The Disneyland Resort’s new “World of Color” present begins with some regal nostalgia. Standing earlier than a lagoon in Disney California Journey, we hear the voice of Walt Disney, and see a bunch of Disney’s animated classics — “The Little Mermaid,” “Pinocchio,” “The Lion King” and extra — projected on fountains to a affected person, stately interpretation of “Rainbow Connection” from Boyz II Males.
We’re prepped for a present of romanticized remembrance whereas we hear Disney recite the unique dedication speech for Disneyland. The park, he tells us, is hoped to be a “source of joy and inspiration,” solely when he hits the phrase “joy,” the present out of the blue switches route. That’s when the character of Pleasure from the “Inside Out” movies arrives on the scene, and shortly stamps out any seems again. “World of Color Happiness!” is then off and working, a brisk, music-focused present devoted to all issues “happiness.”
Disneyland this July is popping 70, however the festivities formally launch Friday. “World of Color Happiness!” is one among many leisure choices that the park will spotlight over the approaching yr, nevertheless it’s designed to be arguably the showcase manufacturing, as many others, such because the nighttime parade “Paint the Night,” are returning exhibits. And “World of Color Happiness!” units the tone of the seventieth anniversary celebrations. Disneyland trustworthy who keep in mind the sixtieth anniversary a decade in the past will recall an anniversary yr that dug deep into Disneyland historical past and lore.
“Paint the Night,” initially launched for Disneyland’s sixtieth anniversary, is again for its seventieth.
(Christian Thompson / Disneyland Resort)
For the seventieth, Disney creatives spoke of desirous to create a celebration vibe. Even the brand jumps out like a birthday cake topper, with the quantity “70” alternately blocky and rounded as if constructed out of frosting. These after a few of that patented Disneyland nostalgia will discover it in a brief, five-minute projection present over on the facade of It’s a Small World, however even that manufacturing — “Tapestry of Happiness,” which ever-so-slightly glances on the paintings of key Small World designer Mary Blair — is a jovial affair.
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Equally, a projection present on California Journey’s Carthay Circle — “Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit of Magic Every Night” — is a two-minute, energetic morsel, one that includes Tinker Bell turning the upscale lounge and restaurant into Sleeping Magnificence Fort one second, and a canvas for fireworks within the subsequent. Take into account it a mini avenue fest. Elsewhere, Disney has tastefully added “Coco’s” Miguel and Dante to It’s a Small World, and the online game attraction Toy Story Halfway Mania has been outfitted with a bunch of latest targets, some price 700 or 7,000 factors.
Nonetheless to return, in fact, is “Walt Disney — A Magical Life,” set to open on Disneyland’s official anniversary date of July 17. The present will function the debut of an audio-animatronic determine of Disney, and is anticipated to retell the Disneyland creation fantasy. Little doubt “A Magical Life” will inject Disneyland’s seventieth celebration, which is scheduled to final by subsequent summer season, a dose of historical past, however for now, the resort desires visitors tapping and dancing. Even a brand new present for tots, “Disney Junior: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!,” is framed round throwing a home celebration, full with a booty-shaking Goofy.
A great time, little doubt, and but I discovered myself lacking a touch of sentimentality whereas watching “World of Color Happiness!” Ostensibly a clip present, any “World of Color” presents a problem in attempting to sew collectively a theme out of generally dozens of movies — some that soar by throughout a pond of cascading fountains, and others that float into the sky on cleverly crafted projected bubbles. Songs given centerpiece showings right here embrace “I2I” from “A Goofy Movie” and “I’ve Got a Dream” from “Tangled.”
The brand new projection present “Celebrate Happy: A Little Bit of Magic Every Night” is a morsel of power that illuminates the facade of restaurant and lounge Carthay Circle.
(Christian Thompson / Disneyland Resort)
The narrative throughline follows the characters of “Inside Out” as they circle in and round different Disney movies, a lot in order that “Happiness!” at occasions seems like an “Inside Out” quick. Pleasure’s quest is to find what makes everybody completely happy and she or he struggles with another feelings, resembling Disappointment and Nervousness, and “Encanto’s” “Surface Pressure” arrives to remind us that happiness isn’t all the time simple to return by. However that second is fleeting. Pleasure has a mission.
I want it dug a bit deeper. Happiness, in spite of everything, isn’t all the time our objective, and Disney’s movies function a breath of feelings, together with a quantity that concentrate on discovering power in adversity. “Happiness!” glances at them, with fast references to “The Lion King” or “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” however the focus is on having a blast — the boy band crushes of “Turning Red,” as an example, or platitudes resembling specializing in a dream and making a want (“This Wish”). Have we already forgotten the teachings of “The Princess and the Frog”?
But “Happiness!” is so steadfast — borderline oppressive, I’d argue — in its message that right here, at Disneyland, with household or buddies, we’re completely happy, that it grew to become the uncommon Disneyland present I really felt barely excluded from. Happiness is a luxurious, and audiences will convey their very own feelings to the present. I arrived within the midst of what’s been a tough yr, one which has me turning to Disneyland, sure, however for consolation fairly than pure pleasure.
Disney’s full dedication speech notes it’s a spot devoted to “the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts” which have created America, and all through the park we discover idealized messages, however people who assist us make sense of the world fairly than want it away. Whether or not exploring gluttony and sin (Pirates of the Caribbean), the impermanence of life (Haunted Mansion) or perseverance in laborious work (Snow White’s Enchanted Want), Disneyland finds delight within the messiness of life.
“World of Color Happiness!” facilities on a quest from “Inside Out” character Pleasure to find what makes every of us completely happy.
(Sean Teegarden / Disneyland Resort)
By the tip of “World of Color Happiness!,” which concludes with an upbeat industrial jingle of a tune from Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums, I discovered myself desirous to scream at Pleasure: Depart me alone and let me be down. For whereas that’s completely OK, too, “Happiness!” doesn’t goal to be something greater than a advertising tag line — “celebrate happy” — for Disneyland’s seventieth.
And but I discovered myself charmed by the pre-show for “Happiness!” Right here, we see the Muppets, additionally celebrating a seventieth anniversary, attempt to fail to present a security spiel. Gonzo desires to carry out a stunt, Miss Piggy goals to steal the present, and Dr. Tooth and the Electrical Mayhem fail to get the band again collectively. In the end, the job will get accomplished, however not with out an assortment of comedic matches and begins. Right here’s betting it brings a smile to your face, and does so with out telling you to take action.
