OnedayWaltDisneyhadavision.Itwasavisionofaplacewherechildrenandparentscouldhavefuntogether.ThemoreWaltdreamedofa"magicalpark,"themoreimaginativeandelaborateitbecame.

　　Theoriginalplansfortheparkwereon8acresnexttotheBurbankstudioswherehisemployeesandfamiliescouldgotorelax.Although,WorldWarIIputthoseplansonhold.Duringthewar,Walthadtimetocomeupwithnewideas,andcreationsforhismagicalpark.Itwassoonclearthat8acreswouldn'tbeenough.

　　Finallyin1953,hehadtheStanfordResearchInstituteconductasurveyfora100-acresite,outsideofLosAngeles.Heneededspacetobuildrivers,waterfalls,andmountains;hewouldhaveflyingelephantsandgiantteacups;afairy-talecastle,moonrockets,andascenicrailway;allinsideamagickingdomhecalled"Disneyland."

　　Locationwasatoppriority.ThepropertywouldhavetobewithintheLosAngelesmetropolitanarea,andaccessiblebyfreeway.Itwouldalsohavetobeaffordable:Walt'spocketswereonlysodeep

　　ThesearchforthebestspotfinallyendedintheruralAnaheim,Californiawithapurchaseofa160-acreorangegrovenearthejunctionoftheSantaAnaFreeway(I-5)andHarborBoulevard.

　　Although,Disneylandwasexpensive.Waltoncesaid"IcouldneverconvincethefinanciersthatDisneylandwasfeasible,becausedreamsoffertoolittlecollateral."SoWaltturnedtoTelevisionforhisfinancialsupport."WaltDisney'sDisneyland"televisionseriesofferedaglimpseofthefutureproject.ThisbroughttheideaofDisneylandintorealityforWaltandtheAmericanpeople.

　　ConstructionforDisneylandbeganonJuly21,1954,ameager12monthsbeforetheparkwasscheduledtoopen.FromthatdayforwardWaltDisney'slifewouldneverbethesame.

　　EventhoughWaltDisneywasn'tabletoseehowhisparkandhiscompanyprosperedandgrewintothe21stCentury,hislegacystilllivesonwithus.ThroughoutDisneylandandthroughouttheentireworld,hewillalwaysbethere.