Hi there, Shawnee, and welcome back to planDisney! I see you are visiting the 'Happiest Place on Earth' in just a few short days. How exciting! Let me share a list of my very favorite stage shows, nighttime spectaculars, and live entertainment across the theme parks of the Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland Park: I hope you are able to make time
for what I'm calling the "big three" of Disneyland Park. Up first is the new
'Magic Happens' parade which is my all-time favorite parade of any Disney Park! The original soundtrack, the costuming, the new float technology, and the unique characters are all truly spectacular! I also highly recommend viewing
Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks and projections reflecting the compelling legacy of Disney storytelling. You can't go wrong with a viewing area, as they all provide a distinct vantage point of those amazing projections. And lastly, I suggest making time for
Fantasmic! which can be viewed near the Rivers of America. If you can make it toward the end of the evening, the later showing typically has lower crowds for more optimal viewing. An honorable mention goes to Tale of the Lion King, which is one of my family's favorites and has up to 5 showtimes listed per day!
Disney California Adventure Park: Another all-new nighttime spectacular worth your time is
World of Color - ONE. You can join a virtual queue each day at 12:00 PM to secure your place in a reserved viewing area, or you may opt to book a World of Color Dining Package which includes a predetermined meal and preferred viewing for the show, or the World of Color Dessert Party which currently includes prime waterfront seats for the show plus a selection of desserts, cheeses, and alcoholic beverages for adults over age 21. There are so many wonderful ways to enjoy this show! I also want to mention that your visit will take place during the
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival which will have a series of culinary demonstrations for a completely unique show during this limited-time event! I also really love watching Five & Dime around Buena Vista Street for some timeless, classic jazz tunes sprinkled with Disney inspiration!
Downtown Disney District: Although the live entertainment in the theme parks often draws the biggest crowds, I have found some of my favorite live music and stage entertainment at the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage. It's a fun place to groove while you're on your way to do some shopping at World of Disney or enjoy a dining reservation.
My last but probably best recommendation, Shawnee, is to make sure you check the
entertainment calendar leading up to and throughout your visit to verify showtimes as they are subject to change. You can locate this on the Disneyland website or in the
official Disneyland mobile app by using the map icon and toggling to "Entertainment."
There are so many options for exciting live entertainment that I didn't have a chance to mention here, so if you have any other questions or want to hear more, please feel welcome to come back and visit us again at
planDisney!
Wishing you Wondrous Journeys,
Tishra