Disney’s Fourth of July celebration just got a whole lot bigger — and yes, both Walt Disney World AND Disneyland are involved.
Disney is gearing up for a major coast-to-coast celebration ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, and ABC has revealed new details about its upcoming primetime special, “Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness.” The two-hour event will blend Disney Parks storytelling, American history, entertainment, sports, music, and patriotic celebration into one very Disney broadcast moment.
“Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness” will air on Monday, June 29, from 8 PM to 10 PM ET on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. An encore presentation is also scheduled for Friday, July 3, from 8 PM to 10 PM EDT on ABC.
The special will be hosted from both coasts, with 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts reporting from Walt Disney World Resort and ABC News national correspondent Will Reeve reporting from Disneyland Resort. Through Disney Parks locations and attractions, the broadcast will highlight American stories, traditions, innovations, and cultural milestones.
Viewers can expect stops inspired by Main Street U.S.A., Cars Land, Toy Story Land, and more. The special will look at everything from classic American-made toys to the open-road spirit represented in Cars Land, along with stories connected to Hawaiian culture, ocean conservation, music history, aviation, baseball, Hollywood, and space exploration.
The lineup of featured stories includes Moana Jones Wong, the 26-year-old Hawaiian surfing star, sharing her perspective on Hawaii’s culture and community. National Geographic Explorer-at-Large Dr. Sylvia Earle will also appear to discuss her conservation work and efforts to protect life beneath the sea.
The special will also visit J&M Recording Studio in New Orleans, known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, with musician Jon Batiste. Another segment will explore Pan Am and how the airline helped shape a uniquely American identity in global air travel.
Sports fans will also want to pay attention because ESPN’s Wide World of Sports will spotlight the evolution of baseball, including the Savannah Bananas, while also celebrating the history, athleticism, and showmanship of America’s Black ball players.
The broadcast will also explore the meaning of Main Street as a symbol of American community, spotlight one of the country’s oldest family-run small businesses, examine the automobile industry’s connection to personal freedom, and visit the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, now known as the TCL Chinese Theatre, for a look at old Hollywood and Marilyn Monroe’s impact on celebrity and fame.
And because Disney loves a big historical moment, the special will also pay tribute to ABC News’ 30 hours of continuous coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, while looking toward the future.
But that’s not all Disney has planned.
The celebration continues with a 24-hour multiplatform broadcast called “Disney Celebrates America,” leading into “Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash.” That July 4 special will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest and will air coast to coast on Saturday, July 4, from 8 PM to 11 PM ET on ABC, ABC News Live, Disney+, Hulu, the ESPN App, Freeform, FX, and NatGeo.
The Nashville event will feature one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the United States, set to a live score by the GRAMMY Award-winning Nashville Symphony. The broadcast will also include coverage of patriotic fireworks displays at Disneyland Resort.
The performer lineup includes The All-American Rejects, Boyz II Men, Brothers Osborne, Clint Black, Elizabeth Nichols, Emily Ann Roberts, John Crist, Lauren Daigle, Little Big Town, NE-YO, Nick Jonas, Reba McEntire, Sublime, and Tim McGraw.
Emily Ann Roberts will also serve as the backstage correspondent, while comedian John Crist will appear as the broadcast’s man-on-the-street reporter.
Between the Walt Disney World and Disneyland connections, the Disney+ and Hulu streaming options, the patriotic entertainment lineup, and the huge July 4 fireworks and drone show, Disney is clearly going big for America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
As always, keep checking back here for more Disney Parks news, entertainment updates, streaming announcements, and everything else you need to know before the next big Disney celebration hits your screen.
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