Thousands of Disney fans donned special gold-colored Mickey ears as they streamed through the entrance to Disneyland on Sunday, 50 years after the landmark opened its gates and gave birth to the modern theme park.My family has had annual passes to the park almost continously since 1987, and before that I attended the park at least once a year or so from the time I was little. It's long been a family favorite and just a fun place to hang out and people watch, even if it's too crowded to go on rides.
The festivities, which included a fireworks-and-confetti display, were set outside the Sleeping Beauty Castle and began with televised images echoing the fanfare of the park's launch in 1955.
"Dad's vision called for this, for Disneyland, to be something that could grow more beautiful every year, and it has," said Diane Disney Miller, one of founder Walt Disney's two daughters.
Broadcaster Art Linkletter, 93, who hosted the live telecast of the park's opening day along with Ronald Reagan and actor Bob Cummings, also was on hand.
"I'm not only happy to be here, I'm happy to be anywhere," said Linkletter, who also was celebrating his birthday Sunday.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who emerged from the castle gates with Mickey Mouse's white-gloved hand on his shoulder, praised the theme park's contributions to the state's economy.
"This is an engine that drives California tourism and our economy," he said. "Thank you for 50 wonderful years."
I spent a summer as a Disneyland employee, an experience which I documented here.
The park is getting pretty pricey these days. They recently upped their single day admission price to $56, and given the crowds this time of year, I'd hate to spend that much to stand in long lines. However, people keep coming and probably always will as long as there's the possibility of a little Disney magic.
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