Featured Attractions

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

1974: America Sings


 

Disneyland continued to get new attractions. America Sings opened up in Tomorrowland, providing a swinging look into the music of America's history. The revolutionary show would entertain millions for the next twelve years.

Monday, January 30, 2017

1973: Robin Hood


 

In 1973, one of the first animated features without Walt Disney's fingerprints premiered. Robin Hood brought the story of Robin Hood into the animal kingdom and was one of the final films featuring Walt Disney's crew of animators. It was an opportunity for the first generation of animators to train the people who would take Disney animation into the future.

Friday, January 27, 2017

1972: The Mouse Factory


After the lackluster start of Florida's Magic Kingdom park, Walt Disney Productions went into a frenzy. Some blamed the company's lack of presence on children's television. (Though the Mickey Mouse Club had premiered months after DISNEYLAND's hugely crowded grand opening.) The company enlisted Disney Legend Ward Kimball to put together a kids show for the 1970's- The Mouse Factory.

 

The show, which featured scenes from both DISNEYLAND and Walt Disney World, (but mostly Walt Disney World) was not very successful. Disney was faced with the choice of either paying stations to air the show or taking it off the air. The company chose to cancel the show.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

1971: Roy Disney Passes Away


In 1971, Roy Disney, who had taken over from his brother, passed away exactly five years and five days after his brother. Roy had opened the Magic Kingdom theme park in Florida months earlier, a project that had been dramatically downsized from his brother's original plans. When the crowds didn't materialize for months, gossip around the company centered on the park's failure as being "Walt's Revenge" for the cheapened Florida project. Luckily for Roy, attendance at the Florida park picked up weeks before his death.

 

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

1970: The Aristocats


In 1970, Walt Disney Productions released the last animated film supervised and approved by Walt Disney- The Aristocats. While other ideas- like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast- had been in various stages of development prior to Mr. Disney's death, The Aristocats was the last one had actually been approved for production by Mr. Disney.

 

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

1969: Disneyland's Haunted Mansion


On August 9, 1969, DISNEYLAND opened its biggest attraction since Pirates of the Caribbean- the Haunted Mansion.

 

The highly anticipated attraction drew thousands of guests, resulting in the park's first over capacity closure. 

 

Monday, January 23, 2017

1968: The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band


 

In 1968, Walt Disney Productions released The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band which uses the backdrop of the 1888 presidential election to depict an unusual family band. The 1888 election was notable for being the first time that the winning president won the majority of electoral votes but was not favored by the majority of American voters, an unusual circumstance that would not be repeated until 2000 and 2016.

Friday, January 20, 2017

1967: Pirates of the Caribbean Conquer DISNEYLAND.


Walt Disney might have passed away, but his dreams lived on. One of his biggest dreams finally opened in 1967- Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

The elaborate set pieces, amazing effects and immersive atmosphere made this attraction the greatest ever built. Though the company has tried to clone the ride elsewhere, the original stands as the greatest of them all.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

1966: The Magic Kingdom loses its king.


On December 15, 1966 the unthinkable happened. Walt Disney, the visionary behind the Magic Kingdom of DISNEYLAND and so many other happy creations had passed away. The world joined his friends, family and employees in mourning his loss.

 

"In 1966 the world was saddened hearing of Mr. Disney's death- but it's such a comfort to know his soul lives on together with his dreams and his memory will live forever in my heart."

-Annette Funicello

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

1965: Ten Years Of Fantasy!


In 1965, DISNEYLAND celebrated its tenth anniversary with the first year long celebration. For the park originally derided as a "kiddyland" that wouldn't last six months, celebrating ten years was truly a milestone.

 

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Happy Birthday, Betty White!


 

1964: A Big Year at Disney


1964 was a huge year for Walt Disney Productions. Mary Poppins was breaking box office records and gaining critical acclaim. Walt Disney would use some of the film's profits to fund new research and projects for DISNEYLAND attractions.

 

Another source of new ideas and excitement for his beloved park was the New York World's Fair. it's a small world would be the biggest new attraction that came out of the various Disney projects at the fair.

 

Friday, January 13, 2017

1963: Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room


In 1963, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room opened to huge crowds and acclaim.

 

DISNEYLAND guests found the singing birds to be charming. Originally intended to be a restaurant sponsored by Stouffer's, the exciting show was turned into an attraction and became an instant classic.

 

Thursday, January 12, 2017

1962: Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse Opens


In 1962, DISNEYLAND opened the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, a man made tree that would surprise guests with how real it looked. It began life as a steel structure.

 

It would be completely transformed into a realistic looking tree that still entertains guests as Tarzan's Treehouse today.

 

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

1961: To Harbor Blvd- and Beyond!


Originally, the DISNEYLAND Monorail only ran in a circuit around Tomorrowland, depositing guests back where they started above the Submarine Voyage.

 

Mr. Disney, however, wanted to show the world that monorail systems could be practical modes of transportation. He struck a deal with his friend Jack Wrather to extend the monorail to the DISNEYLAND Hotel, making it an actual journey. It would be the first DISNEYLAND attraction that left the park and the first monorail anywhere that crossed a public street. The DISNEYLAND Hotel Monorail Station opened in 1961. 

While the park itself would be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in the offseason, the DISNEYLAND Monorail would become the first attraction that would operate 365 days of the year. On days the park was closed, it would give guests a view inside the Magic Kingdom, but wouldn't stop inside the park itself.

 

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

1960: 20 Million Guests


 

They said it wouldn't last six months and nobody would go all the way to Anaheim just to see a kiddyland. Of course, they were wrong. Five years after opening, DISNEYLAND welcomed its 20 Millionth guest. Very impressive for a concept that most people didn't understand when it opened in 1955. In comparison, the DISNEYLAND Resort hosts about 25 million guests a year nowadays at its two theme parks.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

1959: Big Changes in Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom


1959 brought the biggest expansion in DISNEYLAND history up to that time. Not content to coast on the park's success, Walt Disney opened several major attractions.

 

DISNEYLAND's first roller coaster- The Matterhorn Bobsleds- showed the world that the park was here to stay and would never settle for second best. The park also opened its sleek new monorail system and the amazing Submarine Voyage.

Outside consultants told Walt Disney that this engineering feat was impossible. As always, he would prove them wrong.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

1958: Alice in DISNEYLAND


 

In 1958, Walt Disney added to his Magic Kingdom with the introduction of the Alice in Wonderland dark ride. The attraction was one of the first that left the show building mid-ride then rejoined it after cruising outside.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

1957 - Old Yeller


In 1957, Walt Disney Productions released the classic film Old Yeller, which featured three future Disney Legends- Fess Parker, Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran.

 

The classic film featured an ending that brought audiences to tears- the brave, helpful Old Yeller contracts rabies and must be put down by Tommy Kirk's character. The studio almost changed the ending, but Walt Disney insisted that it remained the same as in the book.

Monday, January 2, 2017

1956 - Storybookland Canal Boats


 

In 1956, Walt Disney's first "plussing" at DISNEYLAND Park took place. The Canal Boats of the World attraction had been a disappointment from opening day. Walt Disney had wanted to improve it, but lacked the funding before opening day. When DISNEYLAND became a runaway success, Roy Disney began to release funding for his brother to begin improving areas of DISNEYLAND and the transformation of Canal Boats of the World into Storybookland took place. One of Walt Disney's first dreams for his Magic Kingdom was already coming true.