It was 1955.

Consumers were introduced to Play-Doh, Crest fluoride toothpaste, Quaker Instant Oatmeal, the Ford Thunderbird, and Tappan home microwave ovens.

Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man, in defiance of Alabama law. Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was declared “safe, effective and potent,” and millions of school children were given polio shots.

Joe DiMaggio was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ray Kroc opened the first corporate McDonald’s.

Albert Einstein and James Dean died. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Bruce Willis were born.

And Disneyland opened to the public on July 18.

This page lists the attractions that Disneyland guests could experience in 1955. Some were operating on opening day, while others premiered as the year progressed. It’s amazing that there are attractions from 1955 that you can still enjoy five decades later.

Main Street, USA

• Horse-drawn Street Cars
• Horse-drawn Fire Wagon (no longer operating)
• Horse-drawn Surreys (no longer operating)
• Main Street Arcade (now primarily a shop)
• Main Street Cinema
• Main Street Shooting Gallery (removed 1962)
• Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad (renamed to Disneyland Railroad, 1974)

Fantasyland

• Canal Boats of the World (became Storybook Land Canal Boats, 1956)
• Casey Jr. Circus Train (Storybook Land scenery added, 1956)
• Dumbo Flying Elephants (enhanced, new location, 1983)
• King Arthur Carrousel (new location, 1983)
• Mad Tea Party (enhanced, new location, 1983)
• Mickey Mouse Club Theater (renamed to Fantasyland Theater, 1964; closed 1981)
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (enhanced, 1983)
• Peter Pan Flight (enhanced, 1983)
• Snow White’s Adventures (became Snow White's Scary Adventures, 1983)

Tomorrowland

• Autopia (numerous enhancements over the years)
• Circarama U.S.A., “A Tour of the West” (original film closed 1959; original theater closed 1966)
• Dutch Boy Paint Color Gallery (closed 1963)
• Kaiser’s Hall of Aluminum Fame (closed 1960)
• Monsanto Hall of Chemistry (closed 1966)
• Rocket to the Moon (closed 1966)
• Space Station X-1 (became Satellite View of America, 1958; closed 1960)
• Thimble Drome Flight Circle (closed 1966)
• Tomorrowland Boats (became Phantom Boats, 1955; closed 1956)
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (closed 1966)
• The World Beneath Us, presented by Richfield Oil Co. (closed 1960)

Frontierland

• Conestoga Wagon (closed 1959)
• Davy Crockett Museum (converted primarily to retail space, 1955)
• Golden Horseshoe Revue (original show closed 1986)
• Indian Village (originally near Adventureland; moved to current site of Critter Country, 1956; closed 1971)
• Mark Twain Riverboat
• Mike Fink Keel Boats (closed 1997)
• Mule Pack (became Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules, 1956; became Pack Mules Through Nature’s Wonderland, 1960; closed 1973)
• Stagecoach Ride (became Rainbow Mountain Stagecoach Ride, 1956; closed 1959)

Adventureland

• Jungle Cruise (numerous enhancements over the years)

Disneyland One Year Old Sub Lagoon Still Empty Home

© 2003-2012 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks

Updated July 20, 2012.

Photograph of Dumbo Flying Elephants: 1959 by Fred M. Nelson, Sr.
“Disneyland Opens July 18” bumper sticker, 1955: from the collection of Scott F. Davis.