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Walt a change

This is what Disneyland looked like when it opened 60 years ago

The famous American attraction opened its doors on July 17 1955, with the big event even televised

THINK of Disneyland and images of people in Mickey Mouse suits and huge queues for Space Mountain spring to mind.

It wasn't always that way though, as these shots of the California theme park's opening day in July 1955 show.

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Sleeping Beauty's castle in Fantasyland, DisneylandCredit: Getty Images
Disneyland opening day
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Walt Disney seen on the big dayCredit: Getty Images

 

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Showgirls having a bit of down time before their performanceCredit: Getty Images

Disneyland Park, as it was known then, was the first of the organisation's attractions to open.

It's also the only one which was built with direct supervision by Walt Disney himself.

He bought that land in Anaheim, California, in 1953, with construction starting the following year.

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The opening day was supposed to be for a select few, but forged tickets were soldCredit: Getty Images
Disneyland opening day
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A family enjoy the Mr Toad Wild Ride attractionCredit: Getty Images
Disneyland opening day
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This is actress Kathleen Case, posing with a monkeyCredit: Getty Images

Then came the opening, which was a ritzy affair that was even televised on July 17 1955.

It was supposed to be for invited guests and media only, but it didn't quite work out that way,

Of the 28,000 who turned up, only half were actually on the official list. The others had bought fake tickets or sneaked in to get a glimpse of the park.

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 Members of the iconic parade prepping for their big momentCredit: Getty Images
Disneyland opening day
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The costumes have changed more than a littleCredit: Getty Images

The public opening came the following day, and there were 20 attractions for them to try out.

Special events on Sundays, starting with the opening, were screened on TV and Walt got some of his A-list pals to host them.

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Actor Steve Rowland and actress Kathleen Case and Adelle August pose as they play arcade gamesCredit: Getty Images
Disneyland opening day
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The Mad Hatter's Tea Party ride. Teacup rides are still big business these daysCredit: Getty Images
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Plants were used to pick out Mickey Mouse's faceCredit: Getty Images

The presenters were Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan, and things didn't always go smoothly.

Sometimes they didn't realise they were on air, and at one point a microphone was even lost.

Opening day itself didn't go entirely smoothly.

It was a boiling hot day, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees. There was also a traffic problem, so special guests whose arrivals were supposed to be spaced out ending up coming all at once.

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This is a Space Port in Disneyland, otherwise known as a seating area where you could have a breakCredit: Getty Images
Disneyland opening day
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More characters walk around the venue in CaliforniaCredit: Getty Images
Disneyland opening day
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Sleeping Beauty's castle has hardly changed over the yearsCredit: Getty Images

A plumbers' strike in the area left Walt with a tricky choice too - he could either have water in his drinking fountains or toilets which flushed.

He chose the bathroom option, but some people were upset at the lack of drinking water.

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This is the Mr Toad Wild Ride, with friends seen enjoying themselves on itCredit: Getty Images
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The opening day parade, with visitors lining the street to watchCredit: Getty Images

There was also a problem with food running out and some of the roads not being set properly, with Walt ending up asking attendees to come back again on another day so they could get a true feel for the place.

Crowds started forming at 2am on Monday July 18 as people were so desperate to get into the park.

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Guests pose for pictures in their finery on the opening dayCredit: Getty Images
Disneyland opening day
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Walt Disney is seen here on the right, with the California Governor Goodwin KnightCredit: Getty Images
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A shot of people enjoying some down time away from the crowdsCredit: Getty Images
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This shot shows the less manic side of the theme parkCredit: Getty Images

Since then its popularity has only grown, with 650 million guests visiting since doors opened.

You can even get married at one of the attractions if you want, just don't try to wear a mask at one as it's one of the surprising things which is banned.

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