Disneyland is turning 70 next year, and the theme park has never missed an excuse to throw a nostalgia-fueled party. The coming months will be no different, and arguably the star of the festivities will be Walt Disney himself, albeit in robotic form.
The Disneyland Resort’s 70th anniversary happenings launch May 16 and are expected to extend through summer 2026. To celebrate, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will be resurrecting some fan favorites — the buoyant and gleaming nighttime parade Paint the Night will return to Disneyland — and the park will also get a new, technically advanced show that looks to explore Disneyland’s creation and the life of its patriarch.
Coming in May to the Main Street Opera House, currently home to a patriotic attraction centered on Abraham Lincoln, is “Walt Disney — A Magical Life.” Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s arm devoted to theme-park experiences, will unveil what is promised to be one of its most advanced audio-animatronics to date. As previously reported, the robotic show focusing on the Disney founder, who died in 1966, will be set in his studio office and is expected to feature on of his favorite songs, “Feed the Birds” by the Sherman Brothers.
An audio-animatronics figure of Walt Disney will appear in the show “Walt Disney — A Magical Life,” which will debut in the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland in 2025.
(Disneyland)
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But not all of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary proceedings will so overtly look back. Also on the docket: a brand new World of Color show coming to Disney California Adventure. Dubbed “World of Color Happiness!,” the lagoon-based show, featuring fountain projections, is said to be inspired by Disney’s dedication to Disneyland. But it will be hosted by a more modern creation, the blue-haired character of Joy from the “Inside Out” films.
The 70th anniversary event will be the anchor of the Disneyland Resort’s 2025. Yet it’s far from the only noteworthy occurrence coming to the theme park and its connected Downtown Disney retail and shopping district. A look at what major events to expect, based on the season in which you may choose to visit, is below, including more details on Disneyland’s 70th extravaganza and a quick look at some current deals.
The fireworks show “Wondrous Journeys” will return on select nights for Disneyland’s 70th anniversary.
(Richard Harbaugh / Disneyland Resort)
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SoCal residents can take advantage of a $67 per day deal in ’25
Disneyland takes a lot of heat for its pricing and purchase add-ons once one is at the park. But Southern California residents interested in an early 2025 visit can get a slight wallet reprieve, as the park is once again offering locals a bargain if they’re willing to commit to a three-day ticket. From Jan. 1 through May 15, a three-day, one park ticket can be had for $199. That works out to just about $67 per day. One day, one park tickets normally range from $104 to $204.
The offer is available now and good for those who live in ZIP Codes 90000 to 93599. One can go on consecutive days or spread the visits around to partake in various winter and spring events. Park reservations are required, and one can add, for an additional fee, a park-hopper upgrade or a line-skipping Lightning Lane Multi Pass. The park-hopper option will add $90 to the cost of the promotion.
Additionally, families can get creative in combining offers. Through March 20, the resort is still offering a one-day, one-park ticket for children ages 3 to 9 for $50. While neither deal extends to the beginning of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration, the resort has announced a hotel promotion that begins May 16 and runs through Sept. 26, with discounts as high as 30% off, depending on the time of stay. However, there is fine print: The hotel visits must be of at least four days.
Meilin Lee and her mother, Ming Lee, from Disney/Pixar’s “Turning Red” meet guests during Disney’s Lunar New Year festivities.
(Christian Thompson / Disneyland Resort)
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Winter is for Lunar New Year and sweethearts
Disney’s holiday calendar in recent years has expanded, and though the resort’s Lunar New Yearfestival at California Adventure doesn’t take over the park in the same was as Christmas or Halloween, it’s become a reliably festive source for inventive food and character interactions that aim to explore Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions. A staple: Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession, with segments that touch on folkloric dances, martial arts and umbrella choreography. Mulan is also featured in the water short “Hurry Home — A Lunar New Year Celebration.” It will be the Year of the Snake, and while the creature is often treated as a villain in Disney’s animated films (see, for instance, Kaa from “The Jungle Book”), we’d love to see Mickey Mouse get a serpent pal. Lunar New Year runs Jan. 17 to Feb. 16.
