Magic Kingdom Park, located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, opened on October 1, 1971. The park is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division. The construction of Magic Kingdom officially began in 1967 and took approximately 18 months to complete. The park included the main Magic Kingdom site, two golf courses, and two hotels—Contemporary Resort and the Contemporary Resort.
The construction of Disney World took place just 12 months before the park’s scheduled opening, with construction companies working frantically to meet the tight schedule. Disney was given total control of planning and building codes, allowing it to complete the park in just 18 months. By the time the Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, more than 9,000 construction workers had labored for 18 months, costing approximately $400 million to create.
In 1967, construction began on the Walt Disney World Resort, with the company building a resort similar to Disneyland. Magic Kingdom was the first theme park built, and it took around 18 months to complete. Ground broke on July 15, 1954, in Anaheim, CA, and opened to invited guests on July 17, 1955. In a 2-year construction effort, Disney employed 9,000 people, and land speculation reached unprecedented heights as hotel chains and restaurateurs grabbed up land. Six months later, the Magic Kingdom opened.
📹 Building Walt Disney World
Images courtesy of The Walt Disney Archives, Google Maps, Robert J Boser, State Archives of Florida, Orange County Archives, …
Why is it 100 years of Disney Magic?
Walt Disney World is celebrating its 100th anniversary of its founder, Walt Disney, with a 17-month “100 Years of Magic” celebration at Disney-MGM Studios. The event includes a parade, the 122-foot-tall Sorcerer Mickey Hat Icon, and the new stage show “Playhouse Disney-Live On Stage!” featuring characters from “Rolie Polie Olie”, “Stanley”, and other beloved Disney characters. The celebration is centered around the Great Movie Ride at the Disney-MGM Studios.
How did Walt Disney get the money to build Disneyland?
Walt Disney’s vision for Disneyland was met with resistance from Disney Studios and his brother Roy. However, Walt decided to pursue his vision and formed WED Enterprises, a personal corporation to house his team of designers, planners, and artists. The WED group brainstormed, conceptualized, designed, and reworked Walt’s ideas, and visited other amusement attractions to gather data and develop plans.
By 1953, major hurdles such as obtaining financing and securing a location remained. Walt sought guidance from commercial real estate development experts and requested marketing studies from the Stanford Research Institute to examine the economic prospects of developing Disneyland and find the ideal location for construction companies. The Stanford group examined factors such as demographic statistics, urban growth trends, population concentrations, traffic patterns, freeway construction, availability of experienced commercial contractors, and weather conditions before recommending a site in Anaheim, a rapidly growing town southeast of Los Angeles.
What is Disneyland doing for 100 years?
Disney Parks is set to celebrate the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary in 2023, featuring new platinum-infused décor, two nighttime spectaculars, and special food and beverage offerings. The global celebration will take place across all six Disney Parks, starting at Disneyland Resort on January 27, 2023. The event promises to bring excitement and new entertainment to the Disney Parks.
How can Disney be 100 years old?
Disney celebrated its 100th anniversary on October 16, 2023, with a short film called “Once Upon a Studio” released on Disney+. The film showcases characters from Disney movies, from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to recent films like “Wish”. The short film features 2D and 3D animated characters interacting on the same background of the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in California. The characters interact as they head towards the lobby, with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse rounding up the group for a family photo.
The film also features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the first cartoon character created by Disney. The film is both cute and comical, capturing the personalities of each character and making it a memorable experience.
Did Walt Disney ever see Disney World?
Before his death in 1966 from lung cancer, Walt Disney World was purchased in Orlando, Florida, and he played a crucial role in its planning. The park quickly became a top tourist destination, offering a variety of entertainment venues, hotels, restaurants, golf courses, campgrounds, and shopping villages. The Walt Disney Company, which included theme parks, motion picture and television studios, television networks, cable and radio stations, publishing companies, record companies, travel divisions, cruise lines, retail stores, special effects and engineering firms, and new media companies, had grown into a multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar empire.
