Disneyland Resort facts for kids
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.png) .jpg) Two famous sights at the Disneyland Resort: Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park and the Pixar Pal-A-Round at Disney California Adventure.
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| Industry | Amusement parks and resorts |
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| Founded | July 17, 1955 |
| Founder | Walt Disney |
| Headquarters | Anaheim, California, United States |
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Key people
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Thomas Mazloum (president) |
| Parent | Disney Experiences |
The Disneyland Resort is a super fun place in Anaheim, California, USA! It's owned by The Walt Disney Company and has two amazing theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. You'll also find three hotels and a cool area called Downtown Disney for shopping, eating, and entertainment.
Walt Disney himself created this resort in the 1950s. It first opened on July 17, 1955, with just Disneyland Park and the Disneyland Hotel. Over the years, Disney saw how popular its Walt Disney World Resort in Florida became with multiple parks and hotels. So, they decided to expand the Anaheim location too!
Disney bought more land and hotels, like the Disneyland Hotel in 1988 and the Pan Pacific Hotel (now Pixar Place Hotel) in 1995. A big expansion happened in 2001. This added the Grand Californian Hotel, Disney California Adventure Park, and the Downtown Disney area. Today, the resort covers a huge area, offering even more magic!
Contents
The Story of Disneyland Resort
How Disneyland Resort Began
Walt Disney first dreamed of an amusement park called "Mickey Mouse Park." He thought about building it next to the Disney Studios in Burbank. But as his ideas grew bigger, Walt and his brother Roy realized that spot was too small.
They hired experts to help find the perfect location. These experts suggested a quiet area in Anaheim, California. Back then, it was mostly orange groves! But the experts knew it would become a busy part of Southern California in the future. This spot was also close to a new highway, the Santa Ana Freeway, which made it easy for people to visit.
Because Anaheim was a bit far from big cities in the 1950s, Walt wanted a hotel for guests. Since building the park used up most of his money, he partnered with a producer named Jack Wrather. Jack built and ran the Disneyland Hotel right across from the park.
Early Years: 1955–1998
Disneyland Park opened its gates on July 17, 1955. The first day was a bit chaotic, with some rides having issues. But even with these "Black Sunday" hiccups, Disneyland quickly became a huge hit! The Disneyland Hotel, which opened a few months later, was also very popular.
Walt Disney wanted to build more places for visitors to stay. However, other businesses quickly built their own hotels around Disneyland. These hotels often had bright lights and flashy signs, which Walt had hoped to avoid. The area around Disneyland became very busy, and the park eventually felt "boxed in." This experience later led Walt to buy a much larger area for Walt Disney World in Florida.
Over the years, The Walt Disney Company slowly bought more land and properties. They bought the Disneyland Hotel in 1988 and another hotel, the Pan Pacific (now Pixar Place Hotel), in 1995. These purchases set the stage for future growth.
Big Plans for Expansion: 1998–2001
After Walt and Roy Disney passed away, The Walt Disney Company found great success with the multi-park, multi-hotel idea at Walt Disney World in Florida. In the 1990s, Disney decided to do something similar in Anaheim.
They first planned a park called WestCOT, similar to EPCOT Center in Florida. But this project was very expensive. Also, the Euro Disney Resort (now Disneyland Paris) was having financial troubles, so Disney couldn't afford WestCOT. It was canceled in 1995.
Instead, Disney executives came up with a new idea: a park themed to California, a shopping and dining area, and more hotels. This new plan, called Disney's California Adventure Park, cost much less. It used land Disney already owned and focused on popular rides and experiences.
Construction began, and the big parking lot closed in January 1998. To make up for it, Disney opened a huge, seven-story parking garage in July 2000. Disney California Adventure Park opened on February 8, 2001. At first, some visitors and critics felt the park was more for adults than for kids and families. It had fewer attractions and characters compared to Disneyland, so many families still preferred the older park.
Growing and Changing: 2001–Present
Disney quickly started making changes to California Adventure to make it better for families. They added areas like A Bug's Land and exciting rides like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
In late 2007, Disney began a massive $1.1 billion plan to redesign and expand California Adventure. This included a brand new look for the main entrance, the creation of Cars Land, and the amazing World of Color nighttime show. Many rides were updated or re-themed to feature more Disney and Pixar characters. This big project finished in 2012, and after that, many more people started visiting the park!
