The Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Disneyland Resort President Thomas Mazloum pose for a once-in-a-lifetime cast photo with thousands of cast members on Main Street (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)

Disneyland Resort, known as The Happiest Place on Earth, commemorated seventy years by honoring the people who have made those memories possible: Disneyland Resort cast members.

Disneyland Resort kicked off the 70th anniversary with an early morning cast member-only celebration in Disneyland park, filled with unique photo backdrops, such as the 70th Anniversary Hot Air Balloon, live entertainment and a flag raising ceremony in Town Square featuring veteran cast members.

70 years and counting of The Happiest Place on Earth

With the opening of Disneyland park in 1955, Walt Disney transformed the theme park industry, creating an immersive destination where families could create happy memories and spend time together. With its 70-year history, Disneyland Resort has expanded to include two theme parks, three hotels and the Downtown Disney District which reflect the power of Disney storytelling – which includes Pixar, Star Wars, and stories featuring fan-favorite Super Heroes. The resort is adding even more new experiences, including the Avengers Campus expansion, Avatar and Coco in the coming years providing guests with more options to immerse themselves in their favorite Disney stories – creating moments that become timeless memories and stories that are shared again and again with friends and family. More information about these projects can be found in the "We Call it Imagineering" series on YouTube.

In that spirit, July 17 marks the debut of a new advertising campaign highlighting how after 70 years, Disneyland Resort continues to be the place that people come to celebrate their happiest moments, featuring authentic guest stories and photos.

How guests are celebrating the 70th Anniversary

Guests visiting Disneyland Resort on July 17 will not only get to experience the limited time offerings available for the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration but also get the opportunity to experience the debut of the groundbreaking attraction "Walt Disney – A Magical Life" and new additions to the Main Street Cinema and "it's a small world" attraction. In addition, for one day only, guests can collect a souvenir guide map and anniversary button (subject to availability) and experience a special 70th anniversary cavalcade in the afternoon.