Disneyland's grand opening
A day of magic, adventure, and dehydration.
Chris Wild
July 17, 1955
Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy. - Walt Disney Company
Early in his career, Walt Disney had a vision of building an attraction next to his studio to entertain visitors — a place where a whole family could have fun together. In 1953 he bought 160 acres in Anaheim, California. Two years later, the $17 million Disneyland park opened to the public.The opening was televised, anchored in part by future president Ronald Reagan. Only 6,000 tickets were issued, but many people had bought forged tickets; the estimated attendance was over 28,000, far more than the venue could handle.The day was so hot that the recently laid tarmac melted. A plumber's strike forced Disney to choose between functioning toilets or water fountains. Disney chose toilets. Some suspected the lack of water was a ploy to sell more Pepsi, a major sponsor.Those weren't the only hiccups. Food ran out quickly and a gas leak closed part of the park in the afternoon. Traffic delays meant the special guests, who were supposed to arrive at intervals, all arrived together. One of the anchormen was caught on camera kissing a dancer, and Disney flubbed the reading of the Tomorrowland plaque.Disney was largely oblivious to the extent of the problems while hosting the opening show. Later its executives would call the day "Black Sunday." Walt Disney later mended his relationship with the press by inviting them to special events so they could experience the park properly. The day after the less-than-grand opening, attendees still queued up early. The park was a success. By 1965 around 50 million people had visited. Further parks were built in Florida, Paris and Shanghai, among others. The parks remain a major and iconic part of the The Walt Disney Company.
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 17, 1955
What youngster... has not dreamed of flying with Peter Pan over moonlit London, or tumbling into Alice's nonsensical Wonderland? In Fantasyland, these classic stories of everyone's youth have become realities for youngsters of all ages to participate in. - Walt Disney
[Disneyland] provided an almost sacred space where it is permissible and safe to let one's guard down, take a risk, rediscover imagination, have fun, express emotion, play and deepen family ties. - Leslie Le Mon, "The Disneyland Book of Secrets," 2014
Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world. - Walt Disney Company