One of the largest theme parks, and most famous tourist attractions in the world, is Disneyland. Feverishly assembled over the span of 1954-55, the project was the only theme park Walt Disney personally oversaw in his lifetime. Today it is second only to Disney World as the most visited theme park in the world.



Disneyland opened on July 18, 1955. The idea for Disneyland came to Walt Disney over several years. His father had helped build the World's Fair in 1893 and many people believed that this was a significant point of inspiration for Disney. He visited various parks and wanted to create a place that adults and children could both enjoy. Since, over the years, he had been inundated with fan mail asking to tour the studio, he decided to use the studio itself as inspiration for the new park.

The initial idea for the park was called Mickey Mouse Park. It was an 8-acre park with a handful of rides for children. Once his park designers got involved, this quiet park proved too small. Disney was forced to purchase 160 more acres to contain the new vision for what would become Disneyland. To aid the massive cost of development, Disney agreed to partner with the ABC Television Network in 1954. One year and $17 million dollars later, the park was ready to open.

On July, 17 1955, Disney opened the park for a press day. This day would come to be known as "Black Sunday." By all accounts, even Disney's, the day was a massive disaster. Nothing went according to plan and nothing worked properly. Adding to the mechanical failures and setbacks, a plumber's strike prevented the park from having working water fountains. This was derided as a cheap ploy to sell more Pepsi. Adding to the tension was a run on counterfeit tickets, flooding the park with more people than it could adequately serve. The press, by in large, gave the park negative reviews.

Despite the terrible reviews, the general public was not dissuaded. People started to queue up outside the main gate at 2:00 A.M. For the first three people admitted to the park, their dedication would result in lifetime passes. Despite the glitches and the bad press, Disneyland has obviously become a world destination. It is currently one of the most sought after vacation spots for families.

If you want to remember the magic that makes Disneyland such a fantastic place, revisit those beloved Disney classics at Disney Movie Club. With the Disney Movie Club you can enjoy any number of Disney classics from the comfort of your own couch. Classics such as "Pinocchio," "The Lion King," "Peter Pan," "Cinderella," or "Snow White" can be delivered right to your doorstep. You are never far from that magic.