News: Disneyland officially turns 50

Posted at 9:36 PM EDT (0136 GMT)

Jul. 18th, 2005 -- On July 17, 1955, about 15 thousand invited guests (and another 15 thousand uninvited guests) were the first to experience Walt Disney's latest venture, the $17 million, 160 acre Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, CA. With the cement still wet, a lack of food for the guests, a gas leak and other little calamities, the opening was dubbed "Black Sunday".

Fast forward 50 years. Disneyland has grown so popular that it has spawned additional Disney parks in Florida, France, and Japan, with a Hong Kong park opening in September. The park celebrated it's 50th anniversary yesterday with gold Mickey-ear hats, a recently reopened Space Mountain, and appearances by CA governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Disney C.E.O. Michael Eisner.

Several people who were present for the park's opening returned for the festivities yesterday.

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