Disneyland was built on a dream — Walt Disney’s. And that dream has made millions of wishes come true. Special moments, too: first dates and honeymoons, birthdays and anniversaries, fun days spent with kids and, later, with grandkids.

Several weeks ago, we asked readers to recall their favorite Disneyland memories. Here’s a selection of the responses, which have been edited for grammar, style and length.

First-year visitors

“My first time visiting Disneyland was actually before it opened. My dad, Maury (Maurice) Richmond, was one of the original cast members that opened the park. He was a ride script writer and ride operator. He wanted me to see it before the ‘rest of the world,’ so he took me early one morning. The photos I have of that special day are priceless to me — Main Street (unpaved), the castle and, at a later date, me ‘walking’ through Pinocchio’s Village in Storybook Land. As a member of four generations of cast members, Disneyland is part of the family!”

— Sam Lektorich, Garden Grove

“In the summer of 1955, I just turned 9 and was a member of Brownie Troop 1960. Our troop went to Disneyland; there were thousands of other Girl Scouts from all over the state — all excited to go see this new amusement park with rides in Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland and Tomorrowland. We first walked through Main Street, the old town with stores, and vendors dressed in striped shirts and hats with carts of goodies. We found the Tea Cups, flying Dumbo, the African safari through the jungle. Wow! Frontierland with cowboys, a saloon with dancers, and then the riverboat. ... My first trip to Disneyland was made possible (because I was) a Brownie, since my family was low income and did not own a car. I will never forget my adventures in Disneyland — so fun, and realistic experiences that I still remember 70 years later. I later returned to Disneyland for Grad Nite in June 1964.”

— Carmen Hale-Hernandez, La Mirada

“On a hot, smoggy day, my dad took the family in our brand new Pontiac station wagon down the newly opened 5 Freeway to Disneyland when it opened in 1955. It was a buck a person admission fee then. We bought a booklet of tickets ranging from 10 to 29 cents a ride as A-, B- or C-tickets (before the E-ticket). Besides the Jungle Cruise and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, my favorite ride as a kid was Autopia where I was able to actually drive a gas powered car on my own!”

— Jim Knight, Rancho Palos Verdes

“Seventy years ago, my brother Billy and I went to Disneyland right after it opened on a very hot summer day — yes, we are 74-year-old twins today. I remember that the Dumbo ride wasn’t working and the Jungle Cruise had me in tears.

“I’ve been to the park many times throughout the years, going to dance in Tomorrowland as a teenager. I have an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ watch; my brother has a bandana. I still love Disneyland and go a couple times a year!”

— Cheryl Ritz, Bellflower

“My Disneyland memories began on the opening day of Disneyland, July 17, 1955. I was 4 years old and overwhelmed and excited by all the rides and the castle that I saw that day! My sister and uncle had their picture taken with a spaceman and it was in the newspaper. I was fortunate to go to Disneyland’s 50th, 55th and 60th anniversaries with my husband, Gary. On the 50th anniversary, they let me take a picture on the back of the train like I did on opening day! We are excited to be able to go to Disneyland on July 17, 2025, for the 70th anniversary!”

— Joan Martin, Huntington Beach

“My parents took my brother and I to opening day, and I’ve been going to Disneyland for 70 years. I remember on one visit, when we were taking the tram from the old parking lot, a woman’s fur coat blew off. My brother, Jim, the future mayor of L.A., jumped off to rescue the fur coat and ran back to catch the tram. For his courageous act, she gave him a dollar.”

— Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County supervisor, 4th District

“My family took my sister and me there the fourth day it was open in 1955, which fit a family vacation we were on from Texas. The main thing she and I remember after all these years is that they were having trouble with the Autopia cars. We especially remember Walt Disney himself jumping into one of the small cars with a girl who couldn’t make her car work, and after some help he got it to go along with her.”

— Paul Corneil, Rancho Palos Verdes

“I went to Disneyland when it first opened in 1955. I was a 10-year-old boy and my mother thought it would be nice for her to see this place also. When we went into the Magic Kingdom for the first time, and I looked down Main Street, I was holding my mother’s hand and began to cry. This was more than I could ever ask for. I had walked into another world of make-believe and wonder.”

— Paul Parque, Canyon Lake

“My elementary school was on the corner of Disney Way and Katella. In sixth grade, we watched the orange trees be removed for Disneyland. We pored over the Anaheim Bulletin for pictures of the future park and dreamed about what to explore first. When Disneyland opened, our first choice was Tom Sawyer Island — and it did not disappoint! As the daughter of an orange rancher, this was the most magical, amazing thing that ever happened in Anaheim.”

