Pixar, and its ever loyal animation partner Disney, have been kicking lately with the critically acclaimed Toy Story 4 and the announcement of its upcoming suburban fantasy Onward inciting mass anticipation. Most recently, they gave fans a taste of what else there is to come with the official announcement of Soul.
Guests at the Disneyland Resort can celebrate America on the Fourth of July – and every day this summer – as they explore lands, shows and attractions that bring to life iconic U.S. destinations, right here at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Parks. Guests can imagine they’re on an All-American road trip as they travel to the colorful streets of New Orleans Square, scan the beautiful Pacific coastline on Soarin’ Over California, and cruise along Route 66 with all its majestic scenery. What better way to celebrate our nation than by visiting the Disneyland Resort and seeing all the amazing places the U.S.A. and Disneyland have to offer?
Cross-Country Tour Inside the Disneyland Resort
Guests can start their Disneyland Resort cross-country tour in New Orleans Square, setting off for adventure on Pirates of the Caribbean and eating delicious beignets served at the Mint Julep Bar.
Next, guests can travel to Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes to paddle down the Rivers of America on a grand “oar-venture.”
As they continue on their journey, guests can be transported by a steam locomotive on the Disneyland Railroad, and see Walt Disney’s legendary diorama of the Grand Canyon.
The next stop on the road trip crosses over to Disney California Adventure Park. At Jessie’s Critter Carousel, guests might take a spin on a rootin’, tootin’ romp in the Wild West.
Guests can then stroll along the iconic Route 66 into Cars Land, home of Luigi’s Rollickin Roadsters, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Radiator Springs Racers.
Two more stops will treat guests to the beauty of California, the country’s 31st state. They can raft down a roaring California river deep in the mountains on the Grizzly River Run, and fly through the skies looking over iconic California sites in Soarin’ Over California. They may even catch a scent of California orange groves.
The Disneyland Resort is also offering patriotic entertainment, décor, food and beverage and merchandise to celebrate America this Fourth of July.
At Disneyland Park
Guests visiting Disneyland Park on the Fourth of July may discover patriotic Mickey Mouse greeting guests in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. They can also enjoy a special holiday fireworks spectacular, “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky,” which will light up the sky to the sounds of patriotic songs on July 4 only, replacing the “Disneyland Forever” Fireworks for that evening.
And in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A., the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction continues to inspire generations of guests with inspirational storytelling, a famous speech and a salute to President Abraham Lincoln.
At Disney California Adventure Park
While celebrating America’s birthday, guests may encounter the most patriotic of all Super Heroes – Captain America himself! The “First Avenger” appears daily in Hollywood Land.
Next, they can head to Pixar Pier to experience a slice of the U.S.A. from an earlier era. Stretching from the Incredicoaster to Inside Out Headquarters, the design of Pixar Pier takes its inspiration from those seaside amusement parks and beachfront resorts on the California coast at the turn of the century, including such classic piers as Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz and Pacific Ocean park in Santa Monica. At Pixar Pier, guests will hop aboard the new Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind attraction, riding in one of eight Memory Movers to help Riley’s emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear – sort through the memories being collected.
Themed Merchandise Resort-wide
Guests who want to show their American spirit can purchase items from the new red, white, blue and beautiful Americana-inspired collection. Items include a glow necklace, plush, Spirit Jersey, Minnie Ears and more. Guests can find special details on every item including stars, stripes and Mickey Mouse-shaped silhouettes. Americana items can be purchased at a variety of locations throughout the resort.
At Curl Surf in Downtown Disney District, guests will be able to purchase various patriotic merchandise including shirts, shorts, bathing suits, dresses and more.
Themed Food and Beverage Resort-wide
Fourth of July classics and new treats will be featured throughout the resort to help guests get in the Fourth of July spirit:
At Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
All of the guests staying at the hotels of the Disneyland Resort will feel the patriotic spirit this Fourth of July. Festive red, white, and blue bunting will surround the pool decks at all three properties.
Individual hotels will also feature their own Fourth of July offerings, at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, the rooftop Sand Bar is presenting its Fourth of July Family BBQ (3pm-10pm) with live music (starting at 6pm) and firework viewing (9:30pm). They will also have an a la carte menu featuring short rib brisket burgers, all beef hot dogs, street corn on the cob, and specialty drinks. The Fourth of July Family BBQ is open to the public. Complimentary family activities and face painting will be offered, subject to availability.
