© Copyright Disney
The story goes, that Walt was sitting on a park bench, eating peanuts, wait- ing while his daughters rode the carousel horses at some second-rate carnival. He began to notice the decrepit attractions, the poor food, the inattentive workers and the overall lack of family entertainment. When he got home he spoke with Lillian about his observations and commented on how he would like to create a place that would allow the entire family to have fun, together. And the rest, as they say, is history.e.lements of magic: the interactive guidebook to disney’s magic kingdom by matthew c. gallagher
© Copyright Disney
Well, today we celebrate the opening of the park that changed the world. Opening day was broadcast live with stars, starlets and invited guests playing the supporting parts in a day devoted to Walt’s dream, Disneyland. The park took only a year to build, but devoting that much time and money ($17 million) which was unheard of at that time; compare that to the recent completion of the Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom in Florida that was announced in 2009 and was just completed this past Spring.
© Copyright Disney
Attractions on Opening Day
© Copyright Disney
TOWN SQUARE
City Hall
Fire Department
Plaza Pavilion Restaurant
MAIN STREET USA
Bank of America
Camera Center
Carnation Ice Cream Parlor
Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner
Emporium
Horse-Drawn Fire Wagon
Horse-Drawn Street Cars
Horse-Drawn Surreys
Main Street Cinema
Main Street Penny Arcade
Ruggles China and Glass House
Story Book Shop
Santa Fe / Disneyland Railroad (featuring 2 engines: #1 C.K. Holliday & #2 E.P. Ripley)
ADVENTURELAND
Jungle Cruise (featuring 2 boats: Ganges Gal and Congo Queen)
Red Wagon Inn
FRONTIERLAND
Chicken Plantation Restaurant
Davy Crockett Arcade
Frontier Trading Post
Golden Horseshoe Revue at Slue Foot Sue’s Golden Horseshoe Saloon
Mark Twain Steamboat
Mule Pack
Stage Coaches
FANTASYLAND
Canal Boats of the World
King Arthur Carrousel
Mad Tea Party
Merlin’s Magic Shop
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Peter Pan’s Flight
Snow White’s Adventures
TOMORROWLAND
Autopia
Circarama USA (presenting the film A Tour of the West)
Monsanto Hall of Chemistry
Space Station X-1
© Copyright Disney
Although the day did not go as smoothly as planned, the park changed the way that Americans, and the world vacations. That small idea Walt had to entertain his family turned into one park that now spans the globe. From Anaheim to Orlando and Paris to Tokyo, Disney Parks has expanded far beyond even the vast imagination Walt had ever intended.
© Copyright Disney
Disneyland, however, is the original and unlike any other. You can feel it when you walk through the park, that Walt lived here. He was a presence throughout the park’s early years and that imbues it with an aura that no other park will ever have; Walt’s magic. I have been to the park several times in my life and cherish the memories of days spent there. I look forward to visiting someday soon, with my little girls and sharing the story of Walt and an idea for his two girls that grew into this magical wonderland.
© Copyright Disney
To all the cast at the park, thanks for all the magic! Happy Birthday Disneyland.
[subscribe]