Disneyland facts for kids
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The park's icon, Sleeping Beauty Castle, in 2019
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| Location | Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, United States |
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| Coordinates | 33°49′N 117°55′W / 33.81°N 117.92°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | July 17, 1955 |
| Owner | Disney Experiences (The Walt Disney Company) |
| Operated by | Disneyland Resort |
| Theme | Disney characters and fairy tales |
| Slogan | The happiest place on earth |
| Operating season | Year-round |
Disneyland is a famous theme park located at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the very first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company. What makes it special is that Walt Disney himself oversaw its design and building. Disneyland first opened its doors on July 17, 1955.
Walt Disney first thought about building a small attraction near his studios in Burbank. He wanted a place for fans to visit. But he soon realized that space was too small for all his big ideas. After some research, Disney bought a large piece of land near Anaheim in 1953. A creative team, chosen by Walt, designed the park. This team later became Walt Disney Imagineering. Building started in 1954. The park was shown to the world during a special TV event on the ABC network on July 17, 1955.
Since it opened, Disneyland has grown a lot. New areas have been added over the years. These include New Orleans Square in 1966, Bear Country in 1972, Mickey's Toontown in 1993, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in 2019. Also, Disney California Adventure Park opened in 2001. It was built on what used to be Disneyland's main parking lot.
Disneyland has welcomed more visitors than any other theme park. By December 2021, it had 757 million visits! In 2022, about 16.9 million people visited the park. This made it the second most visited park in the world that year. Only Magic Kingdom, which Disneyland inspired, had more visitors. The Disneyland Resort helps create many jobs. In 2019, Disney announced "Project Stardust." This plan included big changes to the park. These changes were made to handle the growing number of visitors.
Disneyland's Story
How it Began
Walt's Big Idea
The idea for Disneyland started when Walt Disney was at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. He was watching his daughters, Diane and Sharon, ride the merry-go-round. He then imagined a place where both kids and adults could have fun together. This dream stayed with him for many years.
Walt also got ideas from other places. His father remembered the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. This event had attractions from different countries and many rides. One ride was the first Ferris wheel. Another influence was Eden Springs Park in Michigan. Walt visited this park and even bought one of its miniature trains.
In 1948, Walt wrote down his first plans for a "Mickey Mouse Park." He got ideas from his trip to the Chicago Railroad Fair. He also visited Henry Ford's Museum and Greenfield Village. This place had a Main Street and steamboat rides.
People often wrote to Disney asking to visit the Walt Disney Studios. But Walt realized a movie studio wasn't very exciting for visitors. So, he started thinking about building a place near the studios for tourists. His ideas grew into a small park with boat rides and themed areas. The first idea, Mickey Mouse Park, was planned for a small piece of land.
Walt visited other parks for inspiration. These included Tivoli Gardens in Denmark and Efteling in the Netherlands. He also saw Greenfield Village and Children's Fairyland in the United States. Eventually, he chose a large area of orange groves in Anaheim. This was southeast of Los Angeles in Orange County. The Burbank site he first thought of is now home to Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Finding money for the park was hard. So, Disney decided to create a TV show called Disneyland. It aired on the new ABC network. In return, ABC helped pay for the park. For its first five years, Disneyland was owned by several companies. These included Walt Disney Productions and ABC.
Disney also rented out many shops on Main Street, U.S.A., to other companies. By 1960, Walt Disney Productions bought out all other owners. This partnership later led to Disney buying ABC in the 1990s. In 1952, the park was called Disneylandia. But Disney changed it to Disneyland in 1954. Building began on July 16, 1954, and cost $17 million. The park opened just over a year later. Interstate 5 was also being built nearby. Extra lanes were added to the freeway for the expected traffic.
Opening Day Excitement
Disneyland officially opened on July 17, 1955. This was a special "International Press Preview" event. Only invited guests and media were allowed in. About 28,000 people came to the event. But only half of them were actually invited. The rest had fake tickets or snuck in! The next day, the park opened to the public. It had twenty attractions ready for everyone.
The special Sunday events were shown live on TV. Famous Hollywood friends of Walt Disney hosted the show. These included Art Linkletter and Ronald Reagan. Many guests tripped over TV camera cables during the broadcast. The weather was very hot, about 101 degrees Fahrenheit. There was also a plumbers' strike. So, Disney had to choose between working drinking fountains or working toilets. He chose the toilets. This meant many drinking fountains were dry. People were upset, thinking it was a trick to sell soda.