Disney saw himself as an entertainer and a man with a creative vision, involved in every step of his studio’s creative processes and willing to risk his personal fortune on project success. His unique contributions to the world, family entertainment standards, and vision of the future remain synonymous with his name.
Did Walt want people to live in Epcot?
Walt Disney’s original vision of E. P. C. O. T was to create a model community with 20, 000 residents, focusing on city planning and organization. The community would be built in a circle shape, with businesses, commercial areas, community buildings, schools, and residential neighborhoods. Transportation would be provided by monorails and PeopleMovers, with automobile traffic kept underground. Walt Disney aimed for a planned, controlled community with no slum areas, landowners, or voting control.
People would rent houses instead of buying them, and everyone would be employed. The project was known as various names within Walt Disney Productions, including “Project X”, “The Florida Project”, “The Disney Florida Project”, and “Disney World”.
How long did it take to build Guardians of the Galaxy ride?
Walt Disney World Resort is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a Marvel-themed ride that opened in May 2022. The ride is located on the former site of Ellen’s Energy Adventure at EPCOT, in the same World Discovery neighborhood where Joffrey’s coffee and tea shop, Connections Café, Creations Shop, Club Cool, Space 220 restaurant, and Mission: Space are located.
The ride is the first and only Marvel-themed ride at WDW so far. The ride is known for its unique Marvel properties licensing, which may be frustrating for some. The ride is set to debut on May 2023, and it is expected to be a popular attraction for visitors.
How long did it take to fully build Disneyland?
On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened its doors to its inaugural group of visitors, marking the culmination of a year-long construction period and a $17 million investment. This event signified the advent of a new era of prosperity for the company.
How long did it take to build Epcot?
The EPCOT Center, originally named EPCOT Park, was designed to represent emerging technologies and international cultures. It was constructed for an estimated $800 million to $1. 4 billion and took three years to build, making it the largest construction project on Earth at the time. The park spans 305 acres and has a 141-acre parking lot that can accommodate 11, 211 vehicles. It opened on October 1, 1982, in a ceremony attended by Disney chairman and CEO Card Walker and Florida Governor Bob Graham.
During the opening ceremony, dancers and band members performed “We’ve Just Begun to Dream”, and the Sherman Brothers wrote a song for the occasion called “The World Showcase March”. Doves and balloons were released, and performing groups representing countries from around the world performed. Water was gathered from major rivers and emptied into the park’s Fountain of Nations with ceremonial containers to mark the opening.
How long did it take to build Disney Magic Kingdom?
Walt Disney World was announced in November 1965 as the “Florida Project” to avoid attention and speculation. Construction of the first theme park, Magic Kingdom, began in May 1969 and took around 18 months to complete. The first Walt Disney World hotel to open was Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Since 1971, 23 on-site Disney hotels have been added to the resort’s portfolio, including Disney’s All-Star Value Resorts, Hispanic-inspired Coronado Springs Resort, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. These iconic accommodations remain two of the most popular Deluxe Resorts.
📹 Disneyland: Walt’s Impossible Dream
The world’s first fully-themed amusement park, Disneyland, opened to droves of visitors from around the world on Sunday, July …
If you ever go to Disneyland or Disneyworld, take a moment and think deep. Every bolt, every screw, every worker, every building, and everyone that is there at that moment, is because of Walt Disney. A man who had a dream and he pursued it and accomplished it. A man and a mouse created something so beautiful for generations to come.
Visited the park in 1961. I’m 73, now. I’ll never forget getting to be in Disneyland!!! I watched the TV program every week. I watch all the articles now of Disneyland and Disney World. There are several vloggers who only do Disney articles!! These folks deserve some kind of award for experiencing for us, their public who can’t afford to visit the parks!!! Thank you so much.
Our family, mom and dad who survived the horrors of the Korean War and had emigrated to the United States in 1971, as well as my brother and I, visited Disneyland in 1972. My brother was 8 and I was 9. We wore woolen sweaters not aware on how hot it got in Anaheim. After scrapping off the thick layer of vaseline to ward off insects and ditching the sweaters, my brother and I marveled at the wonder. To me, it was magical indeed.