From 12pm-4pm on July 4 at the Disneyland Hotel, hotel guests of all ages can have summertime fun with complimentary face painting and caricatures, along with music, family activities and tasty surprise and delights on the hotel’s Magic Kingdom Lawn to celebrate this patriotic holiday. Complimentary activities are subject to availability.
Fans can catch their friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, fresh off his latest adventure, during heroic encounters in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure® Park. Spidey is part of an epic lineup of heroes appearing at the park, including Captain Marvel, Black Panther and the Dora Milaje, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America.
The thrilling new movie, “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” arrives in theaters this week! Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.
Disney has shared images from “The Lion King” featuring voice talent with their characters. Images include Donald Glover with Simba; Beyoncé Knowles-Carter with Nala; John Oliver, Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner with Zazu, Pumbaa and Timon; Chiwetel Ejioforwith Scar; Alfre Woodard with Sarabi; Eric André, Florence Kasumba and Keegan-Michael Key with hyenas Azizi, Shenzi and Kamari; and Shahadi Wright Joseph and JD McCrary with Young Nala and Young Simba.
We visited LegoLand Discovery Center in Schaumburg, IL and it was great! You can see the building from pretty far away, given the HUGE lego giraffe neck and head sticking out from above the front doors!
We had visited LegoLand in California a few years ago, but we weren’t really sure what a “discovery center” was going to be all about. Obviously, we knew it wasn’t going to be as big as California, as the Discovery Center in Schaumburg is basically in a little shopping complex, but we were pleasantly surprised with how much fun we had!
We went on a Friday shortly after they opened at 10:00 AM. The main area was not crowded at all, so we could take our time and really check out everything there. In the first main room, there is a large display of Chicago, with everything from skyscrapers to houses, to a Ferris Wheel, and more.
There was a night sky background behind everything so the “lights” were turned on in the homes and buildings. There were computer terminals set up every so often where you could touch on one of the buildings and the computer would tell you information about how many lego bricks it took to build, and information about the real building. The coolest part about it was the hidden characters within the city scene. Keep your eyes open for The Mystery Machine, Emmet from The Lego Movie, a bank truck robbery in progress, Spiderman scaling a building, and more. There are also buttons to push to make objects play music and move around.
The second area you go into welcomes you with a life-size Lego Indiana Jones statue, and the room is a jungle theme. Huge Lego figures of jungle animals are displayed in trees and water, and watch out for the snakes on the floor!
There is a viewing window where you can watch the workers building the Lego displays and you can check out some of the other displays they have built behind the window. There is also a Star Wars “MiniLand” with the life-size Darth Vader, R2-D2, and a virtual reality ride, which does cost a little extra. There is a “Kingdom Quest” ride, which does not cost extra, which takes you on a journey where you can shoot at spiders, bats, skeletons, and more from your train car.
Upstairs is where you can build your own Lego’s, with tables you can sit at and all the Lego’s you can imagine available to create with. There is also a play area, where you can sit and build, but there is also a Pirate Adventure playground, another ride, and even a Duplo blocks area for the younger kids. Plus, plenty of comfy chairs for parents to sit and relax while watching the kiddos have a blast.
We did not eat lunch while we were there, but the prices were cheap- nothing over $10.00. They had sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, pizza, popcorn, and a variety of drinks. Plenty of seating areas to relax and catch a break.
There is a 4D movie at certain times, which was really fun! Only about 20-30 minutes long, you experience a little wind and sprinkling of water. Be on the lookout to meet Emmet the mini-figure too and get your picture taken with him!
The gift shop was a little overwhelming for our 11 year old, merely because there were so many Lego kits available to buy. From Star Wars to Ninjago, to Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and more- it’s a Lego fanatic’s dream come true!
Be prepared to spend a few hours at the Discovery Center, but it is a great place to visit, even for the older Lego lovers! Definitely a must-stop if you’re ever in the Schaumburg area.
All summer long we’re continuing to celebrate 90 years of the true originals, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, across our Disney Destinations.
At Walt Disney World® Resort, Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration features new entertainment, merchandise and specialty food and beverages at Magic Kingdom® Park. You can dance with their favorite Disney pals during the “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party” in front of Cinderella Castle, and there’s still time to catch Mickey and Minnie together at Town Square Theater.
At Disneyland Resort, there’s a few weeks left to enjoy the fan-favorite “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” and the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular.
Plus, Mickey and Minnie’s Surprise Party at Sea kicked off aboard the Disney Fantasy and continues on select Caribbean and Bahamian sailings through the end of August.