The asphalt poured that morning was still soft. Women's high heels sank into it. Some parents even threw their children over the crowd to get them onto rides. Walt Disney and his team later called July 17, 1955, "Black Sunday." Because of the bad press, Walt Disney invited guests back for a private "second day." This was so they could experience Disneyland properly.
On the official public opening day, July 18, crowds started lining up at 2:00 AM. David MacPherson was the first person to buy a ticket. Walt Disney and two children, Christine Vess Watkins and Michael Schwartner, were often shown as the first guests. All three received lifetime passes to Disneyland. About 50,000 guests visited on that Monday opening day.
For many years, July 17 was seen as just a preview. July 18 was the official opening day. But now, because of the TV broadcast, the company celebrates July 17 as Disneyland's birthday.
The Early Years (1950s and 1960s)
In September 1959, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev visited the United States. He wanted to see Disneyland. But because of the Cold War and safety worries, he was not allowed to go. The Shah of Iran and Empress Farah were invited by Walt Disney in the early 1960s.
There was some discussion about the lack of African American employees. By 1963, civil rights groups asked Disneyland to hire black people. The park said they would "consider" it. However, the park did hire people of Asian descent, like Ty Wong.
An interesting fact: "Doritos" chips were first created at Disneyland! They were made from old tortillas at a restaurant called Casa de Fritos. The Frito-Lay Company saw how popular they were. They started selling them across the country in 1966.
The 1990s Expansion
In the late 1990s, Disneyland began a big expansion. The original park and hotel were to become part of the Disneyland Resort. This project added the Disney California Adventure theme park. It also included a shopping and dining area called Downtown Disney. The Disneyland Hotel was updated. A new hotel, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, was built. Another hotel was bought and renamed Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel.
The original park was renamed "Disneyland Park." This was to show it was part of the larger resort. The old parking lot was used for these new projects. So, a huge parking garage, the Mickey and Friends parking structure, was built. When it finished in 2000, it was the largest parking structure in the United States.
Some fans and employees were unhappy with the park's management in the mid-1990s. Changes were made to increase profits. But these changes led to less money spent on keeping the park looking good. Many people felt the park was being neglected. Fans complained about the quality of the park. They wanted the management team to be replaced.
The 21st Century
Disneyland Today (2003-Present)
Matt Ouimet became the new president of the Disneyland Resort in late 2003. He quickly started making improvements. He focused on fixing up the park's appearance. He also brought back the regular maintenance schedule. This helped make Disneyland safer again. Like Walt Disney, Ouimet and his team often walked around the park. They wore cast member name badges and talked to guests.
In July 2006, Matt Ouimet left Disney. Ed Grier then became president of the resort. He retired in 2008. George Kalogridis took over in October 2009.
The "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" was a big celebration. It lasted 18 months, from 2005 to 2006. It marked Disneyland Park's 50th anniversary. Other Disney parks around the world also celebrated. In 2004, the park was renovated. Many classic rides were updated. These included Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, the Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Rides that were there on opening day had one vehicle painted gold. The park was decorated with fifty Golden Mickey Ears.
The celebration ended in September 2006. It was followed by the "Year of a Million Dreams." This celebration lasted 27 months, ending in December 2008.
In 2010, Disney Parks started the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program. People could volunteer for charity and get a free Disney Day. By March 9, 2010, Disney reached its goal of one million volunteers. The program then ended.
In July 2015, Disneyland celebrated its 60th "Diamond Celebration" anniversary. The park introduced the Paint the Night parade. It also had the Disneyland Forever fireworks show. Sleeping Beauty Castle was decorated with diamonds and a large "60" logo. The Diamond Celebration ended in September 2016. All the anniversary decorations were removed around Halloween 2016.
Park Areas and Rides
Disneyland Park has nine themed "lands." It covers over 100 acres. The park opened with Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Later, New Orleans Square was added in 1966. Bear Country (now Critter Country) came in 1972. Mickey's Toontown opened in 1993. And Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opened in 2019.
In 1957, Holidayland opened. It was a 9-acre recreation area with a circus and baseball diamond. It closed in 1961. Throughout the park, you can find "Hidden Mickeys." These are subtle shapes of Mickey Mouse's head hidden in the design. An elevated berm supports the Disneyland Railroad. This narrow gauge train goes all the way around the park.
- Lands of Disneyland
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Main Street, U.S.A.