— Connie Fowler, Canyon Lake

It’s off to work we go

“My father was an employee who helped build Disneyland. He painted buildings, hung red flocked wallpaper in a shop on Main Street and painted inside rides such as Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, turning the blank walls into a magical story.”

— Sue Hansen, Riverside

“For over 90 years, Disneyland has been a treasured part of our lives. In the 1930s, my dad Ken was one of the original Disney animators, and he met my mom Yuba, head of the ink and paint department, when they worked on ‘Snow White’ together. Growing up with Disney artists was magical, and as we grew, my brothers and I remained with Disneyland in spirit and in fact. Brother Jim was a guide at Frontierland and Adventureland in the 1960s. In the 1970s, brother Kelan was a Disney illustrator, and I was proud to work on a Disney World mural.”

— Tracy O’Brien, San Juan Capistrano

“My favorite Disneyland memory started before Disneyland even opened. My grandfather had a palm tree (the shorter, fatter trunk kind) in his front yard on Lincoln Avenue in Pasadena. People from Disney knocked on his door wanting to buy the mature tree. They dug it up and moved it to the jungle boat ride landscaping. Every time we went to Disneyland (I was 7 when it opened), my sister and I would hear the story and look forward to trying to identify which one it was as we rode the jungle boat. Don’t know how long palm trees live, but it might still be in place as you ride the jungle boat today.”

— Lietta Wagner, Long Beach

Disneyland love stories

“It was the summer of 1966, and Disneyland at night was the place to be. I was 18 and came with my girlfriends every week. ‘Check out those cute boys in front of the Pendleton store,’ I said. Little did I know that in six months, I would be dating one of them. We would often go to Disneyland and dance. As we walked down Main Street one night, he told me he could picture us as an old couple, walking here together. Well, after 54 years of marriage, we’re that same couple, walking arm in arm down Main Street.”

— Donna Bishop, Stanton

“In 1967, Larry Nunez returned to his job at Disneyland paddling canoes, just two weeks after serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. One night, while watching the Platters on the Tomorrowland stage, his friend Dale Blanchard introduced him to a tour guide, Sheryl Ferguson. Within five months of dating, they married. In 1970, Larry was promoted to assistant supervisor of operations, and he rose through the ranks. He left Disney in 1993 to become an international theme park consultant. He worked as vice president at several stateside companies and eventually was president of and built Parque de la Costa in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We have been married 55 years and have three grown children and seven grandchildren. We were and still are definitely a Disney family. Lots of Disney memories at our house.”

— Sheryl Nunez, Orange

Super fans

“I was lucky enough to visit the park on its opening day on July 17, 1955. I was 7 years old, wearing my Sunday slacks when I visited the park with my family. I remember running to all of the open rides. My favorite land was Fantasyland, and Frontierland is my second. One of my favorite characters is Davy Crockett. Since then, I’ve loved visiting the park. I still have the A-B-C tickets that used to be used as entry passes. I was also able to visit Disneyland with my husband, Michael Lennon, during Disney’s 50th anniversary celebration. I also was a cast member from 2005 to 2010.

“My goal is to be able to visit Disneyland during their 100th anniversary. I’ll be 107 years old by then, but I’ll take care of my health so I can visit Disneyland again.”

— Sandi Lennon, Long Beach

“When Disney’s musical ‘Newsies’ was released, our 4-year-old son, Anthony Gallardo Jr., was totally engulfed by the production. He dressed like the cast members. Every time we visited California Adventure he waited to see them in person. Some of the production’s cast members got to recognize our boy in the ‘Newsies’ attire and would signal him out with a smile, a wave and a thumbs-up. One day, as we saw the production’s director walking behind their parade, we asked if he could have his picture taken with them. He told us normally this production does not take photos with the guests, but he instructed us to follow them to the end of the line, and before they go behind the cast members’ fence area and ask them. So we did, and before you know it they came over to us and posed for a picture. You can see they made our son’s day and ours. He’s now 14 years old and he never forgot that day.”

— Anthony Gallardo, Murrieta

“Disneyland and my sister, Doris Ann Berkley, were born in the same year. Her bond to Disneyland lasted her entire life. Even though sadly cut short due to cancer, she greatly enjoyed her 50th birthday celebration there in July 2005. She lasted all day and into the night even though she was undergoing chemo. She passed away about 18 months later.”

