This summer, Disneyland Resort is the ideal place for family and friends to create lasting memories, enjoy exciting entertainment and delight in splendid dining together. On May 28, Disneyland Park welcomed home “Fantasmic!” to the Rivers of America and present a new staging of “Tale of the Lion King” at the Fantasyland Theatre.
Guests can also look forward to ongoing celebrations and limited-time experiences that will make this a sensational summer to remember, including new Celebrate Soulfully offerings and live music that honor Black culture and heritage during Black Music Month in June.
Extraordinary Entertainment and Milestone Anniversaries
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, “Fantasmic!” – Disney’s longest-running nighttime spectacular – will once again ignite the night at Disneyland beginning May 28. In this beloved show, Mickey Mouse dreams he is the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and faces dastardly villains, including a 45-foot-tall, fire-breathing Maleficent dragon. Central to the magic of “Fantasmic!” are three mist screens, each 60 feet wide by 30 feet tall, that bring moments from beloved Disney stories to life on the Rivers of America.
Also on May 28, the theatrical production “Tale of the Lion King” will make its Fantasyland Theatre debut at Disneyland Park with new, original musical arrangements and choreography. A guest favorite when it opened in 2019, the show is narrated by a traveling troupe known as The Storytellers of the Pride Lands, who re-enact the tale of Simba, Nala, Mufasa, Scar, Timon and Pumbaa through live music and dance inspired by the cultural roots of this timeless story.
For a limited time, guests can bask in the nighttime magic of the “Main Street Electrical Parade” – which features an all-new, grand finale honoring the parade’s 50th anniversary – and the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular at Disneyland. Performing nightly at Disney California Adventure Park, “World of Color” immerses audiences in some favorite Disney and Pixar stories with powerful fountains that create an immense screen of water.
Disney California Adventure is also celebrating a special milestone – this year marks the 10th anniversary of the park’s major expansion in 2012, when the first guests strolled along the new Buena Vista Street and cruised down Route 66 in Cars Land. Since then, Disney California Adventure has continued to introduce more fun and thrills. Its newest immersive land, Avengers Campus, opened in 2021 and features experiences such WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure and Doctor Strange: Mysteries of the Mystic Arts.
Celebrate Soulfully Experiences, Including Live Music and Dining
Following the introduction of Celebrate Soulfully at Disneyland Resort in February, guests are invited to continue the celebration with more experiences honoring Black heritage and culture:
- When “Tale of the Lion King” returns on May 28, Troubadour Tavern at Disneyland will feature a new menu inspired by the show, including a chicken-coconut curry sweet potato and berbere-spiced popcorn. Guests and their prides will be able to commemorate Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Lion King” with a souvenir popcorn bucket featuring Simba, coming later this summer. Availability may vary throughout the summer season.
- From June 1 to July 4, Disneyland Resort will highlight Black Music Month with daily live entertainment – celebrating music genres like doo-wop, Motown, funk, reggae and more – as well as specialty food and beverages at Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney District and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
- “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure,” a touring exhibit that illustrates the legacy and dynamic history of jazz, will be on display and complimentary to all guests at the Downtown Disney District from June 1 to July 4. Featuring Joe Gardner – musician, mentor and star of Disney and Pixar’s original animated film, “Soul” – the exhibit celebrates the different cultures and creators who influenced this ever-evolving genre.
All year long, guests can continue the festivities with experiences such as training with the Dora Milaje, the royal guard of Wakanda, at Avengers Campus and enjoying Creole cuisine at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in the Downtown Disney District.
For information on attractions and vacations at the Disneyland Resort, visit Disneyland.com
On the road? Why not take us with you. All our websites are mobile-friendly. Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-4 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide, I-75 Exit Guide, and I-95 Exit Guide. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit along the way!
