5 Ways to Celebrate 100 Years of Disney at Disneyland Resort

This year, the Walt Disney Company turns 100 and Disneyland Resort in California is celebrating in magical style: think night-time spectaculars and special surprises. While “The Happiest Place on Earth” is always a popular destination for kids, pop culture aficionados and the young at heart, this must-see celebration has something for everyone.

Go on a wild adventure with Mickey & Minnie Mouse

Expect the unexpected on Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, a brand new attraction taking you on a fun-filled adventure through the El CapiTOON Theatre. The experience starts with Mickey and Minnie's latest cartoon short before catapulting into a “2.5D” (3D without the glasses) simulated train adventure, with Goofy at the helm. As the train takes turns into a stylised cartoon world passengers won’t be disappointed by the hilarious hijinks that follows. With admission currently only available through a virtual queue accessed via the Disney smartphone app, there's less waiting in the queue and more time to enjoy the fun. Stick around the theatre to check out Mickey Through the Ears, an exhibit of the storied mouse featuring movie props and memorabilia.

Watch stories unfold across the sparkling water

The magic of Disney lies in storytelling and that's what World of Color – One is all about: a stunning show projected across a 115-metre water screen at Disney California Adventure Park. The show celebrates the idea that a single action, like a drop of water, can create endless ripples of change – featuring characters, music and moments from boundary-breaking films like Moana, The Lion King and The Avengers dancing across the water. The best vantage point is from a roped-off, reserved viewing area – accessible only via the virtual queue or with a valid voucher.

Feast your eyes (and stomach) on festive trimmings

The park’s already-magical design has had a platinum makeover to celebrate the milestone. Sleeping Beauty Castle (you’ll recognise its silhouette from the Disney logo) has now been decked out with festoons, fountains and a sparkling wishing star on top of the castle spire. You can also wander through Main Street, U.S.A. and pose with a gigantic platinum Mickey Mouse. There’s a range of festive food to try like the cream cheese-stuffed pretzel drizzled with lavender sugar and salted vanilla, a potato and cheddar cheeseburger, or a decadent platinum trifle. Or make like Walt Disney himself and choose a lemon tea cake – his favourite dessert.

Embrace the nostalgia with an after-dark extravaganza

Each night, the Disneyland Park transforms into a canvas for the light show Wondrous Journeys, featuring moments from every single Walt Disney Animation Studios film from the last century. The 15-minute show is set to a soundtrack that includes a mash-up of Disney melodies – including a quartet of voices from Moana, Hercules, Quasimodo and Beauty and the Beast’s Belle – as well as the new original song, It's Wondrous, penned by Grammy-winning composer Alex Geringas and Duddy Brown. On select nights, fireworks send off the show in a colourful finale.

Don’t miss the favourites

You really need three whole days to take in the Disney100 Celebrations and the blockbuster permanent attractions. Channel a superhero at the thrill-packed Avengers Campus at the Disney's California Adventure Park, zoom through the rocky caverns at Cars Land and fly the intergalactic Millennium Falcon at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Or grab a turkey leg and churros at the Pixar Pier, a nostalgic boardwalk complete with a Ferris wheel, retro booths, and characters from Pixar flicks like Toy Story and Inside Out.

SEE ALSO: Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting Disneyland