— Mary Sue Berkley, Riverside

“We attended a preopening event. The thrill of exiting the tunnel into a new/old world! For years, we’d stop at the general store, where we could listen to the “party line” gossip on the wall phone while crunching on a dill pickle taken from a big wooden barrel. Our memories: a slower, more family-oriented pace, Tom Sawyer Island, the Skyway, Autopia, GE Carousel of Progress and, always, the Matterhorn … and paper tickets.”

— Sharon Maguire, Newbury Park

Memorable visits

“My fondest memory of visiting Disneyland was marching down Main Street in the Coast Guard Honor Guard and Marching Band for Disneyland’s 25th anniversary in July 1980. My identical brother, Eric, and I joined the Coast Guard due to the Iranian hostage crisis, and there was talk of a possible war with Iran. We were in boot camp in Alameda, California, during the summer of 1980. Since we were identical twins, shaved heads, in uniform and looking like identical bookends, we were asked to be part of the Coast Guard Honor Guard. We accepted and marched on either side of the American and Coast Guard flags with M-1 rifles in formation, throwing and spinning the rifles.”

— Bob DeWert, Rancho Santa Margarita

“Money was tight for three sisters from Massachusetts, now living on their own in sunny Southern California. But anytime friends or family came to visit, Disneyland was a MUST! Amidst the ‘park is closing’ announcement frenzy, my sister, Sarah, saw Donald Duck and exclaimed, ‘I want a picture with Donald!’ Donald heard her request, grabbed her hand, sat her on a bench and posed. We lost Sarah to breast cancer in 2005 at the age of 41, and this photo, which so wonderfully captures her smile and childlike delight, is one of our most treasured. Thank you, Disneyland!”

— Serena R. Sheldon, Irvine

“I was one of the very first guests to return to Disneyland on their reopening day after the shutdown because of the 2020 pandemic. I cannot describe the overwhelming feelings and joyous thoughts as I walked down Main Street and was greeted by Disneyland employees, crying and cheering as Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth, reopened for the guests that they loved so much! It was an honor and pleasure to return to such a place that has given so many pleasures to everyone in the world.”

— Ron Prejean, Simi Valley

“Birthday fun in the mid-1960s: such excitement! Running and laughing while my parents laughed and yelled, “Whoa, girl, hold your horses” and “Slow down” … but it was SO fun to meet the three pigs and Cinderella, see the princess castle, ride high, fly with Dumbo, and eat my favorite: yummy popcorn. It was so cool to be there! I became part of the magic, and my birthday treat created an experience to treasure. I felt part of the ‘Show,’ and the photos are quite nostalgic now — 60 years later!”

— Joy Hancock, Glendora

“When my dad was 7, his parents took him and his sister to Disneyland. It was opening week, July 1955. As they entered Town Square, his mom saw people in line to get a hat with their name embroidered on it. She bought one for herself and took exceptional care of it over the years. In the spring of 2023, she entrusted it to me, knowing how special it would be to someone who loves Disney so much she made her career there. Shortly afterwards, I reintroduced my grandma’s hat to the place it became hers nearly 68 years earlier.”

— Alyssa Truman, Anaheim

Rides and attractions

My first visit dates back to 1963 as a 19-year-old German junior sailor on a merchant ship calling on L.A. Coming from a small village in Germany’s Black Forest, it was an almost life-changing experience visiting Disneyland. We took a taxi from the harbor and we spent a fortune (we thought) to visit. It was worth every penny! Most memorable (and fun) were the Moon Rocket, the Monorail, the Jungle Boat Cruise and the Enchanted Tiki Room — a day I never forgot. Still hanging onto the guide I got entering the park. Little did I know that later I would meet my future wife at LAX and settle in Corona.”

— Ernst Steinbrunner, Corona

“My cherished Disneyland memory, as a 10-year-old in 1955, was getting a green wristband. All we had to do was show the wristband to the ride attendant and hop aboard the ride, thus skipping the line. My uncle, who worked for the U.S. government and knew someone, got the family free passes for the day. I ran around Tom Sawyer Island with my cousins, pretending I was Davy Crockett, and discovered the secret pathways and caves.”

— Steve Venitsky, Walnut

“A timid, just turned 15-year-old sophomore girl (me), and her handsome 18-year-old senior boyfriend arrived early morning at the NEW Disneyland in Anaheim on Saturday, Jan. 28, 1956. Driving from the San Fernando Valley, we arrived in his cool baby blue 1950 convertible Chevy coupe, with, of course, his personally knitted, by me, the required pair of dice hanging from the rearview mirror. What a day! He had won the book of tickets in a church raffle; it being my birthday and all, I was the lucky recipient of this treasured adventure. It was a typical, for 1956, winter day — very chilly, drizzly, warm coats, warm hand-holding cozy hugs. I ended up being married for 62 years to this handsome senior, so my oohs and aahs are still with me.”