Starting shortly after Lunar New Year ends and extending into the spring is the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. Expect 10 pop-up food marketplaces offering small bites, cocktails and an emphasis on California beer and wine. The event boasts a number of tasting seminars and cocktail-making sessions and typically features some upscale dinners at resort restaurants and bars. Goofy in his chef costume is given a starring role, but our favorite detail of the Food & Wine festival is no snack or sugary beverage. It’s the return of Soarin’ Over California, the original rendition of the flight simulator attraction. The festival runs Feb. 28 through April 21.
Disneyland is for lovers, and winter brings with it the return of the separately ticketed Sweetheart’s Night, running in Disneyland on 14 evenings between Jan. 21 and Feb. 13. Look for character couples and the opportunity to dance at the fairy tale-themed Royal Ball. Needing something a little less sentimental but still want a dose of nostalgia? On March 4 and 6, Disneyland is hosting a ’90s Nite, featuring throwbacks to Disney films and music from the decade, as well as processional that will highlight “The Lion King” and “Mulan.” Both go on sale Dec. 12.
No dates yet, but expected to open sometime in early 2025 will be new culinary additions to Downtown Disney. A food hall, the Parkside Market, will host multiple eateries offering fried chicken, Korean rice bowls and more, as well as a second-story bar that looks out toward the district’s monorail tracks. At the time of publication, Parkside Market looked to be nearing completion. Also arriving soon is a re-imagined candy and treats shop via the Disney Wonderful World of Sweets.
The new “World of Color Happiness!” will debut in Disney California Adventure in May to celebrate the resort’s 70th anniversary.
(Artist concept / Disneyland Resort)
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Spring heralds the start of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary
A host of entertainment and attraction offerings will arrive May 16 when the resort launches its 70th anniversary celebration. In addition to the aforementioned Walt Disney show on Main Street, USA, Disney has provided additional details on “World of Color Happiness!” Some of the animated works will include “Turning Red,” “A Goofy Movie,” “Tangled” and “The Lion King,” and, like past “World of Color” shows, expect a mix of projections on fountains, lasers and pyrotechnics. Disneyland will revive the nighttime “Paint the Night” parade, and California Adventure will a host a return of the Pixar-focused daytime parade “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration.”
There’s more. The fireworks show “Wondrous Journeys” will return for Disneyland’s 70th. Introduced for the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Co., “Wondrous Journeys” focuses on the history of the company’s animated works. Also teased are some new evening enhancements, such as projection shows on California Adventure’s centerpiece of Carthay Circle, and Disneyland’s facade of It’s a Small World. In the daytime, Disneyland will provide a character cavalcade rather than one of its full parade productions.
Spring also heralds the return of the “Star Wars”-focused branding celebration that is Season of the Force. Those who opt to watch Disneyland’s nightly fireworks from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be treated to additional projections and effects. Coaster Space Mountain will also once again be re-themed to Hyperspace Mountain, featuring original trilogy effects. Accompanying Season of the Force is another evening ticketed event, the return of Star Wars Nite, which runs on eight evenings between April 8 and May 6. Tickets go on sale Dec. 12, and Season of the Force runs March 28 to May 11.
Halloween festivities launch at the Disneyland Resort on Aug. 22 and the popular Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure begins even earlier.
(Joshua Sudock / Disneyland Resort)
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Summer brings Pride Nite, and fall and winter holidays begin earlier than ever
Disneyland’s official 70th anniversary date is July 17, so expect summer to focus heavily on continued festivities surrounding the commemoration. Also returning is Pride Nite, which will celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and run as a separately ticketed after-hours event on June 16 and 18. Expect colorful, rainbow projections and a bounty of playful character interactions, including, no doubt, some cheeky looks and moves from Clarabelle Cow, who has become something of an unofficial mascot for the event.
Summer, increasingly, means Halloween. While the parks’ Halloween Time won’t officially launch until Aug. 22, the ticketed after-hours California Adventure event the Oogie Boogie Bash will host its first gathering on Aug. 17. The evening, which typically features unique meet-and-greets with Disney villains as well as a parade and an illuminated, ever-so-slightly spooky walk through the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, usually sells out. It will run on 31 nights from mid-August to Oct. 31. On sale information has not yet been announced. Finally, coinciding with the arrival of Halloween Time on Aug. 22 is California Adventure’s Plaza de la Familia, a Día de Los Muertos celebration that heavily relies on imagery from the Disney/Pixar film “Coco.”
