Celebrates 100 Years and You’re Invited to the Party

By Gretchen Pahia

Photos courtesy of Disney

Walt Disney Company is celebrating a huge milestone and they are inviting everyone to the party! Walt Disney Company, which started in 1923, is turning 100 years old this year and is celebrating with anniversary events and celebrations throughout the year.

In late January, the Disneyland theme park in California kicked off celebrations with a few big events including the launching of World of Color One, a new nighttime spectacular light show at Disney’s California Adventure Park. The wonderful show tells a beautiful story of how a single action – like a drop of water –creates a ripple that can grow into a wave of change. The show is featured at Paradise Bay inside the theme park and the water is transformed with an amazing display of fountains, lighting, lasers, fog, all in conjunction with songs that everyone can sing along to and characters that people across all age groups know and love. The theme park also kicked off celebrations with the debut of a brand-new fireworks show at Disneyland Park called Wonderous Journeys. Walt Disney Animation Studios teamed up with Disney Live Entertainment to feature iconic films and characters from the start of Disney animation through present day. Main Street and throughout parts of the theme park become a canvas for lighting effects, projections, and fireworks for the crowd to enjoy.

One of the biggest things people were waiting for was the debut of the new ride, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which is now open to the public. Located in Mickey’s Toontown, which will fully re-open in early March, the ride transports guests into Mickey Mouse’s cartoon shorts and film world, with fabulous animation and projection-mapping techniques that are all synched with trackless vehicles and music. It’s not just shows and a new ride that the park is unveiling for guests, there is also a ton of new merchandise and delicious food to check out at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Some of the new food items that you will get the chance to enjoy on your next visit include lemon tea cake, Minnie cake pop, platinum trifle with layers of chocolate cookie crumbles, cheesecake, cherry compote, chocolate cookie mousse, and crème fraiche

If you are looking for something that isn’t a sweet treat, there are new options there as well including a potato and cheddar burger with an angus patty, green chiles, and bacon cheddar sauce with a potato crisp - all on a brioche bun; French onion dip pizza with mozzarella, gruyere, caramelized onion, and sliced roast beef served with a side of beef au jus, and many other tasty options. Trust us when we say, there is something for everyone.

If you are planning a trip to Disneyland for spring break or for any upcoming summer vacation, be sure to check out all the latest activities and announcements at disneyland. com. There you can read the latest news, purchase tickets, make park reservations, and plan just about anything needed for your next Disneyland trip.