life inside the disney parks: the happiest places on earth
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InsidetheDisneyParks
KELLYVERDECK
TwilightdescendedoverSpaceshipEarth,the180-foot-tallgeodesicspherethatformsthecenterpieceofWaltDisneyWorld’sEPCOTthemepark.
ContentsIntroduction:Walt’s“Screwy”IdeaTheBeginningsTheCaliforniaYearsTheWorldAfterWaltTokyoandBeyondJustOneMore
JAYL.CLENDENIN/LOSANGELESTIMES/GETTY
TheWorldofColornightlylightandwatershowatDisneyland’sCaliforniaAdventure,builtonthesiteofthepark’sformerparkinglot.
Introduction
Walt’s“Screwy”IdeaByJ.I.BakerWaltDisneyspenthislifedreaming
impossibledreams—andusuallyrealizingthem.In1928,hecreatedthefirstanimatedshortwithsynchronizedsound(SteamboatWillie),whichturnedMickeyMouseintoaninternationalsuperstar.Lessthanadecadelater,Disneyreleasedthefirstfull-lengthanimatedfeature(SnowWhiteandtheSevenDwarfs),whichbecamethemostsuccessfulAmericanfilmuptothatpoint.Andintheearly1950s,Walt
dreamedthemostimpossibledreamofthemall:anamusementparktoendall
amusementparks.Hewouldcallit
Disneyland.Thoughit’shardtobelievenow,thepark’ssuccesswasanythingbutcertain.Infact,
RoyDisney—Walt’sbrotherandfinancialpartner—thoughtitwasyetanotheroneof“Walt’sscrewyideas,”andbankersrefusedtolendthecompanyadime.“WhenhestartedDisneyland,hedidn’thaveafriendintheworld,”onecolleaguesaid.ButWaltpersevered,asalways.“SometimesIwonderif‘commonsense’isn’tanotherwayofsaying‘fear,’”hesaid.“Andfeartoooftenspellsfailure.”Inthefaceofenormousobstacles(recordrainfall,laborstrikes),aballooningbudget
(totalpricetag:$17million),andadisastrousopeningday(women’shighheelssunkinMainStreet’sstill-dryingasphalt),Disneyprevailed.His“screwyidea”quicklybecameanenormoushit—andeventuallychangedpopularcultureforever.Ofcourse,hekeptdreaming,makingplansforanevenmoreambitiouspark(Walt
DisneyWorld)thatwouldincludeaplacethathefeltwouldtransformthecountry’sfuture(EPCOT).Sadly,hedidn’tlivetoseethesebecomeareality,butthespreadofDisneyparksthroughouttheworld(Tokyo,Paris,andShanghaiamongthem)andtheastronomicalongoingsuccessofthecompanyhefoundedprovesbeyondadoubtthatDisney’s“impossible”dreamendures.
LOOMISDEAN/LIFE/THEPICTURECOLLECTION
TheMadTeaPartyride,inspiredbyAliceinWonderland,inDisneyland’sFantasyland,circa1955.
TheBeginningsHowWaltDisney’smidlifeobsessionwithminiaturesandtrainsledtothecreationoftheworld’sgreatesttheme
park
DAVIDF.SMITH/AP/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
WaltDisneycrossedthedrawbridgethatservesastheentrancetoSleepingBeautyCastleintheheartofDisneyland,circa1955.Theoriginalsiteofthecastleprovedtobeoverrunwithferalcats,whichanimal
loverDisneytookpainstosave.
ItwasJune1955—onlysixweeksbeforeDisneylandwasscheduledtoopen—andWaltDisneywasworried.HisriskynewparkinAnaheim,California,wasstillaworkinprogress—hardlymorethantheorangegrovesithadbeenbuilton.Fromthestart,constructionhadbeenplaguedwithproblems,includingarecorddelugeofrain.NowMainStreetwasn’tpaved;SleepingBeautyCastle—thecenterpieceofthepark—wasn’tfinished;andTomorrowlandbarelyexisted.PlumberstoldDisneythat,becauseofastrike,theycouldn’tmakeboththedrinkingfountainsandthebathroomswork.Walt,ofcourse,optedtofixthebathrooms.“PeoplecanbuyPepsi-Cola,”hesaid,“but
theycan’tpeeinthestreet.”Theprojectitselfhadrepeatedlygoneoveritsoriginalbudgetof$4.5million.Two
monthsafterconstructionbeganinJuly1954,thecosthadrisento$7million.Thenitskyrocketedto$11million.“Wewerestilltalking$11millioninAprilwhenIwaswalkingdownMainStreetwith[Disney’solderbrother]RoyandarepresentativefromBankofAmerica,whoscannedtheprojectandsaiditlookedcloserto$15million,”saidJoeFowler,theformerNavyrearadmiralwhohadbeenputinchargeofthepark’sconstruction.Byopeningday,theinvestmenthadrisentoawhopping$17million—largely
becauseDisneyhimselfwasneversatisfied,apersonalcharacteristicthatledtoaprocesshecalled“plussing.”Ashedidwithhisfilms,the53-year-oldwantedeverythingtobebigger,better,moresurprising,andmoreinnovative.Atthelastminute,forinstance,hedecidedthathewantedtocreateanattractionfeaturingthegiantsquidfromhis1954hit20,000LeaguesUndertheSea,whichhehelpedspray-paintonthenightbeforetheopening—evenashecontinuedtomicromanageeverythingelse.Atthreea.m.,hewasdemandingnewmurals:“Getmeanartist!”heshouted.ButWaltultimatelyletgo—well,hehadto—andonthemorningofJuly17,1955,
Disneylandopenedtoanoverflowingcrowdof28,000people.Despitetheconsiderableflaws,itwasarevolutionarymomentinAmericanculture—andthefulfillmentofadreamthathadbegunlessthanadecadebeforewith,ofallthings,amodeltrain.
OnDecember8,1947,Waltwrotealettertohissister:“Iboughtmyselfabirthdaypresent—somethingI’vewantedallmylife—anelectrictrain...IhavesetitupinoneoftheouterroomsadjoiningmyofficesothatIcanplaywithitwhenIhaveasparemoment.It’safreighttrainwithawhistle,andrealsmokecomesoutofthesmokestack—thereareswitches,semaphores,stations,andeverything.It’sjustwonderful!”ThefilmmakerhadbeenfascinatedbytrainseversincehisboyhoodinMarceline,
Missouri,thesmalltownwherehisfather,Elias,movedhisfamilyin1906,havingfailedasacarpenterinChicago.LittlemorethanawhistlestopbetweentheWindyCityandKansasCity,Missouri,MarcelinewasneverthelessabucolicparadiseforlittleWalt,whospenthisfourshortyearsthereprowlingMainStreet,sketchingtheanimalsthatpopulatedthefamilyfarm,and,notleast,marvelingatthelocomotives.TheexperienceexertedanenduringinfluenceonnearlyeverythingDisneydid—fromhomeyfilmslikePollyannatoDisneyland’sMainStreet,U.S.A.Itwas,infact,“themostimportantpartofWalt’slife,”hiswife,Lillian,latersaid.Theyouthfulidylldidn’tlast.Timeswerehard,andEliaswasnotcutoutforfarming.
In1911,heonceagainuprootedhisfamilyandmovedtoKansasCity,wherehewasreducedtorunningapaperroute.Hisprincipleemployeeswere,notsurprisingly,hisfoursons.LittleWalt,theyoungest,wouldriseinthepredawndarknessandworkallday—ofteninfreezingcoldandsnowsodeepitsometimesreachedhisneck.Nowandthenhefellasleep,exhausted,inapartmentfoyers.Butthebeleagueredboynurturedbigdreamsthatreflectedthetwothingsthatwouldendupdefininghislife:escapeandcontrol.EventuallyhefoundbothoftheminHollywood.Inthe1920s,havingembarkedon
anunsuccessfulcareerasananimator,hetraveledwest—bytrain,ofcourse—tojoinhisbrotherRoy,whohadsoughtrelieffromchronicrespiratoryailmentsinthewarmdesertair.“Ipackedallofmyworldlygoods—apairoftrousers,acheckeredcoat,alotofdrawingmaterials,andthelastofthefairy-talereelswehadmade—inakindoffrayedcardboardsuitcase,”Waltsaidlater.“Andwiththatwonderfulaudacityofyouth,IwenttoHollywood,arrivingtherewithjust$40.”HeandRoy,hisbusinesspartner,foundlittleopportunityatfirst,butafteryearsof
struggle,hefinallyhitupontheideathatwouldmakehiscareer—acreaturethatoneofhiscolleaguescharacterizedthusly:“Pear-shapedbody,ballontop,coupleofthinlegs.Yougaveitlongearsanditwasarabbit.Shortears,itwasacat.Earshangingdown,adog...Withanelongatednose,itbecameamouse.”AtfirstWaltcalledhisnewcharacter“MortimerMouse,”butLillianBounds,the
Disneystudioworkerwhohadbecometheboss’swifein1925,thoughtthemonikerwas“toosissy.”Instead,shesuggested“Mickey.”Thepluckylittlerodentbecameaninstantstar—thankstoSteamboatWillie,thefirst
cartoonshorttousesynchronizedsound.ButDisneyquicklysoughtnewchallenges—notablythecreationofthefirstanimatedfeature-lengthfilm,SnowWhiteandtheSevenDwarfs,inthe1930s.Theprojectwassoaudacious,soexpensive,andsoriskythatitcametobecalled“Disney’sFolly.”LikeDisneylandnearlytwodecadeslater,theprojectkeptgoingoverbudget,butafterthefilmopenedonDecember21,1937,itbecamethemostsuccessfulAmericanfilmtodate.Thingsmostlywentdownhillfromthere—financially,atleast.OfDisney’sfirstfive
classiccartoonfeatures,onlytwo(SnowWhiteandDumbo)werehits(theotherswerePinocchio,Fantasia,andBambi).Bythelate1940s,theDisneybrandwasinthedoldrums—definedbypleasantlyunexceptionalfarelikeFunandFancyFree(1947)andMelodyTime(1947).Therewereafewhighpoints(commercially,atleast)intheyearsthatfollowed.In1948,afakedlive-actiondocumentary,SealIsland,becamethefirstinaseriesofsuccessfulTrue-LifeAdventures—aprecursortotoday’srealityTV.
And1950’sCinderellawasanunexpectedhit,butWaltcouldonlyseewhatwaswrongwithit.“I’llnevermakeanythingasgoodasSnowWhite,”hesaid.Disillusionedanddepressed,Waltwaslosinginterestinthemovies.Instead,he
becameobsessedwithtrains.Enlistinghisemployeestobuildascale-modellocomotive,hespentmoreandmoretimesupervisingit—untilhefinallyrolleduphissleevesandstartedbuildingithimself.TheobsessiononlygrewafterWaltboughtanewhomeinHolmbyHillsin1950.
There,hehadareplicaofhisfather’sMarcelinebarnbuiltinthebackyard,whereitbecamehometowhathecalledtheCarolwood-PacificRailroad.(ThebarncanstillbeseeninLosAngeles’sGriffithPark.)Hecalledhis1:8-scaletraintheLillyBelle,afterhiswife,who,inspiteofthetribute,refusedtoletWaltlaytracksthroughhergarden.Ratherthanstoppinghim,itspurredhimtobuildatunnelunderneathit.Eventhatwasn’tenoughforDisney,whoinsistedthatitbebuiltwithanscurvetogiveitsriderstwistythrillsinthedark.“Walt,it’dbealotcheaperifyoubuiltthetunnelstraight,”hisforemantoldhim.“Hell,it’dbecheapernottodothisatall,”hereplied.Walt’sgrowingobsessionwithtrainsmergedwithhisinterestinthecreationof
intricateminiatureworlds.Thishadbegunin1939whenhetouredthecollectionoftinyscale-modelpost-16th-centuryEuropeaninteriorscreatedbyMrs.JamesWardThorneatSanFrancisco’sGoldenGateInternationalExposition.Adecadelater,Waltstartedworkingona1:8-scalemodelofGrannyKincaid’scabinfromhis1948filmSoDeartoMyHeart.Forawhile,Walttoyedwiththeideaofcreatingatouringexhibitionofminiatures
calledDisneylandia,butwhenthatprovedlogisticallyandfinanciallyprohibitive,heincorporatedthemintohistrainsinstead.TheLillyBelle’syellowcaboose,forinstance,featuredasmallpotbelliedstove.“Ihadapatternmadeup,anditturnedoutsocutewiththegrate,shaker,anddoor,andallthelittleworkingparts,Ibecameintriguedwiththeidea,”Waltwrote.“Ihadafewmadeup:onewasbronze,anotherblack,andIevenmadeagoldone!Thenwemademoreandstartedpaintingtheminmotifsthatfittedtheperiodattheturnofthecentury.”ThoughWaltwasadreamer,hewasalsoapracticalmidwesternboy,andin1952
Lillianbegantosuspectthathisobsessionwasbecomingmuchmorethanmereboyishregression.Hehad,forinstance,soldtheirPalmSpringsvacationhomeandborrowedagainsthislifeinsurancepolicy.“ItwasoneofthosemomentswhenWalt’simaginationwasgoingtotakeoffintothewildblueyonder,andeverythingwillexplode,”shesaid.Thistime,theexplosiontooktheformofanamusementpark.
