Hey, friends! I am beyond thrilled to share with you a literal dream partnership of mine! Our family was hosted at Disneyland Resort this past Saturday for the incredible Celebrate Soulfully events happening right now in honor of Black History Month. If you can’t already tell from previous blog posts (Disney Cruise, Disneyland at Halloween) we are huge fans of the magic that is Disney Parks. Our very first family trip was to Walt Disney World when Raegan was tiny, and I was pregnant with Zarie. We fell in love with the magical experience, top notch entertainment, and of course the food.
We moved to California in June of 2021 (we’re an active duty military family) and put Disneyland at the top of our must-dos list. This past weekend will have been our third trip, and while I thought I was a 100% WDW girl, Disneyland is starting to feel like home for us. So, its probably comes at no surprise to anyone that I was genuinely overjoyed at the opportunity to partner with Disneyland for their Celebrate Soulfully events happening inside the parks and throughout their Downtown Disney District this February.
According to Disney Parks Blog, “This Feb. marks the return of Celebrate Soulfully at Disney Parks, bringing new culturally rich experiences to Walt Disney World Resort and, for the first time, to Disneyland Resort. Coinciding with Black History Month, Celebrate Soulfully invites families and friends to gather for experiences that honor Black heritage and culture through music, food, art and more.”
I absolutely LOVED taking you all along via Instagram stories, and I’ve created a full highlight for you all to refer back to when planning your own trips. I also create a fun mini-vlog reel that you can view below.
All of our Disney themed outfits, accessories, and park must-haves are linked in my What We’re Packing For Disney blog post.
If you have any further questions about our Celebrate Soulfully experience, please leave it below! I am happy to share. So, let’s get into it….what exactly does Celebrate Soulfully offer?
Disneyland Park
We got to witness, for the first time at Disneyland park, “Celebrate Gospel” at the Fantasyland Theater. award-winning Gospel singer Kierra Sheard blessed us with the most uplifting performances. It was such a wonderful sight to see so many people in fellowship and worshiping through Gospel right in the middle of the Happiest Place on Earth. We also enjoyed a cappella Gospel group Sacred Groove and other Southern California community choirs. This tribute to the spirit of Gospel music was unmatched.
The kiddos also got to participate in the cutest Gratitude Wall activity. They each wrote something they were grateful for and hung it up to help create the most beautiful tapestry of thankfulness. The girls also loved coloring their own paper church fans. These are a staple in so many churches in Black communities, and it was a delight to see the girls immersing themselves in something I know well from my own church at their age.
Another Celebrate Gospel experience will take place in Disneyland this Saturday February 26th, according to Disney Park’s Blog it’ll feature “contemporary Gospel artists Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music, who won a GRAMMY Award in 2021 for their song “Movin’ On,” plus the vocal group The Singers of Soul, an acclaimed Gospel choir whose united sound aims to spread love, hope and joy through the power of music. Community choirs are also part of the show on each of these Saturdays, with music from 3 p.m.to 7 p.m. on the Fantasyland Theater stage.”
Also, right at the entrance of the Fantasyland Theater is the Troubadour Tavern, and we got the most delish stuffed baked potatoes, turkey legs, and, one of my fav Disney desserts to date, the Carmelized Apple-filled Hand Pie. This was our first time snagging food from here, but it will not be our last.
Downtown Disney District
There will also plenty of opportunities to enjoy live music in the Downtown Disney District. It was such a blessing to stroll the streets listening to familiar beats.
Disney Parks Blog says “Throughout Feb., Downtown Disney District showcases live nightly entertainment featuring R&B, reggae, funk, Motown, jazz and Doo-Wop, plus Saturday afternoon Gospel performances. The groups include Island Reggae, Del Atkins and the LYFE Band, Midnight Hour, Philly Phonics, Forward Motion, StandardMel & Friends, Urban Music Society and LALA Brass. Check the daily schedule at Disneyland.com for that evening’s concert group. You can also listen to a jazz pianist nightly at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen!”
I think perhaps my favorite Celebrate Soulfully detail was the Black artisans and offerings that celebrate Black culture. There was stunning chalk-art from Disney cast member and chalk muralist Marcella Swett, art inspired by Disney and Pixar’s “Soul,” and posters sharing the anticipation of “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” series on Disney+. I cannot wait to introduce the girls to one of my favorite childhood characters, Penny Proud.
We got the opportunity to shop the new Post21 cart that offers a curated collection of modern merchandise from Black-owned businesses–it is important to note that they are the first business to do this here. We ended up taking home quite a few beautiful books, honey and hair accessories. You can find Post21 between World of Disney and Starbucks. This cart is a must see, and the owners are magically kind!
We also stopped by WonderGround gallery, to check out all of the artwork and collectibles inspired by films “Princess and the Frog,” “Soul,” “The Lion King,” and more. I look for these items online and any time we are at the parks, and so to see them intentionally curated and available was a total dream. I love to see the steps that Disney is taking to amplify Black artistry and culture. This is important work that’s needed to happen.
Grand Californian Hotel and Spa
“While listening to jazz at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, savor a special menu enhanced with wines, beer and spirits from Black-owned businesses at Hearthstone Lounge through Feb. Sip wines by the glass from the McBride Sisters Collection or the Brown Estate Napa Valley, enjoy craft beer from Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. or a cocktail made with Uncle Nearest 1884 Tennessee whiskey. The appetizer menu, served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly, features crispy chicken wings with habanero maple syrup glaze, Cajun shrimp flatbread, and loaded sweet potato fries with crispy bacon, corn relish, barbecue sauce, spicy aioli and parsley.” –Disney Parks Blog
Disney California Adventure Park
We LOVE Avenger’s campus, and right now you can join Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje, as she teaches us about being a warrior in Wakanda. We may even get to see the Black Panther himself. WAKANDA FOREVER! Check your Disneyland app for daily showtimes.
What an incredible experience, friends! This is a Black History Month our family will never forget, and I hope I’ve been able to share my experience with you in a way that pays tribute to the importance of my culture.
Our next trip kicks of this Friday February 25th, and I cant wait to bring you all along on Instagram. If you visit the parks this month, be sure to check out all of the Celebrate Soulfully offerings, and be sure to use hashtag #CelebrateSoulfully.
5 Responses
I screamed when I saw that you’d landed this partnership! So deserving. I used all your tips when planning our first WDW trip last month; we had a magical time. Can’t wait to see what you share this weekend <3
This looks like SUCH a fun trip! Loved hearing about all the details and glad y’all got to experience it!
Such a rich post! Thank you for taking us along for the ride. Your reels and posts have inspired my family to visit the parks soon and now I feel a little more prepared as you always share such great stories packed with details and beautiful visuals. Please continue to do what you do!