Did You Say Happy '63rd' Birthday To Disneyland Resort?

ANAHEIM, CA – Tuesday marked the 63rd Anniversary of Disneyland. It was one of those rare days at the park, where visitors get to see a once-a-year festivity where the air fills with park-magic and excitement. Sleeping Beauty's Castle was dressed up with party balloons, as were the vehicles of Main Street, and a special parade was thrown in the park's honor.

As part of the tribute to opening day, July 17, 1955, a recording of Walt Disney’s speech was played for guests arriving to the park:

“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.”

With that goal, Disneyland transformed the amusement industry.

"It delivered an entirely new concept in family entertainment: a 'theme park' where rides, shows and characters become part of a total storytelling environment," a park spokesperson said.

Walt Disney’s original promise to the world was that Disneyland will never be completed … as long as there is still imagination.

That promise is proving strong, with both the recent Pixar Pier's expansion and future Inside Out themed family attractions and the Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, scheduled for opening sometime in 2019.

After over six decades of inspiration and innovation, the Disneyland Resort has grown from an 18 attraction theme-park with nothing around it to two renowned Disney theme parks, almost 100 exciting attractions, three hotels and growing, as well as a shopping, dining and entertainment district known as Downtown Disney.

Disneyland commemorated its role as the original Disney theme park Tuesday, July 17, with festivities that include the “Happiest March on Earth” down Main Street, U.S.A.

Visiting guests to the Disneyland Resort through Sept. 3 will enjoy the final weeks of Pixar Fest, a celebration of friendship and beyond. Pixar Fest features “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” fireworks show, along with Pixar Pals Dance Party and the Pixar Shorts Film Festival (resuming July 20). Only through Sept. 3, guests also may enjoy Pixar Fest atmosphere entertainment, playful décor, themed eats and treats, and limited-time merchandise at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks.

This summer, the newly reimagined Pixar Pier opened at Disney California Adventure Park with the debut of Lamplight Lounge and the Incredicoaster– themed to Disney•Pixar’s blockbuster film “Incredibles 2.”

As guests stroll through Pixar Pier, they explore whimsical neighborhoods: Incredibles Park, Toy Story Boardwalk, Pixar Promenade and, coming in 2019, Inside Out Headquarters.

Over the past 63 years, Disneyland guests have been able to celebrate Walt Disney’s dream of "a place where family members of all ages can have fun together in a safe, clean atmosphere that emphasizes imagination and extraordinary guest service," a park spokesperson said.

The success of Disneyland Resort also results in $5.7 billion in total economic activity to the Southern California economy annually. The resort’s workforce of more than 30,000 cast members makes it the largest single-site employer in Orange County. The Disney Parks entertainment experience has expanded worldwide and is enjoyed by guests at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan, Disneyland Paris in France, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disney Resort in mainland China.

Photos, courtesy Disneyland Resort