DuringWorldWarII,Americanamusementparksweremostlytawdryaffairs,offering
“dime-a-danceandbeerhallsandburlesquetheaters,”JimHillman,authorofAmusementParksandadirectoroftheNationalAmusementParkHistoricalAssociation,tellsLIFE.“Sincetheservicemenbroughtcash,apreciouscommodityinwaryears,theparksattractedanelementofcrimeandseediness—drugs,pickpockets,evenprostitutes.Afterthewar,theparkswereseenaseyesores—dirty,morallycorrupt,seedy—becausetheyhadyettoadapttotherenewaloffamilyseeninthewholesome1950s.”WhenLilliantoldWaltthatamusementparks“weren’tsafe,”heresponded,“Mine’s
notgoingtobelikethat.”In1953,WalthiredHarrisonPriceandtheStanfordResearchInstitutetofindan
idealspotforhispark.Afteranalyzingpopulationdataandotherharbingersofsuccess,theyrecommended160acresoforangegrovesandwalnuttreesinAnaheim,California.Foronething,thenearbySantaAnaFreewaywasrapidlyexpanding,allowingeasyaccesstothepark.Thebadnews?Itwouldcostabout$11million.“WhereamIgoingtogetthatkindofmoney?”Disneyasked.Agoodquestion—particularlysincesuccesswasfarfromcertain.EvenloyalRoy
thoughttheparkwouldbankruptthestudio,butWaltkepthisowncounselasalways.“SometimesIwonderif‘commonsense’isn’tanotherwayofsaying‘fear,’”hesaid.“Andfeartoooftenspellsfailure.”Still,hewasdependentonthe“commonsense”ofbankers—hedismissivelycalledthem“thesharp-pencilguys”—andtheypredictablybalkedathisplans.“IcouldneverconvincethefinanciersthatDisneylandwasfeasible,becausedreamsoffertoolittlecollateral,”Waltsaid.EventuallyWaltfoundanunlikelyfundingsource:television.In1953,WaltandRoy
tooktheirideaforanewanthologytelevisionshowcalledDisneylandtomarket,ontheconditionthattheacquiringnetworkinvestinthepark.(Thepricetag:awhopping$15million,inreturnfor35percentownershipofDisneyland.)Whenthetwoestablishednetworks,CBSandNBC,balked,WaltandRoyapproachedthestrugglingABC—thentheleastsuccessfulofthethreebroadcasters.“ABCneededatelevisionshowsodamnbadthattheyboughttheamusementpark,”Waltsaid.OnOctober27,1954,DisneylandpremieredonABC.Itwasanimmediatehit,
becomingthefirstABCshowtoentertheNielsonTop10.ThoughtheDisneyslostmoneyontheprogram,ithadnotbeendesignedtogenerateprofitsbutratherasanhour-longweeklyadvertisementfortheupcomingpark.SinceWalt’sconceptforDisneylandinvolvedfivedistinct“lands”(Adventureland,Fantasyland,Frontierland,Tomorrowland,andMainStreet,U.S.A.),everyDisneylandepisodeshowcasedatleastoneofthem.Notsurprisingly,Disneyland’sthemedareasallreflectedtheircreator’svarious
passions.Frontierland,forinstance,representedDisney’sromanticizedvisionofAmerica’spast—nottomentionanidealizedversionofhisownchildhood.FeaturingridesonConestogawagons,packmules,andtheMarkTwainRiverboat,thearea“remindsmeofmyyouthfuldaysinMissouri,”Waltsaid.“IputintoitallthethingsIwantedtodoasakidbutcouldn’t,includinggettingintoaridewithoutaticket.”HewasreferringspecificallytoTomSawyerIsland,whichfeaturedInjunJoe’sCaveandHuckleberryFinn’sFishingPier,anideathatwouldliterallystink.(Moreonthatlater.)AdventurelandembodiedtheexoticfantasiesthatyoungWalthadnurturedasapoorpaperboy.Theland’shighlightwastheJungleCruise,inspiredinpartbythe1951filmTheAfricanQueen.“Tocreatealandthatwouldmakethisdreamreality,wepicturedourselvesfarfromcivilization,intheremotejunglesofAsiaandAfrica,”Disneysaid.Walt’senduringbeliefinprogressandthepossibilitiesoftechnologywasreflectedin
Tomorrowland,thoughitwastheleastfullyrealizedofthelands.Itwasalsothelasttobefinished—partlybecauseWaltfounditdifficulttokeepupwiththefuturehewassupposedtobecelebrating.(ThisinthedaysbeforetheInternetandsmartphones!)Theheartandsoulofthepark—indeedoftheDisneybranditself—wasFantasyland.“Whatyoungsterhasn’tdreamedofflyingwithPeterPanovermoonlitLondon?”Waltsaidinfull-blownpromotionalmode.“Hereinthe‘happiestkingdomofthemall,’youcanjourneywithSnowWhitethroughthedarkforesttothediamondmineoftheSevenDwarfs;fleetheclutchesofMr.SmeeandCaptainHookwithPeterPan;andracewithMr.ToadinhiswildautoridethroughthestreetsofoldLondonTown.”ThemostimportantaspectofFantasylandwasSleepingBeautyCastle.Inspiredby
the19th-centuryNeuschwansteinCastleinBavaria,itwasthefocalpointofthewholepark.ThoughithadinitiallybeenplannedasSnowWhiteCastle,thenamewaschangedbyDisneytocross-promotethe1959filmSleepingBeauty,whichwasstillinproduction—thesortofcommercialandartisticsynergythatdefinestheDisneybrandtothisday.Attemptingtolearnfromthebestwhileavoidingthemistakesoftheworst,Waltand
hisImagineers(thenameeventuallygiventothemoviestudiocreativeshebroughtintodevelopthethemeparks)traveledallovertheworld,studyingcarnivals,countyfairs,zoos,andsuchparksasKnott’sBerryFarmandRyePlayland.(HewasdepressedbyNewYork’sConeyIslandbutcheeredbyCopenhagen’sTivoliGardens.)“Waltbroughtthebestparks’bestpracticesunderoneumbrella,”Hillmansays.“Soitwasn’tsomuchentirelynewideasbutasynthesisofallthatwasgood.”ConstructionontheparkbeganinJuly1954,withopeningdayamereyearaway—an
impossiblyambitiousschedule,giventhatWaltwasdoingsomethingthathadneverbeendonebefore.Actually,hewasdoingmanythingsthathadneverbeendonebefore
—beginningwiththepark’slayout.“I’vebeenstudyingthewaypeoplegotomuseumsandotherentertainmentplaces,”Disneysaid.Asaresult,Disneylandwasdesignedwithasingleentrance(mostparksatthetimehadmorethanone)andwasbuiltaroundacentralhub,helpingfocusandstreamlinevisitors’experiences.AtthecenterofthehubisSleepingBeautyCastle,whichtowersoverthefarendof
MainStreet.Luredinthatdirection,guestsarriveattheconvergenceofavenuestothevariouslands,whichradiatefromthecastlelikespokesonawheel.“Todaythehub-and-spokemodelissoprevalentinparksthatit’salmosthardtoimagineitasaninnovation,butatthetimeitwasadesignrevolution,”DisneyexpertRobPimenteltellsLIFE.EventuallyitinfluencednotonlyotherthemeparksbutDeltaAirlines’terminals.Tohelpdirectvisitors’movements,Disneyemployedwhathecalled“weenies”—a
termthatcamefromagameheusedtoplaywiththefamily’spoodle,Lady.AccordingtohisdaughterDiane,Disney“wouldgototherefrigeratorandpullouttwouncookedhotdogs,oneforhimselfandoneforthedog.Hewouldplaywithher,wigglingthehotdogaroundandshewouldgowhereverhemovedaroundandwassohappywhenshefinallygothertreat.”ThetrainstationwasboththeentrancetotheparkandthecenterpieceofMain
Street,withitslocomotivescirclingthepark’sperimeter.TomorrowlandwasdefinedbyaworldclockandaTWArocket,whiletheMarkTwainRiverboatwasthefocalpointofFrontierland.SleepingBeautyCastlewas,ofcourse,thegatewaytoFantasyland.TheonlyareawithoutaweeniewasAdventureland,andthiswasadeliberateomission,accordingtoPimentel.“ImagineerswantedtopreservethesenseofmysterythatAdventurelandwassupposedtoevoke,”hesays.“Youweremeanttobedrawninbywhatyoucouldn’tsee.”Theinnovationsdidn’tstopwiththelayout.ThegalleriesofshopsalongMainStreet
influencedthedevelopmentofshoppingmalls,forinstance,andDisneycreatedacollegeforemployees,whowerecalled“castmembers.”Theywereonstage,Disneyemphasized,sotheyhadtorememberthattheywereplayinghappypeopleintheHappiestPlaceonEarth.“VisitorsatDisneylandwereconsideredguestsoftheKingdom,”saysHillman,“notjustgulliblecustomers.”EventuallyDisneyintroducedotherrevolutionaryconcepts—nametags,switchbackqueuelines,andtickettiersamongthem—allmeanttohelpstreamlinevisitors’experiences.ManyoftheseinnovationsstemmedfromDisney’sbackgroundincinema.“Noone
hadevertriedtotellastoryinanamusementparkbefore,”saidMartySklar,anImagineerwhowasoneofthe“DisneyLegends”andtheonlyemployeeinvolvedintheopeningofall12oftheexistingthemeparks.(Hediedin2017aftergivingoneofhis
lastinterviewstoLIFE.)“AndhereWaltwasinventingawholenewgenreagain.”ThoughWaltinitiallyhiredanarchitecturalfirmtodesignthepark,therealworkwas
eventuallydonebytheImagineers,whobroughtacinematicsensibilitytothepark.“Walthadahighsensitivity,Ithink,fortimingandthewaythingsrelatetoeachother—andthis,ofcourse,camefromthefilmwork,”keyImagineerJohnHenchhassaid.“Thisiswhatfilmisallabout,connectingideassotheyrelatetooneanother.Amotionpictureisanactofcommunication.Itconsistsofideas—sometimesverycomplexones—thatyouwantotherpeopletounderstand,andyouwantthemtounderstandthemthewayyouintendedthemto,withoutwanderingoffontheirown...Withthebackgroundwehad,thiswasaveryeasythingtoapplytothethirddimension.”OneofDisneyland’smostimportantfilmicdevicesinvolvedtheuseofforced
perspective:buildingsonMainStreet,forinstance,arewideratthetopthantheyareatthebottom,makingthemseemtallerthantheyreallyare,whilesuchattractionsastheMarkTwainRiverboatandthetrainsarescaleddowntocreateamoreintimateatmosphere.Thedynamiccolorsthatanimated—literally—theDisneyfilmswerebroughttotheparkbyveteransetdesignerClaudeCoats.Aswithanystory,Disneylandwasdefinedasmuchbywhatwasexcludedaswhatwas
