The park is based on a formula pioneered by Disneyland in California and further employed at the Magic Kingdom in Florida and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan. Occupying 650,000 m² (140 acres), it is the largest Disney park based on the original in California. The park opened as Euro Disneyland on 12 April 1992.



Disneyland Park is the place where Disney stories and characters magically come to life in unforgettable shows and attractions. Over the years, The Happiest Place on earth has continued to grow, with the addition of several new attractions joining much-loved favorites. And there’s no place like Disneyland Park for seasonal celebrations, especially during the holidays. But no matter what time of year you visit, you’ll take home magical memories that you and your family will enjoy for a lifetime.

The magic comes to life all around you with your favourite characters and the most famous attractions in Disney history, bursting with colour and life. From spectacular visual icons like Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle) and Big Thunder Mountain to beautiful details and unique touches everywhere you look, the enchantment and magic of this stunning park never fails to leave you breathless.

In the 1990s, major construction began to transform Disneyland from a theme park into a vacation resort. Most of the resort's parking today is handled by the six-level "Mickey and Friends" parking structure. With six levels and 10,250 parking spaces, it was for a short time the largest parking structure in the world.

Maintenance

Walt Disney's original theme park was showing visible signs of neglect. Paint was peeling off buildings and roofs were literally disintegrating from age, especially the thatched roofs in Fantasyland and Adventureland. Light bulbs, which were once replaced before they burned out, not only were run to burnout but were so numerous as to make the facades they outlined look almost toothless. Fans of the park decried the perceived decline in customer value and park quality and rallied for the dismissal of the management team.

Park layout

The park is divided into realms, which radiate like the four cardinal points of the compass from Central Plaza, and well-concealed backstage areas, which normally only Disneyland cast members can enter. The public areas occupy approximately 85 acres (344,000 m²).

At the center of The Magic Kingdom and immediately North of Central Plaza stands Sleeping Beauty Castle, which provides entrance to Fantasyland by way of a drawbridge across a moat. Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland are arrayed on both sides of the castle.

Lands of Disneyland

The original park layout included four distinct lands or realms, in addition to Main Street, U.S.A. The idea behind this was to develop theatrical "stages" with seamless passages from one land to the next. Because Disneyland is set up with stage set environments, all its employees who interface with the public in the park are referred to as cast members.

Three more areas have been added since the park's opening, including New Orleans Square and Critter Country in Frontierland and Mickey's Toontown as an annex to Fantasyland. Once entering a realm, a guest is unable to see the outside world or any of the adjacent areas.