A Look Back at the 30th Anniversary Celebrations at Disneyland Paris
It’s been a magical year, but the Disneyland Paris 30th Anniversary event is starting to come to a magical close. September 30th will see these celebrations take their final, sparkling bow, making way for the next era of magic at the resort.
We’re so sad to see it end!
Image Credit: Disney
So, in celebration of this most joyful event, we wanted to take a look-back over the highlights of the 30th anniversary, including all the unique and magical experiences guests were lucky enough to experience throughout the year.
Keep reading, and let’s recap some of those favorites together!
A Resort-Wide Celebration
All throughout the festivities, the entire Disneyland Paris Resort was alive with magic and excitement. After all, thirty is a big birthday to be celebrating!
In preparation for the event, the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle had undergone a huge, twelve-month refurbishment, reawakening in 2021 looking as fabulous and enchanting as ever.
Image Credit: @shutterbug_luke1991
This glow-up was also extended throughout the Disneyland Park, which received a pixie-dusting of iridescent decorations, sparkling in shades of blue, pink, and purple. The resort’s Cast Members were also glammed up, with these gorgeous new name tags specifically designed for the 30th!
Even Minnie Mouse received an extra-special styling, and sported a beautiful look created by British designer Stella McCartney!
Image Credit: Disneyland Paris
“Dream… and Shine Brighter!”
The first of various anniversary-exclusive entertainment offerings was the brand-new daytime production, entitled “Dream… and Shine Brighter!”.
Image Credit: Disneyland Paris
This colorful show/parade features 30 dances, new parade floats, two new songs and a medley of 20 iconic Disney hits…. not to mention appearances by our favorite Disney characters!
For the show, guests are encouraged to remember three key themes: “Smile and Laugh Lounder,” “Open Your Heart,” and “Believe in Your Dreams.” How lovely!
Image Credit: Disneyland Paris
“Disney D-Light”
Come nightfall, however, it’s a whole other type of entertainment that lights up the Disneyland Park. Every evening throughout the anniversary, the park has been alight with the most spectacular mini-performance over the castle, as a pre-show to the regular-scheduled firework shows.
Image Credit: @shutterbug_luke1991
This spectacle like no-other features projections, illuminated water jets, lighting effects, mist, lasers, and a fleet of fully-synchronized drones forming breath-taking icons in the sky.
With all of this fully accompanied by the brand-new song released for the anniversary: “Un qui s’illumine,” every night was a party at Disneyland Paris!
Image Credit: @shutterbug_luke1991
Gardens of Wonder
Of all the new experiences during the 30th anniversary celebrations at Disneyland Paris, a personal favorite of mine was the Gardens of Wonder.
Found right in the heart of the Disneyland Park on Main Street, U.S.A, we’re certain that all guests would have stopped to marvel at this enchanting display, so let’s take a look at some photos here!
For the thirtieth anniversary, the Gardens of Wonder included thirty breath-taking sculptures, installed throughout ten themed gardens around the hub area in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Each depicting a different Disney character – including heroes, princesses, villains, and Pixar favorites – these windmill-style, 3D pieces were all truly spectacular, and a definite must-see for visitors to this beautiful area of the park.
Interestingly, each of these statues was imagined by the Disneyland Paris Landscaping and Entertainment teams, and brought to life by local craftsmen.
Whether viewed in the daylight or by the twinkling lights of nightfall in the park, these statues offer the most magical and inspiring artistic experience.
But, to appreciate the statues even more, Disney even developed a “Magic Ears” audio guide for guests to listen to as they browsed, available on Spotify or Deezer. Isn’t that cool?
Did you get to check out the Gardens of Wonder during the anniversary? If so, let us know which of the rotating pieces was your favorite – I personally adored the Moana one!
Merchandise
Of course, what’s a Disney Parks celebration without a fabulous array of limited-time, must-have merchandise?
For this extra-special occasion, the merch was aplenty, with some items even making their way over to the France pavilion at EPCOT in Walt Disney World, too!
From Loungefly backpacks to mouse ears, Spirit Jerseys to mugs, you know that Disneyland Paris had the most dazzling collection available for the whole anniversary. You can even check out a post I wrote here, where I gave you a full look at all the items available during the “Grand Finale” stage of the celebration!
Which item was your favorite?
Limited-Edition Treats
We can’t forget about the snacks!
For the anniversary, a huge selection of different dishes, treats, snacks, and drinks were all readily available throughout the resort, in different restaurants, kiosks, quick service dining locations, and more. Yum!
Avengers Campus
Perhaps the most highly-anticipated event that took place during the anniversary period was the opening of the Avengers Campus!
Image Credit: Disneyland Paris
Upon opening during the summer of 2022, this epic, hero-themed area completely transformed the Walt Disney Studios park.
Two new attractions, exclusive character experiences, new dining offerings and countless adventures waiting to be enjoyed came with it, and we couldn’t be more pleased!
Image Credit: @shutterbug_luke1991
…And That’s Not All!
Believe it or not, even more fantastic offerings and experiences, both new and returning, also took place at Disneyland Paris in celebration of the 30th anniversary. These include:
- The return of fan-favorite “Disney Dreams” nighttime spectacular during the anniversary’s Grand Finale, taking place nightly at the Disneyland Park
- The new “Avengers: Power The Night” Marvel drone show at the Walt Disney Studios Park
Photo: Disney
- The debut of a new show “Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure” inside Studio Theater
- The highly-anticipated reopening of “it’s a small world,” after a lengthy period of refurbishment
Photo: Also Disneyland Paris
On to New Adventures…
We hope you’ve enjoyed this fun look-back over some of the highlights of the 30th Anniversary celebrations at Disneyland Paris. Whether you visited the resort or not this past year, we hope you’ll agree it has been a magical time over in Paris, and we simply can’t wait to see what magical adventures await in future.
Image Credit: @shutterbug_luke1991
Be sure to let us know what your anniversary highlights were, and what you’re hoping to see at Disneyland Paris in the upcoming months!
Featured Image Credit: Disneyland Paris
