The history and heritage of Disneyland
Years before the Magic Skyway, but after the “Richfield Autopia“, there was – the “Midget Autopia” at Disneyland. The “Midget Autopia” was designed specifically for small children who couldn’t even see over the wheel of the original opening-day “Autopia” attraction. On April 23, 1957 – almost two years after Disneyland opened – the “Midget Autopia”…
Disneyland held its first “Grad Nite” celebration on June 15, 1961. More than 8,000 students from Los Angeles area high schools attended.
On June 23, 1963 Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opened – which is the only attraction at the park that contains Walt’s name. The location was originally planned as a restaurant but that never came to be… the kitchen entrance is immediately to the left as soon as you enter the building.
By Bob Beckman Four-year-old Debra Rutherford knew Disneyland was going to be wonderful. When she arrived Wednesday it exceeded her wildest dreams. It was her insistence – and that of her 3-year-old sister Patricia – that convinced their parents Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Rutherford, to travel hear from their home in Quincy, Wash. They…
It happened on May 4th, 1977 – Disneyland opened Space Mountain – though not ‘officially’… The attraction was open to guests to ride for an “E” ticket, but the park’s second ‘mountain’ wasn’t dedicated until a few weeks later on May 27, 1977. It’s also interesting to note that Disney World opened their version of…
Today in Disney history – on April 22, 1964, the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair opened, featuring many popular attractions that eventually moved to Disneyland… In the early 1960’s Disneyland was embarking on the largest expansion since the park was built. The plans, ideas, and construction for New Orleans Square were well under way when…
On February 15, 2006 at 7:30am at Disneyland, the newest engine to the Disneyland Railroad was dedicated as #5 Ward Kimball. On the same day the Lilly Belle VIP parlor car was re-dedicated after being off the line for many years. In attendance was Betty Kimball, the wife of the new locomotive’s namesake, Ward Kimball….
The original Star Tours opened on January 9, 1987, replacing “Adventure Thru Inner Space”. Here’s a great video of Darth Vader going to Disneyland waiting for the new version of Star Tours… http://vidtaggr.com/taggs.aspx?v=t4_dZPVg8KI