Walt Disney World

Disneyland opened to a sparkling fanfare on July 17th, 1955. The opening of "The Happiest Place on Earth" was a media event that even as late as the 1990's, has rarely been go beyond for glitz, glamour, enthusiasm, and drama. Walt Elias Disney himself dedicated the place and each of the individual "lands" within its boundaries.

Main Street USA, Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland were invented at that time. New Orleans Square, Toontown and Critter Country (formerly Bear Country), have been included. Each of these original lands has been renovated with new attractions over the years.

Disneyland was the dream of Walt. Long since he dreamed and wished of constructing a "little family park" where parents could come with their children for a day of fun and entertainment. Disneyland is for both kids and adults. The amusement parks in 1920's and 30's were gaudy, unclean, sleazy places.

Coney Island and other parks around the country were not so good. Cedarpoint, in Ohio and Pennsylvania’s Kennywood Park Pittsburgh were experiencing marvelous improvements in the 1980's and '90's. Still, Walt thought that it was possible to make a special kind of park...a "themed" park that should have amazing attractions and a beautiful atmosphere and it should be unique in the world."

Disneyland was planned to be built at the Hyperion Avenue in Burbank. Walt's grandiose plans for attractions soon made it clear that the small lot wouldn't be anywhere near large enough.

The Second World War showed a shocking effect on the Disney Studios. The charge was taken over by the military. The studio used for producing military training films and other military related stuff. Most of the studio animators were introduced into the military. It took a longtime for the Studio to get well from the war's consequences.