A Story of Celebration: Disneyland Tour Marks 70th Anniversary

As Disneyland prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary on July 17, 2025, a new commemorative tour invites fans to walk in Walt Disney’s footsteps and rediscover the stories, innovations, and charm that have made the park a global icon for seven decades. Priced at $120 per person (before tax), “A Story of Celebration: 70th Anniversary Guided Tour” is a 2.5- to 3-hour experience.

Tour guests are treated to historic insights, exclusive keepsakes, and heartfelt tributes to the magic makers of Disneyland. While entry-level in depth and slower-paced compared to some specialty tours, the real magic lies in the guide. Their delivery, storytelling, and energy make all the difference. An excellent guide doesn’t just share facts; they bring Walt’s vision to life.

Main Street, U.S.A.: Hot Dogs, Asphalt, and Silent Films

The tour begins at the flagpole on Main Street, where guests are introduced to Disneyland’s opening day on July 17, 1955. Anecdotes from that now legendary day include how the fresh asphalt hadn’t fully set, causing high heels to sink into the street, and how trash cans were famously spaced “one hot dog length” apart, based on how long it took Walt to eat one. From the start, Disneyland was meticulously planned, even if its debut was chaotic enough to earn the nickname “Black Sunday.”

Next, the group heads to the Main Street Cinema, an opening-day attraction inspired by Walt’s boyhood hometown of Marceline, Missouri. Originally featuring silent films like The Phantom of the Opera, the cinema now showcases six classic Mickey Mouse cartoons, complete with ragtime music and vintage radio ads, offering a nostalgic look at early 20th-century entertainment.

Adventureland: Jungle Rivers and Singing Birds

Adventureland is next, beginning with the Jungle Cruise, one of Disneyland’s original rides. Initially designed to mimic a real-life jungle expedition (complete with live animals), it eventually evolved into a humorous river journey thanks to animatronics and clever scriptwriting. Highlights include the Indian Elephant Bathing Pool, added in 1962, and the sleeping zebra, one of the earliest Audio Animatronics.

Nearby, the Enchanted Tiki Room debuted in 1963 as the first attraction to feature synchronized Audio and animatronics. Originally envisioned as a dinner show, the idea was scrapped when Walt realized mechanical birds wouldn’t poop on guests’ food, but real ones might. A mechanical bird Walt kept in his office inspired the entire show, which would go on to pave the way for attractions like It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

Transportation and Tomorrow: Main Street Vehicles and Autopia

Returning to Main Street, the tour explores Disneyland’s love for transportation. The vintage vehicles, including horseless carriages and double-decker buses, boast period-accurate, stick shift transmissions. Disney Legend Bob Gurr, who famously said he designed “anything at Disneyland that moves,” created many of these vehicles, including the fire engine. Ward Kimball’s passion for trains and old cars helped inspire this slice of turn-of-the-century America.

In Tomorrowland, the tour highlights Autopia, an opening day attraction that imagined what future freeways might look like. Originally a mile long with two lanes, Autopia was sponsored by Richfield Oil and featured billboards promoting their brand. Bob Gurr also designed these original cars, which showcased what personal transportation might evolve into. In 1967, Tomorrowland underwent a futuristic update, reimagining the land as a tribute to mankind’s dreams.

On the Rails and Rivers: Disneyland Railroad and Frontierland

Stopping at the Tomorrowland Train Station, guests learn about the Disneyland Railroad, one of Walt’s passions. The park currently operates five steam locomotives, which circle the park with stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland. The railroad not only fulfilled Walt’s lifelong love of trains but also helped shape the park’s layout itself.

At the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland, the tour recalls Walt and Lillian’s 30th wedding anniversary celebration, held there four days before the park’s opening. It also celebrates the record-breaking Golden Horseshoe Revue, a live stage show that ran for over 47,000 performances. 

Nearby, the Mark Twain Riverboat, an opening-day attraction, still cruises the Rivers of America. In 1958, the Columbia Sailing Ship joined the river fleet, offering guests a high-seas experience on a full-scale replica of the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe.

Guests hear about the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, which have no track and rely on guest paddling, and the now-retired Country Bear Jamboree, whose origins trace back to Walt’s unbuilt Mineral King ski resort. Even Tom Sawyer Island holds historical weight: Walt personally drew the final plans, inspired by his boyhood adventures along the Missouri River.

Fantasyland and Fairy Tales: From Tents to Timbered Towns

In Fantasyland, guests walk through a land that initially resembled a medieval fairground, with attractions like Snow White, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad, and the Mad Tea Party among the originals. In 1983, Imagineer Tony Baxter led a full redesign, transforming the area into a European-style village. The update introduced new facades, cobblestone streets, and added Pinocchio’s Daring Journey. For the second time in park history, Sleeping Beauty Castle’s drawbridge was ceremonially lowered for the reopening.

Nearby, It’s a Small World, which debuted in 1966 after its run at the 196465 New York World’s Fairis a sentimental favorite. It was the last attraction Walt dedicated before his passing. In honor of the 70th anniversary, Disney has added Coco characters Miguel and Dante to the Mexico scene and will debut a new verse of the Sherman Brothers’ iconic song, penned by Richard Sherman himself. The new verse will premiere on July 17, 2025.

Final Stop: Mickey, Toontown, and the Spirit of Walt

The tour concludes at the newly reimagined Mickey’s Toontown, home to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, a trackless ride that takes guests into a zany Mickey Mouse cartoon. This is the first ride at Disneyland to star Mickey himself, finally giving the park’s original mascot a headlining role.

A final quote from Walt reminds everyone of Disneyland’s ever-evolving nature: “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” This tour, while relatively light on trivia, is rich in storytelling, and it’s the guide who brings it all together. A skilled tour guide transforms stops into stories and dates into dreams, making even repeat facts feel fresh.

Included Perks and Final Thoughts

Beyond the storytelling and nostalgia, the tour includes:

• Reserved viewing for “Paint the Night”, offering a prime parade spot without the wait.
• A sweet and salty popcorn treat made specially for the anniversary. 
• A Disneyland 70th Anniversary enamel pin, exclusive to tour guests. 
• A commemorative lanyard to display your badge and pin.

Though designed for casual fans, A Story of Celebration is packed with heartfelt moments, fascinating history, and exclusive keepsakes. With the right guide leading the way, it becomes more than a tour; it’s a tribute to the happiest place on Earth and the visionary who dared to dream it into existence.

That said, compared to other Disneyland tours, this one felt a bit slower and less content-rich. While enjoyable, it wasn’t my favorite tour I’ve done so far. With more interactive elements, deeper trivia, and improved pacing, it has the potential to truly shine in future iterations. Still, for fans celebrating 70 magical years, it’s a thoughtful and memorable way to honor Walt’s legacy.

You can book A Story of Celebration: 70th Anniversary Guided Tour on the Disneyland website.