Check out the excitement in this video!
Beginning when he was a young boy, after learning about President Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney developed a sense of patriotism that stayed with him throughout his lifetime. His love of country can be seen throughout the Disneyland®Resort. It’s no wonder that here you can discover a flurry of patriotic fun in celebration of Independence Day.
At Disneyland Park, Main Street, U.S.A., inspired by Walt Disney’s childhood hometown of Marceline, Missouri, honors America with red, white and blue décor, serving as the gateway and backdrop for patriotic memories.
Guests looking to showcase their patriotism with a Disney flair, will find Americana-inspired merchandise for a limited time at Emporium and at Pioneer Mercantile in Disneyland Park; at Elias & Co. in Disney California Adventure Park; and at World of Disney in the Downtown Disney District. Festive items include Spirit Jerseys, t-shirts, dresses, Minnie Ears, light-up necklaces, place settings and more.
You can also capture a moment with Mickey Mouse in his patriotic finest! They’ll find him in Town Square from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
To underscore America’s Birthday at Disneyland Park on July 4 only, “Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” will animate the night with star-spangled spirit to the sounds of patriotic songs.
From Disneyland Railroad, to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, to Frontierland and Mark Twain Riverboat, to the flag retreat ceremony saluting visiting members of the armed forces, America is celebrated daily throughout Disneyland.
At Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, on July 4 only, from 3-10 p.m., Guests will discover a Fourth of July family BBQ at the rooftop The Sand Bar, with live music starting at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks from Disneyland Park at 9:30 p.m. A special a la carte menu will feature short rib brisket burgers, all-beef hot dogs, street corn on the cob and specialty drinks. Complimentary family activities and face painting are also in store. Subject to availability. This offering is open to the public and does not require a hotel reservation.
At Disneyland Hotel, on July 4 only, from 12-4 p.m., hotel guests of all ages can get in the patriotic spirit with family activities, live music, complimentary face painting, caricatures and tasty delights on the hotel’s Magic Kingdom Lawn. Subject to availability.
At the Downtown Disney® District, Guests will discover an array of patriotic offerings. For patriotic wear, your Clients can visit Curl Surf. For the Frozen Cherry Boba Lemonade, theycan drop in Wetzel’s Pretzels, and for the Firecracker Cocktail, they can check out Splitsville Luxury Lanes. Hungry? There’s also Berry Ice Creams at Salt & Straw, or a 4th of July Box and Americana Mini Sampler at Sprinkles. For a decadent dessert, you can try the Red, White & Blue Cake Shake from Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes. How’s that for a fun stroll around the neighborhood?
From entertainment, to merchandise, to dining, to sweet treats and more, there’s something for everyone looking to celebrate America’s birthday at the Disneyland Resort.
Happy Fourth of July!
The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year and with it comes the return of Epcot® International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth. This special event runs Nov. 29-Dec. 30, 2019, inviting you to discover holiday cheer throughout Epcot and across all 11 World Showcase pavilions. Seasonal fun includes sweet and savory treats at Holiday Kitchens throughout the park and special entertainment such as the Guest-favorite Candlelight Processional.
Held in the America Gardens Theatre, the Candlelight Processional is a cherished part of the Walt Disney World® holiday season, combining the talents of a live orchestra, massed choir and celebrity narrator in the retelling of the traditional Christmas story in a spectacular and heartwarming performance!
Here’s the line-up of celebrity narrators* confirmed to-date, and stay tuned for updates as additional narrators are announced:
The Candlelight Processional is performed three times per night (5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.), and guaranteed seating is available by booking a breakfast, lunch or dinner Candlelight Processional Dining Package at select Epcot eateries. Availability is limited and advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit. Bookings for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages will begin on July 3, 2019.
Following the show, you can shop “around the world” to find the perfect holiday gift with a variety fragrances, specialty handbags, ornaments, toys, dolls, jewelry and stocking stuffers available at merchandise locations across Future World and World Showcase. And you can also catch the new, limited-time nighttime spectacular, Epcot Forever, debuting at Epcot this October.
Please note Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members will be able to enjoy a 1-day exclusive early booking window on July 2, 2019. Annual Passholders reservations can be booked via 407-WDW-DINE while Disney Vacation Club Members can be booked through Disney Vacation Club Member Services at 800-800-9800.
*Narrators and entertainment are subject to change without notice. Theme park admission is required.