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort will follow shortly after, beginning Nov. 14 and lasting through Jan. 7. While Disney has not yet detailed next year’s offerings, expect staples such as the makeover of It’s a Small World and Haunted Mansion attractions, as well as the return of California Adventure’s Festival of Holidays. The latter this year has significantly increased its entertainment content, including two new shows that honor the Latin community.
Concept art shown at D23 for Avengers Infinity Defense, which will feature multiple heroes in a multiverse battle against King Thanos.
(Marvel / Disneyland )
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And we will eagerly anticipate some construction — yes, construction
Disneyland last month reopened the popular log flume ride Splash Mountain as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and while the resort doesn’t have a a large attraction opening (or re-opening) in 2025, changes are afoot.
Ground is expected to break next year on a major expansion to California Adventure’s Avengers Campus, including the long-teased showcase attraction for the area, Avengers Infinity Defense, which will feature locations such as the Black Panther world of Wakanda, Asgard and New York City. Also planned: Stark Flight Lab, an amusement park-like thrill ride in which guests will sit in two-person pods and then attach to a mechanical arm that will lift them into the air and attempt to simulate sensations of flight.
Such additions, as well as other planned projects such as a “Coco” boat ride in California Adventure and a section devoted to the “Avatar” franchise, will help, hopefully, set up the Disneyland Resort for its next 70 years.
The following movie review does not contains direct spoilers for the film Michael, however general information in regards to the plot, characters, key climax points, biographical information and themes explored in the film will be heavily discussed. Please read at your own discretion, or after seeing the film in theaters.
There have been, so far, four films that aim to depict some portion of the beautifully tragic life of late pop music pioneer Michael Jackson, otherwise known to the world as The King Of Pop.
You’ve got The Jacksons: An American Dream, the near-perfect 1992 ABC miniseries that gave MJ, his brothers and verbally abusive father Joe Jackson equal screen time in order to make for a proper origin story. Then there’s Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story, an abysmal 2004 VH1 TV movie that acts as a spiritual sequel yet truly should’ve never been made. Almost a decade ago we got Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland, the 2017 Lifetime Network attempt to cover his final years of life, told from the perspective of two bodyguards employed by him for merely two-and-a-half years.
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Today (April 24), the world finally gets to see Michael. The 2026 true-to-form biopic boasts the biggest budget compared to the previous three projects, distribution handled by the renowned Lionsgate Films, a director’s chair occupied by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Brooklyn’s Finest) and MJ’s own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, starring in the titular role alongside a glowing supporting cast that includes Colman Domingo (Rustin), Nia Long (Love Jones), Miles Teller (Divergent) and Larenz Tate (Menace II Society) just to name a few. Not to mention, it’s got full backing from The Jacksons family and 100% musical clearance to assure his biggest hits are heard on the big screen.
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With all that said, you might be expecting a masterpiece that borrows the best aspects from the original and rights the wrongs of the last two. Unfortunately, that’s not the case when it comes to Michael. Thankfully though, there’s so much more to love about this film in addition to a very strong potential for more.
Yes folks, we may very well be getting the first-ever sequel to a biopic sometime in the near future.
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Before we get ahead of ourselves by discussing a potential sequel, let’s first start off with what you get out of Michael. The film covers Joe’s formation of The Jackson 5 in 1966 and ends with MJ’s iconic 1988 Wembley Stadium stop on the Bad Tour. The filler in-between covers their Chitlin’ Circuit days, the Motown era, run-ins with Gladys Knight and The Pips, finding his voice with Off The Wall, the epic creation of Thriller, the Motown 25 NBC special and the infamous Pepsi burning incident. Each of these scenes are done with great detail and a passion from all involved to get it as close to the real-life moments. However, what’s missing stands out like a sore thumb.
Both Rebbie and Janet are nowhere to be found — they each requested their likeness not be depicted — and neither is MJ’s longtime muse, Diana Ross. It was reported that actress Kat Graham was actually casted in the part, only to later have her scenes cut completely due to legalities. Off The Wall also gets painted as his solo debut of sorts, completely ignoring the four successful solo albums that preceded it when he was just a preteen. Also, while it’s perfectly clear who the movie is about based on the title, it does feel a bit off to see the closest people in his life demoted to barely-speaking supporting characters, save for Domingo’s powerful portrayal as mean ol’ Joe, Long as the ever-caring Mrs. Katherine and longtime bodyguard Bill Bray played by KeiLyn Durrel Jones.
