Negative-G - Disneyland

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Disneyland was not on the original itinerary for my California trip. Despite being just six miles from out hotel at Knott's Berry Farm the plan was to spend the two days of the Con that took place at Knott's enjoying that park. When Disneyland shot all of us attending the American Coaster Enthusiasts Coaster Con an amazing deal for eight hours at the park we all decided to squeeze an evening at this legendary park into our trip.

After a quick Uber ride to Anaheim we found ourselves waiting outside of the most magical place on Earth waiting for the clock to hit 4PM so we could leave the real world behind to enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy. Just like Cinderella as we had Disneyland until the stroke of midnight when we would have to return to the real world. Thankfully we didn't have to rely on a coach that would turn back into a pumpkin if we were out past our curfew.

You could go back and forth as to which park is the originator of the theme park. There was Knott's theming around Mrs. Knott's restaurant in the 1930's and then there is a little park in Santa Claus, Indiana that used to be known as Santa Claus Land (now known as Holiday World) that opened with rides in 1946.

While Walt Disney didn't create the "theme park" he certainly took it to the next level and beyond by mixing rides, a theme and all of the storytelling skills that made Disney movies some of the best ever made.

What Walt ended up was something so much more than his little designs for a small park with trains and a few rides adjacent to the Disney Studios lot. His amazing idea grew and by the time the first shovelful of dirt was moved it had grown into the enormity that is Disneyland. When the first guest walked through the gates sixty-four years ago the world was changed.