Disney California Adventure Park opened its gates on February 8, 2001, as the long-awaited second theme park at the Disneyland Resort… after all, Walt Disney World already had four parks by then. Just one month earlier, Disneyland debuted the Downtown Disney District and the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa – and all three are celebrating their 25th anniversaries this year.
Disney’s California Adventure Fun Map, 2001. ©Disney
Here’s what Disneyland has planned for the big silver anniversary celebration kicking off on February 6, 2026, including limited-time attractions, new themed food, 25th-anniversary merch, and more.
Also starting on February 6th, Mickey and Minnie will debut all-new outfits when they meet guests on Buena Vista Street.
The new costumes are inspired by the park’s original Sunshine Plaza icon… remember the hubcap and wave fountain?
The Return of An Opening-Day Attraction
In the last 25 years, California Adventure has added Buena Vista Street, Pixar Pier, Cars Land, Monsters Inc., The Little Mermaid, World of Color, and Avengers Campus, among many other changes. And in the next few years, a Coco-themed attraction and an Avatar-themed land will also be added. But in 2001, the park’s signature ride was Soarin’ Over California, an immersive “flying theater” attraction that used cutting-edge technology at the time.
The Soarin’ Around the World overlay debuted in 2016, but the OG California version still returns each year for a short stint during the park’s food and wine festival.
This year, however, the beloved opening-day Soarin’ Over California attraction will return on February 6 and continue all the way through July 1, 2026 (at which time the all-new Soarin’ Across America will debut for America’s 250th anniversary).
25th Anniversary Popcorn Bucket
The star of the 25th-anniversary celebration will definitely be the Pixar Pal-A-Round Popcorn Bucket, based on the park’s iconic Ferris wheel but with the smiling Mickey face, rather than the opening day sun icon.
Here’s what the original wheel looked like…
More photos by the great George Landis HERE
The new bucket features embedded “Magic Inside” technology that will react to select locations in both theme parks, with changing color and lighting patterns. The lighting effects will also enhance select nighttime spectaculars with an extra touch of pixie dust.
The first-of-its-kind bucket will be available for purchase beginning February 6 at the following locations (while supplies last):
Fairfax Market
Mortimers Market
Select popcorn and outdoor vending carts in California Adventure
The bucket will also be available on Feb. 6-8 via Mobile order from the Hollywood Lounge Seasonal Novelty Release, Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta Seasonal Novelty Release, and Popcorn at Grizzly Peak Airfield.
From Feb. 6-15, Schmoozies will be serving a special, limited-time anniversary cake shake: a confetti shake with strawberry icing, sprinkles, and whipped topping, topped with a slice of cake.
Disney California Adventure 25th Anniversary Merch
The anniversary collection includes apparel featuring stylized illustrations of the park’s icons and symbols – Carthay Circle, Pixar Pal-A-Round, and Grizzly Peak – and three collectible pins, available at Elias & Co., Gone Hollywood, and Seaside Souvenirs beginning February 6 (while supplies last).
On February 8, 2026 only, guests entering California Adventure with a valid park ticket may receive a complimentary commemorative map (limited quantities available).
Magic Key Anniversary Event
A special Magic Key holder event will celebrate 25 years of California Adventure with nostalgic photo ops meet-and-greets. As a party favor, Magic Key holders will receive a specially designed magnet set celebrating the milestone anniversary (limit one per Magic Key holder, while supplies last).
The event will take place daily in the Hyperion Theater Courtyard from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 5-15 (no event on February 9). Magic Key holders must join a Virtual Queue at 12 p.m. to attend on that day. You’ll receive a push notification when your boarding group is called with the designated return window for you to check in at the Hyperion Theater courtyard.
Know Before You Go:
Limit one virtual queue entry and one keepsake per Magic Key holder.
Magic Key holder must be present at time of virtual queue redemption and show their valid Magic Key pass to participate.
Both a park reservation and valid admission are required for park entry. A
Applicable Magic Key blockout dates apply.
Virtual queues are limited and subject to availability
Joining a virtual queue does not guarantee participation in this offering.
Boarding groups for a virtual queue are limited, subject to availability and are not guaranteed.
Not all boarding groups may be called to return, based on availability.