included.Thisinvolvedshuttingoutallremindersofthe“real”world.Anelevatedbermthatsurroundedtheperimeterofthepark,forinstance,bothblockedoffendingvistasandservedastherailroadtrack.Disneyalsoforbadealcohol—includingatFrontierland’sGoldenHorseshoe(whichhadbeeninspiredbytheGoldenGartersalooninthe1953filmCalamityJane),whereicecreamsundaeswereservedinsteadoffirewater.Asusual,nothingescapedWalt’sattention.“Thelakeistoosmall,”hewouldsay.Or
“Let’sseeifwecanmovethattrainwreckoveranother50feet.”Or“Ineedajungle.”Hewasparticularlyobsessedwithtrees,whichlargelydefinedthevariousareas:PalmssalvagedfromtheongoingconstructionoftheSantaAnaFreewayfilledAdventureland,whilepineforestswereplantedinFrontierland.(DisneyhimselfselectedwoodhehadfoundinJacksonHole,Wyoming,becausehelikedits“unusualburls,”hesaid.)Asopposedtothereducedscaleoftheriverboatandtrains,Waltwantedhistreestobeasbigaspossible.“Where’dyougetthebushes?”heaskedwhenoneemployeeshowedhimtreesthatweren’tbigenough.Heevenrejectedonetreeforbeing“outofcharacter.”“Hewasasticklerforthedetails,”HillmantellsLIFE.“Evenafterthecarouselhorses
hadbeenbuilt,Walthadthemredesignedtolookliketheywerejumping,notmerelygalloping.”AndwhenWaltinsistedthatthewindowsofthecottagesthatwerefeaturedintheStorybookLandCanalBoatridebemadeofleadedglass,oneofthebuilders
asked,“Who’llknowthedifference?”“I’llknowthedifference,”Waltsnapped.Thebottomline:Waltdidn’twantanythingfakeinthepark—eventhoughthepark
itselfwasnothingifnotfake.Tothisday,manyofthepropsfoundinandaroundattractionsareauthenticantiquesgatheredfromauctions,swapmeets,privatecollections,andabandonedtownsandhouses,accordingtoDisneyexpertJimKorkis,authorofSecretStoriesofWaltDisneyWorld.“ThisallstartedwithWalthimselfpurchasingvintageitemsforthePennyArcadeandRedWagonInnbackin1954,”hesays.Theparkwasalsofilledwithwhatvideogameplayerscall“Eastereggs”:Forinstance,
thenamesonthewindowsalongMainStreet,U.S.A.reflectpeoplewhoaresignificanttotheDisneystory.(Disney’sfatherisfeaturedinawindowsignreading“ELIASDISNEY,CONTRACTOREST.1895.”)SomefanssearchobsessivelyfortheMickeyMousefacesthatarehiddenthroughoutthepark(lookforthreeroundrocksthatrepresenthisfaceintheRiversofAmerica).LesswellknownisthefactthatDonaldDuckfacesarealsowaitingtobediscovered.(“Lookforhisfaceonthechairnearthenever-endinghallwayintheHauntedMansion,”Korkissays.)Asconstructionprogressed,Waltgrewmoreobsessed.“Heknewwhereeverypipewas,”Lillianoncesaid.“Heknewtheheightofeverybuilding.”Justasheusedtostayfornightsatthemoviestudio,WaltnowpracticallylivedintheapartmenthehadbuiltovertheMainStreetfirehouse—andhecouldn’thavebeenhappier.Atlasthehadfoundaprojectthathecouldworkonuntilitwasperfect.“It’ssomethingthatwillneverbefinished,somethingIcankeepdeveloping,‘plussing’andaddingto...WhenyouwrapupapictureandturnitovertoTechnicolor,you’rethrough...Iwantsomethinglive,somethingthatwouldgrow.”Thereweremorethanafewgrowingpains,however—fromglitchesinridesthat
neverseemedtobefixed(theCaseyJr.CircusTrainalmostjumpedthetracks)toprojectsthatwerenevercompleted.ConsidertheRockCandyMountain,whichbeganasasmall-scalemodelcoveredwithrealchocolateandmarshmallowstorepresentrocksandsnow.AstheImagineersworkedontheprojectinabuildingwithoutairconditioning,thecandybegantomelt.“Itwaspositivelynauseating,”saidHench.“Itwaslikeadyingcandyfactory.”Thestickyprojectwassoonabandoned.Despite—orbecauseof—Walt’sfanaticalattentiontodetail,theopeningofthenew
parkwasn’tmerelyproblematic.“Itwasadisaster,”saidSklar.
MARCWANAMAKER/BISONARCHIVES
DisneyoversawthepreparationofrailroadtracksrunningthroughDisneyland’sMainStreet,U.S.A.,withSleepingBeautyCastleinthebackground.ThewholeparkstemmedfromDisney’sobsessionwithmodel
trains.
CHARLIERIEDEL/AP/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
Disney’sboyhoodhomeofMarceline,Missouri(shownherein2001).AccordingtobiographerBobThomas,“WaltDisneyrememberednothingofhisearlyyearsinChicago,butthememoriesofMarceline
stayedwithhimthroughouthislifetime.”
©BUENAVISTAPICTURES,COURTESYPHOTOFEST
TheanimatorwhowaschieflyresponsibleforthedesignofMickeyMouse,UbIwerks,workedonadrawingofthecharacter,whobecameaninternationalsuperstarwiththereleaseofSteamboatWillie(following)in1928.Theblack-and-whiteanimatedshortwasthefirsttoutilizesynchronizedsound—oneofDisney’s
manygroundbreakinginnovations.
MARYEVANS/WALTDISNEYPICTURES/RONALDGRANT/EVERETT
Little SecretsThenamesonthewindowsofDisneyland’sMainStreet,U.S.A.reflectpeoplewhowereimportanttoDisney(his
father,EliasDisney,isfeaturedasa“contractor”).Therearealsomany
referencestothe1963filmSummerMagic,apersonalfavoriteofDisney’s.
COURTESYEVERETTThetitularcharactersfromSnowWhiteandtheSevenDwarfs,clockwisefromcenter:Doc(onbass),Dopey,
Bashful(underDopey),SnowWhite,Sneezy,Happy,Grumpy,Sleepy.
Little SecretsIfyoutossacoinintoSnowWhite’sWishingWellinDisneyland’s
Fantasyland,thesong“I’mWishing”willbegintoplay.Thecoinsareeventually
donatedtoCaliforniachildren’scharities.
COURTESYEVERETTAposterfrom1947’sFunandFancyFreeandastill(followingimage)from1948’sMelodyTime.ThoughthegreatRussianfilmmakerSergeiEisensteinconsidered1946’sMakeMineMusictobe“absolutelyingenious,”
Waltknewtheworkwasn’thisbest.
MARYEVANS/WALTDISNEYPICTURES/RONALDGRANT/EVERETT
GENELESTER/ARCHIVEPHOTOS/GETTY
Waltphotographedhisdaughters,Sharon(left)andDiane,outsidetheirHolmbyHillshome,whichheboughtin1950withaneyetowardbuildingthemodelCarolwood-PacificRailroad.
EARLTHEISEN/ARCHIVEPHOTOS/GETTY
DisneyworkedonamodeltraininhisgarageinLosAngeles,circa1955.Theartist’sobsessionwithtrainseventuallyledtothecreationofDisneyland.
ARCHIVIOGBB/CONTRASTO/REDUX
Copenhagen’sTivoliGardenswasoneoftheplacesDisneyandhisstaffvisitedtogetinspirationforDisneyland
EILEENDARBY/THELIFEIMAGESCOLLECTION/GETTY
Ontheotherhand,theystudiouslyavoidedthesleazinessofConeyIsland’sfreakshows.
LAWRENCETHORNTON/ARCHIVEPHOTOS/GETTY
AnotherinspirationwasPlaylandinRye,NewYork.
Little SecretsAskpolitelyattheguestrelationsofficeofanyDisneypark,andtheywillgiveyouafreebuttoncommemoratingyourvisit,yourbirthday,youranniversary,
yourwedding,orothercelebration.
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DisneyinhisBurbankofficewithoneofhismostimportantartists,JohnHench,discussingthemapofDisneylandthatWaltcalled“the$5millionlayout.”Themostimportantelementwasthecastle,WalttoldartistHerbRyman,whomadethefirstmapsofDisneyland.“Makeittallenoughtobeseenfromallaround
thePark,”hesaid.
COURTESYEVERETTWhenbankersrefusedtolendDisneymoneytobuildhisriskynewpark,heturnedtoanunlikelyfundingsource:television.Heagreedtoproduceandhostaweeklyshow,calledDisneyland,forABC.Inexchange,
thenetworkhelpedfinancethepark.TheshowpremieredinOctober1954andwasanimmediatehit.
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DisneydiscussedhisnewparkwithsomeImagineersinLosAngelesin1954.“Imagineers”isthetermDisneyusedtorefertothefilmstudiocreativeswhobroughttheircinematicsensibilitytothethemepark,
whichwasthefirstparktotellastory,likeamovie.
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NeuschwansteinCastleinBavariawasthemodelforSleepingBeautyCastle.
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DisneyandanimatorWardKimballdiscussedamodelforatelevisionprojectcalledTomorrowland,aseriesofscience-basedspecials,inthe1950s.
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ArtistWilliamJ.KochtouchedupamodeloftheLosAngelesbasin,partof“TheWorldBeneathUs,”ashowfeaturedinDisneyland.
TOMNEBBIAWalt’shideawayinsidethepark,aVictorianapartmentabovethefirestationonDisneyland’sMainStreet,U.S.A.Here,Disneyandhiswife,Lillian,areseen,circa1963.“Hewouldoftenspendnightstheresothathe
couldspendfulldaysattheparkexperiencingtheridesasguestswould,”DisneyexpertJimKorkistellsLIFE.“Theapartmentisstillthere,andifyouwalkpastitatnightyou’llnoticethatalightisleftoninthe
middlewindowinhismemory.”
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Justbeforetheparkopening,WaltstrolledthroughSleepingBeautyCastle—thesmallestcastleinalltheDisneyparks,reportedlybecauseDisneyrememberedhearingthatEuropeancastleshadbeenbuiltto
intimidatepeasants,andhewantedhistobefriendlier.
Little SecretsLookfortheplaqueinthewalkwaybeforeDisneyland’sSleeping
BeautyCastlethatmarksthelocationofaburied“TimeCastle”—aconcretevault
containingmementosfromthepark’s40thanniversaryin1995.
TheCaliforniaYearsHowWaltchangedAmerica’sentertainmentlandscape—literally—bybuildingthefirstthemeparkthattoldastory
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ChildrenrunningthroughthegateofSleepingBeautyCastle,thecenterpieceofDisneyland.“Idon’twantthepublictoseetheworldtheyliveinwhilethey’reinthepark,”Disneysaid.“Iwantthemtofeelthey’rein
anotherworld.”
