Chronology of
Disneyland Theme Park

This document is an attempt to bring various published sources together to present a timeline about Disneyland Theme Park.

Note: This document is not sponsored or endorsed by the Walt Disney Company in any way. No infringement of any of their trademarks is intended, and it is acknowledged that the Disney characters and theme park attractions mentioned within this document are registered trademarks of the Walt Disney Company - including, but not limited to: Walt Disney, Disneyland Paris, Euro Disney, Magic Kingdom, Main Street USA, Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Discoveryland, Festival Disney, Audio-Animatronics, Adventure Isle, Space Mountain, Mickey Mouse, Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, and Captain EO.

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.

1952

March 27

• The Burbank Daily Review reports on the first public announcement of a proposed US$1.5 million development called Disneyland at the corner of Riverside and Buena Vista roads. [267.180] [914.39] [939.5] [1300.141]

April 3

• Walt Disney submits a sketch of a "Fairy Land" to the Recreation and Parks commissioners on Riverside Drive between Disney studios and Griffith Park. [235.53]

(month unknown)

• Walt Disney establishes Disneyland Incorporated. [24] [50.299] (1951 [23])
• Walt Disney directs storyboard illustrator Ken Anderson to begin building a series of miniature 3-D mechanically animated scenes, to be transported around the country on train. The project is called Disneylandia. [328.192]

December 16

• Walt Disney incorporates the WED Enterprises company, to develop ideas for a "family park" to be called "Disneyland". [22] [36.13] [40.229] [48.4] [50.299] [108.10] [267.180] [328.130] [384.119] [501.601] [914.46] [939.6] [1102.493] [1364.61] (January 1953 [34.214]) ("Disneylandia" [34.214])

1953

March

• The board of directors of Walt Disney Productions agrees to license Walt Disney's name for forty years, give Walt Disney a personal services contract for seven years for $3000 per week and 5-10 percent of what the company collects from the use of Walt's name on anything outside of production. WED Wnterprises would design and build attractions for Disneyland park and sell them to Walt Disney Productions at cost plus overhead. Three board members resign; the others warily approve it. [267.254] [1102.493]

April

• Walt Disney commissions the Stanford Research Institute to advise on best location for the Disneyland park, and to perform an analysis of amusement parks and public attractions. Cost is US$32,000. [267.186] [23] [26] [48.249] [222.28]

(month unknown)

• WED Enterprises begins design work on Disneyland. [267.181]
• Bill Martin joins Disney to aid in the design of Disneyland. [228.313]

July

• Walt Disney hires the Stanford Research Institute to look for a 100+ acre location in Southern California for Disneyland. [1073.74] [1102.500]
• Walt Disney meets with ABC president Leonard Goldenson, to negotiate a deal for ABC to benefit from Disney's name and inventory of films, in exchange for financing Disneylandia. [34.216] (Roy Disney [48.249])

August

• Roy Disney meets with the Stanford Research Institute to discuss the results of the Disneyland location survey. Of ten possible locations, an area in Anaheim along the Santa Ana Freeway is chosen. The 160-acre Ball Road subdivision, a grove of 1000 orange trees, is then purchased for US$879,000. [1073.74] [1102.501] (July [267.187])

August 8

• Marvin Davis completes his first diagram plan for the Disneyland site. Walt adds a triangular area to show where he wants the railroad to bound the park. [328.200]

(month unknown)

• A real estate agent, on behalf of Disney, begins discretely buying 270 acres of land at US$4,500 per acre for the Disneyland park site. [267.187]

September 24

• Roy Disney receives word that prospective financiers in New York for Disneyland want to meet next week. He contacts Walt, asking for a visual presentation to take. [328.204]

September 25

• Marvin Davis completes his second-generation "hub" layout of the proposed Disneyland. [226.15]
  vvv advertisement vvv
  