I’m 77 now. I remember perusal Opening Day on TV. I thought when kids ran across the lift bridge into the castle was the entrance to the park. I went to the park dozens of times with family, on Senior Day in high school, both of my honeymoons, with my kids, and with my grandkids, I have even built a garden railroad in the adjoining lot to my house of all the rides and attractions at 1/24 scale.. I like to think that working on the layout saved my life as I stayed home and built models instead of getting COVID-19, which killed many friends. Now that I’m in the last few years of my life, I can’t think of a better time to have been alive. Thanks Walt!
Great episode Alex! My fathers uncle George used to play cards with Walt and when he was getting things in order to build Disneyland he asked George, “I’m building an amusement park, a themed experience to which the world has never seen and I am looking for investors.” Georges response, “Walt your nuts! amusement parks are disgusting and are going bankrupt all over the country. You’ll loose your shirt!” If only he knew… our last name could have been forever enshrined on a Main Street window.
Disneyland is just an absolutely amazing theme park but it’s just the best place to be to escape the troubles and worries of the real world!!! I can honestly never get enough of Disneyland it’s pretty much an obsession at this point, Walt Disney seemed like a pretty amazing man I would’ve loved to have met him but he would sure be proud of people like u Alex who keep the Disney memories and history alive and never forgotten!!! I really hope annual passes/ Magic Keys come back soon and thank u for this article I can’t believe Disneyland is 67 years old!!! ❤️
I never had the chance to visit the park yet. Not sure I want to. Maybe It’s just me, but If he would be alive today, I don’t think he would be proud to see how his creation has been twisted by the woke agenda. I’ll be forever grateful to him for creating my favorite cartoon ever Mickey Mouse. Thank you Mr Disney!
This means a lot to me because these land scenes and Disneyland itself is where I came into the world back in 1964, only 2 miles from Disneyland. Our house where I spent my childhood was only 6 miles from Disneyland. I finally got to go, paying my way in from babysitting money when I was 12 years old.
There was truly no greater imagination than that of Walt’s at the time. All it took make his dream come true was the right amount of manpower, good financial backing, a couple of crazy ideas that could actually pay off, some familiar Disney characters to help pitch in, a collective team of imagineers, and of course withing upon a star.
I grew up 3 miles from Disneyland. During the 60’s the Retail Clerk’s Union rented the park for one evening a year. Since my mom was a union member, we went to Disneyland every year. The tickets were $8.00 each, and there were absolutely no lines. During the summer we could go in our back yard, stand on our picnic table and watch the Disneyland fireworks. My first job was at a little restaurant in the Disneyland Hotel Complex, where one night I made a hot fudge sunday for Joe DiMaggio and his granddaughter. Those are some great memories!
You did it! You got it out on July 17, Disneyland’s anniversary 😀Thanks so much for this, Alex! I remember the first one you made, but this one is better with better articles, and your fabulous, high-quality narration. I just love the ending; it’s so touching with the Walt Disney quote about the real world being in Disneyland. Left me with that warm, fuzzy feeling I get when thinking about the best parts of Disneyland. Thank you so much for making this old, Disneyland fan happy <3
I love Disney parks. I’m from Sweden 🇸🇪 and have visited Disneyland in Anaheim, Disneyland Paris and Disney World Orlando twice. Not done yet. I’m 52. First visit in 1989, last visit so far in 2019. I will go again, this time with my son once he is tall enough to ride everything. I buy in to everything Disney parks are. Magic. But I think that now my favorite is Animal Kingdom.