OnJuly17,1955—adaythatDisneyemployeeswouldlaterdub“BlackSunday”—thetemperatureinAnaheimhoveredaround100degrees.Thatdidn’tdeterthemassesofpeoplewhoweredesperatetovisitDisneyland,however.Trafficneartheparkwasbackedupforsevenmiles,andthelinesthatsnakedaroundtheentrancewerefilledwithpeoplewhohadbeenwaitingsincetwoa.m.Afterthegatesfinallyopened,theparkthathadbeendesignedtohold15,000peoplewascrammedwith28,000,manyofwhomhadsneakedinorusedcounterfeittickets.“Theprincipalproblemseemedtobegettingthroughtheplace,”LIFEwrote.Oneticket-takerlatercomplained:“People!People!People!Wewouldopenfor20minutesandthenclosefor20minutes.”Theparkinitiallyfeaturedaboutadozenattractions:Autopia,aband,arailroad,the
JungleCruise,theKingArthurCarrousel,theMadTeaParty,theMainStreetCinema,theMarkTwainRiverboat,Mr.Toad’sWildRide,PeterPan’sFlight,SnowWhite’sScaryAdventure,andtheStorybookLandCanalBoats.Comparedtotoday’soptions,thelineupwasmodestandrelativelylow-tech,butalmostnothingwentasplanned.Forstarters,women’shighheelssunkintoMainStreet’sfreshlypouredasphalt;Mr.Toad’sWildRidewasshutdownbecauseofanelectricalmalfunction;standsranoutoffood;anddesperateparentspassedchildrenoverstrangers’shoulderssothatthekidscouldridethecarousel.NotasingleAutopiacarwasrunningbythetimetheparkclosed,saysSklar:“Itneverdawnedonthemthatthesethingshadtorun12hoursaday.”Thegaffesweren’tlimitedtoparkoperations,however.Theeventwasdocumented
byABCinwhathadbeentoutedasthemostambitiousliveTVshowever.HostedbyfutureU.S.PresidentRonaldReagan,televisionpersonalityArtLinkletter,andactorRobertCummings,itwassupposedtobecoveredbyanunprecedented29cameras,butonlyhalfofthemworked.Atonepoint,Waltstaredintothecamera,saying“I’dliketoreadthesefewwordsof
dedication:‘Avistaintoaworldofwondrousideassignifyingman’sachievements...’”Whenhewasinterrupted,helookedup,confused,andsaid,“IthoughtIgotasignal.”ActressIreneDunnetriedunsuccessfullytochristentheMarkTwainRiverboatwithabottlethatwouldn’tbreak.Theliveanimalsusedthroughouttheparkrefusedtobehave,andagardeneraccidentallysprayedDavyCrockettstarFessParkerwithasprinklerasherodeanunrulyhorse.“Helpmegetoutofherebeforethishorsekillssomebody!”theactorscreamed.Guestssufferedaswell.“Oneofmyfriendshappenedtobeonthedrawbridgegoing
intoSleepingBeautyCastlewhentheTVshowshuteverythingdown,becausesomethingwasgoingoninFantasyland,”saidMartySklar.“Well,itturnedoutthatFrankSinatrawasonthedrawbridge,andmyassociatesaidthathedidn’trememberhearinglanguagelikethatanywherebefore.Inotherwords:Noonegotpreferentialtreatment.”WhentheTVshow’sdirectoraskedanartdirectorwhathecouldshootin
Tomorrowland,hewastold,“We’regoingtobepouringcement.”(AsidewalkleadingintoTomorrowlandendedabruptly,becausetheyhadsimplyrunoutofmoney.)AttheendoftheABCshow,WaltandLinkletterwalkedarminarmtowardFantasyland,theirmicrophonewiresdanglingawkwardlybehindthem...thelastgaffeofadayfilledwiththem.Therevolutionhadbeentelevised—badly.Ithardlymattered,ofcourse.AnastronomicalhalfoftheU.S.populationwatchedthe
special,andonemillionpeoplevisitedtheparkinitsfirst10weeks—despitethebad
reviews.(“Walt’sdreamisanightmare,”onejournalistreported.)Infact,Disneylandprovedsopopularthat,forthefirsttimesinceSnowWhite,thestudiowasflush,withallitscreditorspaidoff.Thetroublescontinued,however.Theuseofliveanimalskeptbackfiring,forone
thing:Mulesrefusedtomove,poniesranriot,andvisitorswhocaughtthelivefishthatstockedthewatersoffHuckleberryFinn’sFishingPierwereforcedtolugthemthroughthehotCaliforniasun—norefrigerationinsight.Thesethingswouldsoonbefixed,butotherissueswerebeyondWalt’scontrol.The
park’ssuccessledtoskyrocketinglocallandvalues,forinstance,attractingcrasscommercialconcernsthatcheapenedthesurroundingarea.“AtAnaheim,”oneDisneyofficerlatertoldLIFE,“welostcontroloftheenvironment.”Disneywouldnevermakethismistakeagain.Theimprovementsandadditionsbeganimmediately.Inthenextfewmonths,the
CaseyJr.CircusTrainandDumbotheFlyingElephantattractionswereadded.ThefollowingfewyearssawtheadditionofthePirate’sLaironTomSawyerIsland,DavyCrockett’sExplorerCanoes(replacingthepoliticallyincorrectIndianWarCanoes),theAliceinWonderlandride,andthenewsailingshipColumbia.“Disneydidn’thavealotofredtapetodealwith,sohewasabletomakechangesrapidly,whichhelpedthepublicgenerallyforgetthefailures,”saysDisneyexpertRobPimentel.“Wealltendtoremembertheclassics,butmostpeoplehavelongforgottenthefailedMickeyMouseClubCircus—thanksinparttoWalt’sabilitytoquicklyadaptordropaprojectwhenitdidn’twork.”Oneofthepark’smosticonicattractionswasconceivedin1958whileDisneywas
overseeingthefilmingofThirdManontheMountainonSwitzerland’sMatterhorn.Inspiredbythealpinepeak’sgrandeur,WaltsentpostcardstotheImagineerssaying,simply,“Buildthis.”Constructedat1:100scalebutseemingmuchbiggerthankstoforcedperspective,the
rideeventuallyfeaturedcareeringbobsledsintheworld’sfirsttubular-trackedrollercoaster,whichrevolutionizedsimilarridesthroughouttheworld.TheattractionopenedonJune14,1959—thesamedayastheMonorail,afuturisticmodeofabovegroundtransportationthathadbeeninspiredbyWalt’srecenttriptoGermany.Thatsameyear,theiconicSubmarineVoyageopened.Thesewereallimpressive,ofcourse,butthefutureoftheparkwasforthebirds—mechanicalones,thatis.
IntheaftermathofWorldWarII,AmericansoldierswhohadservedintheSouthPacificreturnedtotheU.S.,bringingstoriesthatfueledavogueinallthingsPolynesian.TheseincludedrestaurantssuchasTraderVic’s,whichservedtropicalmaitais;JamesA.Michener’sPulitzerPrize-winning1947novel,TalesoftheSouthPacific;
andSouthPacific,thehit1949Broadwaymusicalinspiredbythebook.Nottobeoutdone,DisneydecidedtoopenaPolynesianrestaurantinDisneyland.Duringanearlybrainstormingmeeting,ImagineerJohnHenchsuggestedfillingthe
restaurantwithbirds.Impossible,Waltsaid:Theywouldpoopinthefood.“They’renotrealbirds,”Henchtoldhisboss.“They’restuffedbirds.”“Disneydoesn’tstuffbirds,John,”Waltsaid.“No,theylooklikethey’restuffedbirds,”Henchcountered:“They’relittlemechanical
birds.”ThatwasthebeginningoftheEnchantedTikiRoom,thefirstDisneyattractiontouse
whatcametobeknownas“audio-animatronics.”Thegroundbreakingtechnologyhadbegunasfarbackas1949whenDisneyandhisfamilywerevacationinginParis.Oneday,Waltreturnedtohisfamilycarryingabagfullofmechanicaltoys.“It’samazingthatyoucangetsuchinterestingmovementfromaverysimplemechanism,”hesaid.Hisgrowinginterestinanimatingthree-dimensionalobjectseventuallyledto
somethingcalledProjectLittleMan.In1951,Waltaskedtwoemployeestocreateadoll-likefigureofamanthatcouldmoveandtalk.TheyhiredBuddyEbsen(nowbestknownasJedClampettfromthe’60ssitcomTheBeverlyHillbillies)andfilmedhimdoingtap-dancingroutines,hopingtoreplicatehismovements.Theprojecteventuallystalled,buttheconceptwasrevivedwhenDisneyneededa
giantsquidforacrucialscenein1954’s20,000LeaguesUndertheSea.“Thescriptcalledforalifelikemonsterbigenoughtodestroyasubmarine,”Disneylatersaid.“Andobviouslyyoucan’thireanactorlikethatthroughcentralcasting.Sowehadtocreateourowntwo-tonsquid.”Initialattemptsprovedunsuccessful.“Webuiltthefirstonestrictlyasamechanical
prop,butWaltdidn’tlikethewayitmoved,”effectsexpertBobMatteytoldStarlogmagazine.“Thesecondonehadtentaclesthatoperatedbymeansofvacuumandairpressure.”Later,hydraulicstriggeredbyelectricalinputswereusedtoanimatethelifelike
animalsinDisneyland’sJungleCruise,buttheEnchantedTikiRoom’sbreakthroughinvolvedsound.Insteadofusingelectricity,thebirdsweresetinmotionbyanaudiotape,whichalsosyncedthemovementstoasoundtrack.(Hence,thetermaudio-animatronics.)Cutting-edgecomputersciencewasinvolvedaswell.“There’sanoutfitinWashingtoncalledDARPAthatmakesmilitaryequipmentavailabletothepublicwhenit’snolongerasecret,”saidSklar.“TheEnchantedTikiRoomattractionwasprogrammedandsequencedwiththeequipmentthatranthePolarismissilesonsubmarines.”Asaresult,theTikicontrolroomwaslargerthantheattractionitself,“thoughnowyoucoulddothesamethingwithyourcellphone,”saidSklar.
Theendresultfeatured200chatting,singingbirdsandflowers—undeniablycharming,ifmorethanalittlestereotypical.“Mysiestasaregettingchorterandchorter,”aLatinAmericanparrotnamedJosécrowed.“Oh,lookatallthepeople!WelcometoWaltDisney’sEnchantedTikiRoom.Hey,Michael,miamigo,payattention—it’schotime.”Impressedbythefinalresults,Waltsaid,“Thisistoogoodforarestaurant,”soitwasoverhauledtobecomeafull-fledgedattraction—oneofthemostpopularinthepark.Thiswasjustthebeginning.OneyearaftertheEnchantedTikiRoompremiered,four
audio-animatronicDisneyexhibitsdebutedatthe1964–1965NewYorkWorld’sFair.GreatMomentswithMr.LincolnfeaturedanuncannilyrealistictalkingmodelofthePresident,whosefacehadbeencastfroman1860lifemaskofthegreatmanhimself.(Thedevelopmentprocesswasfraughtwithproblemsthatculminatedwhenmalfunctioninghydraulicscausedthe500-poundLincolntosmashachair.)TheCarouselofProgressshowedaudio-animatronicfigureslivingin“amodernall-electriccity,”whiletheMagicSkywayfeaturedmovingdinosaurs,andIt’saSmallWorldshowedsingingchildrenfromdifferentcountriesandcultures.AftertheWorld’sFairended,allfourshowswerebroughttoDisneyland.Tothisday,thecrowningachievementofaudio-animatronictechnologyremainsthe
PiratesoftheCaribbeanattraction,whichopenedin1967.LocatedinDisneyland’sNewOrleansSquare,whichhadbeenaddedtotheparkthepreviousyear,itwasoriginallysupposedtobeawalk-throughwaxmuseum,butthesuccessoftheCarouselofProgressinspiredsomethingfarmoreambitious.ThelastattractionWaltsupervisedtocompletionbeforehisdeath,PirateswasbasedonascriptwrittenbyDisneystalwartXavierX.AtencioabouttheransackingofavillagebySpanishbuccaneers.DuringoneofmanytesttripsthroughtheridewithWalt,Atencioexpressedconcern
thatthereweretoomanycharacterstalkingatonce.“GeeIguessit’sprettyhardtounderstandthem,”hesaid.“Don’tworryaboutit,”Waltsaid.“It’slikeacocktailparty.Peoplecometococktail
partiesandtheytuneintoaconversationoverhere,thenaconversationoverthere.Eachtimetheguestcomesthroughhere,they’llhearsomethingelse.That’llbringthembacktimeandtimeagain!”DistinctlydifferenteffectswereusedintheHauntedMansion,whichopenedinNew
OrleansSquarein1969.“Bythelate1960s,audienceshadcometoexpectDisneylandtoutilizerobotics,”JeffBaham,authorofTheUnauthorizedStoryofWaltDisney’sHauntedMansion,tellsLIFE.“Soaghostorganistthatcouldmovehisheadandarmsrealisticallywhileplayingapipeorganwasnobigdeal,butaneffectthatmakesthatorganistdisappearrightinfrontofyoureyes—well,that’swheretheHauntedMansion
reallystunneditsaudience.”Thesecret,Bahamexplains,involvesusingapaneofglassthatispositionedsothat
theimageitreflectsseemstointeractwiththethree-dimensionalsetbehindit.Thusthemansion’sghostlyorganist—reflectedinthepaneofglass—ismadetodisappearbysimplyturningoffalight,eliminatingthereflection.Unlikeaudio-animatronics,thistechniquewashardlynew.“In1862,inventorHenryDirckssensationalizedtheeffectbymarketingitasawaytoportrayghostsonstage,”Bahamsays.“Thefollowingyear,scientistJohnPepperpopularizedtheeffectbyusingitduringstageperformancesofCharlesDickens’sTheHauntedMan.”Tothisday,imagescreatedbyreflectionsinglassareknownas“Pepper’sghost.”WhenDisneylandcelebrateditsfirstanniversary,morethan4millionpeoplehad
visitedthepark,oftencomingfromallovertheworld.Eventuallytheparkattractednotafewheadsofstate.IndianprimeministerJawaharlalNehru,theQueenofNepal,andtheShahofIranallvisited.InJune1959,DisneytookVicePresidentRichardNixonandhisfamilyforarideonthenewlyopenedMonorail,butthetraintookoffbeforetheSecretServiceagentswhowereguardingNixongotonboard.“Theywererunningtryingtojumpinit,”saidImagineerBobGurr,whowasdrivingthatday.“Nixongotakickoutofit.”DuringaU.S.tourinSeptember1959,SovietpremierNikitaKhrushchevwaseager
tovisitDisneylandbutwasbarredforsecurityreasons,causingthecommunistleadertoexplode.“ThenwhatmustIdo?”heranted.“Commitsuicide?Whatisit?Isthereanepidemicofcholeraorsomething?Orhavegangsterstakenholdoftheplacethatcandestroyme?”Capturingtheimaginationoftheworldsurelywasn’tenoughfortheever-restless
Disney,whosoonturnedhisattentiontonewchallengesonceagain.Inthelate1950s,heandhisteambeganlookingforaspottoopenabigger,evenbetterpark.“Thepast10yearshavejustsortofbeenadressrehearsal,”Waltsaidin1965.“We’rejustgettingstarted.”Fromthebeginning,thissearch—dubbedProjectFuture—wasshroudedinsecrecy.
