Disney Park's Effect on Tourism

On July 17, 1955, Walt Disney unveiled his newest, magical creation, Disneyland. Disneyland has made a huge impact on tourism since it’s opening 62 years ago. People and families have been visiting Disney Parks since their inception. These tourists not only visit Disneyland, but will also visit Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland Paris, Disney Tokyo, Disneyland Hong Kong, and Shanghai Disney. Today, these Disney Parks welcome an astonishing, 80 million people a year. This shows the affect that Walt Disney and Disney Parks have had on tourism today. Not only did Disney Parks influence tourism, they also played a large role in increasing jobs and the economy. Even though Walt Disney did not live to see the massive success that his company and his theme parks have had, his name will live on forever and will not be forgotten.

Disney made its first major effect on tourism after the opening of Disneyland. With Walt Disney Co. already making a name for itself prior to the opening of the park, when Disneyland opened it was the largest opening of any theme park at the time. With Southern California already being a well-known tourist spot, the addition of Disneyland was huge for tourism. David Allen writes in “Disneyland: Another kid of reality” that “When we enter the park, as visitors, we follow a pathway of red-colored bricks, like a red carpet. It is as if we have stepped onto a movie set. In this way, the park immediately signals to the visitor that it is a fantasy environment.” This generation that got to experience Disneyland in its full swing can vouch for what David Allen wrote. The idea of exiting reality and leaving all your worries behind is one of the reasons that Disneyland and the rest of Disney Parks are constantly visited.

After seeing Disneyland’s success, the Walt Disney Co. decided to create a larger, more magical, theme park to accommodate for the massive amounts of guests flooding into Southern California. 16 years later, Disney World opened its doors and changed a generation. This changed a generation because with Disney World being larger than Disneyland, it made the entire experience more memorable. Disney World became an instant favorite because with Disneyland only being one park, it was difficult to plan an entire vacation around. Disney World offers four parks and two waterparks. These parks being: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach. Tourism changed dramatically because with Disneyland being such a hike for the people on the east coast, Disney World gave those people the opportunity to experience the magic without going across the country to do so. Every generation since the 1970s have experienced the magical environment that Disney World offers. Virginia and Frank Salamone write in “Images of Main Street: Disney World and the Magical Adventure” that “Getting to Main Street U.S.A. for most visitors is an adventure in itself.