Disneyland
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Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California, United States. It was opened on July 17, 1955 by Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse. It is one of the most popular theme parks in the world. Beginning in 2001, the area around the park has expanded into a resort with three hotels, a shopping and dining area called Downtown Disney and a second theme park, Disney's California Adventure. Disneyland celebrated its golden, or 50th, anniversary on July 17, 2005.
[edit] History
Walt Disney worked very hard to run his movie studio. He liked to spend weekends with his two daughters. The family liked going to carnivals and fairs. Mr. Disney wanted to build a place that had all of the fun of a carnival but without the bad people that carnivals sometimes attracted. That is how Mr. Disney got the idea for Disneyland. In 1953, Mr. Disney talked to people at Stanford University. He asked them to find a place that would be a good place to build his park. The Stanford people recommended an orange grove for sale in Anaheim, a very rural area south of Los Angeles. Mr. Disney's friends thought the idea was a crazy one. But, he was sure that his dream would be a good one. After selling property that he loved very much in Palm Springs to help pay for the park, the building of Disneyland began in 1954. He also used a weekly television show called "Disneyland" to make people interested in his park. In only one year, Disneyland was open.
When Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, the opening was shown on television as it happened. Mr. Disney asked three of his Hollywood friends to help him: Art Linkletter, Robert Cummings and Ronald Reagan. Many things went wrong that day. 11,000 people were invited to the private event but nearly 30,000 showed up. The pavement was still fresh and many people stepped out of their shoes when they became stuck. Even the running water was a problem, which meant that Mr. Disney had to choose between drinking water and water for flushing toilets. Mr. Disney chose the toilets. Disneyland may have had problems when it opened, but it was not long before it became a success. Visitor number one million came to Disneyland less than two years later.
[edit] The lands of Disneyland
Disneyland is divided into sections called "lands." Each land has its own theme. This is a list of those lands and some of the things in them.
Main Street, U.S.A is the first land people see when they come into Disneyland. It was built to look like a small American town, much like the one Mr. Disney grew up in. A station for the Disneyland Railroad can be found here. The station is located at the entrance to Disneyland. Mr. Disney and some of his workers loved trains and wanted a railroad in their new park. Guests can board steam-powered trains for a ride around the edge of Disneyland. They can also ride a streetcar pulled by a horse, a double-deck bus and even a small fire engine. Many shops and restaurants can be found on Main Street, U.S.A.
Fantasyland is like the places in old fairy tales. An antique carousel from 1875 can be ridden in Fantasyland. The main entry to Fantasyland is through the Sleeping Beauty castle, the symbol of Disneyland. Attractions (Disneyland does not use the term "rides") include "Snow White's Scary Adventures and it's a small world.
Adventureland is made to look like a jungle in Africa or Asia. One of Disneyland's first attractions can be ridden here. It is called "Jungle Cruise" and takes guests on a boat ride on a jungle river.
Frontierland is a land that looks like the old American West. The Mark Twain, a steam-powered boat called a "paddlewheeler" takes guests for a ride on the "Rivers of America." Guests can also ride "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad," a roller coaster that looks like a mine train.
Tomorrowland was meant to look like the world of the future. Disneyland's newest attraction can be found here. It is called "Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters" and it opened in 2005. The "Space Mountain" indoor roller coaster, built in 1977, reopened in 2005 after two years of rebuilding. An old attraction called "Submarine Voyage" is being rebuilt. It will open in 2007 with characters from Finding Nemo.
Mickey's Toontown is Disneyland's newest land. It is also its silliest land. Mickey's Toontown is where Mickey Mouse and his friends are supposed to live. It is named "Toontown" after a place in the movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
New Orleans Square looks like a place called the "French Quarter" in New Orleans, Louisiana. Two of Disneyland's very popular attractions are in New Orleans Square: "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "The Haunted Mansion (which have both inspired movies)."
Critter Country looks like America's deep South of more than 100 years ago. "Splash Mountain" is a very popular log ride that guests wait in line for a long time to enjoy. It ends with a very long (but fun) drop down a waterfall.
[edit] Disneyland's big day
Sunday, July 17, 2005 was one of the most important days in Disneyland's history. It was the celebration of opening day exactly fifty years ago. Many people waited to enter the park that morning. Many more spent the night waiting in Disney's California Adventure. A ceremony was held that morning with very important people speaking to the audience. Art Linkletter, who was part of the first television show, was the first to speak. The day was also Mr. Linkletter's 93rd birthday. Michael Eisner and Robert Iger, the top men at the Disney company each gave speeches. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a speech as did Walt Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller. The ceremony was shown on giant television screens placed in the park and repeated throughout the day. At 4:45 that afternoon, the exact time the park was dedicated, Walt Disney's opening day speech was played over speakers all over Disneyland.
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