It sucks that he passed at such a young age and only 11years in from the park opening. I’m just glad he accomplished this dream before his passing. This was such a good informative article. Thank you and to Walt himself for such a fun theme park that everyone for atleast one day get to experience a magical moment 🫶🏼
I absolutely love the History of Walt Disney and Disney Land / World. I loved going to Disney World with my Dad when I was a kid, and, my Wife and I went there on our honeymoon 28 years ago. We went several more times, but things seemed to be going downhill a bit. We rode the Train and the old recording was playing on the train’s speakers, but the system was cracking and and sounded terrible and everyone was talking over it, paying no attention to it and the cute little humor that was built into it. It felt more like riding on basic noisy transportation than it being part of the magic that it was meant to be. Seems like a small thing, but I thought in the moment that Mr. Disney would have been ticked off and disappointed. He was extremely passionate about every little detail, and I think that is long, long gone now. And now, it seems there has to be an agenda and politics involved instead of just building fun and dreams for everyone around the world to enjoy. For me, it’s just a memory now, I don’t have an interest in going back the way it is now unfortunately.
This by far the best I’ve seen on disneland Mr. Walt him self I cried and enjoyed this as I have not been there many time and envy all this bloggers whom go everyday its trully a magical place and hove now taken my daughters two times and going in June God bless him for not giving up and hopefully the new owners can see his dream and not charge an arm and a leg to go see his dream.
After the TV broadcast, Art Linkletter said that Walt made a “bum” out of Barnum. LOL! I was 6 yrs. old from Houston, Texas in the early ’70’s when I had my 1st visit there. My parents wedding anniversary also happened to be July 17th. It should also be noted that the 1954 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (live action) was way over budget as well. If Leagues or Disneyland or both had faltered, there may have been NO WDP. I’m sure glad both worked! Thanks Alex!
I’m big Disney fan I’m 52 years old I remember going to the Disney in 1975 I was only 5 years old but the experience in my young mind won’t forget any of the memories I have till this day perusal this article took me back and put smile on face …i watched plenty of documentary on Disney but this is the best ever about Walt Disney you didn’t leave anything out brilliantly made👍 god bless you 🙏…Walt Disney would be very proud ❤
This is one of the best DL docs I’ve discovered. Well written and narrated plus footage I haven’t seen before. Good job. It’s a shame that “average working-class people” are getting priced out of a visit to Disneyland but even if one has to save up, it’s worth a trip at least once. Every time I’ve visited I can’ help but wonder what Walt would think of the park today and what would it have been like if he had lived another 10+ years. You don’t have to go for the rides to appreciate all the architecture, landscape and studio “tricks” that make Disneyland a stunning achievement and magical place.
I was just a youngster of 5yrs of age when my dad took my sister and I to Disneyland. The park had only been open for 5 years at that point, and it was the talk of the town. We lived in San Diego at the time, and made the drive to our big adventure early one Saturday morning in June 1960. It was one of the most memorable days of my life for many years. Then came Disney World. In 1971. My memories were rekindled, when once again I walked down main street of this fantastical resort, with my dad. I’ve enjoyed numerous trips there since that time, sharing the memories with my children. I would love to celebrate Disney World’s 50 year anniversary, but sadly my funds won’t permit it, so I guess I’ll have to make do with my memories. But they’re happy ones, so I’m ok with that.
I had a “Disney” encounter back in the 80’s. I was at a restaurant named El Cholo on Western Avenue in Los Angeles with my sister. Back in the 80’s, that place was always packed. Great food and excellent Margaritas! There’s a nice waiting area across from the bar. You could sit there and enjoy a plate of Nachos while you waited for your table. Back then, they’d call your name over the loudspeaker. Anyway, the place is noisy as hell. Then we hear this over the mic: “Disney, party of four. Disney, party of four.” 😮 The place buzzed with excitement as everyone looked at each other and whispered “Disney!” It got pretty quiet. It was then that we saw Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew, walk through the bar area with the rest of his party. Man, that’s the closest I’ll ever be to royalty! ❤
Although Tokyo Disneyland might be the best Disneyland in the world, Disneyland Anaheim is THE Disneyland due to its history and details. I’m just crazy about Walt’s park (except Galaxy’s Edge) As a hobby, I wrote a book in which I imagined Disneyland as a fantasy country like Narnia or Wonderland, dedicated to what Walt’s park stands for 😊
Amazing, Alex…Thank you. I will always be in love with Disneyland. My first visit is when I was 4 years old, in 1962. A few years later, my parents bought me one of those big folding maps of the park. I would open that map, spread it on my bed and stare at it for hours. Many kids have Dream jobs…fire fighters, police officers, ballerinas, cowboys, astronauts….mine was to work at Disneyland and I am ecstatic to tell you that I lived out my childhood dream. I am so proud to say that I was a cast member. I will always be in love with Disneyland.!!
