The 60th will be a year long celebration!

[Susie63]

Yay for all of us who can't go in 2015! Come on February 2016

ABC has announced a Disneyland TV special to celebrate the park’s 60th anniversary. Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955 and a *whole year of festivities has been planned*. The special will air in February, live from the park in Anaheim, California.

 

[sheetz]

I think the 50th anniversary celebration lasted over a year so this isn't really a surprise. In addition the upgrades to the rides/shows as well as the new parade should become at least semi-permanent.

 

[figment_jii]

That's mostly consistent with what the guessing has been so far...that the Anniversary celebration will last through at least the first quarter of 2016. If it's going to last a year, it means that it will end before summer of 2016. I saw the announcement for the ABC special and I have to admit that my first thought was that February is such an odd time. Maybe it's to increase attendance during the normally slower winter months...still that's good news for the folks planning on going to DLR in the first half of 2016.

I agree that the new fireworks and parade will likely last well beyond one year, as well as the new WoC. So it's mostly the decorations, the sweepstakes, and merchandise/food offerings that may end at some point in 2016. It'll be interesting to see what actually happens (and for how long).

 

[TechGuy]

I am soooo excited to be going to DL during the 60th. I am like a little boy...only 50.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

The reason for a February television special on ABC is most-likely because February is a sweeps period. Assuming there are some Halloween and/or holiday decorations in the parks from September through January, it doesn't make sense to do the show during that period. Likewise, it makes no sense to do a show during the summer because of low viewership, and the Diamond celebration will be just getting underway.

A February show will not only coincide well with the 60th, but it will also be timed perfectly with the 15th anniversary of DCA. We could get some sort of "major announcement" regarding the "future" element of the Diamond Celebration. This is a part of the 60th Anniversary theme that really isn't getting any play at this time. By February, that can all change pretty dramatically. I'm actually excited that Disneyland is getting this kind of attention. So far, it's been much better than the 50th. I just hope it continues.

 

[pindecisive]

I am soooo excited to be going to DL during the 60th

I think they were still celebrating the 50th when I went in Jan/June of '06. Doesn't feel like it's been ten years. But I suppose it has! ;D

 

[disneychrista]

I am hoping they do what they have in the past and it lasts through the end of 2016. I am planning a trip for May next year. But even if the official celebration ends the things I am excited to see will still be around - Fireworks, Parades, WoC.

 

[alievans719]

I am excited to hear this! The earliest I might be able to go is like February of next year, and that's if by some magic, I can do afford it. I would love to see it during it's 60th so badly.

 

[bumbershoot]

Doesn't feel like it's been ten years. But I suppose it has!

It truly does not feel like it.

But... My son was 17 months old during our first SoCal trip (we got home, looked at our park maps and realized that we had been there in the 50th year AND that Space mountain had just reopened two months prior) and he's about to turn 11 this month. So the math works, but it just doesn't feel real.

 

[pindecisive]

It truly does not feel like it.

But... My son was 17 months old during our first SoCal trip (we got home, looked at our park maps and realized that we had been there in the 50th year AND that Space mountain had just reopened two months prior) and he's about to turn 11 this month. So the math works, but it just doesn't feel real.

I went with two good friends at the time and that trip is what truly inspired my ongoing love of DL and Pin Trading. I probably would not have returned after my '00 trip without that great experience.

When I look at the pictures, my face looks so young! ;D

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

It truly does not feel like it.

But... My son was 17 months old during our first SoCal trip (we got home, looked at our park maps and realized that we had been there in the 50th year AND that Space mountain had just reopened two months prior) and he's about to turn 11 this month. So the math works, but it just doesn't feel real.

I was looking at our DL pictures to try and recreate some similar shots for our trip this summer and was taken aback by how young my boys looked. It doesn't seem like 10 years because it went so quick. Or maybe I'm just being sentimental since this will be our last Disney trip with our oldest as my first baby will be leaving home in 2 years.

 

[agamble]

I am pregnant and therefore a bit emotional, but this morning I was thinking about taking pictures and videos of the kids on our trip. I was thinking about taking our son to Gadget's and getting a picture of him by the height sign like we did with my daughter at two. Then I thought I should take one of her too so I'd have the comparison between her at 2 and almost 5. This made me tear up, not once, but twice. My little girl is going to be 5. It was not so long ago that she rode Gadget's for the first time and now she's going to go school...time sure goes by fast when you have kids.

I was at Disneyland for the 50th in 2005, but it seems so long ago to me as I wasn't married and didn't have kids then. I had just finished college a few months prior.

 

[pindecisive]

recreate some similar shots

Quite by accident I had two pictures taken of me 6 years apart on the same set of DL stairs ('00 and '06). One of my DL traditions is on each new trip I take a new picture of myself on those stairs

It's kind of amazing to see the progression!

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

I am pregnant and therefore a bit emotional, but this morning I was thinking about taking pictures and videos of the kids on our trip. I was thinking about taking our son to Gadget's and getting a picture of him by the height sign like we did with my daughter at two. Then I thought I should take one of her too so I'd have the comparison between her at 2 and almost 5. This made me tear up, not once, but twice. My little girl is going to be 5. It was not so long ago that she rode Gadget's for the first time and now she's going to go school...time sure goes by fast when you have kids.

I was at Disneyland for the 50th in 2005, but it seems so long ago to me as I wasn't married and didn't have kids then. I had just finished college a few months prior.

Yep, I was tearing up and I don't have an excuse except that I feel like they weren't little long enough. It was too quick.

 

[taniahappy]

Nice to know, ooh I am there at least twice a month!