MMP: Dave MacPherson was one of the first people through Disneyland gates on opening day!!

Dave MacPherson: After I bought the first ticket, the management gave me a special pass to all rides, etc., good for only that day. Since the line behind was very long and since it was hot, I thought that someone way back might want to buy my ticket that I had paid a dollar for. As I recall, I foolishly sold it for a dollar to a young man. I wish I had kept it. I was the first person into Disneyland when it opened for the public on Monday, July 18, 1955. Since then I have received silver and, in recent years, VIP passes each year. I have clippings from the L.A. and Long Beach papers proving I was first. In fact, I waited all night! When the sun came up there were 6000 people in line behind me. For 30 years I've been the author of widely read books and am a frequent talk show guest. It's surprising that the website doesn't have me on it, but I was mentioned as the first ticket buyer in the 25th anniversary press releases.

MMP: Did anything unusual happened while you waited long hours to be first in line?

Dave MacPherson: Well, I had thought that perhaps someone might try to get ahead of me at the last moment. So I had prepared a sheet to the effect that I was first, and had last-minute workers and security people sign it. Sure enough, about five minutes before the gates opened a woman and two little kids tried to get in front of me. So I pulled out the sheet (like a miniature Declaration of Independence!) and showed it to her. It was like Dracula seeing the light shining on the cross and she slunk back! But I wasn't about to lose my chance to win something big - and I won a lifetime pass which I've always gotten (in installments) early each year (and it's always been good for everything in Florida also)!

MMP: What were your first perceptions of Disneyland?

Dave MacPherson: One of my first impressions that first day at Disneyland were the buildings in Main Street; I noticed that everything was built in a smaller scale which was quite imaginative and charming. I was very tired from being up all night, so I went on only a few rides mainly to see at a glance, so to speak, the entire layout. I do remember being allowed to ride with the engineer on the Monorail [possibly he meant the Disneyland Railroad since the monorail was not built until the 60's], which I believe only VIP's were allowed to do in those early days, as I recall. I have no real sharp memories of the various parts of the park such as Adventureland, Frontierland, etc. The crowds were huge everywhere, of course, and the kids were out of their minds with fascination and happiness. Since I went back, with my free passes (installments of the lifetime pass I won), so many times with friends in the years following the first year, from my perspective now so many years later it's hard for me to separate later and much clearer memories from the first-day impressions. I can't recall my first ride, or favorite one, or how many rides I went on that first day. I believe I was there only a couple of hours because I was quite tired and knew I'd have to ride my little Simplex motorbike back to my home in Long Beach and get some rest before I had to return to my classes at Long Beach State the next day (Tuesday). I can't remember buying anything or seeing the parade, but as I recall the attractions had very long lines that first day! It was hot and humid that first day, and I heard that folks standing in the long line to get in were passing out from the heat. I also was informed later that 60,000 persons visited Disneyland that first day.

MMP: Here is an article that Dave wrote about opening day:

Dave MacPherson: DISNEYLAND'S GRAND OPENING (some little known facts)

I was at Disneyland when it opened for the public on Monday, July 18, 1955. Since I have some facts about that event that many websites evidently haven't known, I thought you might like to publish them:

It's true that Roy Disney, Walt's brother, requested the first printed ticket for his grandchildren's memorabilia.

It's also true that the park opened the previous day (Sunday) for a preview for only special guests and the news media, that some counterfeit tickets were printed by someone, and that some party crashers climbed over fences surrounding the attraction.

And it's true that when Disneyland opened for the public on that hot, humid Monday (the 18th), Walt Disney posed with Michael Schwartner and Christine Vess, the first two children in line.

But I had determined to make some history myself.

Since I wasn't Walt's relative, or a special guest or party crasher on the 17th, or a youngster on the 18th (I was then a 22-year-old college student), I had only one option. Employing the hard work and initiative that Walt had admired in persons like Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln, I focused on being first in line on the 18th and putt-putted on my Simplex motorbike from my Long Beach home to Disneyland during the wee hours of that unforgettable Monday.

Some time later I was notified that I had won a lifetime pass (good for any three persons and myself) - an annual card that I have received each year since 1955 which, in recent years, has also been good for other Disney parks including the ones in Florida and France.

You might say that 1955 was a very good year for a youthful Scotsman!

Because of my line of work, I've had many opportunities while guesting on worldwide talk shows to plug the various Disney attractions and tell about my purchase of the first Disneyland ticket when that park opened to the public.

I should add that Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck think it's about time for the media to air the facts I'm sharing here. Since I'm now 72, who am I to disagree with them?

And, yes, I'm still Disneyland's biggest fan!

MMP: We thank Dave MacPherson for sharing with us his impressions of opening day at Disneyland!!