(2010) -
Adventureland entrance
(2006) -
Frontierland
(Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in 2008) -
New Orleans Square
(the Haunted Mansion in the background and Fantasmic! viewing area in the foreground in 2010) -
Critter Country
(Splash Mountain; 1989–2023) -
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
(Star Wars: Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run in 2019) -
Fantasyland
(Peter Pan's Flight in the foreground and the Matterhorn Bobsleds in the background) -
Mickey's Toontown
(pictured in 2010) -
Tomorrowland
(Space Mountain in 2010)
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Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A. looks like a typical small town from the early 1900s. It was inspired by Walt Disney's hometown, Marceline, Missouri. Main Street has a train station, town square, and shops. You can also see a movie theater, city hall, and firehouse. There are old-fashioned vehicles like a double-decker bus and horse-drawn streetcars.
Walt Disney had a private apartment on the second floor of the firehouse. It's still there today, but not open to the public. Main Street also has the Disney Art Gallery. The Opera House shows Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. This show features a robot version of Abraham Lincoln.
At the end of Main Street, U.S.A., you'll find Sleeping Beauty Castle. There's also the Partners statue of Walt and Mickey. The Central Plaza, or Hub, connects to most of the themed lands. You can enter Fantasyland by crossing a drawbridge and going through the castle. Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland are on either side of the castle. Some lands, like New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, and Mickey's Toontown, are not directly connected to the Hub.
The buildings on Main Street, U.S.A., use a trick called forced perspective. This makes them look taller than they are. The first floor is built at 3/4 scale. The second floor is 5/8 scale, and the third is 1/2 scale. Each level gets smaller, making the buildings seem taller.
Adventureland
Adventureland is designed to feel like an exotic, far-off jungle. Popular rides include Jungle Cruise and the Indiana Jones Adventure. The Adventureland Treehouse was inspired by Walt Disney's 1960 film Swiss Family Robinson. Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room opened in 1963. It was the first ride to use Audio-Animatronics, which are moving robots.
New Orleans Square
New Orleans Square is based on the city of New Orleans in the 1800s. It opened on July 24, 1966. This area is home to famous rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. At night, you can watch the Fantasmic! show here. This area also has a private club called Club 33.
Frontierland
Frontierland brings to life the days of American pioneers. It features robot Native Americans living by the Rivers of America. Fun attractions include Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Mark Twain Riverboat, and Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. You can also visit the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, an Old West-style show place. Every year, a special Halloween Tree is added to Frontierland for the holiday season.
Critter Country
Critter Country opened in 1972 as Bear Country. It was renamed in 1988. Before that, it was Indian Village, where Native American tribes showed their dances. Critter Country's newest main attraction will be Tiana's Bayou Adventure. This log flume ride is set to open in 2024. Other rides include The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge takes you into the Star Wars universe. It's set in the Black Spire Outpost village on the planet Batuu. Rides here include the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. This land opened in 2019. It replaced the former Big Thunder Ranch area.
Fantasyland
Fantasyland is home to many classic "dark rides." These include Snow White's Enchanted Wish, Peter Pan's Flight, and It's a Small World. You can also ride the King Arthur Carrousel and Mad Tea Party. Sleeping Beauty Castle has a walk-through experience. It tells the story of Disney's 1959 film Sleeping Beauty.
Mickey's Toontown
Mickey's Toontown opened in 1993. It was partly inspired by the cartoon town in the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Mickey's Toontown looks like a 1930s cartoon. It's where Disney's classic cartoon characters live. Toontown has three rides: Chip 'n' Dale's GADGETcoaster, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. You can also visit Mickey's House, Minnie's House, and Goofy's How-To-Play Yard. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opened in 2023. This ride also made Disneyland Park a bit bigger.
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland has a "retro-future" theme. It reminds you of old drawings by Jules Verne. Popular attractions include Space Mountain, Autopia, and the Disneyland Monorail station. You can also find Astro Orbitor, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
How the Park Works
Behind the Scenes
Major buildings behind the scenes include the Frank Gehry-designed Team Disney Anaheim building. This is where most of the park's management works. Photography is not allowed in these areas. Guests who try to explore backstage are usually escorted out of the park.
Getting Around
Walt Disney loved transportation, especially trains. His passion led him to build a miniature live steam train in his backyard. This was the "Carolwood Pacific Railroad." From the very start, Walt always wanted a train to go around Disneyland. The main designer for the park's vehicles was Bob Gurr.
The Disneyland Railroad (DRR) circles the park. It's a narrow gauge railway with five steam-powered trains. It also has three passenger trains and one freight train that carries passengers. The DRR used to be called the Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad. It was sponsored by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway until 1974. The track goes in a loop around Disneyland. Each train leaves Main Street Station. It stops at New Orleans Square Station, Mickey's Toontown Depot, and Tomorrowland Station. The ride also includes views of the "Grand Canyon/Primeval World" dioramas.
