July 18th Opening Day Reunion

There has been heated debate over which date is actually opening day, July 17 or July 18, 1955. It seems pretty easy to distinguish between the two. The 17th was the pre-opening special invitation gala opening, whereas the 18th was the first day that the general public could buy admission tickets at the gate for entry. Although the 1990 publicity release and photo state that this photo is from the 17th, I believe this shot of the first two kids entering Disneyland was actually from the next day, the 18th.

DISNEYLAND REVISITED—(left) On July 17, 1955, Walt Disney opened the gates of Disneyland to a waiting world. Two children—Michael Schwartner and his cousin Christine Vess—were honored as the Park's first guests. (right) Thirty-five years later, Disney Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner (center) welcomed the same two visitors back to the Magic Kingdom during festivities commemorating "Disneyland's 35th Anniversary" being celebrated year-long in 1990.



Back in 1965, 7/18 was celebrated as the Anniversary Date for Opening Day. Here, Walt cuts cake at The Plaza Inn.

ANAHEIM, CALIF: Walt Disney's Disneyland marked it's 10th birthday here 7/18 and Mickey Mouse, with plate in hand, was first in line to try a bite of the cake. The party marked not only the park's birthday, but the opening of two new features. A new Victorian restaurant and a Mr. Lincoln exhibit featuring a life-like figure similar to the one Disney made for the World's Fair. With Walt and Mickey is Miss Disneyland, Julie Reihm.



Check out that elaborate cake and its decorations!



Stay tuned as a July 18th extravaganza will be following tomorrow! See more Disneyland Opening Day photos on my Opening Day web page.

1980: Disneyland's 25th Anniversary

For Disneyland's 25th Anniversary in 1980, the marketing department released a number of photos from the vaults to stir up the nostalgia factor for guests. Here are a few of those images, accompanied by the corresponding publicity blurbs:

DISNEYLAND DEDICATION—With a coast-to-coast television audience of millions looking on, Walt Disney declared Disneyland officially open during a short dedication speech in Town Square of Main Street, U.S.A. on July 17, 1955.



MOUSEKETEERS CELEBRATE—The original Mouseketeers of television's Mickey Mouse Club Show took part in a gala paraded down Disneyland's Main Street, U.S.A. on opening day. Leading the gathering on July 17, 1955 are Annette, Karen and Cubby.



For all you Annette fans, I have zoomed in closer so that you can get a better look at her!



FIRST VISITORS—When Disneyland opened to the general public, the first visitors welcomed through the gate by Walt Disney were Christine Vess and her cousin Michael Schwartner, then five and seven years of age.



LEADING THE PARADE—Four of Walt Disney's most famous cartoon creations—Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy—lead off Disneyland's 25th Birthday Parade" salute. The parade features 150 performers who bring alive a quarter century of memories for each of the Park's seven "theme" lands.

Here are a few color shots taken by a guest of the actual 25th Anniversary Parade:







You can see the decorative anniversary banners that hung outside of the Castle back in 1980. The lighter color palette of 1980 seems to make the castle appear larger than the brightly hued colors used today do.



See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland website.

Opening Day at Disneyland, July 17, 1955

These 2 kids, Michael Schwartner and Christine Vess Watkins, seem to have no idea how cool it was to be the first children through the turnstiles on opening day...and to be greeted by none other than Walt himself! Note the Smoke Tree Ranch tie that he is wearing.

In shot #2 you have a birds-eye view of the opening ceremonies held in Town Square. I have also included a closeup of the area where Walt and the others were standing.





This photo gives you a much better look at Walt & Co.; Mrs. Goodwin J. Knight and her husband, the Governor of California, are on the left. I am sure somebody out there can identify the guy standing next to Walt.



My previously posted color shot of the ceremonies and a closeup of Walt (blocked by a lamppost) and others:





Walt, sans tie, is giving his famous opening day speech:



See more Disneyland Opening Day photos at my website.