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On the positive side, Michael ultimately does more good than confusion. Jaafar is simply captivating when it comes to embodying his late superstar uncle, nailing everything from those easily-recognizable voice inflections to the classic dance moves. The film ends in 1988, right before MJ invests in Neverland Ranch, so don’t expect the heavy topic of his acquitted child sexual abuse allegations from 1993 and 2003 to be brought up either — well, yet anyway.
If in fact a “Jackson” sequel is in the works, we can only hope his full story is told with care, respect and most importantly the truth. Other important aspects we’d hope to see be depicted include an honest look at his vitiligo journey, the toll he suffered mentally as a result of the trials, the marriage, the kids, the dichotomy of balancing unprecedented riches against a substantial amount of debt and, yes, the prescription drug abuse that ultimately ended his life.
Overall, for everything Michael lacks there is something just as good to love about the film, and the potential for a sequel gives us hope that the best is still yet to come.
Watch the trailer for Michael below, and see for yourselves how The King Of Pop’s story began as his latest biopic hits theaters starting today:
Choosin’ to stay home instead of trekking out to Indio for this weekend’s Stagecoach festival? Don’t worry, you’ll be able to listen to all the country music your heart desires. You can get your country heartbreak on with Ella Langley, Bailey Zimmerman and Cody Johnson, and then rock out with Counting Crows. If you prefer EDM, you can catch Diplo and Dillstradamus (Dillon Francis and Flosstradamus) as Friday’s closing acts.
The festival will be livestreamed on Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video and Twitch beginning at 3 p.m. On Sirius XM’s The Highway (channel 56), you can listen to exclusive interviews and live performances along with a special edition of the Music Row Happy Hour. The station Y’Allternative will also be covering the festival on Friday evening.
Here are updated set times for the Stagecoach livestream Friday performances (times presented are PDT):
Forget the “video game movie” curse;The Mortuary Assistantis a bone-chilling triumph that stands entirely on its own two feet. Starring Willa Holland (Arrow) as Rebecca Owens, the film follows a newly certified mortician whose “overtime shift” quickly devolves into a grueling battle for her soul.
What Makes It Work
The film expertly balances the stomach-churning procedural work of embalming with a spiraling demonic nightmare. Alongside a mysterious mentor played by Paul Sparks (Boardwalk Empire), Rebecca is forced to confront both ancient evils and her own buried traumas. And boy, does she have a lot of them.
Thanks to a full-scale, practical River Fields Mortuary set, the film drips with realism, like you can almost smell the rot and bloat of the bodies through the screen.
The skin effects are hauntingly accurate. The way the flesh moves during surgical scenes is so visceral. I’ve seen a lot of flesh wounds in horror films and in real life, and the bodies, skin, and organs. The Mortuary Assistant (especially in the opening scene) looks so real that I skipped supper after watching it. And that’s saying something. Your girl likes to eat.
Co-written by the game’s creator, Brian Clarke, the movie dives deeper into the demonic mythology. Whether you’ve seen every ending or don’t know a scalpel from a trocar, the story is perfectly self-contained. If you’ve never played the game, or played it a hundred times, the film works equally well, which is hard to do when it comes to game adaptations.
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Nailed It
This film does a lot of things right, but the isolation of the night shift is suffocating. Between the darkness of the hallways and the “residents” that refuse to stay still, the film delivers a relentlessly immersive experience. And thankfully, although this movie is filled with dark rooms and shadows, it’s easy to see every little thing. Don’t you hate it when a movie is so dark that you can’t see what’s happening? It’s one of my pet peeves.
The oh-so-awesome Jeremiah Kipp directs the film and has made something absolutely nightmare-inducing. Kipp recently joined us for an interview, took us inside the film, discussed its details and the game’s lore, and so much more. I urge you to check out our interview. He’s awesome!
The Verdict
This isn’t just a cash-grab; it’s a high-effort adaptation that respects the source material while elevating the horror genre. With incredible special effects and a powerhouse cast, it’s the kind of movie that will make you rethink working late ever again. Dropping on Friday the 13th, this is a must-watch for horror fans. It’s grisly, intelligent, and genuinely terrifying.