  ^^^ advertisement ^^^
  

September 26

• Walt Disney discusses his plans for Disneyland with Herb Ryman, convincing him to help draw a visual image of the park. Over 42 hours, the two create a 43x70 inch detailed aerial view. [92.99] [222.29] [226.15] [234.99] [1364.56] (September 23 [267.183] [939.7] [1102.506])

September 28

• In New York, Roy Disney meets with CBS TV executives to seek financing for Disneyland Park. They are not interested. NBC's parent company, RCA, stalls in making a committment. ABC's Leonard Goldenson eagerly agrees to participate. The final agreement includes a US$500,000 investment from ABC-Paramount, guarantee for US$4.5 million line of credit, in return for 35 percent interest in Disneyland Park, and a weekly one-hour TV program with Disney films and production for TV. ABC will pay Disney $5 million per year for TV programming, over the 7-year contract. This is the largest TV package deal in history. [234.100] [328.210] [1336.35] (September 25 [267.183]) (ABC deal in Spring [384.120])

1954

• Disney and ABC sign an agreement regarding the building and ownership of Disneyland. ABC will invest in Disneyland, guarantee bank loans for up to US$4.5 million, and receive all profits from the park's food concessions for ten years. Disney will provide ABC with 21 one-hour programs for three years, for payments of US$50,000-70,000 per show, and US$25,000-35,000 for repeat showings. Ownership of all Disney shares: 34.48 percent for ABC (for US$500,000 investment), 34.48 percent for Walt Disney Productions (for US$500,000 investment), 13.8 percent for Western printing and Lithography Co (for US$200,000 investment), 16.55 percent for Walt Disney (for US$250,000 investment). [34.222] [48.249] [56.75] [267.185] [1102.509]

April 2

• ABC and Disney boards approve the ownership and financing deal for Disneyland. [1102.509]

April

• Admiral Joe Fowler is hired to supervise construction of Disneyland. [1073.75]
• Walt Disney announces that Disneyland will open in July, 1955. [92.100] [234.100]

May 1

• The Anaheim Bulletin newspappr reports news of the Disney purchase of land in Anaheim for the (Disneyland) amusement park. [939.17] [1102.501,509] [1300.142]

(month unknown)

• At the suggestion of ABC TV, Walt changes the name of Disneylandia to Disneyland. [34.223]
• Disney completes buying 244 acres of land near Anaheim, California, as the site for a theme park. [56.61]
• Key Disney staff members begin touring major American amusement parks, learning what not to do. [20]

July

• Excavation of the Disneyland park site begins. The first orange tree is removed. [4] [23] [26] [40.233] [48.253] (July 12 [1102.524] [1300.142]) (July 16 [222.27] [450.19] [1300.142]) (August [267.189] [328.213])

October 27

• The ABC TV network airs the first Disneyland TV show, on Wednesday night, 7:30 to 8:30. The first episode is titled The Disneyland Story. Approximately 30.8 million American viewers watch the show. [1] [5] [6] [13] [19] [22] [23] [26] [34.223] [40.233] [59.50] [48.255] [83.696] [84.897] [96.84] [113.288] [226.18] [228.134,137] [328.210] [370.393] [381.314] [387.182] [431.30] [911.106] [1073.75] [1300.135] (October 17 [50.139] [176.22])

1955

February 9

• The ABC TV network airs the Disneyland TV show, entitled A Progress Report (on Disneyland construction), and the film Nature's Half Acre. A model of the Jungle Cruise attraction is shown, giving a dry run along a bare earth route. [228.402] [370.393] [910.19]

March 13

• The ABC TV network airs the Disneyland TV show, entitled Further Report on Disneyland. [370.393]

March

• ABC sells out advertising for the televised Disneyland opening show. [1102.529]

March 29

• The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway signs a five-year contract with Disney, paying US$50,000 per year in exchange for the name "Santa Fe" and company logo to be used on all Disneyland trains, stations, literature, etc. [328.273]

(month unknown)

• Orange County plumbers and asphalt workers stage a strike, threatening to delay the tight schedule of building Disneyland. [34.227]

May 22

• ABC camera crews begin rehearsing every Sunday at Disneyland. [1102.529]