I was just at Disneyland for my 30th birthday. Everything was perfect, down to the last detail. I got fist bumped by Goofy during a parade, and Pluto touched his nose on mine as a way of saying happy birthday. Chip and Dale gave me the idea of having them be my next tattoo. I was noticed and talked to by stormtroopers, had Rontu wraps and built a lightsaber. I even saw the park bench where the man himself sat. Disneyland is a beautiful place.
Beautiful! This was one of the better documented stories of Walt Disney and his dream. I know many people feel like Disneyland is nothing more than a money grabbing theme park, but to me it’s the place that sparked ideas in me. Walt Disney inspired me to become an artist, and Disneyland was/is the place where I can get lost in that world of fantastic dreams. I know the Disney corporation is not running exactly as Walt would have liked it to, but overall the spirit of Disney is still here with us. Disney had a dream, he made sure it happened, he created a place that was his own to share with the rest of the world, and his beckoning words on opening day ring true today…”To all who come, welcome.” 🏰
I met Mr Walt When I was a Child Growing up in Fla Yes I’m 67 this Yr He Talked to my 3rd grade class Like we little Adults and made us feel so understood…He is a Hero to Me Even to this day What Better thing To Do is Ask a Child What They would enjoy doing to have Fun If we could do Anything in the world ❤
Disneyland will always be my favorite place to go to no matter what. I remember be 8 and going there and being in love with every detail of it. If my startup ever gets big enough to do it, I want a theme park of my own because of Disneyland. Ik its probably a crazy and unrealistic dream but its something ive had in my mind for the last 16 years.
It just shows you never give up on your dreams, Walt was very inspirational to so many people, I love how he demanded perfection from all his imagineers, Thanks Walt, ps I never realized how lucky I was to grow up so close to Disneyland living in orange county I love that I’m only 15 minutes away when I want to get away!
So many people helped make Walt Disney’s dream a reality. One person was CV Wood. But his important contribution has been all but erased from Disney history. An excellent resource on the involvement of CV Wood is Todd James Pierce’s book “Three Years in Wonderland: The Disney Brothers, C. V. Wood, and the Making of the Great American Theme Park.”
Definitely one of the best people ever.. The one who created a fantastic mascot and a great place full of rides and his imagination! Too bad Disney became weird now because of new people but that DOESN’T mean I hate Disney due to how bad it became. I love it because of all the positive things about it! All the people who are leaving their interest in Disney should learn recent Disney isn’t the best about Disney at all and there’s so much more to love about it! Probably why it’s my favorite company despite it going downhill..
0:06 I’ve Been To The Original Disneyland Resort Theme Park In Anaheim Near Los Angeles California In The United States Of America During My Los Angeles California And Universal Studios Hollywood And Paramount Pictures Studios Hollywood And Las Vegas Nevada And Disneyland Resort In Anaheim California Holiday Megatrip On My 23rd Birthday Celebrations Back In March And April 2016 And It Was Super Awesome And It Was My Very First Ever Disney Theme Park Ever Made Before Tokyo Disneyland In Tokyo Japan And Disneyland Paris Near The City Of Paris France And Walt Disney World Resort In Florida Near Orlando Florida. This One Disneyland Was Opened On July 17th 1955 By Mr Walt Disney. Thanks Mate. X
I love hearing the story(ies) of the development of Disneyland. Typically, there’s something new to know that I didn’t know before. No different here. Wonderful! One of my favorite incidents of the opening day telecast’s, “hiccups,” is a scene when Bob Cummings was supposed to go on air to discuss an aspect of the park. However, since there were communication and telecasting difficulties constantly happening, the airing of the segment began to broadcast before Bob Cummings was aware that the camera was rolling. This was clearly evident because when the telecast began, Mr. Cummings was engaged in what seemed to be a somewhat intimate conversation with a beautiful, young woman. After a few seconds of this candid interaction between Bob Cummings and the woman, Bob is suddenly made aware of the camera rolling and he quickly shirks the woman, straightens himself up, gives a slightly embarrassed smile, then proceeds with his proper address to the audience.
