What does the phrase “We’re going to Disney!” mean for you? Depending on where you are located in the US (or even the world!) “Disney” can spark different memories and traditions. Some might think of the giant castle at the end of Main Street in Walt Disney World, others might remember that time they traveled internationally to visit Disneyland Paris. For someone like me, who was born and raised on the west coast, I think of Disneyland Resort in California and all of the history that it holds not only for the Disney company but for me.
West Coast History and Tradition
Disneyland is the original dream of Mr. Walt Disney himself. This dream started in the 1940’s and was greatly influenced by his daughters. Walt wanted a place where kids and families could gather and not have to fret over the day-to-day life outside the park’s walls (Hakuna Matata, it means no worries!).
In 1953, 160 acres of orange and walnut farmland was purchased in Orange County California, which would later turn into Disneyland Park. Construction started July 16th, 1954 and just 1 short year later Walt’s dream of Disneyland became a reality as the doors opened for the first time. 33 attractions across Main Street USA, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland and Fantasyland set the foundation for what was yet to come.
During the construction of Disneyland, Walt was also in full swing of filming iconic Disney movies and needed a place to stay that was close to the park and studios. A small 500-square-foot apartment was built above the fire station for Walt and his family. Many bypass the fire station not realizing the history that it holds. At one point there was a true firepole from the apartment down into the station garage! As you can imagine, that was short-lived, and the floor was patched.
Walt’s Main Street Story
I recently got to take a tour of the Disney family apartment. As soon as you walk in you are immediately taken back to when the Disney family spent their most intimate moments in this small but functional apartment. You can see the chair where Walt would look out the window to Main Street and watch as children and parents beamed excitedly as they entered the park for the 1st or maybe 50th time. Looking out this window takes me back to my childhood and every time my family and I would walk through those gates of Disneyland Park we all lit up just as if it was our first time. To this day, when I enter the gates I am overfilled with nostalgia from every visit.
At the end of the apartment tour, I was lucky enough to sit on the hidden patio where the family shared many meals together. As you sit, secluded behind some trees and next to a beloved tea set of Lily’s, you can hear the chatter of Main Street below. There is this serene feeling of calm and peace amongst the chaos of vacation. We enjoyed some light refreshments and guessed what we thought the Disney family had talked about while they spent many days and dinners up here. What attractions were they thinking about? What goofy comments were the grandkids making? What new films would be made?
Walt had a dream that became a reality. When you walk into Disneyland, you are walking on the ground that Walt once walked. You are living out the traditions and visions that he once hoped for. You step back in time for a moment as you see the hidden history and detail in everything that was built up from just a dream. A dream that created the way for all Disney parks to come.