Disney

Elana Bell and Cliff Keenan

Walt Disney created a worldwide phenomenon in his amusement parks, television, and movies.

Amusements Parks: Disneyland & Disneyworld • July 17, 1955 was the grand opening of Disneyland’s California Adventure in Anaheim, California. • Huge crowds eagerly made their way across the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty’s castle to enter Disneyland. • Walt Disney was the original ‘Imagineer’ and purchased over 160 acres to create his Magic Kingdom and cost $17 million. • Opening day ceremonies were broadcasted live on ABC and many famous guests attended. • Some of the attractions that opened were Peter Pan’s Flight, King Arthur Carousel, Mad Tea Party, Snow White’s Adventures and Dumbo’s Flying Elephants. • The park had five lands – Main Street, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland and Tomorrowland. • Today, Disney Incorporated has become global with parks in Florida, Paris, Tokyo, and the Bahamas.

Television: The Mickey Mouse Club • The series premiered October 3, 1955 on ABC. • The Mouseketeers made their first appearance the opening day of Disneyland. • Walt Disney wanted the Mouseketeers to be regular kids, not actors. The producers of the show searched schools to find kids who had something special. • Some of the original Mouseketeers were Sharon Baird, Bobby Burgess, Lonnie Burr, Tommy Cole, Annette Funicello, Darlene Gillespie, Cubby O’Brien, Karen Pendelton and Doreen Tracey. • 1955 - 1959 - The Mickey Mouse Club airs 5 days a week.

Movies: Disney Classics • Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady in the Tramp and Sleeping Beauty was only few of the most well-known children movies of the 1950s. • 1950 - 1959 - Wins 23 Oscars (Walt Disney holds the record as most nominated person with 59.) • 1954 - Present - ABC airs Disneyland, a weekly TV program establishing a television presence that still exists today. • 1954 - Present - Disney creates Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. to distribute all features produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The company still exists and thrives today.