Afterall,ifnewsleakedthatDisneywasbuyingproperty,landvalueswouldskyrocket,sohisscoutstraveledunderassumednamesandoftenswitchedairportstoavoidbeingfollowed.(“Iftheyweredoingthatnow,theywouldbeontheFBI’swatchlist,”accordingtoLouisMongello,authorofTheWaltDisneyWorldTriviaBook.)PotentiallocationsincludedNiagaraFalls,Baltimore,andSt.Louis.GussieBuschJr.,
thenheadoftheAnheuser-Buschbrewingcompany,torpedoedthelatter’sprospectsbyoffendingWaltoverdinner,accordingtoRichardFoglesong,authorofMarriedtotheMouse:WaltDisneyWorldandOrlando.“Anymanwhothinkshecandesignan
attractionthat’sgoingtobeasuccessinthiscityandnotservebeeroralcohol,oughttohavehisheadexamined,”Buschsaid.Goodbye,St.Louis.Hello,Florida.HavingdecidedthatanareanearOrlandowasthe
bestlocationforthepark—itwasnearcrucialfreeways,foronething—theDisneycompanyuseddummycorporationstopurchase27,443acresofswampland.OnNovember15,1965,WaltheldapressconferenceinOrlandotoannouncehis
newproject,buthewasdeliberatelyevasive.Whenthestate’sgovernor,HaydonBurns,asked,“WillitbeaDisneyland?”Waltreplied:“I’vealwayssaidtherewillneverbeanotherDisneyland.”No,buttherewouldbeaDisneyWorld.
WhereasDisneylandhadbeenbuilton200acresataninitialcostof$17million,DisneyWorldwouldbebuilton27,400acresfor$400million.Moreimportantly,DisneyWorldwouldincludemorethanitsthemepark,tobecalledtheMagicKingdom.Initially,theresortwouldalsooffertheFortWildernessResortcampground,Disney’sContemporaryResort,Disney’sPolynesianVillageResort,andthePalmandMagnoliagolfcourses.ButWalt’srealinterestlayinplansfortheambitiousEPCOTCenter,afully
functionalutopiancity.“ByfarthemostimportantpartofourFloridaproject—infacttheheartofeverythingthatwe’llbedoinginDisneyWorld—willbeourExperimentalPrototypeCommunityofTomorrow,”hesaid.Inanationrifewithcivilunrest,theever-optimisticWaltfeltthatEPCOTcouldchangethewaypeoplelived,therebyshapingcivilizationitselfandbecomingintheprocesshisgreatestachievement.“Fancybeingrememberedaroundtheworldfortheinventionofamouse!”heexclaimed.InspiredinpartbyDisney’sNewYorkWorld’sFairinstallations,EPCOTwas
designedtoshowcasecutting-edgecompanies’latestinventions.“Whenhewentaroundtoseetheinnovationsproducedbydifferentlabs—RCA,IBM,GE—Waltkeptasking,‘WhencanIbuyaproductwiththattechnology?’”Sklarsaid.“EPCOTwasfocusedontellingthepublicaboutnewthings,reflectingoptimismforabetterfuture.”Tothatend,EPCOTwasaboutsettinganexample,saysSklar:“Thiswastrueof
almosteverythingWaltdid.Once,whenamarketingteamannouncedacampaigntopromotetheDisneyparksas‘escapism,’myfriendJohnHench,whodesignedSpaceMountain,gotsoupset.Hesaidthey’renotaboutescapismatall—they’reaboutthereassurancethatthingscanbedoneright.”InNovember1966,WaltcheckedintoSt.Joseph’sHospitalforspinalsurgery,hoping
torelievethelingeringpainfromapoloinjuryhesustainedinthe1930s.Butdoctorssoondiscoveredawalnut-sizetumorinhislungs—probablytheresultofalife’sworthofchain-smokingunfilteredcigarettes.Thegrowthwasmalignantandhadspread
throughouthisleftlung.Aftersurgery,DisneycollapsedathishomeonNovember30andwasrushedback
intothehospital.Thoughhewasgivenperhapstwoyearstolive,hewas,asusual,planningforthefuture—evenimaginingthemapofEPCOTonhishospitalceiling.“There’stheroutewherethehighwaywillrun,”hetoldRoy,pointing.“Andthere’stheroutefortheMonorail...”HehadmorethanEPCOTonhismind,ofcourse.“Hehadmotionpicturesinthe
works,”saidSklar.“HehadWaltDisneyWorld;hehadtheideaforCalArts,aschoolofallthearts.”Butallthewillpowerandimaginationintheworldcouldn’tstopthedisease—andonDecember15,1966,WaltDisneypassedaway.ThemanwiththesoulofthedreamypaperboysloggingthroughsnowyKansasCity
would,ofcourse,liveoninthewishesthathishearthadmadeandthathiswillhadtirelesslyrealized.ButwhatwouldhappentoDisneyWorldnowthathewasgone?
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AmechanicalgiraffepeereddownatchildrentakingtheJungleCruiseinDisneyland’sAdventureland,circa1955.
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Afamilyvisitedtheparkduringopeningweek.
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WaltconceivedtheAutopiacarrideasasafewaytoteachchildrentodrive,butthefirstkiddietest-driverswantednothingmorethantocrashintoeachother.
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TheKingArthurCarrousel.Thecarousel’santiquehand-carvedhorseshadbeenroundedupfromamusementparksalloverthecountry,butsinceWaltwantedthemalltoseemliketheyweregallopingor
charging,someoftheirlegswerereshaped.
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Disneyland’sopening-dayparade.
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Characterswaitedtojointheparade.“TheparksprovideakeyfactorintheDisneysynergy,drivingmorepeopletoseethemovies,buythemerchandise,listentothemusic,andbecomefamiliarwiththecharacters
andthestories,”saysDisneyexpertJimKorkis.
Little SecretsGuestswhoknowtosearchforhiddenimagesofMickeyMouse
throughouttheparksoftenoverlookthehiddenDonaldDucks.Hisfacecanbe
found(amongotherplaces)onthechairnearthenever-endinghallwayinthe
HauntedMansion.
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DisneyandactorFessParker(DavyCrockett)appearedonhorsebackinFrontierland.
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FrankSinatrawithhisson,FrankSinatraJr.,ontheAutopiaatDisneyland.
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ActorandfuturePresidentRonaldReaganhelpedhosttheABCcoverageofthepark’sopening.
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Disneyduringtheerror-plaguedtelecast.
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WaltandMickeyridingDisneyland’sreplicaofCaseyJr.’strainfromDisney’s1941animatedfeatureDumbo.Duringitsfirsttestrun,thetrainnearlytippedoverasitchuggedupahill—anothernearmishapat
thelaunchoftheinnovativenewpark.
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Thoughthe1951movieAliceinWonderlandwasacommercialdisappointment,itinspiredseveralparkattractions—includingtheMadTeaParty(shownhere)andAliceinWonderland,anindoorandoutdoor
ridethatopenedin1958.“ThewayIseeit,Disneylandwillneverbefinished,”Waltsaid.“It’ssomethingwecankeepdevelopingandaddingto.”
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TheDumboTheFlyingElephantridewasbasedonDisney’shit1941animatedfeature,Dumbo.
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Disneyexamininganartist’sdrawingoftheMonorail,afuturisticmodeofabovegroundtransportationinspiredbyWalt’striptoGermanyin1958.
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DisneyemployeesclimbedtheMatterhorn,a1:100-scalemodeloftheSwissmountain,whichopenedasanattractionin1959.
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Disneyworkedwithamechanicontwotinyfiguresthatformpartofaminiaturebarbershopquartet.
Little SecretsTheEnchantedTikiRoomistheonlyparkattractionwithabathroom,
reflectingthefactthatitwasoriginallyplannedasarestaurant.Thecenterfountainbeganasacoffeestation.
TOMNEBBIADisneyland’sEnchantedTikiRoomwasthefirstofthepark’saudio-animatronicattractions.“It’sanother
dimensionintheanimationwehavebeendoingallourlives,”Waltsaid.“It’sanewdoor...anewtoy...andwehopewecanreallydosomeexcitingthingsinthefuture.”
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The1964–1965NewYorkWorld’sFairshowcasedfourDisneyaudio-animatronicattractions.
TOMNEBBIAIt’saSmallWorld,theCarouselofProgress,theMagicSkyway,andGreatMomentswithMr.Lincoln.
TOMNEBBIATheyalleventuallyfoundahomeinDisneyland.
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ThebuccaneerswerepreppedforDisneyland’sPiratesoftheCaribbean.
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Thisiconicattractionisaprimeexampleofthecontroversialchangesthathavebeenmadetoclassicridesovertime:Certainpoliticallyincorrectelementshavebeeneliminated,andaftertheride’sfilmfranchise
becameahit,JohnnyDepp’scharacter,JackSparrow,wasaddedtothelineup.
PHOTOGRAPH©HARRYBENSON1966
Walt’sdesksurroundedbyfiguresofDisneycharactersafterhisdeathin1966.“Hewasahappyaccident,oneofthehappiestthiscenturyhasexperienced,”broadcasterEricSevareidsaidafterDisneydied.“Andjudgingbythewayit’sbeenbehaving—inspiteofallDisneytriedtotellitaboutlaughter,love,children,
puppies,andsunrises—thecenturyhardlydeservedhim.”
TheWorldAfterWaltHowRoyDisneycarriedonhisbrother’slegacyby
buildingabigger,betterparkonFloridaswampland
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VisitorswatchedfireworksoverWaltDisneyWorld.Thepark’selaboratenightlypyrotechnicshowshavenames,withthelatest(the18-minute“HappilyEverAfter”)replacingthelong-running“Wishes”inMay2017.Fanssometimescampoutforhours(bothinandoutsidethepark)toseetheshowfromthebest
vantagepoint.
TheburdenofdreamsnowfellonRoy,whohadalwaysbeenthestablevoiceoffiscalresponsibilitytoWalt’sobsessivevisionary,butwhatwouldhedointheabsenceofhisbrother’sgenius?“Theworldbelievedthatwastheendofthecompany,”Roy’sson,RoyE.Disney,latersaid.“Itwasnotagoodtimetogetbigloans,andbythen[Roy’s]convictionthathewasnotacreativeguyhadbecomesostrongthattacklingsuchambitiousprojectsscaredhim.”Nevertheless,eventhoughhe’dbeenplanningtoretire,the73-year-oldRoystayedon
tolaunchthenewpark.“PersonallyIhadmydoubts,”helatersaid,“butIknewIhadtodoitforWalt—becauseifIhadn’t,hewouldhavegivenmehellwhenIdied.”
First,RoychangedtheoriginalnameofDisneyWorldtoWaltDisneyWorld—“SopeoplewillalwaysknowthatitwasWalt’sdream,”hesaid.Thenheraised$400milliondollarstopayforthepark’sconstruction,oneofthelargestandmostexpensiveprojectsevermountedatthetime.Theeffortwasnowalkinthepark.“Walt,whathaveyougottenmeinto?”Royonceaskedhimselfashetouredthegroundsinajeep.ConstructionontheresortbeganinMay1969.“Therewasnothingthere,”Imagineer
JohnHenchlatersaid.“Wehadtoinstalleverythingfromapowerplanttoalaundry.”Sincetheareawaslargelyswampland,thefirstchallengeinvolvedeliminatingthewater.Fiftymilesofcanalswerecreatedtodredgethemuck,andthemile-wideBayLakewasdrainedofmudbeforebeingrefilledwithwater.Meanwhile,theman-madeSevenSeasLagoonwascreatedbydiggingup7million
cubicyardsofdirt,whichwasthenusedtocreatetheMagicKingdom’sground.Thiswaselevatedoveraseriesofso-calledutilidors:anetworkof“underground”—actuallyground-level—tunnelsthatserveasacontrolcenterandallowemployeestopassthroughtheparkwithoutbeingseen.ThiswasonlyoneexampleofhowDisneyWorldimproveduponitspredecessor.
