People in matching Disneyland outfits — head-to-toe blue, sparkly skirts, glittering Conductor Mickey hats — poured into the theater. I expected every seat to be taken, but because the park had implemented a virtual queue that limited attendance, there were plenty of open spots.

One of Disneyland's classic thrill rides closed for refurbishment a couple of weeks before the start of the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration, and work has been taking place on the attraction since that time.

Disneyland now ranks as the world’s second-most visited theme park, closely behind Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Florida, which opened in 1971. According to the Themed Entertainment Association, Disneyland drew more than 17 million people in 2023, bouncing back from an unprecedented 13-month closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Within a decade of Disneyland’s opening, Walt Disney already knew Tomorrowland had a problem. “The tomorrows of 1955 had become yesterdays,” a park official said in 1967, quoting Walt’s realization that the future would always arrive faster than Tomorrowland could keep up with.

In the midst of the park’s 70th anniversary celebration, one of its most famous rides, the Haunted Mansion, is temporarily closing for two weeks. During this brief closure, guests won’t be able to experience the eerie charm of the iconic ride located in New Orleans Square.

Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion will be temporarily closed this summer as it undergoes a transformation in preparation for the Halloween season, officials said.

Some attractions and experiences are currently closed for refurbishment as the Disneyland Resort gears up for its 70th anniversary celebration that starts next week.

Disneyland is celebrating 70 years of being "The Happiest Place on Earth." The summerlong festivities in southern California include the opening of "Walt Disney – A Magical Life," a show featuring a lifelike animatronic of the company's founder that debuts Thursday and also marks Disneyland's official anniversary.