“To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America...with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”
Walt Disney opened Disneyland on July 17, 1955. When we all think of Disneyland we think of a fun place, but on opening day it was a chaotic.
According to Disneyland history:
•Local police dubbed the seven-mile freeway backup the worst mess they had ever seen.•Rides and attractions broke down under the unslaught of guests, opening and closing periodically to make way for television crews.
•Fantasyland closed temporarily due to a gas leak.
•Main Street's freshly-poured asphalt softened in the heat. Women wearing high heels sometimes left a shoe behind, stuck in black goo.
•Because of a plumber's strike, both restrooms and drinking fountains could not be ready by opening day. Walt opted for restrooms, leaving visitors hot and thirsty.
It seems that Disneyland has got all the kinks worked out and is constantly creating new ideas.
