ANAHEIM — On a typical day, tens of thousands of visitors wearing Mickey Mouse ears and shirts pass through the gates of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, greeted by the sounds of laughter and music.
Nearly 71 years after opening in July 1955, Walt Disney’s Disneyland continues to entertain, inspire and generate millions of dollars for the Walt Disney Company and the surrounding area.
What was once referred to as “Walt’s Folly” on 160 acres of former orange and walnut groves has become one of the world’s most successful tourism destinations.
Today, the Disneyland Resort attracts more than 27 million visitors annually. It remains one of Orange County’s most powerful economic drivers, employing more than 36,000 people—the most of any employer in the county—and generating billions of dollars in economic activity across Southern California.
According to Disney’s second-quarter 2026 earnings report, the Experiences segment, which covers theme parks, resorts, cruise lines and consumer products, generated $9.5 billion year over year in revenue, a 7% increase from $8.9 billion in the first quarter.
The segment’s prior leader, Josh D’Amaro, who was head of the resort in 2019, in March became the chief executive of Burbank-based Disney, which sports a $178 billion market cap. The current president of the resort is Jill Estorino.
Locally, Disneyland Resort is credited with generating more than $16 billion in economic activity, which includes job creation, tourism and taxes for cities, counties and the state.
But it wasn’t always like that.
Walt’s Folly
When Walt Disney, a successful animator, began searching for a location for his dream destination in the early 1950s, he looked beyond Los Angeles and discovered a largely agricultural corner of Anaheim.
The 160-acre site was close to the new Southern California freeways and had plenty of space for future expansion.
However, many people doubted Disney’s dream.
The project became so risky and expensive that some critics dubbed it “Walt’s Folly.” Disney invested most of his personal fortune—$18 million—into the venture.
Despite the skepticism, Disney believed families wanted a clean, immersive destination designed for all ages.
His risk paid off.
Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955 – a day quickly dubbed “Black Sunday” as it was plagued by problems, including counterfeit tickets that doubled attendance expectations, gridlocked traffic and long lines for attractions and rides that experienced breakdowns or temporary closures.
Walt Disney addressed the issues immediately, and within weeks, people from all over the country were coming to visit.
Less than two months after opening, the park welcomed its one millionth guest, showing a demand that few experts had expected.
The flood of visitors changed Anaheim almost overnight.
Motels, restaurants and souvenir shops quickly opened along Harbor Boulevard and nearby streets as business owners hurried to meet the needs of new tourists.
The area soon became a center for hospitality and tourism.
Disney partnered with hotel developer Jack Wrather, who built the Disneyland Hotel in 1955.
The hotel became the resort’s first big hospitality anchor and helped set the standard for destination tourism, a model later copied worldwide.
Prior to Disneyland, the word “theme park” didn’t exist. Disneyland set the bar that other competitors – Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios Hollywood and others followed.
As more people visited and business thrived, Disney’s ambitions grew, too.
Disney added new lands, attractions and technology to Disneyland. He also found a bigger site in Orlando, Florida, to build an even larger Magic Kingdom, giving Disney a presence on both coasts.
Downtown Disney
In the 2000s, Disney expanded its Anaheim footprint, opening Disney California Adventure, a shopping and dining district, Downtown Disney and the upscale Grand Californian Hotel.
The expansion turned the Disneyland area into what is now called Disneyland Resort.
It also acquired Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, gaining access to some of the world’s most valuable intellectual properties.
These investments changed Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, too, leading to new areas like Cars Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Avengers Campus.
Yet despite decades of growth, Disneyland remains rooted in its founder’s original philosophy of continual reinvention.
When Disneyland opened, Disney famously said:
“Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
Seven decades later, with the passing of the $1.9 billion DisneylandForward, Disney’s expansion plans continue to take shape.
The Walt Disney Company
CEO: Josh D’Amaro
FOUNDED: 1923
HEADQUARTERS: Burbank
KEY OC DATE: 1955—Opening of Disneyland in Anaheim
LEGACY LEADERSHIP: Walt Disney’s vision redefined entertainment and created the modern theme park industry; Disneyland Resort is now OC’s largest employer.
OC SIGNIFICANCE: A family-focused theme park grew into a global entertainment destination, putting Orange County on the map. Pioneered immersive, story-driven attractions that became the global standard. Helped transform Anaheim from agricultural land into a major tourism hub.
DEFINING MOMENT: Went public on November 12, 1957.
BY THE NUMBERS: $177B market cap
QUOTABLE: “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.” — Walt Disney
