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The original Magic Kingdom celebrated its birthday on Monday, July 17, 2023, ringing in 68 years of magic, wonder, and memories with park-goers of all ages at the Disneyland Resort. The celebration took place early afternoon, under the warm Southern California Sun, bringing forward the yearly tradition of looking back at the man who started it all, Walt Disney.
The cavalcade made multiple stops throughout Disneyland Park, including It’s a Small World, Town Square, and the Main Street Train Station. Fans were greeted by Mickey Mouse, The Dapper Dans, as well as The Disneyland Band, who led the procession in singing Happy Birthday to Disneyland. Walt’s original dedication speech was also heard, followed shortly after by plenty of cheers, applause, and waves toward the multitude of characters out to commemorate the occasion.
The celebration gave guests a chance to reconnect with both rare and fan-favorite characters alike including Tweedledee and Tweedledum from Alice in Wonderland, Merida from Disney and Pixar’s Brave, as well as Mirabel from the recent smash hit, Encanto.
This year’s anniversary also marks Disney’s 100th-anniversary celebration, looking back at over a century’s worth of storytelling and magic. As the Disney100 celebration is already underway throughout the resort through various food offerings, merchandise, and décor, no additional surprises were revealed for Disneyland’s 68th anniversary. Though the resort is only two years away from its 70th anniversary, which will mark its Platinum Anniversary, and ten years since the last big milestone, Disneyland’s Diamond Anniversary Celebration.
The anniversary also takes place shortly after the resort hosted the World Premiere of the upcoming film, The Haunted Mansion, themed after one of the resort’s most popular attractions, and on the heels of a historic strike between SAG-AFTRA, WGA, and major studios, including Disney.
Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, who recently sat down with CNBC, discussed the strike, changes in strategy for the company as a whole, and his thoughts on the recent changes taking place across the Walt Disney Company and the industry as a whole.
Though the news has not seemed to have a direct impact on the resort, fans prepare for the highly anticipated return of the Halloween season, as well as the now sold-out Oogie Boogie Bash, selling out in record fashion. Whatever the future holds, it is apparent that 68 years after the very first guests walked through the front gates, the magic of Walt Disney’s original park marches on forward.
