Disneyland

To all who come to this happy place: Welcome.  Disneyland is your land.  Here age relives fond memories of the past – and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.  Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America – with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.

Walt Disney – July 17th, 1955

Opening day in Disneyland was referred to by many, including Walt Disney, as Black Sunday.  Although opening day didn’t quite go as planned, it truly could have been much worse.  There were “glitches” and not disasters: no major closures, no one had major injuries, nothing happened that would have caused everyone to leave the park in fear, and no natural disasters.  Practically all the parks challenges on opening day began with too many people in the park.  Originally the plan was that there would be around 10,00 guests on July 17^th, 1955.  The guests were supposed to be dignitaries, Disney employees, celebrities, reporters and people who were given special invitations.  Even though the papers had published that on July 17^th, the park would only be open by special invitation, many arrived hoping to gain access into the park.  Many of these people showed up with counterfeit tickets and unfortunately those Disney employees had no way of telling the real tickets from the counterfeit tickets.  There was no way that they could turn people away if they had a ticket in hand and many guests were found sneaking in over the berm.  By the days end it is reported that 28,154 (official count) and 33,000 (unofficial count) people showed up for the unveiling of Disneyland.  Walt Disney had built something so fascinating that people just couldn’t wait to see it.

However, with that many people, the Disney staff started encountering food and beverage shortages, bathrooms were not working as they should with that many people and trash cans were continually overflowing.  Disney staff wasn’t properly trained to handle these problems so they did what they could to make all the visitors happy.  Another minor hitch was as the day wore on and temperatures grew, lady’s high heels were sinking into the asphalt.  Not really a problem that anyone could have foreseen as these ladies were actresses, and dignitaries who I’m sure wouldn’t have been wearing anything but heels.  Disney staff acted quickly to accommodate these women and they were given free moccasins to wear in the park.  (This was the only adult shoe that was being sold in the park on opening day).  Although Disney employees weren’t trained to handle these problems, it appeared that they did an amazing job to keep everyone happy.

Even though many “glitches” were encountered, much of the day went smoothly.  The parks first parade wound down Main Street which included the Disneyland Band and the Mouseketeers and in true Disney style, there was the Firehouse Five Plus Two jazz band playing and that night fireworks were seen above Sleeping Beauty Castle.  Even from opening day no expense was spared for the enjoyment of people who were coming to see Walt Disney’s “Disneyland”.

Disneyland didn’t simply survive opening day, it flourished. In less than 15 months Disneyland had its 5 millionth guest walk through the gates.  In the past 7 years Disneyland has seen more than 15 million people pass through the gates each year.  This is due to Walt Disney and his vision and how he wanted to see things grow.  He never stopped shooting for the stars and never stopped changing things.  Thank you Walt for creating something so amazing.

“To try to keep an operation like Disneyland going you have to pour it in there.  It’s what I call ‘Keeping the show on the road’.  Not just new attractions, but keeping it staffed properly…you know, never letting your personnel get sloppy…never let them be unfriendly.  That’s been our policy all our lives.  My brother and I have done that and that is what has built our organization” – Walt Disney

“When they come here they’re coming because of an integrity that we’ve established over the years.  And they drive hundreds of miles.  I feel a responsibility to the public” – Walt Disney

“When I started on Disneyland, my wife use to say, ‘But why do you want to build an amusement park? They’re so dirty.’  I told her that was just the point – mine wouldn’t be.” – Walt Disney

Here are some fun facts about 1313 Harbor Boulevard – Disneyland

1955

Hours:  10:00am to 10:00pm; open daily all summer; closed some Mondays the rest of the year

Adult admission:  $1 (plus additional charges for attractions)

Number of Lands:  Five (Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Main Street, and Tomorrowland

Number of Main Attractions:  17 on Opening Day

2017

Hours:  Varied, often from 8:00 or 9:00am to 10:00, 11:00 or midnight; open daily

Adult Admission:   Cost for a single day ranges from $95 – $119 depending on the day

(no additional charge for attractions)

Number of Lands:   Eight (the original five plus Critter Country, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown)

Number of Main Attractions:  60+

There are so many fun facts about Disneyland that I’m excited to share with you.  Be sure and check back on Monday’s or sign up to receive the blog in your email.  Let me show you how you can plan a magical vacation to Disneyland to see for yourself the amazing theme park that Walt Disney created.

To Infinity and Beyond Travel – Traci