Disney News This Week: Details Announced for Diamond Celebration at Disneyland Resort, MagicBand Reaches New Distribution Milestone, Disney Junior Announces ‘Elena of Avalor’

On Wednesday, Disneyland Resort announced three sensational new nighttime spectaculars that will dazzle guests and help celebrate 60 years of magic at Disneyland Park. Nighttime will glitter like never before when the latest technology and immersive special effects light up the sky with the Paint the Night parade and Disneyland Forever fireworks spectacular in Disneyland Park. In Disney California Adventure Park, a new World of Color show, featuring Mickey Mouse, will bring to life the story of Walt Disney and the Happiest Place on Earth through fountains, film, animation, a stirring musical score and amazing visual surprises. To learn more about the Diamond Celebration, which begins May 22, 2015 at Disneyland Resort, visit the Disney Parks Blog.

Also this week, Walt Disney World Resort celebrated an impressive milestone: 10 million MagicBands distributed! The colorful MagicBands link guests’ entire MyMagic+ experience together—serving as a theme park ticket, access to FastPass+ selections, PhotoPass card and room key for Disney Resort hotel guests. Recently, MagicBand was named one of Fortune Magazine’s “26 Coolest Gadgets of 2014.” MyMagic+ was also honored with an “Innovation by Design” award by the popular magazine and website Fast Company. Head to the Disney Parks Blog for news on MagicBands and MyMagic+.

Princess Elena of Avalor, a confident and compassionate teenager in an enchanted fairy-tale kingdom inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore, will be introduced in a special episode of Disney Junior’s hit series Sofia the First beginning production now for a 2016 premiere. That exciting story arc will usher in the 2016 launch of the animated series Elena of Avalor, a production of Disney Television Animation. The announcement was made by Nancy Kanter, executive vice president and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide. The 16-year-old Princess Elena—the bold, caring, funny and clever ascendant to the throne in the fairy-tale kingdom of Avalor—will be voiced by Aimee Carrero (ABC Family’s Young & Hungry).