35 and Still Growing : Disneyland Celebrates Past, Anticipates Future

The rides broke down, the long lines were unbearable and police called it the worst traffic jam they had ever seen. Shoe heels stuck in the new asphalt, which was melting along with people’s patience in the hot July sun. A gas leak shut down Fantasyland. There wasn’t a drinking fountain that worked in the entire park, and restaurants quickly ran out of food and drink.

Newspaper headlines dubbed Disneyland, the brand-new entertainment center that had sprung out of an orange grove, “Walt’s Nightmare.”

That was then. This is now.

Thirty-five years to the day after the problem-plagued grand opening of the Magic Kingdom, the only flaw at Tuesday’s birthday bash was one stubborn firecracker-lighted candle that refused to burn on a 30-foot-high, pink plywood cake.

“It was chaos 35 years ago,” said Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew and vice chairman of the board of the Walt Disney Co. “But even then, underneath it all, we had a sense that it would work.”

More than 300 million guests later, the Disney Co. is celebrating the world-renowned park’s 35th birthday with ambitious plans. A decadelong expansion and renovation has already begun, and the company will also decide soon whether traffic congestion and other urban obstacles around Disneyland will drive them to choose Long Beach over Anaheim for a new proposed theme park.

Vowing to “remain true to the dream,” top Disney officials gathered Tuesday morning in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and at Town Square for a festive, choreographed ceremony.

“Thirty-five years ago, another Disney stood at this microphone and placed everything he had--his savings, his reputation--on this new enterprise called Disneyland,” Roy Disney said.

Then, he recited the same words of welcome that his uncle had spoken when unveiling his bold experiment in entertainment on July 17, 1955.

“To all who come to this happy place, welcome. . . . Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.”

Some things never change.

Although the park has tripled its attractions since 1955, Disneyland relies on most of the same timeless characters and show themes.

But some things have changed in 35 years, and Disneyland has changed with them.

The tobacco shop has been turned into a collectibles shop, a reflection of changing attitudes toward smoking. The men’s restrooms, not just the women’s, now have diaper-changing areas. The restaurants sell health-conscious fare such as turkey burgers, and the park is even thinking of phasing out beef.

But other, not-so-benign signs of the times have appeared since Disneyland was born.

The 80-acre site--which takes pride in being a place where visitors may leave troubles behind--is in the heart of some of the region’s worst traffic, crime, smog and toxic-waste woes.

Roy Disney said his uncle would be surprised by flashy, busy Harbor Boulevard, once a pastoral road lined with orange groves. In fact, it’s that urban congestion that might drive the Disney Co. to choose Long Beach instead of Anaheim for the new theme park, he said.

Disney said the decision, probably a year away, is “a flip of the coin right now.”

“There are things to be said for and against each one. All the traffic and general urban congestion is the problem here. On the other hand, you already have the flow, the infrastructure, coming in here,” he said.

Frank Wells, Disney Co.’s president and chief operating officer, said the traffic problems posed by picking Anaheim are not insurmountable.

However, Disney said he personally prefers the Long Beach site.

But he said the company owes a lot to Anaheim, and would feel a bit guilty choosing Long Beach, despite its less congested roads, ocean view, cleaner air and cool sea breezes.

“Certainly, they have been loyal and true. That’s a part of the argument. But the flip side is can we impose on them the sort of traffic jams that would come with a new park?” he said.

Despite the disadvantages of growth, the area’s economy has thrived and city officials mostly thank Disneyland for that. When the park opened, Anaheim had seven hotels and motels with a total of 87 rooms. Now, it is home to 150 hotels and motels, totaling more than 17,000 rooms.

The Anaheim City Council celebrated the birthday Tuesday by passing a declaration calling itself “one of the luckiest cities in the world” for being home to Disneyland. The council commended the company for its “commitment and contributions of time, talent and energy to the community.”

Tuesday’s birthday party began with a half-hour magic show, with daytime fireworks, in front of the Fantasyland castle. The master of ceremonies was Art Linkletter, who played the same role he did on opening day.

Plans for Disneyland include three major new attractions--an Indiana Jones adventure, a Muppet stage show and a Muppet parade--in 1991 and a Little Mermaid ride and Mickey’s Starland in 1993.

In 1994, Tomorrowland will be revamped to give it a 21st-Century look, including a second story where guests can stroll along “sky walks.” In 1999, the park plans to open “Hollywoodland” with a backdrop of the Hollywood hills.