The first Holiday Parade, the “Christmas Show Parade” premieres on Thanksgiving Day at Disneyland

First Holiday Parade Premieres

Ever since its inaugural year, it seemed natural to celebrate the festivities of the holidays at Disneyland, and so on this day in 1955, which was Thanksgiving, Disneyland showcased its first holiday parade. The parade also started another tradition, announcing that the circus is in town, because this day also was the premiere of the …

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Walt Disney premieres the Story of the Silly Symphony on Disneyland TV

Disneyland TV Show Airs “The Story of the Silly Symphony”

On this day in 1955, “The Story of the Silly Symphony” aired on the Disneyland TV series, which took a look at some of the classic cartoon shorts with Walt Disney explaining how newly learned techniques were later used by his artists on animated features. As was customary with the series, the previous week would …

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Ticket Book from Disneyland

The First Ticket Books are Made Available at Disneyland

Want to take a ride on the Phantom Boats? Overlook North America from a satellite at Space Station X-1? Why not see Frontierland from the Conestoga Wagons? Just pull out your A, B, or C ticket and you’ll be welcome aboard any Disneyland attraction of your choice! It’s that easy. For nearly the first three …

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Mickey Mouse Club

Mickey Mouse Club debuts on TV

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there! The original club made for you and me, the Mickey Mouse Club, premEARed on this day in 1955 on ABC television. Several months earlier, on July 17th, the Mouseketeers were first introduced on live television during the televised grand opening of Disneyland, with the promise that the Mickey Mouse …

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photo of entrance to Mickey Mouse Theater in Disneyland circa 1955

Mickey Mouse Club Theater Opens at Disneyland

Starting on this day in 1955, everyone was as welcome as can be to visit the Mickey Mouse Club Theater in Disneyland, which debuted in Fantasyland. The theater often presented various Disney cartoons, and at one point was home to the 3D Jamboree, featuring the multi-dimensional Mouseketeers in color and introducing the short films Melody …

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Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Dumbo the Flying Elephant Attraction Opens at Disneyland

Guests visiting Disneyland in the park’s first month thought for certain they had seen everything, but they never saw an elephant fly. That’s because the Dumbo Flying Elephants attraction opened one month later, on this day in 1955. To this day, the flying elephant continues to lift passengers above Fantasyland while they control the up …

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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Attraction

The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Attraction Opens at Disneyland

Ahoy there! We’ve got a whale of a tale to tell you about today! On this day in 1955, the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea exhibit weighed anchor at Disneyland. Not even a month after the park’s grand opening, original sets from the movie were brought to Tomorrowland, to help enhance the one land that …

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Casey Jr. Circus Train

Casey Jr. Circus Train opens at Disneyland

Ladies and Gentlemen, the one… the only… Casey Jr., based on the circus train from the film Dumbo, debuted at Disneyland just 14 days after the park opened. Although the little engine thought he could, he thought he could… he just could not run on Disneyland’s opening day due to mechanical difficulties. Until 1956, Casey …

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Rocket to the Moon

Rocket to the Moon Opens at Disneyland

Many years before spaceflight in the real world was a reality, it was a daily occurrence in Disneyland. Rocket to the Moon launched park guests to the moon beginning on July 22, 1955, which really made Tomorrowland a land of the future! With screens above and below the theatre, acting almost as windows, guests blasted …

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