I can only imagine what Walt Disney would say with the changes that are taking place today. Seeing it become a huge entity in the media and amusement attraction industries online to plummet because of several people and their focus more on agenda rather than making people happy Disney land was almost always focused on the masses. Rather than individuals. That’s why the movies and management Parks did so well for so long. Personally, I’m very hopeful that Bob Iger and other board members see the error of their ways and return Disneyland and the Disney properties to the glory days.
Mickey Mouse & Minnie forever my favorite Disney Characters. Back in early 2005 I learned how to draw Disney Characters when I was taking art classes in middle school . I still can draw Disney . God Bless Walt Disney rest in power🙏🙏 I want to show my disney artwork I want to put 😀😀😀 on faces . I rather draw Disney Characters one day I look forward to share my Disney Stories I have passion for theatre & film I want to create Disney Performances of my own 🎭🎬
All dreams invention minds all of it was considered impossible till they were realized through unending efforts of not giving up, that is your line of creators of all what we enjoy or taken for granted, success has a way of multiplying itself, sure, in its journey everybody participates something new a place to relax enjoy with children family it was runaway success because of something new, now in consumer market that is written principal when others follow and also are success it only means consumers are ready for choices and choices built with something different so now they can picky and choose, study every product commodity in market and when it comes with quality certain standards and reasonable price not too cheap not too expensive for the average earning pocket, that formula never fails, walt pitaji😊 was right in pursuing what he was seeing in his head, I know that feeling and intelligence.
Thank you so much for this. I grew up in Anaheim and the park will always be home. Even though I knew much of this history, the images and clips altogether are really meaningful. The greatest thing about Disneyland is seeing the echoes of these images in the Park as I knew it as a child, a teenager, a young adult, and today. Sure some of it has been completely replaced, but other things are still there. That makes Disneyland wonderful in that it changes, but retains so much charm.
I wish I would have known you were here, I could have got you into Disney! And I used to live in Celebration, it’s a wonderful little town! Shared a parking lot with Columbia. Food and Wine is very busy! Magic Kingdom is were the castle is, Disney Hollywood Studios is were Star Wars stuff is and Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster (better than Disneyland Paris(been on both)) Toy Story Land, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (if you liked soarin’ you’d love Flight of Passage, even if you didn’t enjoy Avatar the movie). . You really need to relax. I’ll take you next time you’re back! No plans are the best plans at Disney, unless you want to rush everywhere. It’s 43 square miles of pure Disney Magic, but it takes time to get from place to place!
Disney World is my home. Literally, I went there for the first time in 2000 at age 14/15 and told my mom I’d live there one day. 2007 I moved to Orlando. Annual pass holder and I’m there as much as humanly possible. I have yet to get to Disneyland — but it will be like going to Mecca for me. Every Disney park is on my hunny pot list ((It’s my Disney specific “bucket list” —- separate from my actual bucket list)).