(month unknown)

• Jack Lindquist is hired to Disney, as the first advertising manager of Disneyland. [228.289]

July 4

• A pre-opening party is held at the Disneyland site for employees. [328.215]

July 9

• The July 9 issue of Business Week magazine features Walt Disney on the cover, for an article on Disneyland. [1104.76]

July 13

• Walt and Lillian Disney hold their 30th wedding anniversary party at Disneyland, on Frontierland's Mark Twain Riverboat. [757.36] [1300.267]
• The ABC TV network airs the Disneyland TV show, featuring A Further Report on Disneyland / A Tribute to Mickey Mouse. [228.200]

July 14

• At Disneyland park, the Casey Jr. Circus Train makes its first test ride. On the 25-percent uphill grade, the engine almost tips backward. Lead weights are added to the front, allowing it to temporarily open on the 17th. [328.284]

July 17

• At 2:00 PM, Disneyland park opens, in Anaheim, California. Five themed areas are Main Street U.S.A., Frontierland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland. Eighteen attractions are ready for use. Based on an initial US$10,000 for planning, the final construction cost was US$17 million. 15,000 guests were invited, but attendance for the day is 28,000-33,000. [1] [4] [5] [6] [7] [14] [19] [22] [26] [34.231] [49.267] [62] [90.59] [92.102] [96.84] [98] [113.314] [176.22] [190.150] [193.34] [210.172] [222.27] [230.65] [238.205] [257.24] [939.22] [1102.529] [1300.310] [1357] [1364.71] [1378.28] (10,000 invited [939.22] [1300.310]) (11,000 invited [267.198] [450.22]) (twenty attractions [757.36])
• Mouseketeers, the actors of the upcoming The Mickey Mouse Club TV show, make their first official TV appearance at Disneyland. [1336.65]
• The Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad attraction opens in Disneyland. The two engines are the #1 C.K. Holliday, and the #2 E.P. Ripley. [228.136] [328.390,391] [501.484] [1300.368]
• The Fire-Wagon horse-drawn Main Street vehicle begins operating at Disneyland. [228.186]
• The Horse-Drawn Streetcars begins operating at Disneyland. [228.242]
• The Plaza Pavilion Restaurant opens in the Plaza Hub at Disneyland. [228.391] [1300.337]
• The City Hall area on Town Square at Disneyland opens. [1300.108] [1378.140]
• The Police Station opens in Town Square at Disneyland. [1300.338]
• The Opera House opens in Town Square at Disneyland. [1300.313]
• The Fire Department opens in Town Square at Disneyland. [228.185] [1300.167]
• Grandma's Baby Shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.194]
• The Gibson Greeting Cards store opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.186]
• The Shoe Store Gallen-Kamp Stores Co. opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.183]
• The Watches & Clocks shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.440]
• The Bank of America opens a branch location on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.66] [1378.58]
• The Camera Center shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.235] [1378.112]
• The Wurlitzer Music Hall shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. [501.622] [1300.445]
• The Ruggles China and Glass House shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. [501.478] [1300.365]
• The Story Book Shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. [501.525] [1300.400]
• The Market House shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.265]
• The Refreshment Corner open on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [26.53] [1300.353] (Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner [1378.144])
• The Yale & Towne Lock Shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.446]
• The Penny Arcade attraction opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [228.382] [1300.321]
• The Pen Shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.322]
• The Main Street Shooting Gallery opens on Main Street, inside the Penny Arcade, using real .22-caliber weapons. [1300.260]
• The Crystal Arcade opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.121]
• The Fine Tobacco shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [1300.166]
• The Main Street Cinema attraction opens on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. [228.306] [1300.256]
• The Emporium store opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. [228.164] [1300.152]
• The Carnation Ice Cream Parlor opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. [1300.92] [1378.119]
• The Upjohn Pharmacy shop opens on Main Street in Disneyland. [501.582] [1300.433]