— Irene N. (Doyle) Vigil, Temple City

“In 1956, my brother, sister and I, along with our parents, an uncle and a cousin, took a trip on a rocket ship in Disneyland. Or so we thought. Inside the rocket, we sat in a circle and watched a screen that showed the Earth getting farther and farther away as we rode into space. Then we returned back to the base. After the ride, my parents wanted to move on to another attraction, but my brother and I wanted to stick around and watch the rocket ship take off and then come back. After waiting a while, and not seeing the rocket lift off, our little group moved on, holding hands so we wouldn’t get lost. But my brother and I walked backwards so we could still get a glimpse of the rocket taking off. We knew in our hearts that it really took off and came back, but we just moved on to the teacups.”

— Bonnie Burrow, Burbank

First impressions

“One day in 1955 or 1956, my dad told my brother and me to get in the car and get down on the floor so we could not see the surprise destination to which we were headed. So, all the way from our chicken ranch in Artesia to Anaheim, we tried guessing while sitting on the car floor. We were excited beyond belief when we arrived at Disneyland. The two things I remember are running around Tom Sawyer Island and climbing over the ropes to stand in the entrance to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea pretending we were part of the attraction. My dad dropped us off for the day and came back that afternoon to fetch us; he never once attended Disneyland himself.”

— B. Johnson, Fountain Valley

“To get to Disneyland in 1957, without freeways, we traveled on Imperial Highway from Inglewood. There were lots of dairies and cows along the way. I was excited, as I was wearing my Mickey Mouse ears and my Mickey Mouse Club shirt with ‘Cheryl’ in bold letters on the front. I was a fan of Mouseketeer Cheryl as she was my namesake. Inside Disneyland’s Main Gate, kids started asking for my autograph. What a thrill! I had a magical day and loved Fantasyland and exploring Tom Sawyer Island. I still have a Disneyland ticket book. Also, besides the first memory of being at Disneyland as a young girl, I’ve had such fun experiences with my daughter over the years and now seeing how much my granddaughter loves Disneyland!”

— Cheryl Gutierrez, Torrance

“I first saw Disneyland on television as a child. Growing up in a family of modest means, the ‘World of Color’ was in black and white, and going to Disneyland was not possible. Thirty-five years later, I was fortunate to move my family to Orange County. My daughter was anxious to go, and her first visit was not only memorable for her at age 8, but equally so for me at 40. When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.”

— Timothy D. Bowman, Laguna Niguel

“I was 14; a member of a teenage equestrian drill team named Saddle Scamps. Imagine our delight when we received an invitation to participate in the opening day parade of a new and exciting entertainment venue called Disneyland! Despite our horses’ anxieties in parading near elephants and caged lions and tigers, it was a great parade — made even better by Walt Disney’s invitation to finish the day with free rides for all! After enjoying dizzying rides on the teacups, a few stolen kisses on Peter Pan’s Flight, excitement in the Jungle Boat, we finished an unforgettable day on Autopia, the Mark Twain Riverboat and as many others as possible! Pure magic that lives on today!”

— Lynda Edwards, Huntington Beach

Themed nights and events

“My treasured memory of Disneyland was attending their first Gay Nite in 1978. This was at a point in history where Disney security would stop same sex couples from dancing together. It was billed as the LA Restaurant Association private party and cost only $5.75. It was an amazing night that the guests knew was something special and might never happen again. No one left early, so at the end of the party thousands of us were herded down Main Street. As we reached the flagpole, we spontaneously started singing the Mickey Mouse song. But it wasn’t the cheerful, everyday tune; it was transformed into a solemn, almost sacred hymn, a chorus of shared appreciation of the history we were making. I think I cried all the way to my car.”

— Richard Rice, Lake Balboa

Close encounters with Walt

“My family was invited to Disneyland’s opening day. I was 8 and my brother was 10. Our uncle worked for a company that supplied paint for the theme park. We were standing in line for the gondola ride when Mr. Walt Disney appeared and asked if I wanted to ride with him! My parents consented and off I went. I had a Brownie camera and asked Mr. Disney if I could take a picture of him. He agreed. Wish I still had the photo!”

