11 times Disney theme parks hosted movie premieres

These Disney movie premieres effectively mean several legendary moments in Disney movie history entertained their first audiences at a theme park.

Captain Jack Sparrow’s dingy sinking into the water as he arrived to Port Royal? The first crowd to witness the famous scene did so on the shores of Rivers of America at Disneyland. Troy Bolton dancing across a golf course and thrashing with angst? The first audience to soak in this iconic moment sat within the glow of a movie screen at Downtown Disney’s AMC.

Covering adventures upon the Black Pearl, at East High, and everywhere in between, here are 11 times Disney theme parks hosted world premieres for movies.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” — Disneyland (2003)

“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” was a sensation when it debuted in 2003. Johnny Depp even earned a Best Actor nomination at the following year’s Oscars for his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Disney seemed to know it had a hit on its hands. The studio broke precedence from its typical venue for world premieres, the Disney-owned El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. Instead, the company shut down Disneyland and rolled out the red carpet, literally.

In a $2 million gala on June 28, 2003, a red carpet stretched the length of Main Street, U.S.A. lined with journalists, television hosts, and lucky fans (the word “vlogger” was not yet within the American vernacular).

“I’m a veteran in terms of Disneyland,” Keira Knightly (Elizabeth Swann in the film) told The Hollywood Reporter at the time, “but it’s slightly different this time around.”

The fanfare led to the bend of the Rivers of America at which “Fantasmic!” usually performs. There, giant screens displayed the film for gathered guests, just steps away from the classic attraction that inspired the movie.

In addition to the cast, attendees included Raven-Symoné (just months after “That’s So Raven” debuted on Disney Channel), Drew Carey (at the time still host of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” on ABC), and other stars.

“Pirates of the Caribbean” 2, 3, and 4 — Disneyland (2006-2011)

The premiere of the first “Pirates” was such a hit that Disney repeated the party thrice more. The next three “Pirates” films — “Dead Man’s Chest” (2006), “At World’s End” (2007), and “On Stranger Tides” (2011) — all premiered at Disneyland along the Rivers of America. Fans could even purchase tickets to the latter two premieres for $1,000.

The 2006 premiere was especially notable. In addition to being the first to see the new movie, attendees were the first to experience the newly enhanced Disneyland attraction. The classic ride was about to re-open from a major refurbishment. Opening to guests a few days later, the ride featured the audio-animatronics likenesses of Depp and Geoffrey Rush (Captain Barbossa in the movies), as well as Bill Nighy (Davy Jones) in a projection moment.

“High School Musical 2” — Downtown Disney (2007)

17.2 million people tuned in for the debut broadcast of Disney Channel’s “High School Musical 2” on Aug. 17, 2007 — breaking a record for the most-watched program on basic cable in television history.

The film was part of an evening lineup now considered legendary. After the movie, Disney Channel aired the first episode of “Phineas and Ferb” and a special episode of “Hannah Montana” guest-starring Jonas Brothers. But that’s a story for another time.

A few days before that history-making evening, Disneyland Resort hosted the world premiere of “High School Musical 2” at Downtown Disney’s AMC Theatres on Aug. 14, 2007. The sequel’s branding emulated the aqua shimmer of a summertime pool. As such, the premiere opted for a blue carpet instead of the traditional red. Celebrity attendees included Selena Gomez (two months away from the debut of her breakout lead role in Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place”) and Miley Cyrus (who Disney Channel viewers voted to make a cameo appearance in “HSM2”).

In the hours leading up to the premiere itself, the cast, along with director Kenny Ortega, pulled triple duty with appearances throughout the resort. They waved to fans in a motorcade down Main Street, U.S.A. (Zac Efron rode in a convertible next to Minnie Mouse, who dressed in her blue/silver dress for the “Year of a Million Dreams,” Disney’s ongoing parks campaign at the time). Later, the cast helped christen the “HSM2” revamp of California Adventure’s “High School Musical Pep Rally.”

“The Lone Ranger” — Disney California Adventure (2013)

2013’s “The Lone Ranger” reassembled nearly the entire creative team behind the first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. Director Gore Verbinski, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, composer Hans Zimmer, executive producers Mike Stenson and Chad Oman, editor Craig Wood, costume designer Penny Rose, and even star Johnny Depp all worked on “The Lone Ranger” following their previous collaboration on “Pirates” movies.

With so many similarities (behind the scenes, at least), perhaps Disney figured it only made sense for Disneyland Resort to host the world premiere of “The Lone Ranger” as it had for “Pirates.” Despite not having any direct connection to the “The Lone Ranger,” Disney California Adventure held the movie’s premiere on June 22, 2013.

Celebrity guests Cal Ripken, Emma Roberts, and others walked the red carpet at the premiere. However, the undisputed most famous celebrity present was Silver. He’s the horse who played the Lone Ranger’s steed of the same name in the movie. Silver’s previous filmography included “War Horse” and “Seabiscuit.”

The movie screened simultaneously inside two venues. The first was Hyperion Theater, most recently home to the limited run of “Rogers: The Musical” in 2023. The other was the theater that currently houses Mickey’s PhilharMagic, but at the time hosted Muppet*Vision 3D.