In August 2015, Disney announced a huge 14-acre Star Wars-themed land for Disneyland Park. It opened on May 31, 2019, and features two incredible attractions: Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
In January 2017, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror closed. It was replaced by Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!, which opened that summer. In October 2017, Disney announced a new Pixar Pals parking structure, which opened in July 2019.
A Bug's Land closed in September 2018 and was replaced by Avengers Campus, which opened on June 4, 2021.
In April 2019, Disneyland announced that Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway would be coming to Disneyland. This fun attraction opened on January 27, 2023, in Mickey's Toontown.
In January 2024, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel officially reopened as Pixar Place Hotel, with a cool new theme based on Pixar artwork.
Looking Ahead: DisneylandForward
Disney is always thinking about the future! In March 2021, they announced a project called DisneylandForward. This plan aims to update city rules so Disney can build even more theme park space for both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Ideas include expanding where the Pixar Place Hotel and nearby parking lots are now. There are also talks about a new shopping and dining area, similar to Disney Springs, near the Toy Story parking lot. In May 2024, the city of Anaheim gave its final approval for DisneylandForward.
In June 2025, it was announced that the east side of the resort will get a new transportation hub. This will include a 6,000-space parking structure and a pedestrian bridge. Construction is scheduled to start in fall 2026.
Where is Disneyland Resort?
The Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, California. It's part of a special area called the Anaheim Resort, close to the city of Garden Grove.
The resort is surrounded by several main streets: Harbor Boulevard to the east, Katella Avenue to the south, Walnut Street to the west, and Ball Road to the north. The big highway, Interstate 5, runs along the northeast side.
Inside the resort, Disneyland Drive helps you get around. It leads to the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, Downtown Disney, and the three hotels. There are also special exits from Interstate 5 that make it easier to get to the parking garages during busy times.
You can also get to the resort using public transportation! Anaheim Resort Transportation offers services to Anaheim's Arctic Station, where you can connect to trains like Metrolink.
What You'll Find at Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort has two amazing theme parks, three Disney-owned hotels, and a fun area for shopping, eating, and entertainment.
The Theme Parks
- Disneyland Park: This was Walt Disney's very first theme park, and the only one he personally built! It opened on July 17, 1955, and is full of classic magic.
- Disney California Adventure Park: This park celebrates the fun and adventure of California. It opened on February 8, 2001, and has exciting rides and shows.
Shopping, Dining, and Fun
- Downtown Disney: This is a lively outdoor area where you can shop for souvenirs, enjoy delicious food, and find entertainment. Many different stores and restaurants are located here.
The Hotels
The resort has three special hotels, all owned and operated by Disney. They offer comfy places to stay with lots of rooms and even special villas.
- Disneyland Hotel: This is the resort's original hotel, first opened on October 5, 1955. Disney bought it in 1988.
- Pixar Place Hotel: This hotel is themed with awesome artwork from Pixar! It opened as Pixar Place Hotel on January 30, 2024. Before that, it was known as Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel and was bought by Disney in 1995.
- Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: This beautiful hotel is designed in the Craftsman style, like buildings from the early 1900s. It opened on January 2, 2001.
How Much Do Tickets Cost?
When Disneyland first opened on July 17, 1955, admission was just $1 for adults and 50¢ for kids! Back then, you bought separate tickets for each ride. But since June 1982, one ticket gets you into all the attractions.
Ticket prices have gone up over the years. This is because of new attractions, park updates, and the addition of Disney California Adventure Park. As of 2025, a one-day ticket to one park starts at $104. You can also buy "Park Hopper" tickets to visit both parks in one day, or multi-day tickets for longer stays.
In 1984, Disneyland introduced an "Annual Premium Passport" for $65 for adults. Today, these yearly passes are called "Magic Key" passes. They let you visit the parks many times throughout the year, and prices range from $399 to $1,339.
See also
In Spanish: Disneyland Resort para niños
- List of incidents at Disneyland Resort
- Large amusement railways
- List of Disney attractions that were never built
- Rail transport in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
