Disneyland Trivia

Celebrating 70 Years of Magical Memories 

By Paula Green

This month, the "happiest place on earth," Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California, marks a significant milestone-its 70th anniversary. Disneyland, a unique creation supervised and built by Walt Disney, opened its gates to the public on July 18, 1955, offering a one-of-a-kind experience and creating magical memories for generations. 

In the 1940s, Walt Disney's vision of a theme park, initially named "Mickey Mouse Park," evolved into what we now know as "Disneyland." This historical journey is a testament to Disney’s creativity and innovation.

When Disneyland opened, it featured 33 opening-day rides and exhibits spread across five lands: Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Main Street, and Tomorrowland. The admission fee was just $1.00—about $11 today when adjusted for inflation. Today, the single-day adult ticket costs $104.

Of course, Disney is known for its princesses. The castle at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, is Cinderella Castle. In contrast, the castle at Disneyland is named after Sleeping Beauty. In 1995, when Disney commemorated its 40th anniversary, a time capsule was buried in Sleeping Beauty's Castle, and it is scheduled to be opened in 2035. 

Here are some other interesting Disneyland attraction facts: 

• The organ inside the Haunted Mansion is from the movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

  
  

• The truck parked outside of Indiana Jones in the ride queue is from Raiders of the Lost Ark. 

  
  

• There is a basketball court located inside Matterhorn Mountain that can be used by cast members during breaks. 

  
  

• Hundreds of hidden Mickeys—subtle representations of Mickey Mouse's head and ears—are scattered throughout the park. They can be found in attractions, decorations, and even food.

Disneyland's sister park, Walt Disney World Resort, straddles Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando. That park opened on October 1, 1971. One fun fact is that both resorts are located in their respective state’s Orange County. The Disney name has continued to grow. There are 11 Disney parks around the world in four countries – so technically, the sun never sets on Disneyland. 

Now that we’ve explored our way through magical Disneyland adventures, we must now delve into this thrilling query. Buckle up and don those Mickey ears because it's time to get a little trivial.

1. What type of trees used to grow on the land where Disneyland now stands? 

   
   

2. In 2005/2006, Disneyland featured a nightly fireworks show called Remember Dreams Come True. What was it celebrating?

   
   

3. What is the name of the pirate ship in Peter Pan’s Flight attraction? (Bucco fans raise it with a victory!)

   
   

4. Which Disneyland attraction is a thrilling indoor astrological roller coaster?

   
   

5. What is the name of the ghostly house at Disneyland? 

   
   

6. The riverboat at Disneyland is named after this famous author, whose real name was Samuel Clemens.

   
   

7. At Toy Story Midway Mania, this animatronic Toy Story spuds character sits outside, greeting guests with jokes and jabs.  

   
   

8. This Fantasyland water ride opened in 1966; it features 500 audio-animatronic dolls representing cultures from around the world. 

   
   

9. Partners is a 1993 copper statue depicting Walt Disney holding the hands with this popular character he created.

   
   

10. Name the Disney ride that takes you on a boat tour of an African safari—and inspired a feature film starring The Rock.

    
    

11. In July, Disneyland is closing this presidential exhibit and replacing it with a Magical Life.

    
    

12. This Star Wars writer and producer attended the opening of Disneyland in 1955 when he was 11 years old.

    
    

13. The mountains of which European country are the inspiration for The Matterhorn Ride?

    
    

14. Name the large Ferris Wheel with a famous Disney mouse face on it.

    
    

15. On June 14, 1959, Disneyland opened this park’s transportation system during the rededication of Tomorrowland.

Answers: 1. orange 2. Disneyland’s 50^th Anniversary 3. The Jolly Roger 4. Space Mountain 5. The Haunted Mansion 6. Mark Twain 7. Mr. Potato Head 8. It’s a Small World 9. Mickey Mouse 10. The Jungle Cruise 11. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln 12. George Lucas 13. Switzerland 14. Mickey’s Fun Wheel 15. Disneyland Monorail System

Sources: /landoftrivia.com/disneyland-trivia-questions/, triviainc.com/disneyland-trivia-questions-and-answers/, www.funtrivia.com, www.watercoolertrivia.com/trivia-questions/disney-trivia-questions, magicguides.com/disneyland-history/, www.thefactsite.com/disneyland-facts/, gotravelcalifornia.com/disneyland-secrets-facts/