Dreams have come true at Disneyland USA in Anaheim, California for over fifty-five years.

When motion picture producer Walt Disney took his daughters to amusement parks, he was disgusted and bored with his experience. These experiences inspired Disney to purchase a 160-acre orange grove to build a magical theme park that would celebrate American heritage and its achievements.

Disney focused on theme rather than thrill in designing his park. He created different lands with unique themes and atmospheres, like Frontierland. Guests can move from each theatrical stage and immerse themselves in different environments. In addition, Disney applied "forced perspective" to Sleeping Beauty's castle by making doors and windows incrementally smaller.

When the park opened in 1955, Disney expected approximately 11,000 people to show. Surprisingly, more than 20,000 people arrived, some with counterfeit tickets. Although, the park cost 17 million dollars to construct, Disneyland soon became one of the company's largest sources of revenue.Although denied for security purposes, even Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev desired to visit the park.

In 1963, the Sheraton sought to create a 22-story hotel overlooking the park. However, to maintain the isolated atmosphere, the Disney Company successfully lobbied to reduce the hotel to sixteen stories. When the park opened, Disney immediately regretted not buying the surrounding property. When Disney World opened in Florida, the resort model emerged to create more reasons for guests to stay within in the parks. In 2001, the park in Anaheim officially became Disneyland Resort with the addition of California Adventure.

Walt Disney "whistled while he worked" to bring his dream to life, and successfully created one of the happiest places on earth for families around the world. Today the company has eleven theme parks around the world, all based on Walt's design.

Podcast Written and Narrated by David Tatem, Public History Student at the University of West Florida.