• The Stage Coach attraction begins operation in Frontierland at Disneyland. [501.520] [1300.393]
• The Golden Horseshoe Revue opens in the Slue Foot Sue's Golden Horseshoe saloon in Frontierland at Disneyland. [228.208] [757.50] [939.126] [1300.189]
• The Mule Pack ride opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [225.110] [228.345] [1235.20] [1300.297]
• The Frontier Trading Post shop opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [228.197] [1300.180]
• Disney's Mark Twain Riverboat is christened in Frontierland at Disneyland. The large paddlewheeler is 105 feet long, weighing 150 tons. [26.87] [228.311] [1300.267]
• The Davy Crockett Frontier Museum opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [1300.127] (Davy Crockett Arcade shop [1378.175])
• The Chicken Plantation Restaurant opens in Frontierland at Disneyland, sponsored by Swift. [1300.101] [1378.132]
• Sleeping Beauty Castle opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [1300.375]
• The Snow White Adventures attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [501.510] [1300.380]
• The Peter Pan Flight attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [228.385] [1300.322]
• The King Arthur Carrousel attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [228.275] [1300.233]
• The Mr. Toad's Wild Ride attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [228.336] [1300.295]
• The Canal Boats of the World attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [939.93] [1300.87] [1378.114]
• Merlin's Magic Shop opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [228.318] [1300.277]
• The Mad Hatter's Mad Tea Party attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [228.303] [1300.249]
• In Disneyland, the main electrical cables to Fantasyland are mysteriously cut, stranding riders for hours until firefighters can rescue them. [267.198]
• The Jungle Cruise attraction opens in Adventureland at Disneyland. The two operating boats are named Ganges Gal and Congo Queen. [228.269] [1300.227] (Jungle Rivers of the World [910.20])
• The Red Wagon Inn restaurant opens in the Plaza Hub at Disneyland. [26.53] [228.410] [1300.352]
• The Adventureland Bazaar opens in Adventureland. [1300.39] [1378.8]
• The Space Station X-1 exhibit opens in Torrowland at Disneyland. [501.515] [1300.389]
• The Tomorrowland Autopia attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [1300.417] [1378.49]
• The Moonliner rocket is displayed in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [1300.292]
• The Circarama theater opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. The theater shows a 360-degree film projected from 11 16-mm projectors. The first film is Circarama U.S.A., created from a drive around California by a car with 11 16-mm cameras mounted on the roof. [5] [6] [19] [20] [1378.139] (July 18 [1300.106])
• The Monsanto Hall of Chemistry display opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [228.338] [1300.199]
• The Court of Honor exhibit opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [1300.117]
• The Disneyland Band gives its first performance, at Disneyland. [1300.133]
• In Disneyland, a natural gas leak in Tomorrowland forces the area to be roped off. [267.198]
• Carnival owners in the US predict that Disneyland would go out of business within six months. [267.196]
• At 4:30 PM, the ABC Television network airs the 90-minute Dateline: Disneyland show, broadcasting the opening of Disneyland park. An estimated 70-90 million people watch the show, the largest live TV broadcast to date, with over twenty cameras and a staff of hundreds. Hosts of the show are Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings, and Ronald Reagan. The official dedication is made by Walt Disney and California Governor Goodwin Knight. [228.22] [234.105] [450.24] [757.36] [910.20] [939.22] [1102.529] [1300.137] [1378.173]

July 18

• Disneyland opens to the public (10 AM to 10 PM), with general admission costing US$1 for adults and 50 cents for kids. Cost of the twenty attractions range from 10c to 35c. First guests are Kristine Vess and Michael Schwartner. They are both given lifetime passes. A gas leak forces Fantasyland to close early. [26] [228.133] [328.234] [757.36,60] [1073.77] [1300.312]
• The Puffin Bakery shop opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [228.403] [1300.346]
• The Pendleton Woolen Mills Dry Goods Store opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [228.382] [1300.321]
• At Disneyland, the Casey Jr. Circus Train shuts down operations, to allow the uphill grade to be reduced. [328.286]