Decadesbeforewecollectivelyworriedaboutclimatechange,forinstance,theparkwascreatedwithaneco-friendlyfocusthatminimizedpollution,accessedsolarenergy,andpreservedthesurroundingecosystem.Eveninhisabsence,Walt’speoplecarriedonhischaracteristicattentiontodetail.
“Afterhepassedaway,theImagineerssortof‘deconstructed’whataDisneythemeparkattractionwasandtriedtorecreateit,”JimKorkissays.“AsJohnHenchsaid,‘Waltdiditbyinstinct.Wedoitbyexperience.’”TakeLibertySquare,forexample.MirroringtheColonialeraitpurportstoembody,
itswindowshutterssag,sinceleatherstrapsreplacedthemetalhingesthatwereremovedfromwindowstouseasammunitionduringtheAmericanRevolution.Thelightbrownpathinthemiddleofthesquare’sroadrepresentstheriverofsewagethatranthroughthestreetsoftheera’scities.“Disneyevenattemptedtorecreatetheera’slackofindoorplumbing,”saysRobPimentel.“Theland’sonlybathroomsareinthetworestaurantsthatarelegallyrequiredtohavethem!”Bythetimetheparkwasfinished,ithaditsownpostalsystem,waste-watertreatment
plant,andzipcode.Itevenhaditsowngovernmentofsorts—theresultofRoy’sswaywiththeFloridalegislature.OnOctober1,1971,Royproudlypresidedovertheresort’sgrandopening,standing
besideanemployeedressedasMickeyMouse.“ThenewsiteisinFlorida,buttheairispureoldDisney,”LIFEwroteinacoverstory.“WhoelsecouldberesponsibleforthiscarefullycraftedvisionoftheAmericanpast,theintricate,hokey,hugelyexpensive
assemblageoflivesandplacesthatneverwere?”Theparkembodied,themagazineadded,“thebusinesslikeuseoffantasy,theno-nonsenseapproachtononsense.”Onlyafewmonthsaftertheopening,Roywaslookingforwardtohislong-overdue
retirementwhenhesufferedacerebralhemorrhageinhisbedroom.OnDecember20,hediedinSt.Joseph’sHospital—thesameplacewherehisbrotherhadpassedaway—havinglikelysuccumbedtotheexertionsinvolvedinrealizingWalt’s“impossible”dream.
Whatiftheyopenedathemeparkandnobodycame?Well,that’swhathappenedatWaltDisneyWorld—atfirst.UnliketheoverflowcrowdsthathadgreetedtheopeningofDisneyland,DisneyWorldwasconsistentlyonlyabouthalffullduringitsfirstfewweeksofoperation.SomethoughtthelocationwasaproblembecausetheEastCoasthadneverbeenabastionofDisneyfandom,butitsoonturnedoutthatpeoplehadstayedawaybecausetheywereworriedtheparkwouldbetoocrowded.Beforelong,DisneyWorldwaspacked.“Theparkbecamesuccessfulsoquicklythatforthenextfouryearswewererunningjusttokeepupwiththedemand,”Sklarsaid.InbothFloridaandCalifornia,the“plussing”continued.In1972,aseventharea,Bear
Country,wasaddedtoDisneyland,replacingFrontierland’sIndianVillage.(ItwaslaterrenamedCritterCountry.)ThiswaseventuallyfollowedbySpaceMountain(oneoftheworld’sfirstindoorrollercoasters)andBigThunderMountainRailroadinthelate1970s.Theearly’80ssawtheintroductionofsuchnewtechnologyas“Smellitizers,”hiddendiffusersthataddeddistinctivescentstotheparkexperiences(asalt-seasmellfillsPiratesoftheCaribbean,forinstance,whileamustyodorinfusestheHauntedMansion).Notallprojectswentaccordingtoplan,ofcourse.“SometimestheImagineers
stumbledafterWalt’sdeath,”saysKorkis.“Waltwantedeveryattractiontobeaccessibletoeveryoneregardlessofheight,weight,age,orphysicalrestrictions,butthatisn’ttrueinmanyoftheattractionsthatwerelaunchedafterhedied.”TaketheSplashMountainflumeridethatopenedin1989:“Olderguestsandyoungchildrenenjoytheaudio-animatronicscharactersandsongs,butthefinaldrop—advertisedasthehighest,longest,fastestwaterflumedropever—preventssomeofthemfromriding,”Korkissays.“Teenagerslovethethrillofthedropbutgointodiabeticfitsoverthesugarycutenessofthefirstpartoftheride.”Sometimesqualitysufferedaswell.“Waltwouldnotopenanattractionuntilithad
beenthoroughlytestedmanytimes,”saysKorkis,“butthatwasnotthecaseafterhepassedaway.”HecitestheRocketRodsatDisneyland,whichwerenotadequatelydesignedfortheexistingtrackandquicklystoppedworking,asdidtheYetiintheExpeditionEverestrollercoaster.Thelargestandmostcomplicatedaudio-animatronic
figureevermade,themechanicalmonsterreportedlymalfunctionedonlyafewmonthsaftertherideopenedin2006,creatingasafetyhazard.Sincethen,theYetionlyappearstomove—thankstostrobelights,whichledsometoderisivelycallit“DiscoYeti.”ThehugesuccessofWaltDisneyWorldputEPCOTCenteronhold—temporarily,
atleast.“ItwouldhavebeendifficulttothinkseriouslyaboutEPCOTinthoseearlydays,letalonegetanyworkdoneonit,”Sklarsaid.ButafterplanningSpaceMountaininthemid-’70s,theImagineerswerefreetofocusonWalt’sfinaldream.“OurfirstmovewastoholdaseriesofmeetingsinFlorida,”saidSklar.“Weheldmeetingsaboutenergyandabouthealthandaboutcommunications.Itwasprettyextraordinarybecausewewereabletobringinallthesedozensofexpertsandtherewereveryfewofthemwhodidn’tbelievethatDisneyhadanimportantroletoplayasanagentofchange,andasacommunicatorwhocouldbringpeopletogether.”ButDisney’soriginalconceptofautopiancommunitysoonprovedproblematic.
Whatsortofrealrightswoulditscitizenshave,whentheDisneyCorporationinsistedoncontrollingeverything?Beforelong,Disney’svisionmorphedintoathemeparkwithaneducationalfocus.(SomeofWalt’sinitialideawaseventuallyrealizedwiththeopeningofthetownofCelebration,Florida,inthemid-1990s,thoughamurderanddecliningpropertyvalueseventuallyprovedthatitwashardlyautopia.)Openingin1982,EPCOTCenter,asitwasinitiallycalled,covered260acresandwascomposedoftwolands,FutureWorldandWorldShowcase,whichfeaturedsuchdidacticattractionsasImpressionsdeFrance,LivingwiththeLand,andOCanada!ThesewerenomatchforthethrillsofSpaceMountain,andtheinitialdemandprovedunderwhelming.(EPCOT’s45-minuteridecelebratingfossilfuelwasnevergoingtobehighonmostkids’vacationbucketlists.)EPCOThadbeenWalt’slastdream,andnewoneswerehardtocomebyinhisabsence.Beforelong,thecompanybecamemoreaboutrealestatethaninnovationorcreativity.“Itseemedtobeinthegripof‘WhatwouldWaltdo?’paralysis,”KimMasters,authorofTheKeystotheKingdomandeditoratlargeatTheHollywoodReporter,tellsLIFE.“Everybodywantedtokeepthingsexactlythesame,soofcourseitstartedtodrift.”In1984,someoftheoldspiritreturnedwiththearrivalofCEOMichaelEisner,
presidentFrankWells,andchairmanJeffreyKatzenberg.Inadditiontoreinvigoratingthecompany’sanimationdivisionandreleasinglong-unavailablefilmclassicsonDVD,theregimerampedupthedevelopmentoftheparks.Crucially,theyalsopartneredforthefirsttimewithothermoviestudiosandfilmmakers—atrendthatbeganin1987withtheopeningofDisneyland’sStarTours,amotionsimulatorbasedonStarWars.ThiscontinuedwithRogerRabbit’sCarToonSpinin1994andJediTraining:TrialsoftheTemplein2006.
ThecoreDisneybrandwashardlyneglected.Openingin1989,SplashMountainfeaturescharactersfromthestudio’sSongoftheSouth.(Thecontroversial1946filmhasneverbeenreleasedonDVDbecauseofitsracialstereotyping,whichtherideavoidsbychangingthefilm’s“tarbaby”toastickybeehive.)NewattractionswerealsodevotedtoGoofy,WinniethePooh,DonaldDuck,andofcourseMinnieandMickeyMouse.ThefirstEisner-erapark,theHollywood-themedDisney-MGMStudiosopenedon
135acresinWaltDisneyWorldin1989.FueledbytheacquisitionofrightstotheMGM/UAfilmarchive,itincludedattractionsbasedonsuchmovieclassicsasTheWizardofOzinadditiontotheDisneystalwarts.JustasMainStreet,U.S.A.hadrepresentedanidealizedversionofasmall-townthoroughfare,soDisney-MGMStudios(laterrenamedDisney’sHollywoodStudios)became“theHollywoodthatneverwasandalwayswillbe!”asEisnersaidduringthegrandopening.SomesawtheparkasacrasslycommercialattempttocompetewithUniversal
Studios,whichhadannounceditsownimminentmovie-themedparkinOrlando.Eagertolaunchfirst,Disneyofficialsopenedtheparkwithonlyfourattractions,thoughothersweresoonadded.In1994theparkcameintoitsownwiththeadditionofanersatzSunsetBoulevardandtheTwilightZoneTowerofTerror.Visitorstothetowerridegetintoanelevatorthat’sdropped130feet(abouttheheightofa13-storybuilding)bybeingpulleddownfasterthangravitywould—aliterallyhair-raisingexperience.Alsolaunchedin1989,TyphoonLagoonbecameWaltDisneyWorldResort’ssecond
waterpark(afterDisney’sRiverCountry).Featuringsix-footbreakers,a50-footgeyser,andoneoftheworld’slargestwavepools,itprovedsopopularthatathirdwaterpark,BlizzardBeach,wasaddedin1995.Threeyearslater,Disney’sAnimalKingdomopenedintheresort.Partzooandpart
themepark,itisnearlyfivetimesthesizeoftheMagicKingdomandfeaturestwoartificialworldvillages,onerepresentingAfricaandtheotherAsia.TheformerisfilledwiththelikesofKenyansandboasandtarantulas,whilethelatterishometoExpeditionEverest,arollercoasterridethroughareplicaoftheworld’shighestmountain.Rafiki’sPlanetWatch,aLionKing–themedarea,isdevotedtoconservation;DinoLandU.S.A.ishometoaridethatplungesvisitorsintotheLateCretaceousEra;andanewlyaddedworldwasinspiredbyJamesCameron’sAvatarseries.(Moreonthatlater.)In2001,Disneylandexpanded,too,withtheadditionofCaliforniaAdventure,a55-acreparkthatcompanyofficialspredictedwouldbethemostpopularofthemall.Coulditbecome“themostjam-packedthemeparkonearth?”theLosAngelesTimesasked.Theanswerwasno:Visitorscomplainedthatthepreponderanceofstoresmadeitseemlikeamallandthatitdidn’tfocusenoughonchildren.Builton
theformersiteofDisneyland’sparkinglot,CaliforniaAdventurealsofailedtoblockviewsofthesurroundingarea,preventingtheimmersiveexperiencethatdefinestheotherparks.Disneyofficialsrespondedbyclosingtheparkforafive-yearoverhaulin2007.The
parknowincludesGrizzlyPeak,whichcelebratesCalifornia’soutdoors;ParadisePier,aglorifiedversionofCalifornia’sfamedseasideparks;ABug’sLand,inspiredbythe1998filmABug’sLife;alandbasedonthe2006filmCars;andHollywoodLand,whichspeaksforitself.Thepark’shighlightisarguablySoarin’AroundtheWorld,whichbeganasanattractionthatmadevisitorsfeeltheywerehangglidingoverLosAngeles’sHollywoodsign,SanFranscisco’sGoldenGateBridge,andYosemite’sHalfDomepeak,amongotherssites.TheridenowcoverssixcontinentsandisalsofeaturedatEPCOTandShanghaiDisneyland.Soarin’isaprimeexampleofthecinematicallyinspirednewtechnologythatbegan
withthe1987openingofDisneyland’sStarWars–basedStarTours(thiswasalsooneofthefirstattractionsbasedonanon-Disneybrand).Unlikethevehiclesthatphysicallytransportgueststhroughrides,suchasinPiratesoftheCaribbeanandtheHauntedMansion,theStarToursvehiclesdon’tactuallygoanywhere.Instead,theillusionofmotioniscreatedthroughstate-of-the-artoptical,motion,sound,andolfactoryeffects.Thisapproachhasbecomeincreasinglypopularintheparks—ashastheemphasison
