Landmark theme park celebrates 50 magical, ‘beautiful’ years

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Thousands of Disney fans donned special gold-colored Mickey Mouse ears as they streamed through the entrance to Disneyland on Sunday, 50 years after the landmark opened its gates and gave birth to the modern theme park.

The festivities, which included a fireworks-and-confetti display, were set outside the Sleeping Beauty castle and began with televised images echoing the fanfare of the park’s launch in 1955.

“Dad’s vision called for this, for Disneyland, to be something that could grow more beautiful every year, and it has,” said Diane Disney Miller, one of founder Walt Disney’s two daughters.

Broadcaster Art Linkletter, 93, who was host of the live telecast of the park’s opening day along with actors Ronald Reagan and Bob Cummings, also was on hand.

“I’m not only happy to be here – I’m happy to be anywhere,” said Linkletter, who also was celebrating his birthday Sunday.

Disneyland was wildly innovative when it opened on July 17, 1955. It used robotic figures, holography and panoramic movies in circular theaters to spin stories for children.

With virtually no competition, the park had little trouble capturing the imagination of the world.

Over the years, it has pioneered technology on thrill rides such as the revamped Space Mountain in Anaheim and Mission Space at Epcot in Orlando, Fla.