For seven decades, Disneyland Resort has been creating enchanting experiences and magical memories for visitors from near and far—and despite how many times someone steps foot in the park, there’s no denying that every day spent at Disneyland is one full of new experiences and surprises around every corner.
That consistent sense of wonder is what Disney is known for. It’s the Disney Difference, as they say, and as Disneyland Resort prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary this year, there’s even more in store for visitors new and old looking for a little sprinkle of Disney magic.
“As Walt Disney famously said, ‘Disneyland will never be completed as long as there’s imagination left in the world,’” said Robert Donahue, director of sales and services, Disneyland Resort. “We’re constantly looking for ways to grow and bring new stories to life for our guests. It’s been part of our DNA since the beginning, and it continues to motivate us today.
“We apply that same commitment to helping meeting professionals tell their stories when hosting attendees at Disneyland Resort,” Donahue continued. “Whether it’s a powerful Disney-created keynote or breakout in a ballroom at a Disneyland Resort Hotel or transporting attendees to elaborately themed venues—like an enchanted musical bayou in Disneyland Park—our Disney Meetings & Events team helps organizations tell stories that deliver business messages in fresh, engaging and impactful ways.”
[Related: Disneyland Resort Offers Endless Opportunities for Magical Meetings and Events]
‘Let’s Create Magic’
Last fall, Disney Meetings & Events unveiled innovative new products and services to help meeting professionals host transformational events. Working with a “Let’s Create Magic” mindset, Disney event architects are well-equipped with even more tools to transform events into something truly memorable.
“We spend a lot of time listening to our clients, and one of things we hear over and over again is the need for compelling and impactful content,” Donahue said. “That’s why we put our own Disney storytellers to work designing new team building experiences, general-session openers and themed culinary menus which meeting professionals can use as-is or customize to fit their own audiences and budgets.”
Building on Disney’s comprehensive portfolio of creative and technical resources, new team building and networking sessions combine Disney stories with purposeful, play-based learning. The signature sessions are designed to increase audience engagement and retention while delivering a positive return on the meeting experience.
Sessions include a competitive team building event based on the Star Wars franchise, a networking event inspired by Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, a team building activity inspired by Pixar’s Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. and more.
“Meeting professionals also have at their disposal our talented team of Disney event architects,” Donahue said. “These pro-active problem solvers represent a wide variety of professional disciplines—sales and service managers, event producers, culinary experts and more. They use best practices honed over decades to turn a client’s vision into reality.”
Disney Meetings & Events worked with leading experts in these disciplines to develop uniquely themed engagement sessions that take events to an entirely new level from start to finish. New general-session openers have been added to Disney’s deep portfolio of content that meeting professionals can source when meeting at a Disney destination.
Added to the lineup of opening-session options are:
- Digital Power Entrance: A high-energy, audiovisual, musical kickoff that unifies the audience in a cinematic experience showcasing the group’s own brand.
- Technically Singing: A clever way to surprise attendees and draw them in with a musical introduction of a host or executive.
- Unwritten: An inspirational and heartwarming presentation designed to bring guests together and inspire them to dream big.
- Karaoke Surprise: A fun Disney twist on a karaoke performance.
“Another Disney difference is single-source billing,” Donahue added. “It allows meeting professionals to charge almost all event costs—production, services, food and beverage, transportation and more—to one master account. This unique benefit helps meeting professionals manage costs and stay on budget.”
Updates are also being rolled out at Disneyland Resort specifically, giving meeting professionals access to new technology that will bring their events at Disneyland Hotel to the next level.
“Supporting our clients with the latest event technology is a priority, and I’m pleased to announce that the Grand Ballroom at the Disneyland Hotel will feature an installed LED wall beginning in February of 2025,” Donahue said. “This technology will allow clients to enhance general sessions with images featuring logos and custom-designed backdrops.”
The new high-resolution 36-foot-by-14-foot LED wall will act as a virtual set for the Grand Ballroom stage, and clients can select from several pre-designed animated looks to dress up their meeting or event. They can also work with Disney Meetings & Events’ event architects to design and develop their own custom animation to showcase their unique brand or theme.
[Related: These Theme Parks Double as Immersive Event Environments]
Designed for Disneyland Resort
While Disney Meetings & Events’ new initiatives may be available at Disney properties around the globe, Disneyland Resort offers a special touch for groups that can’t be replicated off property—especially for groups looking to add an “enchanting extra” by way of gathering within the theme parks.
“Disney Meetings & Events is a leader in transformational experiences,” Donahue said. “We take inspiration from our world-renowned theme parks and attractions to create magical touches or enchanting extras that energize attendees and reconnect them to favorite memories. Emotional connections like that are one of the things that makes Disney meetings so memorable and impactful.”
One example of how Disney Meetings & Events achieves this at Disneyland Resort is the new Disney Culinary Collection. The property’s award-winning Disney chefs have created immersive menus that cater to the atmosphere, entertainment and decor that attendees will experience during their meeting or event.
“Think ‘It’s a Small World of Flavor’ or ‘Main Street Fare,’” Donahue said. “Each element takes attendees further into the story and delivers a boutique dining experience that only Disney can deliver.”
While the food is always a highlight of any event, Disneyland Resort also delivers on atmosphere thanks to the nature of what makes Disney so magical: Theme parks, immersive lands and Disney character interactions with classics like Mickey Mouse to new friends such as Mirabel Madrigal from Encanto.
“Of course, nothing says ‘wow’ like having a world-famous attraction, land or Disney character available for a group to experience,” Donahue said. “A private dessert party with views of a nighttime fireworks spectacular is always a hit with attendees. There are numerous options at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park so meeting professionals can work with their Disney event architect to determine what works best for the group’s size, interest and goals.
“One of my favorites is the new Golden Vine House at Disney California Adventure,” he continued. “This Tuscan-villa setting is an intimate space for a reception or dinner. Groups love to follow that with a private dessert party set against the backdrop of our ‘World of Color’ nighttime spectacular.”
And there will be even more for groups to experience when the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration begins May 16.
“It will feature an all-new nighttime spectacular, ‘World of Color Happiness!’ at Disney California Adventure Park,” Donahue said. “The entire celebration will be inspired by Walt Disney’s words from the opening-day dedication, so I envision lots of magical touches for meetings and events happening during the celebration.”
No matter what type of event meeting professionals are looking to host at Disneyland Resort, whether it be taking over the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure after hours or adding an “enchanting extra” to a Disney dinner celebration by inviting a fan-favorite character to the table, Disney Meetings & Events has the power and pixie dust to make every planner’s vision possible.
“Disney Meetings & Events is the ultimate partner in transformational meetings and events,” Donahue said. “We take a hands-on approach to collaboration. We have vast resources at our disposal, and creative thinkers ready to help problem solve and innovate. Most of all, we believe in the power of happiness and making dreams come true.”
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*This article was produced in collaboration with Disney Meetings & Events.