One of Disneyland's most famous rides is the Disneyland Monorail. It opened in Tomorrowland in 1959. It was the first daily-operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere. The monorail track has stayed mostly the same since 1961. Five different types of monorail trains have been used. The newest, the Mark VII, was added in 2008. The monorail takes visitors between two stations. One is inside the park in Tomorrowland. The other is in Downtown Disney. It follows a 2.5-mile route. This route is designed to show you the park from above.
All the vehicles on Main Street, U.S.A. are called the Main Street Vehicles. They look like cars from the early 1900s. They include horse-drawn streetcars, a double-decker bus, a fire engine, and old-fashioned cars. You can take a one-way ride on them along Main Street. Walt Disney used to drive the fire engine around the park before it opened. Most of these original vehicles were designed by Bob Gurr.
From the late 1950s to 1968, helicopters offered rides. They flew between Disneyland and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The service stopped after two accidents in 1968.
Airspace Rules
On October 27, 2014, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration made a permanent rule. No aircraft, including drones, can fly over Disneyland. This rule is also in place for Walt Disney World. It's like the rules for military bases.
Shows and Fun
Besides the rides, Disneyland has live entertainment. Many Disney characters walk around the park. They greet visitors and pose for photos. Some characters have special spots where they appear. Every evening, there's a flag retreat ceremony. Disneyland's Security staff lowers the U.S. Flag. The Disneyland Band has been playing in the park since it opened. Each year during the holidays, the Disney's Candlelight Processional is performed.
Parades
Disneyland has many different parades. They travel down Main Street and into Fantasyland. There are daytime and nighttime parades. They celebrate Disney films or holidays. These parades feature characters, music, and big floats. The Main Street Electrical Parade was very popular.
From 2005 to 2008, "Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams" celebrated Disneyland's 50th anniversary. In 2009, "Celebrate! A Street Party" replaced it. During Christmas, Disneyland has "A Christmas Fantasy" Parade. "Mickey's Soundsational Parade" started in 2011. A new nighttime parade, "Paint the Night," debuted in 2015 for the park's 60th anniversary. In 2020, "Magic Happens" parade began. It returned to Disneyland in spring 2023.
Fireworks Shows
Amazing fireworks shows light up the sky. They are set to Disney songs. Often, Tinker Bell (and other characters) appear to fly above Sleeping Beauty Castle. Since 2000, the shows have become more detailed. They use new fireworks and ways to launch them. In 2004, Disneyland started using a new air launch system. This reduced smoke and noise.
Projection mapping technology was first used on It's a Small World in 2011. This was for The Magic, the Memories and You show. It expanded to Main Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle in 2015. This was for the Disneyland Forever show.
- Regular fireworks shows:
* 1958–1999; 2015: Fantasy in the Sky * 2000–2004: Believe... There's Magic in the Stars * 2004–2005: Imagine... A Fantasy in the Sky * 2005–2014; 2017–2019: Remember... Dreams Come True * 2009–2014 (summer): Magical: Disney's New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical Celebrations * 2019 and 2022 (summer): Disneyland Forever
- Seasonal fireworks shows:
* September to October: Halloween Screams * Independence Day Week: Disney's Celebrate America: A 4th of July Concert in the Sky * November to January: Believe... In Holiday Magic
- Limited edition fireworks shows
* 60th Anniversary: Disneyland Forever * Pixar Fest: Together Forever * Get Your Ears On – A Mickey and Minnie Celebration: Mickey's Mix Magic * Disney100: Wondrous Journeys
Since 2009, Disneyland has rotated its fireworks shows. The schedule for fireworks depends on the time of year. During slower times, fireworks are only on weekends. During busy times, like summer or holidays, they are nightly. Disneyland spends about $41,000 each night on fireworks. Shows usually start around 8:45 or 9:30 PM. But they can start earlier. Weather, especially wind, can cause delays or cancellations. If there's bad weather, alternate versions of the shows are used. These only use projections and lights. Most shows must finish by 10:00 PM. This is due to rules from the City of Anaheim.
In recent years, Disneyland uses smaller fireworks. They also use more low-level effects on the castle. This lets guests enjoy the show even if there's high wind. This is called a "B-show."
