Featured Attractions

Friday, August 28, 2015

The Story of DISNEYLAND: Ticket Books to Paradise


In the early days of DISNEYLAND, adult admission was $1. For that price, guests got admission to the park, entrance to all shows, entertainment and parades. The ticket did not include attractions.





Guests had to purchase separate tickets for the attractions. Each ride was given a ranking from A to E. A rides were the simplest attractions. E rides were the biggest and best attractions. Kids hoarded the E tickets like precious jewels. A tickets were typically plentiful and left over at the end of the day.




This ticketing system served the park well in its earliest days. To a financial whiz like Roy Disney, the ticket system was a great encouragement to approve new attractions and adventures since each expenditure would return tangible funds back to the company. More attractions found within the park meant more tickets sold.





At some point, Roy Disney did try to reign in his brother's spending. Regardless of the extra tickets sold, Roy thought some attractions were too expensive to build, like the Matterhorn. There was one attraction that Walt Disney had full control over- the Santa Fe and DISNEYLAND Railroad, which was personally owned and operated by him.