January 15--Despite plans to open the park without it, Walt decides to go ahead and build Tomorrowland saying that the park can only open as a complete experience. Admiral Fowler advised that the outlook for Tomorrowland was very grave, and despite the warnings, Tomorrowland was completed in six months and opened with the Autopia, Space Station X-1, and the Monsanto Hall of Chemistry.
January 15--Despite plans to open the park without it, Walt decides to go ahead and build Tomorrowland saying that
the park can only open as a complete experience. Admiral Fowler advised that the outlook for Tomorrowland was very
grave, and despite the warnings, Tomorrowland was completed in six months and opened with the Autopia, Space Station
X-1, and the Monsanto Hall of Chemistry.
July--Walt and Lillian's 30th Anniversary celebrated at Disneyland.
Mark Twain makes its first circle of the Rivers of America.
The two Disneyland steam trains (C.K. Holliday and E.P. Ripley) make their first run around the Park.
Aerial View of Disneyland
Line To Get In On Opening Day
Opening Day Crowd
Opening Day Parking Lot
Main Gate Admission Ticket
Main Gate Admission Ticket # 001
Purchased by Roy O. Disney on July 18, 1955
Invitational Press Preview Ticket
Invitational Press Preview Ticket
Preview Map and Instructions
Opening Day Ceremony
Walt Disney's Badge
July 12th,1955 Letter to Lessees
July 17 5:30 p.m.--Disneyland opens with 18 attractions, including the Jungle Cruise, Tomorrowland
Autopia, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and the Mark Twain. The televised opening is hosted by Ronald Reagan, Art Linkletter
and Bob Cummings. The 11,000 invitation only tickets to opening day are so easily duplicated that first day
attendance shoots to 28,154. With a ABC television audience of 90 million. One entrepreneur folds a ladder over the
park's backside fence and lets people in for $5.
Parade Sequence Page 1
Parade Sequence Page 2
Parade Sequence Page 3
Disneyland Opening Day Telecast
Disneyland News Vol 1 No 1
L.A. Times Announces Opening
Of Disneyland
July 18--Disneyland opens to the general public Official general admission costing $1.Cost of attractions ranged from 10c to 35c.
September--One Millionth Guest Admitted (Elsa Marquez)
October--Disneyland Hotel opens on 60 acre site next to the Park. Ticket books available for the first time, containing A, B, and C Tickets.
November--On Thanksgiving, the Mickey Mouse Club Circus debuts with a parade down Main Street USA but is poorly received and discontinued in early 1956.