— Mary Kaye Carpenter, Manhattan Beach

“It was like yesterday. I was 15 years old and was a majorette with the Bellflower High School marching band. We were at this magical place called Disneyland. Walt Disney was there. What a thrill to hear Mr. Disney speak about the park. We were then in the parade down Main Street. We later got to go on the rides. What a special day I will remember forever. I am 85 and still have fond memories of my first day at Disneyland.”

— Sandra Ogan Beam, Murrieta

“In the summer of 1960, my boyfriend (and future husband) went to Disneyland. We were walking down Main Street when my boyfriend pointed over to the Carnation Ice Cream shop and said, ‘There is Walt Disney sitting on one of the stools at the counter.’ Being the fearless teenager I was, I got out a scrap of paper and a pen and walked in and sat down beside him. He continued to eat his ice cream and I just sat there, awestruck of course. Finally, I smiled at him and asked if I could have his autograph. He said yes and proceeded to write his name on my piece of paper. I thanked him and then I actually had the nerve and love for this man to ask if he would sign a second autograph for me. And he did! I thanked him again and went outside and we stood across the street, still looking at him. When he finished his ice cream, he got up and went out in front of the ice cream shop and leaned his arms on a trash container and smoked a cigarette. As he did this, he gazed around Disneyland as if he was enjoying his Magic Kingdom. My two autographed pieces of paper, done at the same time, are in my photo album and I will always cherish them and the memory of seeing Walt Disney.”

— Betty Schnell, Upland

“My father took our family to Disneyland on the day it first opened in 1955. We had been following Walt Disney’s plan for the new amusement park on his ‘Disneyland’ television show. It highlighted the construction of each of the four lands and Main Street, so we were filled with excitement and anticipation. As we walked in, there was Walt Disney himself greeting guests, and I shook his hand. The park was essentially Tom Sawyer Island, Jungle Cruise, Fantasyland rides and Main Street; everything else came later. The day riveted my imagination and fascination, and Disneyland became my happiest and favorite place in the world. I have returned at least once a year since.”

— Leigh Steinberg, Newport Beach

“At 7 years old, I had the honor of opening It’s a Small World in May 1966. I was one of the kids in the International Children’s Choir of Long Beach. We got to meet Walt Disney and ride the first boats.

“We also recorded the 45 of the song that they sold in the parks and went gold. In 1967, we marched in the Christmas Parade every night for two weeks with huge dolls leading the way. My family’s company also sold landscape equipment to Disneyland and knew Disney’s famous horticulturist, Bill Evans, well. My grandpa spent lots of time with Bill helping fix equipment used at the park. When building Walt Disney World in Florida, they couldn’t get a tree moving machine to work that moved the first trees on the land — a machine my grandpa helped create. Bill called my grandfather and flew him to Florida to work his magic. My daughter Emily is now a sketch artist cast member in Disneyana with Bill Evans’ window on Main Street just above where she works.”

— Laurie Henderson, Long Beach

“My mom’s claim to fame is she worked in the ticket booth on Disneyland’s opening day. On our trips to Disneyland, she would always point out where Walt Disney spoke to them. During her last trip to Disneyland, she told Minnie Mouse about working there and Minnie whispered in her ear, ‘Welcome home.’ Mom was so thrilled! Disneyland has had a special kind of magic for our family. It always amazes me to think my mom was a little part of something that grew into what it is today. My uncle also worked there in the 1960s, and my nephew worked there about five years ago. His new wife is one of the Mirabels at the park. So our connection continues.”

— Kathy Manzano, Yucaipa

“My first trip to Disneyland was in 1959 when l was 6. Inside the park it was a different world, so real and so amazing! Our family of six went on the Submarine Voyage together. The submarine submerged, and in the middle of the ride the captain announced that we had run into a thunderstorm. Out the little portholes, there it was, a horrible storm. I started crying very loud. I believed we would have to go home because it was raining so hard on my first trip to Disneyland! Disney Magic! We exited the ride and the sun was still shining!!”

— Beverly Kottkamp, Claremont

MORE MEMORIES

“My parents took me to Disneyland every year for my birthday on Jan. 6 starting in 1956. We even went in the rain. My most memorable birthday celebration there was for my 13th. My mother was ill at the time and subsequently passed away.

“That visit will always be the most special since I know it took a lot out of her to pull off a party with eight teen girls. Disneyland has always been a magical place for me, and I was so excited to take my daughter there for her birthdays. She even became a cast member for a while.”

— Mary Taddeo, Huntington Beach