sample of “Live the Magic,” the new theme song for the show.
MousePlanet reader Chris Metzger attended the event, and her daughter also shared this additional video of the test:
Some footage of the projections that will be used for the new Forever fireworks. Video by @hbmetzfam #Disneyland60 pic.twitter.com/Pkppv0p5Vn
— Katie Metzger (@metzger_katie) January 29, 2015
Disney Legend Richard Sherman wrote the closing song for Disneyland Forever, a song that Steven Davison promises will make the audience tear up when they hear it.
Based on concept art shared with the media, it looks like Disneyland Forever will also incorporate inflatable props along the rooftops on Main Street, a first for a Disneyland parade. We were told that the Diamond Celebration entertainment would continue during the 2015 holiday season, but it was not made clear whether this means Paint the Night would be presented with or in place of A Christmas Fantasy Parade.
Concept art shows new effects on the rooftops of Main Street, U.S.A. Photo © Disney.
Disney did not give an end date for the 60th anniversary events, but a spokesman quipped, “It's going to be a loooong celebration.” These types of marketing campaigns usually last 15 to 18 months, but it won't be a surprise if Disney keeps the party going two years or even longer to bridge the gap until a major new attraction or addition is announced.
Getting details from Disney about the 60th anniversary celebration has been a bit like mining diamonds—an awful lot of effort for a little piece of rock. The three productions revealed tonight all look like gems, and we hope the rest of the plans—whenever they're finally announced—are equally compelling.
If you've been waiting to make your hotel reservations for the start of the celebration, you now have official dates. And if you're content to let the party start without you, there's no rush—these diamonds may not be forever, but they'll be around a good long while.
