wacky wednesday - a diamond celebration

Walt Disney's career began in the 1920's in animation. Mickey Mouse debuted in 1928 in a short film, Steamboat Willie, one of the first sound cartoons. He has appeared in over 130 films, both short films and feature-length films. Children all over the world wrote to Walt asking if they could come see where Mickey Mouse lived.

At about the same time, Walt took his daughters to the park to play. As he watched them playing, he thought it would be wonderful if there was a place where parents and children could play together. And maybe meet Mickey Mouse. He pondered that for awhile and the "idea" of Disneyland was born.

First, think. Second, believe. Third, dream. And finally, dare.  ~ Walt Disney

Walt worked tirelessly on implementing his plan. There were setbacks, naysayers, and obstacles seemingly at every turn but Walt persevered.

Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done right.  ~ Walt Disney

And finally, after only a year in the making, on July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened with five "lands" (Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Main St. USA) and 18 attractions!

If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember this whole thing was started by a mouse.  ~ Walt Disney

Opening day was a disaster! Anaheim, California was in the middle of a record-breaking heat wave and the temperature on opening day reached 110 degrees. Asphalt that had been poured just the night before didn't set properly because of the heat and women's high heels (Yes, people dressed up back then! See Full Circle #2 post!) sunk in it. A plumber's strike left many drinking fountains without water. Six thousand invitations/tickets were mailed out and the park expected 11,000 people to show up but instead (due to many counterfeit tickets) 28,000 people crammed into the park. There were traffic jams trying to get into the park and restaurants ran out of food.

And the next few weeks weren't much better. But Walt didn't give up and ten years later, 50 million people had walked through the gates of Disneyland! Today, over 600 million people have visited "the happiest place on Earth!"

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.  ~ Walt Disney

Last Friday, July 17, 2015, Disneyland celebrated its 60th anniversary. The Diamond Celebration began earlier this year and is predicted to continue through the end of the year. New parades, fireworks, food and attraction make-overs are just a few of the "party favors" for this celebration. We went last month and think it's definitely worth seeing!

Some of my friends label me a Disneyland fanatic and as such,  I have enjoyed the well wishes and congratulatory messages from a variety of sources - in ads, on the news, in magazines and newspapers, on Facebook and even a nod from the comics!

Happy 60th Anniversary, Disneyland!

In case you didn't know, Sleeping Beauty's Castle is at Disneyland, Cinderella's Castle is at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.