Happy Labor Day!

 

Walt Week

 

Walt Week

 

Walt Week

 

Walt Week

 

Walt Week

 

More Crazy Re-Theming Ideas

 

 

Theme Park Thursdays: A King Enjoys His Kingdom

In honor of DISNEYLAND's birthday week, we present photos of Walt Disney enjoying his Magic Kingdom.

 

Walt standing underneath the window honoring his father. Elias Disney did not live to see DISNEYLAND's opening.

 

Walt Disney enjoying a dance with a park guest.

 

Grandpa enjoying a day at his Magic Kingdom.

 

A nice cup of coffee at the Plaza Inn, Walt Disney's favorite restaurant in the park.

 

Taking a spin!

 

Greeting some guests.

 

Hanging out, dreaming new dreams.

The Happiest Anniversary on Earth!

Walt and Lillian Disney celebrated their 30th Wedding Anniversary on this day in 1955. The grand opening of DISNEYLAND was just 4 days away and Mr. Disney wanted to share his future Magic Kingdom with friends and family. Upon arriving at the front gate, his guests were given a ride down Main Street to Frontierland, where they were the first ever riders on the Mark Twain Riverboat. After a leisurely ride down the river, Walt's guests were ushered into the Golden Horseshoe, where Wally Boag entertained one and all.

 

Some guests thought Mr. Disney was drunk, since they had never seen him act so giddy before, but his daughter Diane knew that her father wasn't drunk. She knew he was just overjoyed that his biggest dream was going to be a reality in just a few short days and he was proud to finally share it all with his friends and family.

 

While Mr. Disney couldn't be 100% certain that the public would accept his latest venture, for one night he could forget about the loans, construction timetables and stress. For one night he would be the king of all he surveyed- his beloved DISNEYLAND. Of course, the world would fall in love with the place; a place that existed, as Art Linkletter once pointed out, because Walt wanted it to.

Marceline Welcomed Walt & Roy

60 years ago on this day, Walt Disney's adopted hometown of Marceline, MO welcomed him back with open arms.

 

The city was naming a park after him in honor of his many accomplishments. Walt visited his old haunts, like his "Dreaming Tree":

 

On that spot, under that very tree, young Walt sat and drew in his sketchbook, dreaming up things that he would eventually make come true. 

 

Mr. Disney's time in Marceline would be brief, but it would stay in his heart for the rest of his life, inspiring Main Street, USA in his one and only Magic Kingdom of DISNEYLAND.

 

Walt Wednesdays: Mr. Disney's Private Property

 

Happy Flag Day!

 

Walt Wednesdays: Walt's Chili Beans

Walt Disney's favorite food was chili beans. Whenever he was left to cook for himself, he would prepare his favorite dish his way- mixing a can of Gebhardt Chili with Dennison's.

The Gebhardt chili was included because it had more meat in it. He included the Dennison's chili because it had more beans than meat. Cast members at the Plaza Inn at DISNEYLAND would keep some cans on hand just in case the boss stopped by.

Walt Disney, Grand Marshall

Merry Christmas!

The Story of DISNEYLAND: A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

"It's something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing...and adding to."

-Walt Disney

DISNEYLAND was designed from the beginning as a place that would constantly grow and change. It was what Walt Disney wanted and it is still the way things happen in his one and only Magic Kingdom.

"Dad's vision called for this, for DISNEYLAND, to be something that could grow more beautiful every year, and it has."

-Diane Disney Miller

While it is wonderful to remember DISNEYLAND's past and amazing to experience its present, it is always great to think about its future. Presently, DISNEYLAND is about to embark on its largest expansion in years, an amazing project that will bring the larger world of Star Wars to the park. 

These improvements will be an amazing addition to the park that will be built right behind Frontierland beginning next month. Will things look exactly like the conceptual drawings? Possibly, but the amazing thing about Walt Disney Imagineering is that they will improve and expand on their plans literally up until construction begins, so one never truly knows what the finished project will look like.

Another sure bet for DISNEYLAND is an injection of Marvel. But what will Marvel in the parks look like? Could it be something like this?

Would Iron Man or Stark Enterprises end up in Tomorrowland? Or could it find its way into Disney California Adventure in its own land?

The company also owns a large vacant lot just down the street that has often been seen as a potential site for a third theme park. Could this be a prime location for Marvel characters- or for a park highlighting Disney's Heroes and Villains?

And don't forget about Downtown Disney- there's plans for expansion, but what will those plans look like? A new hotel tower, various new restaurants and shops are planned. What might those look like? Expect celebrity restaurants and special attractions, regardless of what they end up looking like.

So while our 60th Anniversary feature has come to an end- the true story of DISNEYLAND continues to be told every day- in the smiles on the faces of Walt Disney's beloved guests and in the magical memories still being created every day. It's just the way he wanted it- just the way he'd always dreamed.

DISNEYLAND's magic will be with us forever- for now and for always. There's a great big beautiful tomorrow- just a dream away!

Disney Christmas Week: Lady and the Tramp

The film Lady and the Tramp begins on Christmas when Jim Dear gives his wife a special gift- Lady herself, romantically presented in a hat box.

This thoughtful gift was inspired by a real life present Walt Disney have to his wife- a cocker spaniel presented so sweetly in a hat box.

Disney Christmas Week: One Hour in Wonderland

In the beginning of the television era, the major Hollywood studios declared it to be off limits. While nowadays the networks and studios are typically all part of the same entertainment conglomerates, they were considered enemies in the 1950's. It was Walt Disney who first saw the possible benefits of aligning with this new medium.

On Christmas Day in 1950, Mr. Disney crossed into "enemy territory" by producing One Hour in Wonderland for NBC. Presented by Coca-Cola, it was the first production on television produced by a Hollywood studio. The hour was hosted by Walt Disney and featured Edgar Bergen and Kathryn Beaumont, who was the voice of Alice in the upcoming Alice in Wonderland.

It was the highest rated show that year and it sparked an idea in Walt Disney's mind- could TV help him finance his biggest dream- DISNEYLAND?

Roy O. Disney

When Walt had a crazy dream, it was his brother Roy who always found the money to accomplish it. Roy didn't always agree with his brother's projects, but he always helped make them come true. Roy O. Disney passed away on this day in 1971.

Lillian Disney

Walt Disney's wife, Lillian Disney passed away on this day in 1997. Mrs. Disney worked at the Disney Brothers Studio as an inker and caught Walt's eye quite early on. They were soon married and would remain so until Mr. Disney's death. Lillian's biggest contribution to her husband's success was insisting that he change the name of his mouse character from Mortimer to Mickey Mouse. This simple change doubtlessly made their clever little "son" a much bigger success than he might have been otherwise.