For over 65 years Disneyland has become a household name.
The first Disney Theme Park opened on July 17,1955 in Anaheim California.
Since then, four other Disney themed resorts have opened around the world. The
Disneyland Park in Anaheim is the ONLY completed park that Walt Disney himself
walked in. The history of Disneyland as you will see, is fascinating.
Walt's hand can be seen in the design of the park. While Walt was alive he was
constantly making small and large changes to Disneyland. Walt wanted the park
to be a family park where everyone in the family could enjoy all the different
attractions. To Walt, Disneyland was like a big toy he could change and
improve.Walt's biggest change to Disneyland came in 1959. He opened the Disneyland
Monorail (the first in the western hemisphere to cross a street), Matterhorn
Bobsleds (the first tubular steel roller coaster), Fantasyland Autopia, and
Submarine Voyage. One of Walt's favorite attractions opened in 1963: Enchanted
Tiki Room with 225 Audio Animatronics. In early 1966 Walt brought us It's A
Small World.
The world mourns as we find out that our "Uncle Walt" has passed
away on December 15, 1966. Roy O Disney (Walt's brother) took over as CEO. For a few years after Walt's death the company used the plans that he had
created for Disneyland. Using those plans the Haunted Mansion and Pirates Of
The Caribbean was completed.
THE 1970's
Then in the 1970's Disneyland started changing drastically. Walt was gone, and
the new management had to figure out how to keep the park fresh. New
attractions in the 1970's were very different from Walt's time like Space
Mountain: a high-speed roller coaster in the dark, and Big Thunder Mountain
Railroad. As the 1970s end Card Walker takes over as CEO. The price of
Disneyland tickets cross the $10 mark.
THE 1980's
The 1980's brought a complete redesign of Fantasyland. The first one since
Disneyland opened. Also, in Tomorrowland, Captain EO starring Michael Jackson
and Star Tours opens. America Sings closed and the Carousel Building sat empty
for 10 years. As the 80's wind down Splash Mountain opens in Critter Country
in 1989. The price of Disneyland tickets cross the $20 mark.
THE 1990's
The 1990's as part of CEO Michael Eisner's Disney Decade, Disneyland received
many changes. In 1993, a completely new land was created: Mickey's ToonTown.
Mickey's ToonTown opened with 7 attractions. In 1995, the biggest attraction
ever built for Disneyland: Indiana Jones Adventure, Temple Of The Forbidden
Eye opened in Adventureland. In 1998, a complete redesign of Tomorrowland was
done. We lost attractions like Submarine Voyage (the lagoon sat empty for 9
years), Circle-Vision, Rocket Jets, and People Mover. The Carousel Building
finally got a new attraction: Innoventions. Circle-Vision, Rocket Jets and
People Mover are replaced by the very short-lived Rocket Rods. The Astro
Orbitor is added to the entrance of Tomorrowland. Unfortunately the year also
brings one of the worst accidents in Disneyland's history on Christmas day
involving the Sailing Ship Columbia. Just as the 20th century ends Tarzan's
Treehouse replaces Swiss Family Robinson's Treehouse. The price of
Disneyland tickets cross the $30 mark.
THE 2000's
As the 21st century begins: A combining of Tomorrowland Autopia and
Fantasyland Autopia opens in 2000 named as Autopia. In 2001 the parking lot of
Disneyland became a whole new park: Disney's California Adventure. In 2003,
Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh opens in Critter Country. Toward the end of
2003 another tragic accident happens involving Big Thunder Mountain. A
complete redesign of maintenance in the entire park is ordered. The price of
Disneyland tickets cross the $40 mark.
For Disneyland's 50th birthday in 2005, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters opens in
the old Rocket Rods queue in Tomorrowland. Robert Iger takes over as CEO. The
price of Disneyland tickets cross the $50 mark.
THE 2010's
Before the first decade of the 21st century ends: The much anticipated
replacement for the old Submarine Voyage, Finding Nemo: Submarine Voyage,
opened in 2007. The lagoon finally has movement again, a brand new Abraham
Lincoln animatronic is installed at The Disneyland Story Featuring Great
Moments With Mr. Lincoln. The price of Disneyland tickets cross the $70 mark.
As the second decade of the 21st century begins, the much anticipated
replacement for Star Tours opens in 2011 named Star Tours: The Adventures
Continue. Art Linkletter, who hosted Disneyland's opening day broadcast,
dies at 97 years old. Robert Sherman, dies in London at age 86. Wally Boag,
who played Pecos Bill in nearly 40,000 live performances of the Golden Horseshoe Revue at Disneyland and was the voice of Jose in The Enchanted Tiki Room.,dies at 90 years old.
May 2012 Alice Davis finally gets aa window on Main Street U.S.A.
November 2013 Diane Disney Miller, who inspired her famous father Walt to create Disneyland, dies in Napa, California at age 79.
April 2016 Construction begins on Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Disneyland's first new land in over 30 years
2019 The price of Disneyland tickets cross the $140 mark.
2019 Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Opens
THE 2020's
2020 Disneyland closes on March 14 due to COVID
2021 Disneyland reopens on April 30
The future? Disneyland is always changing sometimes for the better and
sometimes for the well…
Here at
MickeyMousePark.com we strive to
provide the very best information on the history of the Original Disneyland
Park in Anaheim California!
