1. Walt Disney was inspired to build Disneyland after taking his daughters to ride the merry-go-round at L.A.’s Griffith Park.
2. The actual Griffith Park bench where Walt sat when he came up with the idea for Disneyland is on display near the entrance of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
3. On opening day Disneyland had only 18 attractions.
4. Disneyland’s King Arthur Carousel is older than the park itself. It was built in 1922 for the Sunnyside Beach Park in Toronto.
5. In the 1950s, Steve Martin worked at Disneyland, first selling guidebooks (as a kid) and later at the Magic Shop.
6. Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle reaches a height of 77 feet, while Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle is 189 feet.
7. The Disney family crest is on Sleeping Beauty Castle; it’s located above the drawbridge.