interactivity,whichhelpsDisneyappealtoapublicincreasinglyaccustomedtosuchmediaasvideogames,Korkisnotes.Inthe1990s,forexample,BuzzLightyear’sSpaceRangerSpingavegueststhechancetoshootattargetswithalaserpistol,leavingthemwithafinalscoretheycouldcomparewiththoseoffellowriders.Mostrecently,3-Dgame-ridehybridslikeToyStoryMidwayManialetguestscompeteinaseriesofcarnivalgames.AndSpaceMountain,BigThunderMountainRailroad,andtheHauntedMansionhaveaddedinteractiveelementstohelpguestspassthetimewhilewaitinginlines.Themostsignificantnewtechnologicaldevelopmentbeganin2001,whenthe
companyspent$1billiononMyMagic+,aprojectfocusedonimprovingtheparks.ThisresultedinthedevelopmentoftheMagicBand,awristdevicelaunchedin2014thatusesRadioFrequencyIdentification(RFID)sensorstoarrangeyourtransportation,unlockyourhotelroom,giveyouaccesstochosenattractions,payforyourfood,andhelppersonalizeyourexperience.Old-lineImagineershavecarpedabouttheincreasingemphasisontechnology,which
bringstheintrusiveoutsideworldintotheotherwisepristineparks—somethingWalthimselfwasdeterminedtoavoid.“IfI’msupposedtobelivingwithfairies,fairiesdon’t
haveiPhonesorMagicBands,”onedetractortoldFastCompany.ThenewtechnologyhashardlyreplacedDisney’semphasisonold-fashioned
hospitality,however.Ifyouaskatanyparkguestrelationsoffice,forinstance,theywillgiveyouafreebuttoncommemoratingyourvisit,birthday,anniversary,wedding,orothercelebration,revealsKorkis.Anddon’tworryaboutluggingyoursouvenirsaround:“Ifyou’restayingonaWaltDisneyWorldproperty,they’llsendthemtoyourhotelforfree,”Pimentelsays.“Ifyou’renotstayingontheproperty,themerchandisecanbesenttoapickupspotatthefrontofthepark.Justtelltheclerkyouwanttousethisservice.”FollowingDisneyland’sprecedent,alltheparkscontainsecretsthatcanbeunlockedif
youknowhow.Severalrestaurantsfeaturesecretmenuswithitemslikeicecreamnachosoralcohol-spikedDoleWhip,Korkissays.“YoumayneedtodoalittleInternetresearchtodeterminewhatiscurrentlyavailable,thoughaskingattherestaurantssometimesworksaswell,”hesays.EveryDisneythemeparkhasfoodofferingsthatarenotavailableintheotherparks.“Forinstance,ataspeciallocationattheendofDisneyland’sNewOrleansSquare,guestscanbuyanonalcoholicmintjuleptowashdownMickeyMouse–shapedbeignets.”ManyoftheseinnovationsweredevelopedduringEisner’sregime,butin2006hewas
removedfromhispositionamidconsiderablecontroversy.Hewasquicklyreplacedbyhisdeputy,BobIger,whohasoverseenthecompany’sphenomenalgrowth,fueledinlargepartbytheacquisitionofPixar,MarvelEntertainment,ESPN,ABC,LucasFilm(theStarWarsfranchise),and—mostrecently,in2017—20thCenturyFox.Igerhasalsoexpandedtheparks’globalreach—somethingWalthimselfwasreluctant
todo.“AftertheopeningofDisneyland,WaltwasapproachedbyforeigncountrieswantinghimtobuildanotherDisneyland,”saysKorkis,“buthewasuninterestedsinceheunderstoodthechallengesofothercultures.”Hehadreasontobeconcerned—astheopeningofTokyoDisneywouldsoonprove.
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AfterWalt’sdeath,hisbrotherRoyalmostsingle-handedlyoversawthecreationofWaltDisneyWorld,seenaboveunderconstructioninNovember1969.
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Artistsworkedonscale-modelsofplannedparkbuildings.
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WaltDisneyWorld’sContemporaryResorthotelisshownunderconstruction.
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Thehotel’sGrandCanyonConcourselobbyfeaturesa14-storyatrium,amonorailterminal,anda90-foot-tallmuralcelebratingtheAmericanSouthwest.
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TheWaltDisneyWorldstaffposedinfrontofCinderellaCastlejustbeforethepark’sgrandopening.Theparkmayneverhaveopenedifithadn’tbeenforRoy,whocarriedontheDisneylegacyafterhisbrother’sdeath.ThemanWaltcalled“therealDisney”isnowmemorializedinastatueshowinghimwithMinnie
MouseinWaltDisneyWorld’sTownSquare.
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MaryPoppinsstarJulieAndrews(center)performedonMainStreet,U.S.A.duringtheopeningofWaltDisneyWorld.AfterseeingAndrewsperforminBroadway’sCamelot,Disneycastherinthetitleroleofthe
1964classic,whichbecamethestudio’sbiggesthitsinceSnowWhite.
Little SecretsInWaltDisneyWorld’sSplashMountain,agophershouts
“FSU!”—areferencetoFloridaStateUniversity,thealmamaterofoneofthe
attraction’screators.
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DebutingintheMagicKingdomin1975,SpaceMountainwasoneoftheworld’sfirstindoorrollercoasters.ThoughWalthimselfhadinitiallyshiedawayfromthrillrides,theMatterhornbobsledsfueledavoguefor
rollercoasters—eventuallyincludingSpaceMountain.
KELLYVERDECKHere:Guestsblastedoffintothewildblueyonder.
HENRYGROSKINSKYThreeplastic-and-vinylfarmersata1930scrossroadsstorewaitedtobeprogrammed,andworkers(above
andfollowing)preparedfortheopeningofEPCOT.
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HENRYGROSKINSKY
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Duringfinalstagesofconstruction,workersboltedaluminumpanelsontotheframeofSpaceshipEarth,the180-foot-highgeodesicspherethatformsthecenterpieceofWaltDisneyWorld’sEPCOT.
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EPCOT’sChineseGate.
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MickeyMouse–shapedhydroponicpumpkinsgrowinginaparkgreenhouse.
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ThepopularSoarin’overCaliforniaattraction(here,NapaValley)gaverisetoSoarin’AroundtheWorld,foundatDisneyland’sCaliforniaAdventure,EPCOT,andShanghaiDisneyland.Theinternationaleditionmakesvisitorsfeellikethey’reflyingoversuchlandmarksasthepyramidsofEgyptandtheGreatWallof
China.
Little SecretsEveryDisneyparkhasfoodofferingsthatarenotavailableatanyotherpark,andsomehavesecretmenus.DoanInternetsearchbeforeyourtrip—orjust
askanemployee.
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TheKilimanjaroSafariatAnimalKingdom,whichopenedin1998inWaltDisneyWorld.
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TheStarWarsLaunchBayiswhereguestscelebrateallthingsintergalacticatHollywoodStudiosatWaltDisneyWorld.Inside,guestscanplaythelatestStarWarsinteractivevideogamesandexploregalleriesof
rarememorabilia.
NEARMAPAERIALPHOTOGRAPHYAnaerialphotographshowsWaltDisneyWorld’sMickeyMouse–shapedsolarfacility,whichopenedin2016
tohelpprovidepowerforEPCOT.Thebird’s-eyeviewofthefamedcartooncharacterisoneofmany“hiddenMickeys”thatguestscanfindthroughouttheparks.
TokyoandBeyondHowDisneyexecutivesbuiltparksinEuropeandAsia—
despitetheoccasionaltyphoon
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MinnieMouseperformedataNewYear’seventatTokyoDisneySeain2001.
In1978,JapaneseexecutivesapproachedtheDisneycompanywithaproposition:TheywantedtobuildthefirstinternationalDisneyparkinJapan.InitiallytheMouseHousebrassbalked—inpartbecausethecountrywassusceptibletotyphoonsandothernaturaldisasters—butJapaneseofficialsinsistedthatpeoplewouldcomeanyway.(Thiswasborneoutwhenmorethan15,000guestseventuallyshowedupduringastormwarning.)Thankstotheofferofcofinancing,Disneyeventuallyagreed,andin1983TokyoDisneylandopenedinthecityofUrayasu,justeastofTokyoinJapan’sChibaprovince.AsWalthadsuspected,adaptingtheDisneybrandtootherculturesproved
challenging.“TheJapanesesaid,‘Don’ttrytotellusstoriesaboutourselves,becauseyoucan’tdoit,’”saidMartySklar.“Butourchairmanwantedtobesurethatschoolchildrencame,sohemadeusdoashowcalledMeettheWorld,ahistoryof
Japan—andhowdoyoutellthestoryoftheSecondWorldWaratDisneyinJapan?Itwasadisaster.”Nevertheless,theparkprovedenormouslypopular.Attendanceduringitsfirstdecadewasgreaterthanthepopulationoftheentirecountry,leadingtotheopeningofawater-themedsuccessor,TokyoDisneySea,in2001.Openingin1992,DisneylandParisprovedmoreproblematic,beginningwiththefact
thattheparkwaslocatedonlyabout20milesoutsideofParis.“Wehadtogointoanenvironmentwhereartandartistryandculturehavetraditionsgoingbackthousandsofyears,”ImagineerTonyBaxtersaid.“HowdoyoucompetewithallthoserealcastlesalongtheLoire?”(Theanswer:makethecastlelessrealisticandmorelikeanillustrationfromachildren’sbook.)Theresort’shotelssuffered,too:Disneyofficialshadn’tconsideredthatvisitorscouldeasilycommutefromanynumberofworld-classaccommodationsintheCityofLight.Asaresult,theparkstruggled—notleastinthecourtofpublicopinion.Britain’sTheIndependentcalledDisneylandParis“America’sculturalVietnam,apunishmentforthehubristicover-reachofitscommercialcolonisationoftheglobe.”DisneyexecutivestriedtoavoidthesechargeswhentheylaunchedaparkinHong
Kongbysignificantlyincorporatingindigenousculture.Thisincludedtheuseoffengshui,anancientChinesesystemdesignedtohelphumansliveinharmonywiththeirenvironment—specificallywhenitcomestooptimizingtheflowofthelifeenergycalledqi(pronounced“chee”).Theparkwasbuiltinconsultationwithafengshuimaster,forinstance,who(amongotherthings)toldDisneytore-anglethefrontgateby12degrees,supposedlyincreasingthepark’schancesofsuccess.Similarly,abendwasputinawalkwayneartheentrancesogoodqiwouldn’tflowintotheSouthChinaSea.Othernativetouchesincludedanincense-burningritualthatwasconductedafterthe
completionofeachbuilding.Thecolorred(consideredluckyinChina)isemphasizedthroughoutthepark,whilethenumberfourisconspicuouslyabsent—particularlyinelevators—becauseit’straditionallyassociatedwithdeath.“ItusedtobeDisneywasexportedonitsownterms,”RobertThompson,aprofessorofpopularcultureatSyracuseUniversity,toldtheNewYorkTimes.“Butinthelate20thandearly21stcentury,America’sculturalimperialismwastested.Now,insteadofbeingtheUglyAmericans,whichsomeforeignersusedtofindcharming,wehavetotakeoffourshoesorbelchafterameal.”ThesameculturalsensitivitydrovethecreationofShanghaiDisney,whichopenedin
June2016atacostof$5.5billion.“TheyspentayeartravelingaroundChina,talkingtopeople,findingartistsanddesignersandarchitectstoaddtothestaff,”Sklarsaid,“soinsteadofAmericansdesigningaprojectinChina,it’sbecomeatrulyinternational
project.It’sbeautifullydesigned,withalotofnewideasbasedonthingsthatWaltstartedinDisneyland.”WhatwouldWaltthinkabouthowhisparkshavedevelopedintheyearssincehis
death?“Ialwaysrefusedtoanswerthatquestion—untilweopenedHongKongDisneyland,”saidSklar.“That’swhenIsaidthatWaltwasanimpatientman—and,ifhewerearound,hewouldprobablysay,‘Whattookyousolong?’”
