One day Walt Disney had a vision. It was a vision of a place
where children and parents could have fun together. The more
Walt dreamed of a "magical park," the more imaginative
and elaborate it became.
The original plans for the park were on 8 acres next to the Burbank studios where his employees and families could go to relax. Although, World War II put those plans on hold. During the war, Walt had time to come up with new ideas, and creations for his magical park. It was soon clear that 8 acres wouldn't be enough.
As Walt Disney sat at a bench, at an amusement park, watching
his daughters play, he noticed how ragged and filthy the small
amusement park was. He also observed people's reactions to different
rides, and noticed how children's parents had nothing to do.
They would be anxious to go home, while their children were still
having fun, and playing.
This is where Walt was conjuring, and planning a new type of amusement park; one that would be clean, and would have attractions for parents and children together. This was Walt Disney's idea, which eventually turned to be Disneyland.
Walt once said:
Walt at Disneyland
On the opening day of Disneyland, Walt stood in his apartment,
above the fire station on Main Street, and looked out the window
to see the crowds pour through the gates. Sharon Baird, a mouseketeer,
said this:
Walt would often visit Disneyland a few times a week. Although, many times he would visit late at night, when no one was there. Often times he would spend the night in his apartment in the fire station, on Main Street. When he came before the park opened, he would make sure the park was clean, and talk with the cast members.
Walt always wanted to know everything that was going on in the park. He knew about everything. He knew where water pipes were, how tall buildings were, he knew how the park ticked.
One time Walt visited the park, and noticed things were a little sloppy. He found the maintenance engineer of the park, and told him "I want this place painted". The engineer agreed, and said "We'll do it over the weekend." "No, I want it finished a painted by morning," ordered Walt. Dozens of painting crews painted through the night, and finished before the park opened.
Even though Walt Disney wasn't able to see how his park prospered and grew into the 21st Century, his legacy still lives on with us. Throughout Disneyland and throughout the entire world, he will always be there
The JustDisney.com
Disneyland Timeline
This new timeline is able to
be presented by the generous permission from Jason Schultz, who
allowed us to use some of his information, from his Disneyland
Timeline, to create this one.
1950's
-March 27
First public announcement of Walt Disney's plans to build Disneyland are printed in the Burbank Daily Review.
-December
Walt Disney Incorporated former (later renamed WED Enterprises)
1953-
The original plans for the park were on 8 acres next to the Burbank studios where his employees and families could go to relax. Although, World War II put those plans on hold. During the war, Walt had time to come up with new ideas, and creations for his magical park. It was soon clear that 8 acres wouldn't be enough.
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Finally in 1953, he had the Stanford Research Institute
conduct a survey for a 100-acre site, outside of Los Angeles.
He needed space to build rivers, waterfalls, and mountains; he
would have flying elephants and giant teacups;a fairy-tale castle,
moon rockets, and a scenic railway; all inside a magic kingdom
he called "Disneyland." Location was a top priority. The property would have to be within the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and accessible by freeway. It would also have to be affordable: Walt's pockets were only so deep.
 too little collateral." So Walt turned
to Television for his financial support. "Walt Disney's
Disneyland" television series offered a glimpse of the future
project. This brought the idea of Disneyland into reality for
Walt and the American people.Construction for Disneyland began on July 21, 1954, a meager 12 months before the park was scheduled to open. From that day forward Walt Disney's life would never be the same. Some 160-acres of citrus trees had been cleared and 15 houses moved to make room for the park. The area was in semi-rural Orange County, near a freeway that would eventually stretch from San Diego to Vancouver.
Tomorrowland was created as a look at the "marvels of the future." Walt said:
Walt Stayed close to every detail of the Park's Construction, and he visited the site in Anaheim several times a week. Progress went sporadically despite exasperating obstacles. The Rivers of America, carved out of sandy citrus grove soil, refused to hold water. The answer was finally found in a bed of native clay: an inch layer on the river bottom formed a pad as hard as cement. Although, minor set backs did follow, progress did continue.
Opening day, was a day to remember. Six thousand invitations to the Grand Opening had been mailed. By mid-afternoon over 28,000 ticket holders were storming the Magic Kingdom. Most of the tickets were counterfeit. Walt Disney was 53 when he dedicated Disneyland Park. It was a memorable ceremony. There in Town Square, Walt could look around and see the fulfillment of his hopes, dreams, and ambitions in the form of a spectacular entertainment kingdom. Although, Opening Day was a terrible disaster. A 15 day heat wave raised temperatures up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, due to a plumbers strike, few water fountains were operating in the hot weather. Asphalt still steaming, because it had been laid the night before, literality "trapping" high heeled shoes. After opening day, the heat wave continued, and almost wiped out the park. Beside the terrible opening day conditions, the park did eventually pick up. By 1965, ten years after opening day, 50 Million visitors had come through the gates. Even though Walt Disney wasn't able to see how his park and his company prospered and grew into the 21st Century, his legacy still lives on with us. Throughout Disneyland and throughout the entire world, he will always be there. |
This is where Walt was conjuring, and planning a new type of amusement park; one that would be clean, and would have attractions for parents and children together. This was Walt Disney's idea, which eventually turned to be Disneyland.