“Tomorrowland” — Downtown Disney (2015)

Director Brad Bird (“The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille”) brought a great, big, beautiful tomorrow to the big screen in 2015’s “Tomorrowland.” So naturally, on May 9, 2015, Disney hosted the world premiere for the movie in Tomorrowl— wait, what? The premiere was at Downtown Disney? But the real Tomorrowland is right there. Really? Ok.

While the actual screening was held at AMC Theatres in Downtown Disney, at least the after party was in Tomorrowland. George Clooney, star of the film, and Disney CEO Bob Iger rode the monorail from Downtown Disney for the festivities. Partygoers enjoyed rides on Space Mountain, an exhibit of props from the movie, and live music.

Celebrities at the “Tomorrowland” world premiere included Richard Sherman, co-writer of the theme song to Carousel of Progress, as featured in the film.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” — Shanghai Disney Resort (2017)

Breaking tradition, the most recent “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, 2017’s “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” didn’t premiere at Disneyland in California. Instead, the action headed over to Shanghai Disney Resort for a world premiere event on May 11, 2017. Disney screened the movie at the Walt Disney Grand Theater in Disneytown, the resort’s equivalent of Downtown Disney.

There was good reason for the change of venue. One year prior, Shanghai Disneyland had opened its gates with an entire land, Treasure Cove, themed to the “Pirates” movies. There, in lieu of the familiar, classic attraction, Imagineers built Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure. The ultimate E-Ticket ride, it combines every medium of Imagineering into a thrilling, incredible attraction. Captain Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones are at the center of its epic story.

To see what all the hype is about, watch episode six of “The Imagineering Story” on Disney+ or check out our POV below.

With its debut in Shanghai, “Dead Men Tell No Tales” was the first Hollywood movie to premiere in Mainland China. The film’s cast in attendance included regulars Depp and Rush, returning favorite Orlando Bloom (Will Turner, who was absent in part four), and newcomers Javier Bardem (Captain Salazar) and Brenton Thwaites (Henry Turner). Depp and Rush explored Treasure Cove, too.

Three days later, the cast visited Disneyland Paris for the European premiere. Gaumont Cinema at the resort’s Disney Village screened the movie.

Within the same press circuit, Depp donned his pirate garb and surprised guests onboard the ride at Disneyland in California.

“Jungle Cruise” — Disneyland (2021)

Despite starring in the “Jungle Cruise” movie, Emily Blunt had never ridden the namesake Disneyland ride until the movie’s world premiere at the park on July 24, 2021. The verdict? “It was beautiful and nostalgic and magical and whimsical and fun,” Blunt told The Hollywood Reporter at the time,”and it was surreal riding it knowing that we’re in the movie of it. It was weird for me; it was kind of mad.”

Disneyland screened “Jungle Cruise” at the open-air Fantasyland Theatre. The venue is currently home to “Tale of the Lion King,” and formerly hosted “Mickey and the Magical Map”. A red carpet in the adjacent promenade featured visits from Blunt and co-star Dwayne Johnson, among others. The premiere’s after party was in Adventureland, where guests rode Jungle Cruise and snacked on Dole Whips.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” — Disneyland Paris (2023)

Ok, so this was a “European gala,” not a “world premiere.” That being said, Disneyland Paris hosted an event featuring movie stars, a glamorous carpet, press interviews, and an advanced screening of a movie before most of the globe had seen it. Though the official world premiere of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” took place Apr. 27, 2023, in Hollywood, the European gala was, in essence, a world premiere of its own, and took place at a Disney destination, so we’re counting it. It came first, anyway, happening Apr. 22, 2023.

The gala kicked off with a star-studded orange carpet in Avengers Campus at Walt Disney Studios Park (The Guardians have their own ride in California’s Avengers Campus. Alas, in Paris, they do not). Director/writer James Gunn, plus stars Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Zoe Saldaña (Gamora), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), and Vin Diesel (Groot) were onhand. Afterward, Disney screened “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” at Gaumont Cinema in Disney Village.

“Haunted Mansion” — Disney California Adventure (2023)

The most recent movie to premiere at a Disney park was 2023’s “Haunted Mansion” … kind of. Disneyland Resort was slated to host the world premiere on July 15, 2023. Days prior, actors went on strike. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined already-on-strike Writers Guild of America (WGA). Actors and writers are still on strike at the time of this writing. They’re advocating for reform toward residuals from projects released on streaming platforms and business practices involving artificial intelligence, among other issues.

As such, stars LaKeith Stanfield (Ben), Rosario Dawson (Gabbie), Owen Wilson (Father Kent), Tiffany Haddish (Harriety), Danny DeVito (Bruce), Jamie Lee Curtis (Madame Leota), and Jared Leto (Hatbox Ghost) didn’t attend the premiere. Nevertheless, four of them had filmed promotional videos at Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Haunted Mansion attractions pre-strike.

Who entertained the press in their place? Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, the Evil Queen, Maleficent, and Cruella de Vil, all apparently not on strike despite being esteemed actors for decades.

Disney also invited Cast Members from Haunted Mansion attractions worldwide. They attended the premiere dressed in their respective attraction’s costume.

The red carpet was held steps away from Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. Disney screened the film inside Disney California Adventure’s Hyperion Theater.

The strike didn’t prohibit director Justin Simien from attending. Variety asked Simien what he’d say if given the opportunity to speak to Disney CEO Bob Iger. Simien responded, “I would love to talk to him about the reality that we all face as artists to make the impossible happen every day.”