July

• The Indian Village attraction opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [228.254] [1300.214] (July 1956 [9])
• The Miniature Horse Corral exhibit opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [1300.286]

July 22

• The Rocket to the Moon attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [501.474] [1300.360]
• The Candyland (later Candy Palace) shop opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [228.78] [1300.89] [1378.115]

July 30

• The Tomorrowland Boats attraction opens in Disneyland, between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. [501.563]

July 31

• The Casey Jr. Circus Train attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [328.286] [939.154] [1300.95] [1378.123]

(month unknown)

• The Disney University is launched at Disneyland, to teach Walt Disney's management philosophies. [238.236]
• Dick Nunis joins the Disney company, as an assistant in orientation training for Disneyland employees. (He will become head of all Disney theme parks, and retire after 43 years service.) [228.363] [409.2]
• The Yacht Club food facility opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [1300.445] (Yacht Bar [501.625])
• The Space Bar eatery opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [1300.386]

August 1

• The Conestoga Wagons attraction opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [9] [26] [1300.113] [1378.151]

August 3

• The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit display opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [26] [501.576] [1300.432]

August 9

• The Aunt Jemima's Pancake House restaurant opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [1378.48] [1300.60]

August 11

• The Casa de Fritos restaurant opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [1300.95] [1378.122]

August

• The Dutch Boy Exhibit opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [26]
• The World Beneath Us attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [26] [501.620] [1300.444]

August 16

• The Dumbo Flying Elephants ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26] [228.154] [1300.147]
• The Phantom Boats ride opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [939.97] [1300.326]

August 27

• The Mickey Mouse Club Theater opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. The theater plays Disney cartoon short films on several small screens. [9] [26] [228.323] [939.88] [1300.280]

August 29

• The Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [1300.331] [1378.132]

September 4

• The Hobbyland area opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [1300.208]
• The Art Corner shop opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [1378.43] (October 1 [1300.52])

September 8

• Disneyland welcomes its one millionth visitor, Elsa Marquez. [23] [26] [34.233] [92.102] [225.40] [228.134] [235.92] [267.198] [757.36] [910.25] [1073.79] [1300.142]

September

• Grandma's Baby Shop in Disneyland closes. [1300.194]
• The Flight Circle exhibit area opens in Tomorrowland, demonstrating motorized model planes, cars, and boats. [9] [26] [1300.172]

September 16

• The Canal Boats of the World attraction in Fantasyland at Disneyland closes for improvements. [1300.87] [1378.114]

October 5

• The Disneyland Hotel opens, on a 60-acre site next to Disneyland. [1] [225.41] [235.92]

October 11

• The first ticket books are made available at Disneyland. They cost US$2.50 per adult ($1.50 per child), containing tickets A, B, and C, for eight rides. [26] [193.16] [228.155] [328.235] [501.557] [757.36] [939.34] [1102.529] [1300.409]

October

• The Disneyland News newspaper is sold on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. [26]
• The Davy Crockett Frontier Museum in Frontierland at Disneyland closes. [1300.127]
• The Davy Crockett Arcade shop opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [1300.127] (July 17 [228.118])

November 24

• The Mickey Mouse Club Circus attraction opens in Disneyland. Each live show lasts 75 minutes. [9] [19] [20] [26.61] [228.322] [450.27] [939.44] [1300.278] [1336.87]
• (to January 8, 1956) The first Christmas at Disneyland festival is held, with parade and music concert. [1300.103]

December 1

• The Maxwell House Coffee House restaurant opens on Town Square at Disneyland. [228.315] [1300.275]

December

• Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp debuts the Hall of Aluminum Fame exhibit in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [1300.198] (Aluminum Hall of Fame [26])

December 25

• The Mike Fink Keel Boats ride opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [9] [228.330] [1300.284] (Mike Fink Keelboats [26])

1952-1955

1956-1959

1960-1965

1966-1974

1975-1984

1985-1989

1990-1999

2000-end