Home Disney Parks Disneyland History Through Postcards – Walt Disney’s 100th Birthday

Disneyland History Through Postcards – Walt Disney’s 100th Birthday

March 22, 2014

One way we can learn about Disneyland history is by looking at the postcards that have been sold in the park through the years. Before his untimely passing in 2012, our friend Ken Eslick encouraged us to share his incredible collection of Disneyland postcards with our MiceChat readers. In his memory, we offer this series of postcards produced to commemorate Walt Disney’s 100th birthday which would have been celebrated on December 5, 2001. (Click the images to see a larger version.) ~~Rick

"While most projects had architects doing the designing, Walt Disney relied on his staff of motion picture designers. He envisioned his park as one big movie set, with forced perspective and transitions such as one might see in a movie." — “While most projects had architects doing the designing, Walt Disney relied on his staff of motion picture designers. He envisioned his park as one big movie set, with forced perspective and transitions such as one might see in a movie.”

July 17, 1955 was an exciting day for Walt Disney. After giving the dedication speech for Disneyland in Town Square, Walt presided over the opening of his theme park in a live television broadcast on ABC - the largest live telecast ever attempted. Here we see Walt rehearsing his speech prior to the opening, for which he changed into a suit. — “July 17, 1955 was an exciting day for Walt Disney. After giving the dedication speech for Disneyland in Town Square, Walt presided over the opening of his theme park in a live television broadcast on ABC – the largest live telecast ever attempted. Here we see Walt rehearsing his speech prior to the opening, for which he changed into a suit.”

“Walt Disney was originally going to name his Disneyland castle after Snow White. But, by 1955 he was deep in the planning for an animated feature about Sleeping Beauty, so the castle name was changed to Sleeping Beauty Castle.”

"The Rainbow Caverns Mine Train was one of Walt Disney's favorite attractions in Frontierland. Here he surveys his version of the Painted Desert in 1957." — “The Rainbow Caverns Mine Train was one of Walt Disney’s favorite attractions in Frontierland. Here he surveys his version of the Painted Desert in 1957.”

"Walt Disney was always interested in improving his Disneyland park. Often he could be seen strolling through the various lands, noting where he could enhance landscaping, change the color of a building, or add a new attraction." — “Walt Disney was always interested in improving his Disneyland park. Often he could be seen strolling through the various lands, noting where he could enhance landscaping, change the color of a building, or add a new attraction.”

"Walt Disney was a train buff, and in the early 1950s had a miniature railroad around the backyard of his home. Thus, when he built Disneyland, he insisted that it have a train, and he got a big thrill riding in the locomotives." — “Walt Disney was a train buff, and in the early 1950s had a miniature railroad around the backyard of his home. Thus, when he built Disneyland, he insisted that it have a train, and he got a big thrill riding in the locomotives.”

"Walt Disney had wanted real animals in his Jungle Cruise at Disneyland park, but realized that they would be sleeping much of the day. So instead he created mechanical animals, forerunners of his eventual sophisticated Audio-Animatronics figures." — “Walt Disney had wanted real animals in his Jungle Cruise at Disneyland park, but realized that they would be sleeping much of the day. So instead he created mechanical animals, forerunners of his eventual sophisticated Audio-Animatronics figures.”

"Walt Disney introduced Audio-Animatronics to Disneyland with the Enchanted Tiki Room in 1963. Audiences were amazed at the talking and singing birds, flowers, and tiki gods." — “Walt Disney introduced Audio-Animatronics to Disneyland with the Enchanted Tiki Room in 1963. Audiences were amazed at the talking and singing birds, flowers, and tiki gods.”

"The stage coach for Disneyland was built at the Walt Disney Studio in Burbank, California, and here Walt Disney takes it for a spin around the Studio lot to the surprise and amusement of his staff. A stage coach ride would be one of the highlights of Frontierland, where it remained for four years." — “The stage coach for Disneyland was built at the Walt Disney Studio in Burbank, California, and here Walt Disney takes it for a spin around the Studio lot to the surprise and amusement of his staff. A stage coach ride would be one of the highlights of Frontierland, where it remained for four years.”

"Before Disneyland was completed, Walt Disney acquired some livestock for the park, stabling the horses at the Disney Studio in Burbank. He had always been intrigued by stories of America's frontiersman and cowboys, and felt that real horses and mules would add much to the atmosphere of his Frontierland." — “Before Disneyland was completed, Walt Disney acquired some livestock for the park, stabling the horses at the Disney Studio in Burbank. He had always been intrigued by stories of America’s frontiersman and cowboys, and felt that real horses and mules would add much to the atmosphere of his Frontierland.”