The Weirdly Specific Reason Why You Might Want to DELAY Your Next Disney Trip

May is set to mark the beginning of celebrations for a momentous Disneyland anniversary that will likely draw visitors from all over the world to the “Happiest Place on Earth”… and we think it might be a better idea to wait before going!

©Disney

Beginning on May 16th, Disneyland will begin celebrating the 70th anniversary of the resort with the Celebrate Happy promotion! According to Disney, the event will feature “new magic that adds even more happiness to some of your favorite attractions, plus special entertainment, colorful décor, food and beverages, the “Celebrate Happy” song, collectible merchandise and more.” However, if you’re planning on joining the celebration, you may be better off waiting until July, especially if you’re a Disney history aficionado.

So, why wait until July? Well, as Disney announced in early February, several of the new experiences coming to Disneyland for the celebration won’t be debuting until the park’s literal anniversary on July 17th.

The biggest is the long-awaited Walt Disney – A Magical Life. The long-rumored show was confirmed at last year’s D23 Ultimate Fan Event, the show will begin with “a cinematic journey that leads from Walt’s early endeavors to the bright lights of Los Angeles and beyond.” After that, the curtain will rise on a replica of Walt Disney’s office and “through the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling that he helped pioneer, Walt will share some heartfelt stories and words of wisdom.”

©Disney

The show, which will eventually alternate with the classic Great Moments With Lincoln, was originally supposed to debut in May. However, it’s now scheduled to open on July 17th.

However, the show isn’t the only thing coming to the Main Street Opera House on July 17th, as several new exhibits are opening that month. These include an “all-new gallery experience featuring the evolution of Walt Disney’s dream of Disneyland.” The exhibit will feature artifacts, images, art and other times that show Disneyland “before, during, and after Walt’s dream became a reality.” According to the company, “Walt Disney Imagineering and the Walt Disney Archives have curated relics and memorabilia from the very early stages of Disneyland, as well as through the evolution of what Walt’s original park has become today.”

Walt’s Apartment via @joshdamaro on Instagram

A second new exhibit will focus on the development of animatronic technology. According to Disney, guests will “learn about Walt’s inspiration and see firsthand the inner workings of this technology, and how far Audio-Animatronics figures have advanced through the years.”

©D23

Finally, the Opera House will also feature a selection of artifacts displayed in conjunction with San Francisco’s Walt Disney Family Museum, including a rocking chair, lamp and table from Walt’s Disneyland apartment, as well as a collection of Walt’s awards including his 1955 Emmy award for the Walt Disney’s Disneyland TV show, the Presidential Medal of Freedom he was awarded by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and the Walt Disney Commemorative Medal presented to Lillian Disney by President Nixon in 1969.

Just down the street from the Opera House, the Main Street Cinema will also debut a new exhibit on July 17th dedicated to the legendary songwriting duo the Sherman Brothers. The highlight of the small exhibition is “a heartwarming three-and-a-half minute film called “The Last Verse,” which celebrates the timeless connection and hope behind the Sherman brothers’ iconic song, “It’s a Small World.”

The Sherman Brothers

As if that wasn’t enough, said film will feature a NEW verse for the song, written by the late Richard M. Sherman as his final contribution to the Disney canon. Furthermore, this verse will be added to the ‘it’s a small world’ attraction beginning on July 17th!

“it’s a small world” in Disneyland

Thanks to all of these July debuts, it just may make sense to skip over the May launch of the 70th anniversary festivities and target a summer visit instead! Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disneyland’s 70th anniversary!