Daily DisEnchanted

Former Disneyland Attractions Host and Knott’s Berry Farm Ride Operator. Now a California attorney for nearly 20 years.

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

🎂 Happy birthday, Disneyland. 71 years old today.

On this day in 1955 — July 17 — Walt Disney stood in the Town Square of a park that had been orange groves twelve months earlier, and dedicated it "to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America." The paint was barely dry. The asphalt was still soft. It had been built in a year and a day, on a TV deal and a prayer, and by every reasonable measure it should not have worked.

It's now the most influential piece of designed space of the 20th century. Every theme park on earth is a child of what opened here 71 years ago today.

Think about what she's watched come and go. She opened with Autopia and a jungle and a rocket to the moon, and no Matterhorn, no Pirates, no Haunted Mansion, no Space Mountain — none of the things we now can't imagine her without. Walt said she'd never be finished as long as there was imagination left in the world, and 71 years later she's still under construction every single night. That wasn't a throwaway line. It was a design spec, and she's still honoring it.

And the timing this year is almost too perfect: she turns 71 while still in the middle of celebrating her 70th — the "Celebrate Happy" party runs until August 9 — and just days ago she welcomed her one-billionth guest through the gates. A billion people. One orange grove. One stubborn man who wouldn't take "it can't be done" for an answer.

If you're in the park today, do the birthday thing right: ride the opening-day survivors. The Jungle Cruise. The Mark Twain. King Arthur Carrousel. Peter Pan. Mr. Toad. Stand in Town Square for a minute and remember that on this exact spot, on this exact date, a nervous man in a suit lit the whole thing on fire and changed the world.

Happy 71st to the Happiest Place on Earth. Here's to the light still burning in the apartment window above the Fire Station — and to a park that promised it would never be finished, and never once broke that promise.

See you in the park. 🏰🐭

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@FabFreddy4 @TheCinesthetic Yes. Have to watch closely

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@toys_retro

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@WxCat62 @US_Stormwatch

[Colin McCarthy @US_Stormwatch]

SoCal is really beginning to feel the effects of El Niño.

Coastal water temperatures have reached as high as 76°F near San Diego, with some stations reporting dew points of 70°F or higher, levels considered oppressively humid.

I would not be surprised if ocean temperatures near San Diego hit 80°F by August or September.

Downright tropical.

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

Must have something to do with the AMC Pacer.

[L.A. in a Minute @LaInaMinute]

L.A. is sprawling, it’s wide, it’s horizontal. . . so it makes sense that our streets reflect that. In fact, Los Angeles has, on average, some of the widest streets in the United States!

So why are L.A. streets so incredibly wide?

Let’s get into it!

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@LaInaMinute Must have something to do with the AMC Pacer.

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@disneytipsguy

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@KCicale @CoasterK24 @ParkHopper55 So how do the empty them? Bring in a truck at the end of the day? I be they smell great in the Florida heat too.

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@LauraPowellEsq @RetroBayArea Thanks Counselor!

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@seanrt72 @tjohnlittlejohn @CoasterK24 @ParkHopper55 Apparently they don't care about the way things used to work anymore.

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

🎂 Good night, Disneyland fam. Rest up — because tomorrow is not just any day. Tomorrow, July 17, is Disneyland's BIRTHDAY.

On July 17, 1955, Walt stood in the Town Square and dedicated a park that would, in his words, never be finished as long as there's imagination left in the world. Tomorrow she turns 71.

And here's the lovely wrinkle: the 71st birthday lands right in the middle of the STILL-running 70th anniversary celebration. The 70th doesn't wrap until August 9, so tomorrow Disneyland is technically throwing itself a birthday party inside its own birthday party. Very on brand.

WHAT TO EXPECT TOMORROW
(Nothing's been officially posted, so this is read-the-tea-leaves based on past birthdays — but here's the usual shape of the day.)

🎺 A birthday cavalcade down the parade route — expect the Disneyland Band, dancers, and a rolling procession of characters, likely stepping in for the first Celebrate Happy Cavalcade.
🎙️ The "moment" at the Main Street train station, where they play a recording of Walt's actual 1955 opening-day dedication speech. If you catch one thing tomorrow, catch this. Standing in Town Square hearing Walt's own voice rededicate the park on the exact spot, on the exact date — there's nothing else like it.
📸 Photo ops and, if we're lucky, a little surprise birthday merch. No promises on that one.

AND THE PERFECT BIT OF TIMING
Just days ago, Disneyland welcomed its ONE BILLIONTH guest — a young boy from Arizona named as the honorary billionth, with a ceremony right there on the train station. One billion people through the gates in 71 years. Let that sink in on the way to bed.

ALSO ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA
🎟️ The $71 Anaheim Resident ticket is on sale now (it went up today) — a wink at the 71st. One park, valid July 20 through October 8.
🎵 Celebrate Soulfully: Summer Vibes is in its final days (through the 19th) — live music across DCA and Downtown Disney.
🥁 Tomorrow and Saturday are your LAST chances for Drum Major Mickey in Paradise Gardens Park.
🍽️ And Downtown Disney is eating well now — Earl of Sandwich and Gordon Ramsay's The Carnaby are both open.

THE BIRTHDAY MOVE
Ride the opening-day survivors. Jungle Cruise. The Mark Twain. King Arthur Carrousel. Peter Pan. Mr. Toad. The stuff that was there when Walt cut the ribbon. Tomorrow of all days, ride what he built first.

Happy almost-birthday to the Happiest Place on Earth. Get some sleep, fam. Tomorrow we celebrate. 🐭

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

227 was an awesome show! Still is very watchable and one of my all time favorites! Full of great sitcom actor performances.

[Princella D. Smith @princellasmith]

Hal Williams wanted positive representation for Black fathers on television, and I would say that he definitely accomplished that goal. I love this tribute from his 227 cast mate, Jackee Harry. Rest in power, Sir. 🕊️

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@princellasmith 227 was an awesome show! Still is very watchable and one of my all time favorites! Full of great sitcom actor performances.

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@MTARDI32 @Disney IKR? God forbid they ever actually listen to the customers and do what the customers ask for. Gasp!

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

What would it take to bring Splash Mountain back? Aside from the will to do so, of course?

[Michael @MTARDI32]

This re-theme is horrible. Bring back #SplashMountain.

#SaveSplashMountain @Disneyland @WaltDisneyWorld #SaveMagicKingdom @DisneyParks @WaltDisneyCo @Disney

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@MTARDI32 @Disneyland @WaltDisneyWorld @DisneyParks @WaltDisneyCo @Disney What would it take to bring back splash mountain? Anything under the sun is possible.

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@Lucy313250573 @GrowingUpRetro Yes. They were very personal. And the recordings were never perfect. Making them all the more personal.

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

Marla Gibbs is one of the all time greatest sitcom actresses. Voice. Timing. Facial expressions. She has it all!

[Dustin Fitzharris @TheDustinFitz]

Marla Gibbs wanted the father in “227” to be strong, respected, the head of the house, and not the butt of the jokes. She turned to Hal Williams to fill that part. And fill it he did. Well done, Mr. Williams. ❤️🙏

[Daily DisEnchanted @disenchantedeva]

@TheDustinFitz Marla Gibbs is one of the all time greatest sitcom actresses. Voice. Timing. Facial expressions. She has it all!