Here are the more interesting Disney California Adventure and Disneyland facts and statistics I was able to dig up recently. I tried to mix up statistics with some fun facts about the park and its attractions. As always, I will be adding more and updating these periodically as I find new stuff. Be sure to check back regularly.
Opened in 1955, Disneyland is the granddaddy of Disney theme parks, yet often it is one of the most overlooked. With Disney World and its many attractions and resorts often getting the lion’s share of the limelight, there are countless reasons to stand up and take note of the goings-ons at Disneyland. With 60 years of history and in such close proximity to Disney’s movie studios, there are quite a few unique features of Disneyland that often go unnoticed.
Photo by Sean MacEntee 
So just how big has Disneyland become after all these years? You might be surprised. It is actually very close in annual visitors to the Magic Kingdom’s 20 million.
See also: 600 Amazing Disney Statistics and Fun Facts
Please note that some of these Disneyland facts are easier to find than others, so some of these are based on news reports and not official company tallies. All stats are linked to their source unless it was sent to me directly from the company. No stat listed should be considered in making any type of investment decision. In other words: This is the best I can find, but I don’t guarantee anything.
Disneyland Facts
When did Disneyland open?
1955
Where is Disneyland located?
1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802
When did the Disneyland Monorail open?
June 14, 1959
How many Monorails are there at Disneyland?
How much did it cost to build Disneyland?
Number of people that it took to build Disneyland:
Number of people that were invited to attend the Disneyland grand opening:
How much did Disneyland tickets cost in the first year?
$1 for adults and $.50 for children
How much does a Disneyland ticket cost now?
$97 – $124 for a one-day adult ticket
Last updated 7/13/17
How big is Disneyland?
486 acres
Last updated 10/1/16
Disneyland Statistics
Number of Disney-owned hotels at Disneyland:
3
Last updated 10/1/16
Number of rooms at Disneyland hotels:
2,400 rooms
Last updated 10/1/16
Number of people that have visited Disneyland (all time):
more than 750 million
Last updated 6/12/17
Disneyland visitor total for 2019:
Here is a complete rundown of all the Disneyland visitor statistics you need to know.
Estimated number of Disneyland visitors that rode the Skyway while it was in operation:
Space required to build “Star Wars Land” at Disneyland:
Number of lights included in the Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade:
Original run of Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland:
June 17, 1972-November 25, 1996
Date the Main Street Electrical Parade returned to Disneyland:
January 20, 2017
Number of Disneyland Resort visitors (all time):
700 million
Last updated 7/17/14
Date that Star Tours opened in Disneyland:
January 9, 1987
Annual amount that Disneyland generates for the Southern California economy:
$5.7 billion
Last updated 6/12/17
Average wait time for Disneyland’s most popular rides:
Last updated 7/13/17
If the Disneyland Resort was a restaurant chain, it would be the 84th largest chain in the US based on food and beverage sales:
The Enchanted Tiki Room introduced the world’s first audio-animatronics in 1963
How tall is Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland?
77 feet
Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle is 112 feet shorter than Disney World’s Cinderella Castle.
Pirates of the Caribbean has had more guests than any other theme park ride in the world.
Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean were supposed to be walk-through rides.
Disneyland is 22 acres smaller than Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
Number of attractions at Disneyland on opening day:
18
Size of Disneyland Resort’s Downtown Disney District:
Number of venues in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney complex:
Last updated 10/1/16
Number of rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa:
948 rooms and 50 DVC villas
Number of rooms at Disneyland Hotel:
973 rooms
Number of rooms at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel:
481 rooms
Number of cast members at Disneyland Resort:
Number of plant species at Disneyland Resort:
800 species
Average amount of material Disneyland Resort recycles daily:
32 tons
Number of languages spoken by cast members at Disneyland Resort:
40 languages
There is actually a basketball court inside the Matterhorn
Number of quick service and table service locations at Disneyland Resort that offer allergy-friendly menus:
Number of food and beverage cast members employed at the Disneyland Resort:
Number of food and beverage locations at Disneyland Resort:
Number of different food items available at Disneyland Resort:
Number of apples consumed by Disneyland guests every year:
Average number of Mickey-shaped pretzels consumed at Disneyland Resort annually:
Average number of hot dogs consumed at Disneyland Resort annually:
Number of kids meals served annually at Disneyland Resort:
Year the Disneyland Hotel opened:
1955
Year Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel opened:
2000
Number of parking spaces being added with the new parking garage at Disneyland:
Average number of Disneyland wishes granted through Make-A-Wish annually:
750
Last updated 6/12/17
Number of Southern California jobs Disneyland supports (in addition to cast members):
25,000 jobs
Last updated 6/12/17
Growth in Disneyland workforce from 2005-2015:
Total amount of convention and meeting space at Disneyland:
20,000 sq ft
Last updated 6/12/17
Total number of fountains used in the World of Color show:
Number of scuba divers Disney employs at Disneyland:
50
Last updated 6/12/17
Number of parking spaces in Disneyland’s Mickey & Friends parking structure:
How many attractions at Disneyland?
The longest-serving cast member at Disneyland was Oscar Martinez, who worked there from 1956-2017.
There is a time capsule buried in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle which was buried on Disneyland’s 40th anniversary and will be opened 50 years later in 2045.
How many people visited Disneyland in its first year?
about 3.6 million people
Shortest run for a Disneyland attraction:
Mickey Mouse Club Circus (November 1955-January 1956)
Space Mountain actually cost $3 million more to build than all of Disneyland.
King Arthur Carousel was actually built in 1922- 33 years before Disneyland opened.
The drawbridge on Sleeping Beauty’s Castle actually works and has been used twice.
The last attraction Walt Disney personally supervised construction of was Pirates of the Caribbean.
Splash Mountain was originally supposed to be called Zip-A-Dee River Run.
Walt Disney actually had a private apartment above the Main Street fire station.
3 babies have been born at Disneyland.
4.4 million churros are sold at Disneyland each year.
Actor/comedian Steve Martin and Actress Michelle Pfeiffer both worked at Disneyland when they were young.
How long did it take to build Disneyland?
1 year
Disneyland was built on a 160-acre orange grove
Doritos were actually invented at Disneyland.
The fastest ride at Disneyland is Splash Mountain (40 mph after the drop)
Disney California Adventure Facts and Statistics
Year that Disney California Adventure Park opened:
2001
Disney California Adventure attendance total for 2015:
Disney California Adventure visitor total for 2019:
Cars Land opening at Disney California Adventure:
June 2012
Number of performers in the Pixar Play Parade:
Number of fireworks effects in the “Together forever” nighttime show:
Number of Space Aliens that appear in the “Together forever” nighttime show:
Number of lights used in the Paint the Night show:
For more Disney Parks Statistics, please visit the following articles:
- Disney Company and Walt Disney Facts and Stats
- Disney Revenue Statistics
- Disney Interactive Statistics
- Disney TV Statistics
- ESPN Statistics
- Disney World Statistics
- Disneyland Statistics
- Shanghai Disney Statistics
- Disneyland Paris Statistics
- Tokyo Disney Resort Statistics
- Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Statistics
- Disney Movie Statistics
- Star Wars Statistics
- Marvel Statistics
- Disney Park Attendance Statistics
- Disney Vacation Club Statistics
- Disney Cruise Line Statistics
- Aulani Statistics
- Walt Disney Imagineering Statistics
- Important Dates in Disney History
- Facts About Mickey Mouse
- Epcot Fun Facts and Statistics
