Disneyland Paris 30th Anniversary Guide for 2023
On 12th April 1992, Disneyland Paris opened its gates to guests for the very first time. To celebrate, the resort is currently in the midst of an 18-month long 30th anniversary celebration, ending in September 2023.
I was lucky enough to visit Disneyland Paris several times in 2022 for the 30th anniversary. In this post, I'll be sharing with you the highlights of the Disneyland Paris 30th anniversary celebration to help you decide whether you should book a trip before September.
Dream... And Shine Brighter
Without a doubt, the highlight of Disneyland Paris' 30th anniversary is Dream... And Shine Brighter, the brand new daytime parade.
This parade has it all: so many characters, catchy tunes, dancing, water effects and even a fireworks finale.
Dream... And Shine Brighter is unique because it is not just a parade. Halfway through, all the characters get off the parade floats in the Central Plaza and perform a 10-minute dance sequence to a medley of Disney hits.
So, make sure you stand in Central Plaza to watch it. Otherwise, you will miss the best bit of the show!
Speaking of characters, of course there are the classics like Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy. But there are also several rarer characters in this parade, including Miguel from Coco, Judy Hoops and Nick Wilde from Zootopia and Joy from Inside Out. Miguel in particular gets his own Coco-themed section, which I love.
I also love the new song written for the parade, 'Ready for the Ride'. You can't help but start clapping and singing along as soon as the music starts. It is a great addition to the Disneyland Paris playlist and really creates a fun atmosphere in the park.
Dream... And Shine Brighter is the best parade I have ever seen at a Disney Park. The music, dancing, characters and effects all come together to make this a not-to-be-missed show. Make sure you check the show times in the Disneyland Paris App on the day of your visit and get your spot 15-20 minutes beforehand.
Dream... And Shine Brighter is returning from 8th January 2023 for its finale run until September and I couldn't recommend seeing this show highly enough.
Disney D-Light
Another very impressive addition to the Disneyland Paris entertainment lineup is Disney D-Light, a nighttime drone show.
The show is only about five minutes long and takes place just before the main fireworks show every night. Although, to refer to it as a 'secondary' offering is underselling it in my opinion.
I still remember seeing this show for the first time in April and hearing everyone in the crowd audibly gasp as the 30th anniversary logo was painted in fluorescent pink across the sky.
The drones perform several sequences to the other brand new song for the 30th anniversary, Un Monde Qui S'illumine. This one is more of a pop ballad, but still has a great chorus and really fits the nostalgic, emotional tone of the show.
Disney D-Light is absolutely fantastic and, in my opinion, is actually better than the fireworks show afterwards. I think we're going to see drones in a lot of Disney nighttime shows in the future.
Gardens of Wonder
From the moment you enter Disneyland Park, you can't miss that the resort is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Main Street train station has been adorned with a giant spinning 30 medallion and the gazebo in Town Square has also received a birthday makeover.
However, the most impressive 'decorations' installed for the 30th anniversary are the Gardens of Wonder.
The Gardens of Wonder is a collection of 30 metallic spinning statues of some of Disney's most beloved characters scattered across the Central Plaza near Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Some of my favourites are Maleficent, Merida, Baymax and Stitch.
Walking around the Gardens of Wonder is a great activity for the middle of the afternoon, when many of the rides have long line. They also make for the perfect picture backdrop, especially the statues located directly in front of the castle.
I really enjoyed exploring The Gardens of Wonder and hope these adorable statues stay beyond the 30th anniversary.
Overall, what Disneyland Paris has done for their 30th anniversary went above and beyond my initial expectations.
Dream... And Shine Brighter is the best parade I have ever seen at a Disney Park, Disney D-Light mixes emotion and incredible technology and the Gardens of Wonder are a subtle but still beautiful tribute to the characters.
As a long-time Disneyland Paris fan, I truly feel like they knocked it out of the park with this anniversary.
If you are considering a trip to Disneyland Paris before the anniversary ends, I can't recommend it enough. You will have a great time experiencing the Disney magic and all the 30th extras.
Have you visited Disneyland Paris for the 30th anniversary? What was your favourite thing at the celebration? Let me know in the comments below.
Thanks for reading, see you next time.
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