1956 Disneyland Hotel Grand Opening Rare Footage & Images

The "official" grand opening for the Disneyland Hotel took place on August 25, 1956. This was a star studded celebration that resembled a Hollywood movie premiere. Among the guests at the Hotel's invitational grand opening were Walt Disney, Mayor and Mrs. Charles Pierson of Anaheim, Mr. and Mrs. Alan Ladd, Mr. and Mrs. William Bendix, actress Jeanne Crain, actress Yvonne De Carlo and husband Robert Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. Art Linkletter, Mr. and Mrs. William S Kellogg, Mr. and Mrs. William Pereira and scores of other civic, business and entertainment world figures. The Disneyland Band lead by Vesey Walker also made an appearance marching and playing through the Hotel Lobby and grounds. Nearly four-hundred enthusiasts were present, observing Helen Alvarez and Jack Wrather, co-owners of the hotel, presiding at a ribbon-cutting ceremony then taking a grand tour of the facilities followed by a banquet dinner upstairs.

[@DonBallardVintageDisneyland]

Yes, I have footage from the early 70's and some from the mid 90's and late 90's....some from the last day the Garden Rooms were available.

[@ritaausten]

Laddie!

[@DonBallardVintageDisneyland]

It's Yvonne DeCarlo who played Lily Munster in the Munsters as well as many other great acting roles.

[@thewonderfulworldofderek6087]

It's Don has history books on disneyland hotel 60th anniversary years. 60s 50s

[@DonBallardVintageDisneyland]

Alan Ladd, Jeanne Crain, William Bendix and Walt Disney can also be found in this.

[@filmsforallnations]

Do you know if the original 1956 broadcast of the opening of Disneyland Hotel is now lost? When Walt Disney opened Disneyland in 1955, he didn't have enough money to build and run a hotel where guests visiting the park could stay in. The hotel was owned and operated by entrepreneur Jack Wrather. The Walt Disney Company bought the hotel in 1988 after Jack Wrather passed away and Michael Eisner was running The Walt Disney Company. It is amazing how far Disney hotels would come fifteen years later, when the truly remarkable state-of-the-art Disney Contemporary Resort opened in Walt Disney World on October 1st 1971 (opening day). The Walt Disney World Monorail System runs through the inside of The Disney Contemporary Hotel and a monorail station is situated in the center of main lobby for resort guests.

[@albusmackinficker]

Thank you for sharing this. Is there any video footage of the hotel from the 70s/80s that you know of?

[@mr.disney4740]

When the hotel had style and cutting edge fun. ..now its ruined !(2023)

[@billdavis5602]

Hay there pal; I do not know were your getting your Dates from, but Jack open the hotel on Oct 5 1955 (Look it up!) You really tell it like it ain't !

[@DonBallardVintageDisneyland]

The Disneyland Hotel did open for business on October 5, 1955 but the official opening took place in August of 1956 when all 200 rooms, the admin building/lobby, pool and other amenities were opened. The Oct. 5, 1955 opening was a rushed, "soft" opening if you will. But maybe Bill all of the newspaper clippings (including the one at the 3:27 mark in this presentation clearly showing the date of Aug. 25, 1956) and hundreds of other documents and photographs (including an actual engraved invitation to the official opening) got it wrong.