Walt once said:
- "What this country really needs is an amusement park that families can take their children to. They've gotten so honky tonk with a lot of questionable characters running around, and they're not to safe. They're not well kept. I want to have a place that's as clean as anything could ever be, and all the people in it [his park] are first-class citizens, and treated like guests."
- I was standing next to him at the window, watching the guests come through the gates. When I looked up at him, he had his hands behind his back, a grin from ear to ear, and I could see a lump in his throat and a tear streaming down his cheek. He had realized his dream.
Walt would often visit Disneyland a few times a week. Although, many times he would visit late at night, when no one was there. Often times he would spend the night in his apartment in the fire station, on Main Street. When he came before the park opened, he would make sure the park was clean, and talk with the cast members.
Walt always wanted to know everything that was going on in the park. He knew about everything. He knew where water pipes were, how tall buildings were, he knew how the park ticked.
One time Walt visited the park, and noticed things were a little sloppy. He found the maintenance engineer of the park, and told him "I want this place painted". The engineer agreed, and said "We'll do it over the weekend." "No, I want it finished a painted by morning," ordered Walt. Dozens of painting crews painted through the night, and finished before the park opened.
Even though Walt Disney wasn't able to see how his park prospered and grew into the 21st Century, his legacy still lives on with us. Throughout Disneyland and throughout the entire world, he will always be there
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| A Special Note: | |||||
| Navagate through the past, present and future of Disneyland. By using the Years above you can travel back and fourth in the History of Disneyland. |
 |
First public announcement of Walt Disney's plans to build Disneyland are printed in the Burbank Daily Review.
-December
Walt Disney Incorporated former (later renamed WED Enterprises)
1953-
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Walt Disney forms Retlaw Enterprises -July Walt Disney commissions the Stanford Research Institute to advise on the best location for Disneyland park -August Anaheim California selected as the site of the Park -October 8 First ideas for Holidayland Milt Albright promoted to manager of accounting at Disneyland Walt agrees to produce a regular television show for ABC in return for funding Key Disney Staff members begin touring American amusement parks, learning what not to do -July 21 The ground is broken for the beginning of the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland. A one-year race against time begins to build the Happiest Place on Earth on a 180 acre site in Anaheim. -August 13 Excavation of the Disneyland site begins -October 27 "The Disneyland Story" airs (first episode of Disneyland television show) -January 15 Tomorrowland construction begins -February 9 "A Disneyland Progress Report/Nature's Half Acre" airs -July 4 The two Disneyland steam trains (C.K. Holliday and E.P. Ripley) make their first run around the Park -July 13 Walt and Lillian's 30th Anniversary celebrated at Disneyland Mark Twain makes its first circle of the Rivers of America "A Pre-Opening Report on Disneyland" airs -July 17 Disneyland opens. 28,154 attend. 90 million watch on ABC. "Dateline: Disneyland" airs Attractions open: Main Street, U.S.A.:
Adventureland: Adventureland Bazaar, Jungle Cruise, Plaza Pavilion Frontierland: Chicken Plantation Restaurant, Davy Crockett Arcade, Frontier Trading Post, Golden Horseshoe Revue, Mark Twain Riverboat, Mule Pack, Stage Coach 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, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Snow White's Adventures Tomorrowland: Autopia, Circarama, U.S.A. (playing "A Tour of the West") Clock of the World, Monsanto Hall of Chemistry, Space Station X-1 -July 18 Disneyland openened to the public with general admission costing US $1. Cost of attractions ranged from 10c to 35c. Main Street, U.S.A.: Puffin Bakery, Silhouette Studio Frontierland: Pendleton Woolen Mills Dry Goods Store -July 22 Main Street, U.S.A.: Candy Palace Tomorrowland: Rocket to the Moon -July 30 Tomorrowland: Tomorrowland Boats -July 31 Fantasyland: Casey Jr. Circus Train August Frontierland: Conestoga Wagons Tomorrowland: The Color Gallery, The World Beneath Us -August 3 Tomorrowland: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit -August 9 Frontierland: Aunt Jemima Pancake House -August 11 Frontierland: Casa de Fritos -August 15 Tomorrowland: Tomorrowland Boats renamed to the "Phantom Boats" -August 16 Fantasyland: Dumbo Flying Elephants -August 27 Fantasyland: Mickey Mouse Club Theater -August 29 Fantasyland: Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant -September Tomorrowland: Flight Circle -September 4 Tomorrowland: Hobbyland (removed, 1966; area became walkway) -September 8 One Millionth Guest -September 16 Fantasyland: Canal Boats of the World close -October Disneyland News sold on Main Street, U.S.A. Disneyland Hotel opens on 60 acre site next to the Park -October 11 Ticket books available for the first time, containing A, B, and C Tickets (D Tickets added, 1956; E Tickets added, June, 1959) -November 11 Fantasyland: "Tent raising" ceremony held for the Mickey Mouse Club Circus -November 16 "Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race" airs -November 24 Fantasyland: Mickey Mouse Club Circus (removed, January 8, 1956; replaced by Keller's Jungle Killers, February 19, 1956) -December Tomorrowland: Aluminum Hall of Fame -December 1 Main Street, U.S.A.: Maxwell House Coffee House -December 25 Frontierland: Mike Fink Keel Boats
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