GUEST EDITORIAL: 3 Things to Know About the Background of Disney Before Your Disneyland Trip

Image: Unsplash

3 Things to Know About the Background of Disney Before Your Disneyland Trip

by Kevin Gardner

The Disney dynasty has been the source of magical experiences for children and adults alike. The cartoons, movies and parks create endless hours of entertainment in a captivating and mesmerizing escape. We have grown up with Disney stories, and now our children do the same with even more movies. If going to one of the Disney parks is on your bucket list, before you go, dive into the background of Walt Disney for a better understanding of this amazing experience and the size of their business.

1. Walt Disney

You may be in a rush to start planning your trip to visit the Disney amusement parks. However, before you start searching for the best time to go to Disneyland, let’s learn a bit about the man who created it all, Walt Disney. Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois. He loved art from a young age and eventually became a commercial illustrator. Along with his brother, Walt started Disney Brothers Studio, where he developed his iconic character, Mickey Mouse, in 1928. Walt wasn’t afraid to take risks and explore new techniques. The result is an empire of movies that quickly became family favorites and a legacy that will last forever. Walt died December 15, 1966, at the age of 65.

2. Disney Animation

Disney started as Disney Brothers Studio. Steamboat Willie featuring Mickey Mouse was the first successful character created by Walt Disney. Walt Disney Animation Studios first released a full movie in 1937. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is still wildly popular today, decades after its release. The film grossed $6.5 million and was the most successful sound film of the time. This success started an era of animation obsession within the Disney studios. Pinocchio and Fantasia were finished in the same year but did not have stellar box office performances, and the company began racking up debt. Pay cuts, an animators’ strike and strained relationships in the studio led to many difficulties. Despite that, the company was able to create Dumbo on a delayed timeline inexpensively. Walt’s perseverance and dedication to his lifelong dream resulted in positive reactions and attention for the studio.

It’s hard to believe that this empire once had debts exceeding $4 million back in 1944. Walt never gave up on his dream. It took years to release the next feature film, Cinderella, but it was quickly followed by Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan and live-action features such as Treasure Island. At this time, Walt began to focus on ventures other than animation, like building a theme park. As he shifted his focus, he was still present for story pitches, and the studio consistently created solid works. The Disney movies receive much attention, with Mary Poppins winning five Academy Awards.

3. Theme Parks

Walt Disney visited many theme parks and had very set ideas on what he wanted for his own. He hired the Imagineers to design and plan the park in Anaheim, California. This team went to every amusement park in the United States because Walt was determined to create a clean, well-functioning, enjoyable park experience. His designers drew off each park's successes while noting the areas that were not pleasant for consideration as they planned Disneyland. Construction began in July of 1954. One year later, Disneyland opened its gates, and within one year, more than 3.6 million guests had visited the park.

Over the years, numerous expansions and renovations have been completed to keep the park a top attraction. Well over 700 million people had visited Disneyland from the time it opened in 1955 through 2018, making it the most visited park globally. Walt Disney World was opened in Florida in 1971 to supplement Disneyland. Walt Disney World attracts roughly 58 million visitors each year.

Walt Disney poured his heart and soul into the creation of everything Disney-related. The visions he had were far ahead of his time. The result is a lasting legacy that will provide us with entertainment and enjoyment forever. As you plan your trip to Disneyland, you now have a glimpse into the perseverance and dedication that helped create this dynasty.