“Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness” Coming Soon To Disney+, ABC & Hulu
As the United States of America gets ready to celebrate its 250th birthday, Disney has announced details on a brand new two-hour primetime special called “Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness”, which will be coming soon to ABC, Hulu and Disney+.
From Main Street U.S.A.’s turn-of-the-century nostalgia to Cars Land’s homage to the great American road trip and what it says about our love for the open road, each stop will play host to true tales of American innovations and triumphs. In this coast-to-coast event, Disney Parks and attractions are the portal through which America’s greatest stories, triumphs and traditions are celebrated.
Marvel over the creation of some of the most iconic American-made toys that shaped so many wonderful childhood memories in Toy Story Land. Moana Jones Wong, the 26-year-old Hawaiian superstar, shares her personal perspective of the 50th state’s unique culture and community, and from the iconic American magazine National Geographic, Explorer-at-Large Dr. Sylvia Earle, known as “Joan of Arc of the Seas,” talks about her pioneering conservation efforts to explore and protect life beneath the shining seas.
The special travels back in time to J&M Recording Studio in New Orleans, otherwise known as the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, with multitalented musician Jon Batiste, and then dives into the world of global air travel, exploring how Pan Am crafted a uniquely American identity in flight, reshaping the modern world. ESPN’s “Wide World of Sports” chronicles the evolution of baseball, focusing on the Savannah Bananas, and celebrates the athleticism, showmanship and history of America’s Black ball players.
Main Street is more than a street name; it’s a representation of the heart of the American community. The special looks at one of the country’s oldest family-run small businesses, as well as the rise of the automobile industry and its connection to personal freedom. Next, the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (now known as the TCL Chinese Theatre) sets the stage to experience the allure of old Hollywood and the singular icon Marilyn Monroe, who shifted the public’s perception of celebrity and fame. The special also pays homage to ABC News’ extraordinary 30 hours of continuous coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, with a look toward the future.
This new special is hosted by “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts from Walt Disney World Resort and ABC News national correspondent Will Reeve from Disneyland.
It will premiere on Monday, 29th June 2026, on ABC at 8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT, and it will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu in the United States. An encore broadcast of “Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness” will air Friday, July 3 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. No international Disney+ release details have been announced.
“Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness” is produced by “20/20” and ABC News Studios. Matt Lombardi and Jennifer Joseph serve as executive producers. Janice Johnston is executive producer for “20/20.” David Sloan serves as senior executive producer for ABC News Studios.
Roger’s Take: It makes total sense for Disney to use the 250th anniversary celebrations to promote its own brands and theme parks, as Disney has been celebrating Americana for decades, with its theme parks especially highlighting the best of what America stands for.
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