When Walt Disney opened his new resort, Disneyland, on July 17, 1955, he said, "Disneyland will continue to grow, to add new things, as long as there is imagination left in the world." And ever since that day Disneyland has grown, it has been a source for family fun, and a worldwide destination.

When Disneyland first opened it was far from the resort we know today. It took a long time to create the park and it will always be evolving.

The attractions that were opened the first day were: King Arthur Carousel, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Adventures, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Mad Tea Party, Canal Boats of the World, Jungle Cruise, Autopia, Space Station X-1, Mark Twain Riverboat, Stage Coach Mule Pack, and several attractions along Main Street, U.S.A. Later that year Phantom Boats, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, TWA Rocket to the Moon, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit, and Mike Fink Keel Boats were added.

1956 brought the Storybook Land Canal Boats, Astro-Jets, Skyway, Junior Autopia, Rainbow Caverns Mine Train, and Tom Sawyer Island plus additional attractions in Fnrontierland. It wasn't until 1957 whe Sleeping Beauty's Castle was erected, as was the House of the Future and the View-Liner which was the forerunner of the Monorail.

In 1958 The Columbia, a full-size replica of an 18^th Century sailing ship made its way to the park, as did Alice in Wonderland. 1959 was a major year for the park. Fantasyland opened the Matterhorn Mountain and Bobsleds and the Motor Boat Cruise, and Tomorrowland opened the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System, the Submarine Voyage, and the Autopia in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. And just a side note, The Monorail was the first daily operating one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. 

The 1960s

The sixties was a turbulent decade, with assassinations and unrest all around the country. Disneyland was a refuge from the strife of the world. In 1962 the Swiss Family Tree House was built. The following year the Enchanted Tiki Room opened and continues to entertain visitors with its talking and singing birds. I doubt anyone who leaves the Enchanted Tiki Room doesn't leave humming, "In the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room." 

As Walt said himself, Disneyland continued to grow, and not only were they adding new attractions, they were enhancing the ones they had.

For the tenth anniversary in 1965 Walt Disney declared, "We're just getting started." Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opened and wowed visitors with the lifelike Audio-Animatronics president. The first Audio-Animatronics version of President Lincoln debuted in 1964 at the New York World's Fair and was so realistic that National Geographic magazine called the figure "alarming." It still amazes visitors and inspired the Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World where not only Mr. Lincoln but also every one of the Presidents of the United States is represented.

It's a Small World joined the fun in 1966, having originally been developed for the 1964 World's Fair. 

In 1967 the park added the PeopleMover, Carousel of Progress, Adventure Thru Inner Space, Flight to the Moon, Rocket Jets, and the Pirates of the Caribbean. And two years later the Haunted Mansion opened and is still a family favorite to this day. The Monorail was upgraded as the park continued to grow and attract new visitors.

The 1970s

In 1970 the park celebrated its 15^th anniversary with a summer-long celebration of more than five million guests. 

Bear Country and the Country Bear Jamboree were built in 1972 and in 1973 the park commemorated the 50^th anniversary of Walt Disney Productions by with a new attraction: The Walt Disney Story. 

1976 was the bi-centennial of the United States, and that year Disneyland welcomed its 150-milionth visitor. New Audio-Animatronics were added to the Jungle Cruise. Everything in the park continued to evolve along with technology.

Space Mountain opened in 1977, and five Mercury astronauts were there for the festivities. This high-speed ride was followed the next year with renovations to the Matterhorn Bobsleds which added new speed sensations and visuals. And speaking of fast thrill rides, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was unveiled to the public in 1979.

The 1980s

In 1981 the 200-millionth visitor entered the park. The milestones were piling up.

The ticket coupons were retired in 1982 and the Passport, which we have today, was introduced. No longer were people required to have a ticket for each ride. An all-day pass gave guests access to most attractions. The retirement of the A, B, C, D, and E coupons left a new generation wondering what the term "An E-ticket ride" means. 

Pinocchio's Daring Journey joined the fun in Fantasyland in 1983 and many of the other rides in the land were upgraded.

1985 was a banner year for the park which celebrated its 30^th anniversary with the Gift-Giver Extraordinaire. Every 30^th visitor to the park was given a special gift. Among the gifts were a new Cadillac and a lifetime pass. Star Tours was launched in 1987 and in 1989 Bear Country became Critter Country. The opening of Splash Mountain in 1989 closed out the decade.

The 1990s

As if five themed lands were not enough, in 1993 Disneyland added Mickey's Toontown.

Indiana Jones Adventure was inaugurated in 1995. 1997 was the first year the 300 children of the world in It's a Small World celebrated the holidays by changing their tune from the classic - and sometimes annoying- "It's a Small World" to "Jingle Bells." The 400-millionth guest to the park entered on July 5, 1997.

The 21^st Century

The 45^th anniversary brought a lot of revamping of the attractions as well as an entirely new Disneyland experience when the Mickey & Friends parking structure was completed. And in 2001 Disney's California Adventure opened adding another park to the resort, as well as many new hotels and the 20-acre Downtown Disney. Disney's California Adventure is located on the old Disneyland parking lot, and for those who remember it, it was huge. 

That year also saw the first time the Haunted Mansion was redecorated for the holidays with the theme from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Disney's California Adventure added its fourth land, "a bug's land", in 2002.

The newest part of Disney's California Adventure, Cars Land, is scheduled to open this year (2012).

Walt Disney and Disneyland Resort

As Walt said back in 1955, "Disneyland will continue to grow," and it has. Throughout all this time not only have new attractions been added, but those that were there have been upgraded and, as technology advances, so do the rides.

An example of this is the attraction Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. It opened in 1964 and has been on a continual journey ever since. In 1973 it was removed in favor of The Walt Disney Story. It returned in 1975, and in 1984 a technologically advanced Lincoln was unveiled along with the song "Golden Dream." It again changed in 2001 when the voice of the president was replaced and was recorded in binaural audio for more effect. The attraction was replaced again in 2005 for the 50^th anniversary film but returned in 2009 with a new, updated show. This is one attraction in the park that has transformed through the years. Think of all the other attractions in the park and how they have been upgraded through time.

With parades, water shows, continual entertainment throughout the days, and all the rides, Disneyland and now Disney's California Adventure, are a family destination for people from around the world, and for many going to the resort is a tradition. 

From this one dream of Walt Disney, a place for families, Disneyland has had a major impact on society and pop culture. And now there is more. Besides Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure in California, there is Walt Disney World and Epcot (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) in Florida which also hosts the Disney's Hollywood Studio, Animal Kingdom, and water parks; Tokyo Disney; Disneyland Paris; Hong Kong Disneyland; Disney Cruise Lines; Aulani Resort in Hawaii and the Disney Vacation Club. All of this from one man and one dream.

Disneyland's self-imposed title is "The Happiest Place on Earth." Walt Disney said on opening day, "To all who come to this happy place: Welcome! Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America … with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world." And it has.