Disney has announced its “Disney Celebrates America” campaign, a company-wide celebration leading up to America’s 250th anniversary. The effort will include special entertainment, park offerings, community programs, a primetime TV special, and a 24-hour nationwide broadcast.
“As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, ‘Disney Celebrates America’ is our way of honoring this historic milestone by celebrating the people, places, and shared moments that define who we are,” said Ken Potrock, President of Major Events Integration, The Walt Disney Company. “Through immersive and creative park experiences and unprecedented broadcast moments, Disney invites everyone to come together and celebrate America in a truly meaningful way by reflecting on where we’ve been and imagining the extraordinary future we can create together.”
TV Specials and Broadcast Events
On June 29, ABC will air Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness, a two-hour special hosted by Deborah Roberts from Walt Disney World and Will Reeve from Disneyland. The program will use Disney Parks as the backdrop for stories about American achievements, traditions, and milestones.
Then, beginning July 3 and continuing through July 4, Disney networks including ABC, ESPN, National Geographic, Disney+, Hulu, FX, and Freeform will participate in a 24-hour broadcast event featuring live celebrations, performances, historical stories, and reporting from all 50 states.
Just last week, ABC News released a promo for this upcoming July 4th event. You can hear a familiar score playing in the background: IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, which ran from 1999 to 2019 at EPCOT.
Highlights include:
- Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash, featuring live musical performances and one of the nation’s largest fireworks and drone shows.
- Special reporting from inside the Statue of Liberty.
- 50 States in 50 Weeks: America the Beautiful from Good Morning America.
- Features on American history, military service members and veterans, westward expansion, innovation, sports, and natural wonders.
National Geographic and ABC News will also reveal the “Seven Natural Wonders of America,” with the first site already announced as Hawaii’s volcanoes.
ESPN will air a special live edition of SportsCenter on July 4 celebrating iconic moments in American sports history, while ESPN.com will launch a five-part road trip series exploring how sports helped shape the country.
Special Offerings at Disney Parks
At both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, guests can experience the new Soarin’ Across America, which highlights famous landmarks and landscapes across the United States. The attraction includes updated visuals, familiar scents, and a newly arranged score by composer Bruce Broughton.
At EPCOT, National Geographic photography and an interactive trivia experience have been added to Soarin’s queue.
Walt Disney World’s celebration will also include:
- Patriotic lighting on Spaceship Earth
- Special performances by the Voices of Liberty
- 4th of July Fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
- The Electrical Water Pageant
- Main Street, U.S.A. décor
- Character appearances
- Limited-time food, beverages, and merchandise
- Flag retreat ceremonies
- Dapper Dans and Main Street Philharmonic performances
- An extended run of the Portraits of Courage exhibit
- United States Air Force Band of the West performances at Disney Springs
At Disneyland Resort, guests can enjoy:
- Flag retreat ceremonies honoring veterans
- Patriotic décor throughout the resort
- Limited-time entertainment
- Specialty food and beverage offerings
- A patriotic pre-show before World of Color
- The return of Celebrate America! fireworks
- Military band performances
- A special cavalcade celebrating America
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will also appear in new red, white, and blue patriotic outfits created for the anniversary celebration.
Supporting Military Families
Disney is continuing its support of veterans and military families through an expanded partnership with Blue Star Families, backed by a previously announced $2.5 million commitment.
The company highlighted recent events including the 25th Disney and Blue Star Books program at the Library of Congress, where more than 500 military children and family members participated. Disney has donated more than 370,000 books to military families over the years.
Disney also hosted military family screenings of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu and plans additional events throughout the anniversary year.
More Ways to Celebrate
The celebration will extend beyond the parks with themed experiences aboard Disney Cruise Line and a new Sam Eagle merchandise collection available through Disney retail locations. Disney says additional announcements are planned as the Fourth of July approaches.
