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July 17, 2025

July 17, 1955: The Day Disneyland Opened... and Nearly Fell Apart


If you think Disney always runs like a well-oiled machine, think again. The "Happiest Place on Earth" had a downright chaotic debut when it opened its gates on July 17, 1955 in Anaheim, California. Walt Disney himself hosted the event live on ABC, but what happened behind the scenes was far from magical.

Here are some odd, wild, and head-scratching facts about Disneyland's opening - and what's still strange about it to this day.

Televised Chaos


Disney Land


Disneyland's grand opening was nationally televised - a bold move for 1955. Roughly 90 million people tuned in to watch, hosted by future president Ronald Reagan, actor Bob Cummings, and Art Linkletter. But the magic quickly turned into mayhem:

  • The park was only half-finished. Wet paint, unfinished rides, and missing signage were everywhere. Some rides broke down mid-broadcast.

  • Fake tickets flooded the gates. The park expected 15,000 guests. Over 28,000 showed up - many with counterfeit passes.

  • Heels sank in the asphalt. Temperatures hit 101°F. Freshly laid asphalt was still soft, causing women's high heels to sink into Main Street USA.


Plumbing Problems


Disney had a choice: running water or working toilets. Due to a plumber's strike, Walt had to pick one. Naturally, he chose the toilets.
He later joked: "At least people can buy a Coke to drink, but they can't go to the bathroom on a bush."

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The Case of the Missing Elephant


Disney Land


A live animal parade included camels, lions - and yes, an elephant. At one point, the elephant wandered off the parade route, delayed a Jungle Cruise rehearsal, and nearly made a dash into Tomorrowland.

Ice Cream? Sorry, Try Again.


Food supplies were a disaster. Due to the overwhelming crowds, ran out of food by mid-day. Ice cream vendors packed up and left. Some guests had to wait over 2 hours for a hamburger.

Modern Oddities Still Going


Even today, Disneyland has its share of oddball facts:

  • "Cats of Disneyland" - At night, over 200 feral cats patrol the park to keep the rodent population under control. They're well-fed, spayed/neutered, and part of the family.

  • Ashes in the Haunted Mansion - It's rumored that so many people have tried to spread ashes of loved ones on the Haunted Mansion ride, Disney had to assign security to watch for it. Yes, there's a code for "clean up aisle urn."

  • "Evil Queen" Sightings - Cast members swear that every now and then, the Evil Queen's animatronic in Snow White's ride will move when powered off - and no one knows why.


Final Fun Fact:


The opening day was so bad, insiders dubbed it "Black Sunday." But 70 years later, Disneyland is a global icon, drawing over 18 million visitors a year.

Not bad for a park that started with a wandering elephant and melting shoes.