life inside the disney parks: the happiest places on earth

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

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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.

ALFREDEISENSTAEDT/LIFE/THEPICTURECOLLECTION

DisneyinhisBurbankofficewithoneofhismostimportantartists,JohnHench,discussingthemapofDisneylandthatWaltcalled“the$5millionlayout.”Themostimportantelementwasthecastle,WalttoldartistHerbRyman,whomadethefirstmapsofDisneyland.“Makeittallenoughtobeseenfromallaround

thePark,”hesaid.

COURTESYEVERETTWhenbankersrefusedtolendDisneymoneytobuildhisriskynewpark,heturnedtoanunlikelyfundingsource:television.Heagreedtoproduceandhostaweeklyshow,calledDisneyland,forABC.Inexchange,

thenetworkhelpedfinancethepark.TheshowpremieredinOctober1954andwasanimmediatehit.

EARLTHEISEN/ARCHIVEPHOTOS/GETTY

DisneydiscussedhisnewparkwithsomeImagineersinLosAngelesin1954.“Imagineers”isthetermDisneyusedtorefertothefilmstudiocreativeswhobroughttheircinematicsensibilitytothethemepark,

whichwasthefirstparktotellastory,likeamovie.

DMITRIKESSEL/THELIFEIMAGESCOLLECTION/GETTY

NeuschwansteinCastleinBavariawasthemodelforSleepingBeautyCastle.

GENELESTER/ARCHIVEPHOTOS/GETTY

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.”


Justbeforetheparkopening,WaltstrolledthroughSleepingBeautyCastle—thesmallestcastleinalltheDisneyparks,reportedlybecauseDisneyrememberedhearingthatEuropeancastleshadbeenbuiltto

intimidatepeasants,andhewantedhistobefriendlier.

Little SecretsLookfortheplaqueinthewalkwaybeforeDisneyland’sSleeping

BeautyCastlethatmarksthelocationofaburied“TimeCastle”—aconcretevault

containingmementosfromthepark’s40thanniversaryin1995.

TheCaliforniaYearsHowWaltchangedAmerica’sentertainmentlandscape—literally—bybuildingthefirstthemeparkthattoldastory

ALLANGRANT/LIFE/THEPICTURECOLLECTION

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?


AmechanicalgiraffepeereddownatchildrentakingtheJungleCruiseinDisneyland’sAdventureland,circa1955.


Afamilyvisitedtheparkduringopeningweek.


WaltconceivedtheAutopiacarrideasasafewaytoteachchildrentodrive,butthefirstkiddietest-driverswantednothingmorethantocrashintoeachother.


TheKingArthurCarrousel.Thecarousel’santiquehand-carvedhorseshadbeenroundedupfromamusementparksalloverthecountry,butsinceWaltwantedthemalltoseemliketheyweregallopingor

charging,someoftheirlegswerereshaped.

USCLIBRARIES/CORBIS/GETTY

Disneyland’sopening-dayparade.


Characterswaitedtojointheparade.“TheparksprovideakeyfactorintheDisneysynergy,drivingmorepeopletoseethemovies,buythemerchandise,listentothemusic,andbecomefamiliarwiththecharacters

andthestories,”saysDisneyexpertJimKorkis.

Little SecretsGuestswhoknowtosearchforhiddenimagesofMickeyMouse

throughouttheparksoftenoverlookthehiddenDonaldDucks.Hisfacecanbe

found(amongotherplaces)onthechairnearthenever-endinghallwayinthe

HauntedMansion.


DisneyandactorFessParker(DavyCrockett)appearedonhorsebackinFrontierland.

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FrankSinatrawithhisson,FrankSinatraJr.,ontheAutopiaatDisneyland.

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ActorandfuturePresidentRonaldReaganhelpedhosttheABCcoverageofthepark’sopening.

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Disneyduringtheerror-plaguedtelecast.


WaltandMickeyridingDisneyland’sreplicaofCaseyJr.’strainfromDisney’s1941animatedfeatureDumbo.Duringitsfirsttestrun,thetrainnearlytippedoverasitchuggedupahill—anothernearmishapat

thelaunchoftheinnovativenewpark.


Thoughthe1951movieAliceinWonderlandwasacommercialdisappointment,itinspiredseveralparkattractions—includingtheMadTeaParty(shownhere)andAliceinWonderland,anindoorandoutdoor

ridethatopenedin1958.“ThewayIseeit,Disneylandwillneverbefinished,”Waltsaid.“It’ssomethingwecankeepdevelopingandaddingto.”


TheDumboTheFlyingElephantridewasbasedonDisney’shit1941animatedfeature,Dumbo.

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Disneyexamininganartist’sdrawingoftheMonorail,afuturisticmodeofabovegroundtransportationinspiredbyWalt’striptoGermanyin1958.

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DisneyemployeesclimbedtheMatterhorn,a1:100-scalemodeloftheSwissmountain,whichopenedasanattractionin1959.

ALFREDEISENSTAEDT/LIFE/THEPICTURECOLLECTION

Disneyworkedwithamechanicontwotinyfiguresthatformpartofaminiaturebarbershopquartet.

Little SecretsTheEnchantedTikiRoomistheonlyparkattractionwithabathroom,

reflectingthefactthatitwasoriginallyplannedasarestaurant.Thecenterfountainbeganasacoffeestation.

TOMNEBBIADisneyland’sEnchantedTikiRoomwasthefirstofthepark’saudio-animatronicattractions.“It’sanother

dimensionintheanimationwehavebeendoingallourlives,”Waltsaid.“It’sanewdoor...anewtoy...andwehopewecanreallydosomeexcitingthingsinthefuture.”

GEORGESILK/LIFE/THEPICTURECOLLECTION

The1964–1965NewYorkWorld’sFairshowcasedfourDisneyaudio-animatronicattractions.

TOMNEBBIAIt’saSmallWorld,theCarouselofProgress,theMagicSkyway,andGreatMomentswithMr.Lincoln.

TOMNEBBIATheyalleventuallyfoundahomeinDisneyland.


ThebuccaneerswerepreppedforDisneyland’sPiratesoftheCaribbean.


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.

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.”

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AgirlchoseherhairstyleattheBibbidiBobbidiBoutiqueinTokyo’sDisneylandhotel.CapitalizingontheseeminglyuniversalvogueforDisneyprincessesamongyounggirls,theboutiqueisnamedafterthefairy

godmother’ssonginDisney’s1950animatedfeatureCinderella.

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TokyoDisneySeacelebrateditsfifthanniversaryin2006.

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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.

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ShanghaiDisneyVisitorsdancedinTomorrowland,infrontofawavelikedomethatwasinspiredbythetraditionalmythicChinesedragon.TheareaalsofeaturestheStarWarsLaunchBay,JetPacks,theBuzz

LightyearPlanetRescue,StitchEncounter,andtheTronLightcyclePowerRun,thefastestrollercoasteratanyDisneypark.

ERICFEFERBERG/AFP/GETTY

TheinaugurationoftheRatatouilleattractionatDisneylandParisin2014.

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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

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformorbyanyelectronicormechanicalmeans,includinginformationstorageandretrievalsystems,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher,exceptbyareviewer,whomayquotebriefpassagesinareview.

Vol.18,No.7•March30,2018

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life inside the disney parks: the happiest places on earth

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