The bessimist Theme Park ever! Our Lawrence and Shirley Smith Family were there! We rode the underground mine rails which in itself was remarkable in itself,And especially to land by pirate ships and real li e pirates battling eachother in bay of water on The Carribbean ocean! What fun! We were Iowa farmers and knew only our farmland.This was the only trip we ever had that held our family together. My husband won a contest which allowed us to go on such a wonderful vacation! We stayed with my relatives who live in Santa Monica which proved to be rewarding. That s the first and last visit to meet my cousins who were Kenny and Helen Hahn plus my 2nd cousins Jim and Monica.They had a backyard museum. Our trip took us to Knots Berry Farm to see a Western show,where we sat in covered wagons to view the show. We also got to pan for gold there,but we found fool s gold,but that okay! Our 4 kids bad a ball! Disneyland topped it all,so thank you Walt Disney for making our dreams come true too!!!!!! With every adventure comes newness to peopleU^ｪ^U
I grew up in Michigan, and there ain’t no way my parents were going to take me to Damn Disneyland.!! When my best friends Dad rented a “Ef’fin Winnebago” and took his 5 kids to LA via Grand Canyon, I begged to go with them and even conspired to stowaway in the RV closet.! I was so dedicated to this mission that eventually I earned a trip to Disneyworld in Orlando selling newspaper subscriptions, to get the Grand Prize trip to FLA. Eventually, I made it to Disneyland as an adult, twice, and finally got my damn dream come true. “Never Give Up, Never Surrender”.!!
Hey Alex, I started perusal your articles on the Queen Mary updates, and loved hearing the history you would pass on. Just finished your two articles on Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and I gotta say you have impressed me greatly, with your presentations that moved me to tears, and the amount of research you put in. You put all together very intelligently, just keep up this great work, please! Thanks, Alex, look forward to more great articles from you!
Alex you’re a freaking star! I love how honest, truthful, and complete your articles are… but I especially appreciate how rigorously you avoid going negative. It seems impossible in this age… but here you are! You’re someone I’m striving to emulate. I’m tired of being critical. Thank you for your example!
This is one of the best Disneyland history articles I have ever watched. Every detail on how the park was made and formed was well detailed. I keep coming back to watch it over and over. Make me appreciate the theme park even more. Well done Alex the Historian. It’s one of my favorites along with the Disney World creation article. Keep up and the good work and thank you for the history lesson.
Great job, Alex. I recommend folks like this article, subscribe and set notifications. Then take a jaunt over to the Poseidon website to see what Disney is doing today. Like the frog in the pot, they’ve upped the temperature ever so slightly to where people (like everyone reading this) are paying an extra $65 to “enhance” their experience. On a single ride! What experience is that? Over the past 10 years it’s mostly flat walls, screens and dark warehouses. Post-Eisner, Disney has really lost its way. It’s hard to believe we used to criticize Eisner. Now the guy is a combination of Walt and ol Honest Abe Lincoln. PS: I worked for Disney for over a decade. Actually met Eisner once too. In a Beverly Hills steakhouse. The only other “star” I’ve seen turn more heads or stop more conversations was probably Muhammad Ali. Or maybe Bill Clinton. Anyway Disney properties in CA & FL are practically unrecognizable from even a few years ago. No one likes the Galaxy’s Edge choice to focus on the (unwatchable) sequels. Epcot is a sad mess. And it costs. family of 4 well over $1200 for a day of telling your kid “no” every 9 minutes when they collide into the next eye level pile of merch. $110 for a little plastic car? $6 for a can of Pepsi? Disney is about two things today: screwing up your kids heads while unscrewing your wallet. I’d pay BIG money for one day back in the Disneyland of 1980.
This is an amazing documentary on how Disneyland came to fruition. I hope to go there myself someday. Walking in Walt Disney’s footsteps. So much history compared to the Walt Disney World Resort here in Florida. But I still like the Disney World here in Florida. It’s just sad that they sacrificed lots of classic attractions to make room for newer attractions. I’m sadder about Splash Mountain became Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. But not all of the classic attractions we all know and love haven’t disappeared. Small World is still there. Haunted Mansion is still there. So is Jungle Cruise. I hope all those classics are there to stay forever.
Great Documentary, I fought being a Disneyland fan for a long time! But now as an adult I truly believe that I have found in Disneyland what Walt had in mind! A place where adults could go and feel the Magic the same way that a child does without the responsibility of everyday life. Fantasy maybe! But the happiness it brings me is 100% real, yes the price goes up but it truly reminds me that there is still such a thing as a Dream, Magic, and Happiness. Thank you Walt and all those that make the dream a reality!
