The Happiest Place on Earth will lean into the theme of happiness with a new “World of Color” water show hosted by Joy from “Inside Out” that will draw inspiration from Walt Disney’s opening day dedication speech at Disneyland in 1955.
The new “World of Color Happiness” water show will debut on May 16 at Disney California Adventure as part of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.
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Walt’s short speech could offer clues to the backstory for the new show:
“To all who come to this happy place — welcome,” Walt said on July 17, 1955. “Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here you may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”
Dreams, hopes, inspiration, American history and futuristic possibilities have all served as recurring themes at Disneyland throughout the years and could reappear in “World of Color Happiness.”
Walt’s opening day speech even inadvertently name dropped the host of the new water show: Joy from Pixar’s “Inside Out” films.
“World of Color Happiness” promises to explore a kaleidoscope of emotions with cameo appearances by “Inside Out” characters Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust, Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui.
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The new water show will also feature moments from the “The Lion King,” “Little Mermaid,” “Frozen,” “Tangled,” “Encanto,” “Turning Red,” “Wish” and “A Goofy Movie” films projected on water screens in DCA’s Paradise Bay.
The water show employs high-definition digital projections on mist screens combined with 2,000 fountains, lights, laser, fog and pyrotechnics.
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The promise of digitally driven attractions like “World of Color” has always been the notion that the story and theme can change with a flip of a switch — after long hours of work and preparation.
The $175 million water show debuted in 2010 as part of the $1.1 billion multi-year makeover of Disney California Adventure.
The nighttime spectacular was completely rebooted in 2015 for Disneyland’s 60th anniversary as “World of Color Celebrate” and again in 2023 as “World of Color One.”
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Through the years, Disney has used “World of Color” pre-shows, encores and extended scenes to promote everything from “Tron: Legacy,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “Brave” to “Elemental,” “Inside Out 2” and “Moana 2.”
“World of Color” has also received seasonal overlays to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Hurry Home), Halloween (Villainous) and Christmas (Winter Dreams and Season of Light).
“World of Color” typically runs at 9 p.m. most evenings with a second show at 10:15 p.m. on busier nights. Disneyland has not yet announced showtimes for “World of Color Happiness.”
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The park’s 70th Anniversary Celebration will also feature the return of the Paint the Night parade and “Wondrous Journeys” fireworks show at Disneyland and the Better Together parade at DCA in addition to the new “World of Color Happiness” water show.
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