Disneyland's 40th Birthday
July 17, 1995
I attended Disneyland's 40th Birthday Pary on July 17, 1995. I remember the special occasion fairly well. That day after work, my brother and I, went home, got cleaned up, and drove to Disneyland. We arrived at about 5:00 PM. As we went through the turnstiles they gave us each a party hat, which had the 40th Anniversary logo and date on it. As we walked through the west tunnel (on the City Hall side of Main St.), we noticed there was a stand set up. Cast members there were giving out unlimited free birthday cake.
My brother and I then went to the hub where we waited for a perpetually late friend to meet us. As I surveyed the area, I realized the park had a exciting feel to it. Many people were in the park that day and everyone seemed to be having fun. I also noticed that Disneyland had dressed up the park special for the anniversary. On the Matterhorn was a big banner that said something like "We are celeberating our 40th birthday today, July 17, 1995." In the air above Main St. were big, red Mickey balloons and on top of the buildings they had placed a variety of old parade balloons.
While waiting, I talked to someone who went to my high school (and throughout the evening, I would see many others). Later, I went over to look at a time capsule prepared for the anniversary, that I believe was called the "Time Castle." It lay in a hole near the curb in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. One harried Cast Member, ran around the enclosed area, taking people's outstretched cameras, with which she would snap photos of the sunken capsule. As I stood there, with my camera, she asked if I wanted picture. I said yes, and she shot a pictue of the Castle-shaped container. (See the picture below.)When our friend finally showed up, we ate at the Tomorrowland Terrace which took forever to get our food because it was so busy. (A friend who worked there said it is the second busiest restaurant in the world behing Moscow's McDonald's). After eating, we walked over to Starcade and played some video games. While there, I pressed a souvenir medallion with the date and event on it.
We didn't go on many rides that day because it was so crowded, but we still waited around for the fireworks, which Disneyland said would be special that day. At about 9:00, it started, and although the fireworks weren't particulary different, they debuted those high-power circling spotlights that traced designs in the air. (Oddly, I didn't see them again the next summer.) After that, the spotlights continued for the rest of evening. We all went for an obligatory ride on the Indiana Jones Adventure then went home. Looking back, it certainly was a very memorable day.
Mini Photo Gallery
Old parade balloons, like these ones of Goofy
and his son, Max, were placed on top of the buildings
on
Main St. Also, red Mickey-shaped balloons floated over
the middle of the street.
Unlimited free birthday cake, was given out at locations
throughout the park.
A harried Cast Member takes cameras from curious
bystanders and snaps pictures of the time capsule sitting
in the ground. The sign at the back of the pit says
"Do not open until July 17, 2035."
This is the picture she took for me of the
time capsule waiting to be buried.