Walt Disney, despite all the opposition to his building of something never done before, truly amazing, to quote Karen Carpenter when asked why did she enjoy playing the drums, she simply replied “Why NOT ” true pioneers in any endeavor follow their true gut feelings and dreams, wonder what the final cost was in 1950’s money, today’s money? Probably would be way too expensive.
Though I truly don’t remember it exactly I was at the park the 2nd day it was open (I was only 2), but I have enough memories of countless visits over the years. Between birthdays (friends and me), company nights and “just for kicks.” But I will recount one that I still think about with a bit of sadness. @18:45 in your vid is a pic of the Carnation shop. In March of ’64 I was at the park for a friend’s birthday and while we were getting a treat in the Carnation shop, I saw Jimmie Dodd sitting alone at a table. Even then, I was surprised than no one else (especially my age) had noticed him. He was the first celeb I’d ever met and he was gracious to answer my kid-type questions (based on knowing nothing much about him, as you do). Since I was there on my friend’s parents’ dime, I had to hustle off with the group which might have save me some embarrassment Still it was special. Mr. Dodd passed later that year.
I loved Disneyland when I was a kid we could get a summer pass for $30 and go every night after work as a teenager, (when I was a whiz kid helping to teach computer tech to adults). My job was tough, esp. for a 17 year old the Disneyland Park gave me a place to go and unwind. They had jazz bands for I think two years it wasn’t my kind of music but I MADE IT MY kind of music so as to have fun. And am better for it now. I have nothing to thank Disney Corporate for these days for but I have a lot to thank Disneyland for!
It’s funny because if Walt could see what Disney is now I feel he would be happy & upset. He would be happy about all the power/money & influence the company has garnered through multiple generations. But I feel like he would be upset at how creatively bankrupt, morally corrupt & Profit driven the company has become. Say what u want about Walt Disney but he was a futurist. He lived in the future.
I like how Walt Disney visited Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village, before building Disneyland. It was quite an inspiration for many of Disneyland’s features. Starting with the entrance, Henry’s Main Street. A train circling the park. An island with a Steamboat which circled the island. ( no longer there )
Wonderful article and story. Opening day my mom, dad & I went to Buena Park to some friends. On the way home to Hawthorne, dad drove west on Katella so we passed by and I could see the parking lot and the Main Street Rail Station. We didn’t actually visit Disneyland until more than a year later; long wait times for nearly everything but, it was still magical. 🤩
A tragic and not well known story about Mr. Disney is that as soon as he became financially successful, he bought his parents a brand new house. You’ll have to fact-check me but I believe they died shortly after they moved in from carbon monoxide poisoning. Can you imagine how Mr. Disney’s broken heart was also filled with guilt?
The sad thing is that people like Walt Disney, Randall Duell, Lamar Hunt, E. Pat Hall, Angus Wynne, Walter Knott and so many more just simply do not exist anymore. People who used their wealth to give back to the people and communities who made them wealthy. These parks were never built with the intent to turn a profit. They prioritized the guest experience over everything, knowing that when guests were happy, they spent money. Not the other way around.
I’m sure Walt Disney would turn in his grave if he knew that like many big businesses the accountants have taken over. They don’t care what it is, or how they have priced many people out, as long as it takes money. Long gone is Disneys idea. I have been to Disneyland, Walt Disney world, Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Hong Kong. Yes you do become a child again and I am 64, but it is now just a money making machine.
Walt May have been a perfectionist (and there’s nothing wrong with that) but this does show that if you have a unique idea that is attractive to others (or the masses) the minor mishaps throughout the luanch are often times overlooked. I mean everyone knows that a launch of anything is bound to have hiccups on the first day or first few weeks until things get ironed out. Regardless, I think that the experience that WDW and WDL offered was like no other, and people were willing to look past the minor inconveniences.
“Don’t think there is anything in this universe that is completely easy to do. There is nothing that would be totally easy to do that would be worth doing. There’s always some hard work alongside of any worthwhile project. There’s always some heartbreak and there’s always upset. That’s the way this universe is built. Take it in stride.” – L. Ron Hubbard