“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

Dedication of Disneyland, July 17, 1955

56 years ago today, July 18, 1955, in what was at the time the “small town” of Anaheim, CA the general public was welcomed in to a Disney park for the very first time. The park was officially opened and dedicated on July 17th.

Walt Disney created his original theme park to be a place parents and children could enjoy quality family time and have fun together. Today, millions of families have cherished memories of their visits not only to the original Disneyland park, but to Disney parks and resorts around the world.

Original plans called for Disneyland to be a park for employees of Disney’s studios, a 45 acre park with a budget of approximately $9 million but Walt’s vision was never small! As Disneyland moved from an abstract concept into its opening day reality, it became a 160 acre park costing around $17 million that was to be open to the public.

There were many detractors who told Walt there was no place for such a park; it was a bad business decision. It was referred to as “Walt’s Folly.” Many told him people wouldn’t come, but come they did! Even an opening day plagued with problems that led to harshly critical reviews by reporters invited to attend didn’t deter Walt! Only seven weeks after opening day, the 1,000,000th guest passed through the gates of Disneyland. By only it’s second year Disneyland was turning a profit.

You can view the entire Disneyland dedication ceremony in the video below.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdOzNao7H18]

We are all thankful that Walt didn’t listen to those detractors; that his vision carried him forward. That vision and leap of faith opened the door for what is now a huge “empire” providing family fun and magic not just in Anaheim, CA but at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL (which celebrates its 40th anniversary on October 1, 2011), at Disneyland parks in Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and soon to be Shanghai, onboard 3 (soon to be 4!) cruise ships, on Adventures by Disney vacations at some of the world’s most exciting locations, and resorts in Vero Beach, FL, Hilton Head, SC and Ko Olina, Hawaii.

Yes, it may have all started with a mouse, but many thanks go to the man behind the mouse who had the foresight to stick to his dreams and see them through. He embodied the lesson taught to generations of children by Jiminy Cricket:

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true.

Thanks for the memories, Walt!

Lori Hardegree
lori@magicalmemoriestravel.com
@DisneyMomATL