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“It’s evolved in many ways,” said Lasley, who has premium season passes along with his wife. “The variety and the number and complexity of attractions is part of the success. It reflects the evolution of Southern California. It’s become a more sophisticated place.
“But no matter how it changes, Walt’s vision of the park as an escape from the outside world remains. That’s always been the attraction of Disneyland — that when you walk through those gates, you’re in another world.”
That world, of course, is a lot different now than it was in ’55. “We had four lands: Adventureland, which was strictly the Jungle Cruise,” Dominguez said. “Frontierland, with Mark Twain and the stagecoaches and mule packs. Fantasyland, with Peter Pan and Mr. Toad. And Tomorrowland, which was always the toughest to develop because you’re yesterday before you know it.
“But we also had things like an exhibit about bathroom fixtures to talk about the future of bathrooms and products.”
Disneyland has since progressed from offering a rudimentary depiction of an Abraham Lincoln figure in “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” to an incredible Buzz Lightyear robot inside the current Astro Blaster attraction. The park has transitioned from a one-time entry fee of 90 cents or so, to a book of tickets, to a computerized Fast Pass dispenser system that helps limit waiting time on rides.
“If people ask me why a Disneyland vacation is different than any other, I would say it’s because not only do people come together as a family, they stay together throughout the course of the day,” he explained. “We’re in a world where the media is fracturing our attention spans, children going to baseball or soccer practice, they’re on the Internet and watching TV at the same time. Everything is competing for time with your children. Even when you go to the beach together, usually the adults do one thing and the kids another.
“People come to Disneyland and spend time together. It’s the great leveler. Children don’t see their parents as schedule enforcers. Parents have a chance to become children again.”
It all starts with a feeling of being welcome. “One of the genius things about Disneyland,” Lasley said, “is that every generation comes back and brings their kids and grandkids. The minute a kid walks up and gets a hug from Mickey, that kid will be a fan of Disneyland for life.”
Well, for 50 years at least. And counting.
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