Magic Key holders can also the new Disney California Adventure Park 25th Anniversary bucket for $15.25 (with $2.25 refills through February 24, 2026). Limit one bucket per Magic Key holder per transaction, while supplies last.
Grand Californian 25th Anniversary
The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa opened on January 2, 2001, as the first hotel located inside a theme park (The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa were added in 2009).
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the hotel’s grand opening, Humphrey the Bear will make his first Disney Parks appearance beginning February 6, when he joins Donald’s Tales of Adventure dinner buffet at Storytellers Café.
Advanced reservations are highly recommended for Storytellers Café and can be booked up to 60 days in advance.
Who is Humphrey the Bear?
The snack-loving grizzly bear of Brownstone National Park is featured in several Disney animated shorts (including as the star of two). Humphrey’s antics in Goofy and Donald Duck cartoons even inspired Humphrey’s Service & Supplies across from the Soarin’ Attraction.
Humphrey’s gift shop across from Soarin’
A new, limited-edition 25th-anniversary Grand Californian pin is available now at Acorns Gifts & Goods (while supplies last).
Downtown Disney 25th Anniversary
The Downtown Disney District opened on January 12, 2001, connecting the theme parks to on-site hotels as a lively corridor of dining, shopping, and entertainment venues. 25 years later, the district has continued to grow, with several new restaurants and shops added in the last year – and more coming soon.
Select dining locations at Downtown Disney District are serving specialty menu items in honor of the Disneyland Resort’s 70th celebration:
Beignets Expressed (available now through August 9) – Bananas Foster beignets dipped in a banana rum glaze, sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar, and served with a vanilla crème anglaise
Bananas Foster beignets
Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio (available now through August 9) – French “70” cocktail made with gin, prosecco, lemon juice, and lavender simple syrup (for guests ages 21 and older)
Kayla’s Cake (available now through May 31)
Pistachio macaron croissant: butter croissant topped with crisp macaron batter, filled with pistachio custard cream, and dusted with edible gold glitter
Strawberry yogurt macaron croissant: crisp macaron batter baked on top of a butter croissant, filled with strawberry yogurt custard cream, and topped with sprinkles
Strawberry yogurt macaron croissant
Vista Parkside Market (available on the second Saturday of every month)
Parkside Birders Club: fun-filled opportunity for guests ages 21 and older to taste and learn how to make three cocktails, enjoy light bites, plus receive a $20 bounce back for Parkside Market and a collectible pin.
Wetzel’s Pretzels (available now through August 9) – Incredi-Bitz available in 3 flavors: Choco Churro Bitz, Bacon Ranch Bitz, or S’mores Bitz.
A special Downtown Disney District pin and tote featuring the district’s new logo are available for purchase at World of Disney (while supplies last).
Disneyland Deals
2026 California Resident Ticket Offer – California residents can purchase 3-Day Park Hopper tickets for $249 or a 3-Day Park Hopper ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass for $351. This offer is available for visits now through May 21, 2026.
Disneyland Resort Hotel Discount – Hotel guests can save up to 25% on stays of three or more nights now through May 21, 2026, at the Disneyland Hotel, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, or Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa (subject to availability and restrictions).
Some of the 50+ Disney-approved Good Neighbor Hotels near the resort also offer room and theme park ticket packages.
Check out our guide for more deals and offers:
MiceDeals: Limited-Time SoCal Theme Park Offers to Save You Money!
RETRO READING:
For more about the history of Disney California Adventure, take a few moments to read Andy Castro’s 20th anniversary retrospective that detailed the tumultuous journey from WESTCOT to Disney’s California Adventure (the park originally had an “‘s” in its name):
Disney California Adventure at 20: From Zero to Hero
Plus, these incredible Yesterland articles:
MiceShots
Big thanks to Suzanne Lee for these amazing shots of Disney‘s California Adventure from about 2009 when World of Color and Cars Land were under construction and Little Mermaid was set to replace Golden Dreams… it was the start of a whole new Disney California Adventure.
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Let’s Hear From You!
Did you visit California Adventure 1.0? What were your favorite attractions and experiences at the park in its early form, and what are your favorites now? Are you happy Disneyland has continued to expand and reimagine its “second gate,” and what would you like to see added to the park in the future? Let us know in the comments!
