The day Disneyland was opened – level 3

17-07-1955

On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened its gates for the first time in California.

The park was built in just one year, and it cost $17 million to construct.

Unfortunately, the opening day was full of difficult moments.

28,000 people showed up for the grand opening, but only about half of them were invited. The others bought fake tickets.

The traffic was so heavy that many visitors were stuck in their cars for hours. There were too many people in the park, causing some restaurants to run out of food and drink, leaving visitors without refreshment in the hot weather of 38°C.

Water fountains weren’t working properly because some workers went on strike.

This was a dark day for the park and its staff, who had worked so hard to create a magical experience for visitors.

In response to the problems on opening day, Walt Disney invited all guests who had attended on July 17 to return for a second day at no charge. This gesture helped to ease some of the frustration and disappointment felt by visitors.

Despite all of the difficulties of the first day, the park was a success, and it quickly became a cultural icon in American society.

Difficult words: fake (not real), refreshment (food and drink), strike (time when workers don’t work because they are not happy with the pay), gesture (something you do to show good intentions), icon (a famous thing which represents something).

What were some of the challenges faced during Disneyland's grand opening on July 17, 1955, and how did Walt Disney try to make amends for them?

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