Disneyland Opening Day Attractions That Are Still Open Today
Disneyland opened its gates on July 17, 1955, after just one year of construction, and it was truly a day to remember! Walt Disney’s dream was to create a magical place where families could make lasting memories and have fun together. Today, Disneyland is still beloved by many, although it has evolved so much over the years! Amazingly, there are 14 Disneyland opening day attractions that are still open today! Keep reading for a list of the 14 original attractions that are still open at Disneyland:
Photo credit: D23.com
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Disneyland Opening Day Attractions
1. Disneyland Railroad:
The Disneyland railroad was inspired by Walt Disney’s love of trains and his own backyard model train. On opening day there were stops at Main Street and New Orleans Square. Today there are 4 stops, including Mickey’s Toontown and Tomorrowland.
2. Main Street Cinema:
On opening day, guests could watch silent films in the Main Street Cinema theater. Today it shows classic shorts like Steamboat Willie.
Photo credit: D23.com
3. Horse Drawn Street Cars:
On opening day at Disneyland guests could ride horse-drawn streetcars, surreys and a fire wagon. The horse drawn street cars still exist and are enjoyed by guests today!
4. Jungle Cruise:
This ride is based on Disney’s award winning True Life Adventure films. When it first opened it had a more serious and educational tone. Today it is know for its humorous jokes and so many puns.
Photo credit: disneyplus.com
5. Mark Twain Riverboat:
Originally named Mark Twain Steamboat, this was the first functional steamboat built in the United States in 50 years. Today it is a 14-minute long boat ride that takes guests on a journey around the Rivers of America.
6. King Arthur Carousel:
This ride was originally built in 1922 and had a home at Sunnyside Beach Park in Toronto Canada. When that park closed, Walt Disney purchased it and moved it to Disneyland. It featured many different animals including horses, giraffes and deer, but Walt wanted everyone to ride on a galloping horse so he purchased antique horses and incorporated them into the ride.
7. Peter Pan’s Flight:
Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the most popular rides at Disneyland even to this day. It has been significantly refurbished since its opening but still has many similarities to its opening day version.
Photo credit: D23.com
8. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride:
This ride is based on the 1949 film, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and is an original Fantasyland dark ride that still exists today. However, in 1983, it was completely refurbished to make it longer and add more scenes, as well as redo the entire outside facade.
9. Snow White’s Enchanted Wish:
This ride is originally named Snow White and Her Adventures, and was renamed in 1983 to Snow White’s Scary Adventures. Then it was re-themed again in 2021 and named Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. It remains a favorite classic still today.
10. Casey Jr. Circus Train:
This ride was inspired by the movie Dumbo. Its sleigh-style cars were taken from the original carousel that is now King Arthur’s Carousel!
Photo credit: D23.com
11. Storybook Land Canal Boats:
This ride was originally called Canal Boats of the World. It featured scenes and landscapes from different countries and was closed shortly after opening because of problems with the boats and very little landscaping. The attraction was reopened on June 16, 1956, and called Storybook Land Canal Boats. It then featured scenes from Disney movies such as The Three Little Pigs, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland and more. Today it incorporates scenes from many different modern Disney movies as well.
12. Mad Tea Party:
This ride is based on the 1951 movie Alice in Wonderland. It features spinning teacups that will be sure to make even the toughest guests sick.
13. Autopia:
Autopia is an on track car ride that has been around since opening day. Although there have been some refurbishments done, it remains mostly unchanged from its opening day experience (for better or for worse). Soon the cars are going to be changing from gas to electric which is a huge and exciting improvement!
Photo credit: D23.com
14. Gold Horseshoe Saloon:
This is a restaurant and attraction that has entertained guests since opening day. Walt and Lillian Disney celebrated their 30th anniversary at the Golden Horseshoe Revue in 1955. Today, the restaurant is still open for lunch and dinner and is a classic piece of Disney history.
I bet you’re surprised that some of the rides that you have always thought to be classics such as Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Matterhorn and It’s a Small World aren’t on the list? I know I am! Although they weren’t open on opening day, they did come to Disneyland in the early days of the parks so I still consider them to be classics!
Disneyland’s Opening Day Disaster
Disneyland opened as invite only for studio workers, construction teams, the press, and company sponsors. However, counterfeit tickets and people sneaking in ended up bringing 28,000+ guests into the park. The park was unprepared for such crowds, resulting in a day full of chaos! Food and drinks ran out, rides broke down, the asphalt on Main Street, U.S.A. melted, drinking fountains didn’t work, and there was even a gas leak! So because of that, this day went on to be known as “Black Sunday” because it ended up being such a disaster.
But despite the problems, Disneyland’s opening day marked the beginning of a legacy that continues to bring so much joy to millions of people every year! The park has changed and grown but the magic that Walt Disney envisioned will live on forever. Whether you’re revisiting childhood favorites or experiencing them for the first time, these opening day attractions are sure to make everyone feel nostalgic for the past.
Click here to print a Disneyland Opening Day Attraction List to take with you to the parks and ride all of the original rides!
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XOXO 
Amanda
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