Hi friends!
I was so excited to be visiting Disney during Black History Month to celebrate and enjoy the concerts, soul food offerings, as well as enjoying the stories of Black characters from our favorite Disney films. Last year, Disney invited us to “Celebrate Soulfully, ”Disneyland’s monthlong observation of African American heritage and culture and we were so inspired that we decided to make it a tradition to homeschool at the Parks for a day in February. Here is how we spent the day “homeschooling” at Disneyland for Black History Month.
Downtown Disney
We started our day in Downtown Disney where you can eat and shop and the best part is entry is free.
Here’s what we did:
We perused the walkable Black History Exhibit highlighting astronomers and mathematicians like Benjamin Banneker and Katherine Johnson. There are also some family crafts and art which includes original artwork by Marcella Swett’s that celebrates Black history.
One of the best parts about Disney is the music so don’t miss out on some R&B, Reggae, Funk, Jazz, Doo-Wop, and Gospel on the Downtown Disney LIVE! stage. Some of the scheduled acts include Forward Motion Band, and The Rhythm & Blues Brothas.
If you’re visiting Disney during Black History Month, on select weekends you can also catch Gospel performances by Sacred Groove and The Singers of Soul. Sacred Groove is a group of 6 phenomenal a cappella vocalists that put on one of the most joyous experiences with their upbeat modern hymns. You also don’t want to miss Singers of Soul who have performed and recorded with artists such as Beyoncé, BTS, and Dolly Parton!
On your way out, don’t forget to stop by the famous Wings ‘N Waffles, a Black-owned food truck that will be offering some one-of-a-kind plates. And don’t worry, you have a lot of time to plan your visit, since they will be there from Feb. 9 through March 5
If you’re visiting Disney during Black History Month, you can also grab some Creole cuisine at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. We really could’ve ended our homeschool day here but… we kept it moving along to our next stop, Disneyland!
Disneyland
First on my list when visiting Disney during Black History Month is The Fredrick Douglas Exhibit on Main Street. The Fredrick Douglas Exhibit is a part of “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” at the Opera House. This new video, which is a collaboration with National Geographic, brings to life the story of the historic relationship between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln with portraits of these two giants, recognizing their work together in the fight against slavery. The exhibit is available all year long!
If you’re visiting Disney during Black History Month, on select days at the Fantasyland Theatre, you can also watch the production “Tale of the Lion King” where you can listen to all the classics like “Circle of Life,” “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” And since you’re already in Fantasyland, don’t forget to pick up your Fantasyland Souvenir Popcorn Bucket featuring Simba from Disney’s The Lion King.
In New Orleans Square, Eudora’s Chic Boutique offers home goods, apparel, and more in a shop inspired by “The Princess and the Frog.” Speaking of Princess and the frog, have you heard the exciting news? Growing up, I didn’t have a princess that looked like me, I’m so glad my daughter does! You can watch our sweet moment with Princess Tiana here to celebrate the announcement that she’s getting her own restaurant, Tiana’s Palace, at Disneyland later this year. Head to my Instagram where you can watch the full reel.
If you have not heard of “Celebrate Gospel,” you are missing out on some powerful performances that will give you goosebumps. As part of the long-standing tradition, “Celebrate Gospel” will make its grand return at Fantasyland Theatre on two special weekend dates.
Mark your calendars for February 25th when performances will take place from 2:30-7:00 PM so you can drop in as much as you like, in between rides and eating. One of my favorite parts about this event is it features community choirs from all across Southern California!
Disney California Adventure
We hopped on over to Disney California Adventure so we could experience the one and only Dime and her jazz quintet performing some of the biggest hits from the ’20s and ’30s.
You can find Five & Dime on Buena Vista Street during these times on the 25th:
Morning: 11:45 AM
Afternoon: 12:45 PM, 1:45 PM, 3:10 PM, 4:15 PM
Evening: 5:15 PM
Don’t forget when visiting Disney during Black History Month, to meet Moongirl. This is a limited-time experience to celebrate the newest Disney series, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.
If you’re going to visit Disney soon, you can read my blog post about How to Save Money On Your Disney Vacation.
The Fredrick Douglas Exhibit is on our list for our next visit to Disneyland.