Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955 in Anaheim, California, making it the first theme park ever built by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney himself. Built at a cost of $17 million on a 100-plus-acre site, the park debuted with 20 attractions spread across five distinct themed lands and forever changed what an amusement park could be.
Since its debut, Disneyland has grown to nine themed lands — including New Orleans Square (1966), Mickey’s Toontown (1993), and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (2019) — and has accumulated more than 757 million cumulative visits as of late 2021, more than any other theme park on Earth. In 2024 alone, Disneyland welcomed approximately 17.33 million guests, ranking it the second most-visited theme park in the world behind Magic Kingdom, the very park it inspired.
Stats at a Glance
- Opened: July 17, 1955
- Location: Anaheim, California, USA
- Owner/Operator: The Walt Disney Company (Disney Experiences)
- 2024 Attendance: ~17.33 million visitors
- Size: Over 100 acres (40 ha)
- Themed Lands: 9
- Opening-Day Attractions: 20
- Construction Cost: $17 million (about $157 million in 2024 dollars)
A Park That Redefined the Industry
Walt Disney’s vision for Disneyland broke sharply from the carnival-style amusement parks of the era. He introduced rigorous theming, obsessive cleanliness, a hub-and-spoke layout anchored by Sleeping Beauty Castle, and a surrounding berm that blocks all views of the outside world — design principles that every major theme park has since adopted. The Disneyland Monorail, added in 1959, became the first daily-operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere.
Opening day was famously chaotic: the park was overwhelmed by roughly 60,000 visitors (many with counterfeit invitations), food and drink ran out, and wet asphalt on Main Street, U.S.A. swallowed women’s high-heeled shoes. Despite the rocky start, the park proved an immediate sensation and set attendance records within its first year.
Lands, Attractions, and Milestones
From the original five lands — Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland — Disneyland has expanded steadily across seven decades. New Orleans Square arrived in 1966, followed by Bear Country (now Bayou Country) in 1972, Mickey’s Toontown in 1993, and the blockbuster Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019. Each expansion has added signature E-Ticket attractions that routinely generate multi-hour waits.
Disneyland has closed unscheduled only six times in its history, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and briefly after the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. Its record single-day attendance stands at 82,516 guests, set on August 16, 1969. Today, dynamic ticket pricing ranges from $104 to $206 depending on date and demand.
Explore more: Theme Parks hub.
Disneyland FAQs
When did Disneyland open?
Disneyland opened to the public on July 17, 1955, in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park built by The Walt Disney Company.
How many people visit Disneyland each year?
In 2024, Disneyland drew approximately 17.33 million visitors, making it the second most-visited theme park in the world, behind Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
How many themed lands does Disneyland have?
Disneyland currently has nine themed lands: Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Bayou Country, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown, Tomorrowland, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Get More from Disneyland
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Disneyland, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Parksfan1955 / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.