Thankstocannycorporateacquisitionsandexpansionintonewmedia(theDisneyChannelandBroadway),theWaltDisneyCompanyisnowtheworld’slargestentertainmentcompany.Still,athirdormoreofthecompany’srevenueremainsdrivenbytheparks.“Withouttheincomefromtheparks,thecompanymighthavehadchallengessurvivingandexpandingduringsomedifficulttimes,”saysJimKorkis.Likeanyotherbusiness,Disneyfacesongoingchallenges.Attendancedeclinedat13
of14Disneyparksworldwidefrom2015to2016,accordingtoaNewYorkTimesreport.Thankstoanewticketingsystemthatincreasedpricesduringhigh-volumeperiods,profitsremainedup—theparksrakedin$3.3billionin2016,up9percentyearoveryear—butthedeclineinglobalattendancewasneverthelessunprecedentedandnodoubtworrying.Futuresuccesslargelyrestsoncontinuedsynergywithblockbusterfilms.In2017,
Pandora:theWorldofAvatar(a$500millionlandinspiredbyJamesCameron’sfilmseries)wasanimmediatehitwhenitopenedinAnimalKingdom,witheagerpatronsstandinginlineforuptothreehours.ToyStoryLand,an11-acreparkdevotedtothepopularPixarseries,isslatedtoopenatDisney’sHollywoodStudiosin2018.Thenewlandwillfeatureoversizeelementsthatmakeguestsfeelthey’reassmallastoysandattractionsinspiredbycharactersfromthefilms—suchastheSlinkyDogDashrollercoasterandWoody’sLunchBox,afoodstand.In2019,StarWarsGalaxy’sEdge,spanning14acres,isscheduledtoopeninboth
DisneylandandDisney’sHollywoodStudios.VisitorswillreportedlybeabletopilottheMillenniumFalcon;dineatthefamedcantinafromtheoriginalfilm;stayinahotelthatcreatestheillusionofridinginaspaceship;and—perhapsmostimpressive—joinabattlebetweentheFirstOrderandtheResistance.Thelatterwillbeproducedonascale“unlikeanythingwe’veeverdonebefore,”saidBobChapek,chairmanofWaltDisneyParksandResorts,ina2017pressconference.Indeed,theStarWarslandswillbegroundbreakinginallrespects,accordingto
Chapek.“You’llimmediatelybecomeacitizenofthegalaxyandexperienceallthatentails,includingdressingupintheproperattire,”hesaid.“OnceyouleaveEarth,youwilldiscoverastarshipalivewithcharacters,stories,andadventuresthatunfoldallaroundyou.Itis100percentimmersive.”
Existingattractionsareconstantlybeingupdatedaswell.“Eventhepaceofaridehastochange,”saidBaxter,notingthatthecontinentsweremovedclosertogetherinaEuropeanversionofIt’saSmallWorldbecausetheyhadtomakeroomforAmerica,whichisn’tfeaturedintheU.S.parks.“Indoingso,wecuttheridefromelevenminutestoeightminutes,andtheinterestingthingisthatitseemsrightatthatlength.Noonefeelsthey’rebeingshortchangedbecausepeopleexpectinformationtobedeliveredmorequicklythesedays.”Toaccommodatenewattractions,somerideshavebeeneliminatedentirely.For
instance,Frontierland’sBigThunderRanchinDisneylandwasclosedin2016tomakeroomfortheupcomingStarWarsland.“ThelastthingwewantisforDisneyland,oranyoftheparks,tobelikeamuseumfullofthingsthathaverichassociationsforpeoplewhogrewupinthe’50sbutaremeaninglesstokidswhowereborninthe’80s,”saidBaxter.Notsurprisingly,someofthesechangesangerdie-harddevotees.In2016,afterthe
MaelstromwaterrideinEPCOT’sNorwayPavilionwaschangedtoreflectthe2013animatedfilmFrozen,thousandsoftheoriginalride’sfansprotestedbytweeting#savemaelstrom,ventingtheirfrustrationonmessageboards,andcreatingmemessuchasSnowWhitedrinkingherselfintoatearfulstupor.(“Tosaysheisdistraughtisanunderstatement,”onetweetread.)“IdoubtanyonewouldrankMaelstromuptherewithPiratesoftheCaribbeanortheHauntedMansion,”AndrewTiptoncomplainedontheDisneyHipstersblog,“butfor26yearsthisridehasbeenaconsistentpartofpeopleslives.”(Themostrecentcontroversyoccurredin2017whenDwayne“TheRock”JohnsonannouncedthattheJungleCruiseridewouldbechangedtoreflecthisupcomingfilmbasedontheattraction.Disneyofficialsdeniedthis.)Despiteitsdetractors,theFrozenrideprovedtobeamassivehit,leadingDisneytoannouncefurtherimprovementstoEPCOT—nodoubttryingtochangeitsstatusasadutifulsecondcousintothepurelyentertainment-drivenproperties.“Wewanttokeepittruetotheoriginalvision,whilemakingitmoretimeless,morerelevant,morefamily,andmoreDisney,”Chapeksaid.Tothatend,attractionsbasedonRatatouille(the2007Disney/Pixaranimatedfilm
aboutaratwhobecomesachef)andGuardiansoftheGalaxy(the2014movieabouttheMarvelsuperheroes)areintheworksatEPCOT,asisaspace-themedrestaurant.Changeisinevitableinanybusiness,butit’snotclearhowanyofthisreflectsWalt’s
visionofa“utopiancityofthefuture.”Andthepreponderanceofparkswithsimilarattractionscanblurthedifferencesbetweenbrands,leadingtoconsumerconfusion.“Overthepastfewdecades,we’veseengreatvarietyintheDisneyparks—fromconcentratingonanimalsandconservationtoclassicHollywoodaswellasnew
technology,”Korkissays,“yetitoftenseemslikeasuperficialoverlaytotheoriginalconceptswithoutbringinganewperspectiveonthestorytellingexperienceforanewaudience.”YettheDisneycompanywillclearlycontinuetogrowandthriveeveninthefaceof
setbacks—asdidWalthimself,whoeveninhisdarkesthoursneverforgotthedreamshe’dnurturedasayoungboyobsessedwithescapeandcontrol.“Helongedfordistantplacesandnewadventures,andtrainstookhimthere,”saysKorkis.“AtraintookhimfromMissouritoLosAngelestostartabrandnewanimationstudio.Ihopeweneverforgetonething—thatitallstartedwithWalt’sloveoftrains.”
KURITAKAKU/GAMMA-RAPHO/GETTY
AgirlchoseherhairstyleattheBibbidiBobbidiBoutiqueinTokyo’sDisneylandhotel.CapitalizingontheseeminglyuniversalvogueforDisneyprincessesamongyounggirls,theboutiqueisnamedafterthefairy
godmother’ssonginDisney’s1950animatedfeatureCinderella.
YOSHIKAZUTSUNO/AFP/GETTY
TokyoDisneySeacelebrateditsfifthanniversaryin2006.
PAWELLIBERA/LIGHTROCKET/GETTY
AviewfromthetowerinAlice’sCuriousLabyrinthinDisneylandParis.Theparkprovedwildlycontroversial,withprotestersthrowingeggsatthenDisneychiefMichaelEisnerwhileshouting“Mickey,go
home!”
KATJAHOFFMANN/LAIF/REDUX
AftertheopeningofDisneylandParisledtowhatoneBritishpublicationcalled“commercialcolonisation,”DisneyexecutivestookcaretoincorporateindigenouscultureintheirHongKongpark,shownhere.
VISUALCHINA/GETTY
VisitorswatchedaparadeatChina’sShanghaiDisney,which,likeDisney’sHongKongpark,wasbuiltwithaneyetowardculturalsensitivity.
XINHUA/GAMMA-RAPHO/GETTY
MinnieandMickeyMousemarkedthestartofconstructionworkinShanghai.
NIUYIXINXINHUA/EYEVINE/REDUX
Theparkthedaybeforetheopeningceremony.
Little SecretsLookatthebooktitlesontheshelvesinattractionslikeMickeyHouseortheSkipperCanteen.Imagineersoftencreatetitlesandauthorsthatarepuns,sillywordplay,orreferencestoDisneyfilmsand
people.
VCG/GETTY
ShanghaiDisneyVisitorsdancedinTomorrowland,infrontofawavelikedomethatwasinspiredbythetraditionalmythicChinesedragon.TheareaalsofeaturestheStarWarsLaunchBay,JetPacks,theBuzz
LightyearPlanetRescue,StitchEncounter,andtheTronLightcyclePowerRun,thefastestrollercoasteratanyDisneypark.
ERICFEFERBERG/AFP/GETTY
TheinaugurationoftheRatatouilleattractionatDisneylandParisin2014.
MATTSTROSHANE/DISNEYPARKS/GETTY
LocatedintheNorwayPavilionatWaltDisneyWorld’sEPCOT,FrozenEverAfter—inspiredbythehitmovieFrozen—leadsgueststhroughawillowforest,pastTrollValley,anduptoQueenElsa’sicepalace.
Little SecretsRealmoviepropsarehiddenthroughouttheparks—including
thetruckfromRaidersoftheLostArk,outsideDisneyland’sIndianaJonesAdventure,andthetankfromtheLastCrusade,outsideWaltDisneyWorld’sIndianaJonesEpicStunt
Spectacular.
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ThegrandopeningofGuardiansoftheGalaxy—Mission:Breakout!atDisney’sCaliforniaAdventureinDisneylandin2017.
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ThereleaseofthefilmStarWars:TheForceAwakenswascelebratedatDisneylandParisin2015.
JustOneMoreEARLTHEISEN/ARCHIVEPHOTOS/GETTY
WaltDisneyworkedonamodeltraininhisbackyardcirca1955inLosAngeles.“IalwaysbelievedthereasonWaltbuiltDisneylandwasthathewanted...thebiggesttrainlayout,”saidImagineerBruceGordon.“Peoplewouldthinkhewas
crazy,buthewasonlyplayingwithhistoy.”
InsidetheDisneyParks:TheHappiestPlacesonEarthEDITORIALDIRECTORKostyaKennedyEDITOR/WRITERJ.I.BakerDIRECTOROFPHOTOGRAPHYChristinaLiebermanDESIGNERMimiParkCOPYCHIEFParlanMcGawCOPYEDITORJoelVanLiewPICTUREEDITORRachelHatchWRITER-REPORTERAmyLennardGoehnerPHOTOASSISTANTAlessandraBiancoPRODUCTIONRichardShaffer
TIMEINC.BOOKS,AdivisionofMeredithCorporationPUBLISHERMargotSchupfSENIORVICEPRESIDENT,FINANCEAnthonyPalumboVICEPRESIDENT,MARKETINGJeremyBiloonEXECUTIVEDIRECTOR,MARKETINGSERVICESCarolPittardDIRECTOR,BRANDMARKETINGJeanKennedySALESDIRECTORChristiCrowleyASSOCIATEDIRECTOR,BRANDMARKETINGBryanChristianASSOCIATEDIRECTOR,FINANCEJillEaryesASSISTANTGENERALCOUNSELAndrewGoldbergASSISTANTDIRECTOR,PRODUCTIONSusanChodakiewiczSENIORMANAGER,FINANCEAshleyPetrasovicSENIORBRANDMANAGERKatherineBarnetPREPRESSMANAGERAlexVoznesenskiyASSOCIATEPROJECTANDPRODUCTIONMANAGERAnnaRiegoMuñizEDITORIALDIRECTORKostyaKennedyCREATIVEDIRECTORGaryStewartDIRECTOROFPHOTOGRAPHYChristinaLiebermanEDITORIALOPERATIONSDIRECTORJamieRothMajorMANAGER,EDITORIALOPERATIONSGinaScauzillo
SPECIALTHANKSBradBeatson,BrettFinkelstein,MelissaFrankenberry,KristinaJutzi,SimonKeeble,SeniquaKoger,KateRoncinske
Copyright©2018TimeInc.Books
e-ISBN:978-1-54784-187-5
PublishedbyLIFEBooks,animprintofTimeInc.Books,adivisionofMeredithCorporation,225LibertyStreet,NewYork,NY10281
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