Disneyland
ANAHEIM, CA
WALT DISNEY HAD IN
mind a new approach for a huge amusement park outside Los Angeles. Disney anticipated that travel and demand for entertainment were about to kick into high gear, as the post-WWII economy flourished.
He dreamed of a fun and safe destination for the large—and growing—baby-boom generation, using familiar elements of an amusement park, such as rides and attractions, to tell a story.
His guiding theme would be the Disney brand, transferred from the silver screen to personal experience.
After careful study, Disney selected a large parcel of land in Anaheim. Its location just off a freeway was a savvy choice, guaranteeing that families would primarily travel to the park by car.
DISNEY ON TV
Disney formed WED Enterprises (his initials) and he and his brother and business partner, Roy, secured funding for their new park from ABC network. In exchange, Walt was host of a weekly show called Disneyland, which promoted the new park venture. And he gathered engineers, carpenters and artists to bring the vision to life.
Disneyland opened in Anaheim in July 1955 to great fanfare. ABC broadcast the invitationonly gala, hosted by actor Ronald Reagan. Nearly half of the American public tuned in to watch at home.
DREAMING UP THE FUTURE
Tomorrowland was a themed area of the park where Disney could explore his fascination with futurism. On the Autopia, patrons steered specially designed cars on an enclosed track, reinforcing the American love of driving, as well as anticipating the freeway system.
The Moon liner rocket, sponsored by TWA, simulated liftoff from Anaheim and a quick swing around the moon.
Disney also debuted two methods of allelectric mass transit: the monorail and the People Mover. Designed as workable forms of urban transport, the monorail ran at high speeds on a track above the park, and the PeopleMover ran on a conveyor system of evenly spaced, rotating wheels, modeling a system that let riders get easily on and off.
With its familyfriendly focus and framed storytelling, Disneyland became a model for the theme parks that followed.