Visitor Numbers
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Tickets and Entry
From Disneyland's opening until 1982, you paid for park entry and then for each ride. Guests bought tickets, like "A" through "C" coupons. "A" coupons were for small rides. "C" coupons were for popular ones. As more exciting rides came, "D" and "E" coupons were added. The phrase "E ticket attraction" is still used for the most popular rides today.
Later, Disneyland offered "Keys to the Kingdom" booklets. These had 10 coupons that could be used for any ride.
In 1982, Disney changed to "passports." You paid one price to enter the park. This gave you unlimited access to all rides, except shooting galleries. This made things simpler. The park didn't need to print ride tickets or have staff collect them. Later, Disney added multi-day passes and Annual Passes. These let you enter the park many times for one yearly fee.
In 1999, Disney introduced the FastPass system. This let you reserve a time for a ride. It helped reduce waiting in line. FastPass has since been replaced by the Genie+ system. This system costs extra for reservations. Lightning Lanes also cost extra for certain rides.
In February 2016, Disneyland started using different prices for tickets. Prices changed based on how busy the park was expected to be. There were "value," "regular," and "peak" days. "Value" days were usually weekdays when school was in session. "Peak" days were holidays and busy weekends. In February 2020, Disneyland switched to a multi-tiered system. This had 5 pricing levels. More levels were added in 2021 and 2022.
| Date | 1981 | June 1982 | October 1983 | May 1984 | January 1985 | May 1985 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price US$ | $10.75 | $12.00 | $13.00 | $14.00 | $15.00 | $16.50 | ||||
| Date | March 1986 | January 1987 | September 1987 | December 1988 | December 1989 | November 1990 | ||||
| Price US$ | $17.95 | $20.00 | $21.50 | $23.50 | $25.50 | $27.50 | ||||
| Date | June 1992 | May 1993 | May 1994 | January 1995 | January 1996 | March 1997 | ||||
| Price US$ | $28.75 | $30.00 | $31.00 | $33.00 | $34.00 | $36.00 | ||||
| Date | January 1998 | January 5, 1999 | January 5, 2000 | November 6, 2000 | March 19, 2002 | January 6, 2003 | ||||
| Price US$ | $38.00 | $39.00 | $41.00 | $43.00 | $45.00 | $47.00 | ||||
| Date | March 28, 2004 | January 10, 2005 | June 20, 2005 | January 4, 2006 | September 20, 2006 | September 21, 2007 | ||||
| Price US$ | $49.75 | $53.00 | $56.00 | $59.00 | $63.00 | $66.00 | ||||
| Date | August 3, 2008 | August 2, 2009 | August 8, 2010 | June 12, 2011 | May 20, 2012 | June 18, 2013 | ||||
| Price US$ | $69.00 | $72.00 | $76.00 | $80.00 | $87.00 | $92.00 | ||||
| Date | May 18, 2014 | February 22, 2015 | February 28, 2016 | February 12, 2017 | February 11, 2018 | January 6, 2019 | ||||
| Price US$ | $96.00 | $99.00 | $95/$105/$119 | $97/$110/$124 | $97/$117/$135 | $104/$129/$149 | ||||
| Date | February 11, 2020 | October 25, 2021 | October 11, 2022 | |||||||
| Price US$ | $104/$114/$124/$139/$154 | $104/$119/$134/$149/$159/$164 | $104/$114/$129/$144/$159/$169/$179 | |||||||
Before 1982, passport tickets were available to groups only.
Park Closures
Disneyland has closed unexpectedly a few times:
- In 1963, after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
- In 1970, due to a protest.
- In 1987 and 1992, because of winter storms.
- In 2001, after the September 11 attacks.
- From March 14, 2020, to April 30, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disneyland also has planned closures:
- In its early years, the park sometimes closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during slower seasons. This helped keep costs down for both Disneyland and nearby Knott's Berry Farm.
- On May 4, 2005, for the 50th Anniversary media event.
- The park often closes early for special events. These include private parties or company rentals. Guests are told about early closures at the ticket booths. Cast members announce the park is closing. Then, they clear out anyone without special passes. The park has also closed early due to bad weather.
Special Events
Every October, Disneyland has a Halloween celebration. Areas in the park are decorated for Halloween. Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion get temporary Halloween themes. A special Halloween party is held on select nights. It costs extra and has a unique fireworks show.
From early November to early January, the park is decorated for the holidays. Holiday entertainment includes the Believe... In Holiday Magic fireworks. There's also A Christmas Fantasy Parade. The Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World get holiday makeovers. Sleeping Beauty Castle is decorated with snow and colorful lights.
See also
In Spanish: Disneyland para niños
