The History of Disneyland California: The First Disney Theme Park 

Drawing millions of enchanted guests each year, Disneyland - the OG theme park - has helped make Anaheim, California a global icon of adventure. The resort’s long history is a captivating tale of imagination, and it is little wonder why Disneyland is still growing in popularity over 70 years on! 

If you’re dreaming up a California getaway, consider this your bite-size guide to Walt Disney’s original legacy, complete with fun facts and impressive lore set to delight even the most devoted Disney fans.  

Get ready to explore why Disneyland continues to be the ultimate family destination and discover the wonder behind the park that started it all… 
 

When did Disneyland open? 

Walt Disney’s first creation was built within a year and opened its gates on 17th July 1955. It was the only park he personally oversaw from conception to completion. 


 

Is Walt Disney still alive? 

Walt was born in Chicago on 5th December 1901 and sadly died on 15th December 1966 in Burbank, California. Although he was there to begin overseeing the process of building his second theme park - Walt Disney World Resort - in Orlando, Florida, he unfortunately never got to see it come to completion in 1971. 
 

What were the opening day ticket prices? 

Opening day ticket prices at Disneyland were very different from today’s admission prices; back then it was only $1.00 per adult and $0.50 per child! However, this entry fee only allowed guests into the park and didn’t include rides and attractions.  

Ride tickets were purchased separately in little books, with many rides costing between 10¢ and 35¢ each. Whole ticket books cost around $2.50 - $5.00, depending on how many attractions you wanted to go on during your visit. In later years, Disney introduced the famous A-E graded ticketing system, with ‘E-tickets’ being for the most exciting attractions. 
 

How long did it take to build Disneyland? 

Disneyland was the first amusement park of its kind and was built incredibly quickly, taking about one year almost to the day to complete. Ground was broken on 21st July 1954, and the opening day was on 17th July the following year. The park was considered an exceptionally ambitious project for its time, particularly due to its size and complexity. 
 

How much did Disneyland cost to build? 

In today’s money, Disneyland cost approximately $17 million to build, and in 1955 this was a risky and expensive investment. If that figure was adjusted to match inflation today, it would stretch into hundreds of millions of dollars. Walt Disney had to personally finance much of the project as well as borrow heavily and partner with ABC to pull it all off. 

Risky as it was, it certainly paid off as that initial $17 million cost became the foundation of what would grow into the global empire we know and love today! 
 

Which was the first Disneyland hotel? 

The first hotel to open in Disneyland was aptly named the Disneyland Hotel, and this flagship accommodation is still in full swing today, albeit with many renovations and updates. The hotel opened in October 1955 a few months after the main park and quickly became a popular destination for families. 



The original hotel owner and operator was businessman Jack Wrather as Walt didn’t have the money to build it at the time, however, it became Disney-owned in 1988 and has been run by the company ever since. 
 

What were the first Disneyland rides? 

Many of the park’s original opening day rides and attractions are still in operation today. Though there have been incredible technological advances over the last 70 years with faster, bigger, more exciting rides, these iconic attractions offer a dash of nostalgia that delights all visitors. First up is the charming Disneyland Railroad, inspired by Walt’s love of trains, this classic attraction continues to transport guests around the park today, with stops at various locations en route.  



Main Street Cinema was also a feature on opening day and showed a range of silent films; today you can still visit this small picture-house and watch classics shorts like ‘Steamboat Willie’.  Along Main Street USA you could also take leisurely rides in horse-drawn streetcars. Over in Adventureland was the exciting Jungle Cruise, a serene boat ride taking guests through a jungle complete with animatronic animals and amusing commentary from the skipper—this remains a family favourite today!  

In Frontierland, visitors could try their hand in the Frontierland Shootin’ Gallery and take donkey and stagecoach rides. One of the area’s principal attractions still operating today is the delightful Mark Twain Riverboat, a steam-powered riverboat that offers a scenic trip around the Rivers of America and a glimpse into the park's stunning natural beauty. 

Fantasyland still holds much of Disneyland’s original enchantment from 1955 with beloved rides such as Peter Pan’s Flight, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, King Arthur Carrousel, Mad Tea Party, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant (this opened a month later but is still considered an original attraction). Mr Toad’s Wild Ride was also a fixture on launch day and ran for 40 years before unfortunately closing in 1998.  



To begin with, the futuristic Tomorrowland featured Autopia, Skyway to Fantasyland, Rocket to the Moon, the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea exhibit, and the Circarama 360-degree theatre. The only ride to continue today is Autopia, a quaint ride where guests can drive their own cars along a track. Instant favourites have been added along the way over the years including Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened in 2019. Not all the attractions were fully operational on the park’s opening day due to construction delays, but these were the earliest rides and experiences that defined the park’s humble beginnings and started its epic journey. 

70 years after this pioneering theme park was created, we still can’t get enough of the original Disneyland with the celebrations ongoing until summer 2026 with events, attractions, and exclusive merchandise! And as we look toward the future, we can be sure that Disneyland is set to grow even bigger and better than ever… watch this space. 


Ready to continue the 70th birthday celebrations with Mickey and friends? Take a look at our Disneyland California holiday packages and get your party hats on!