The world-famous Disneyland amusement park opened in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955.
This year, Disneyland just celebrated its 70th anniversary and has become a global namesake.
As fans flock in from every corner of the world to Disneyland - or Disney World in Orlando, Florida - the vision of founder Walt Disney has paid off in a big way.
However, the initial proposal for Disneyland was not set to be in Anaheim.
One California City Turned Down the Disneyland Proposal
Surprisingly, Disneyland was proposed to be built in the city of Burbank, according to Julie Tremaine of SF Gate.
"Mickey Mouse Park was meant to be close by, just across the street from Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. But in a fateful turn, it would end up in Anaheim instead."
In 1952, Walt Disney proposed a $1.5 million plan to build the park in Burbank, but it was rejected by the city, per the Los Angeles Almanac.
"When Walt finally presented his plans to Burbank’s city council, the plans were rejected because local politicians didn’t want to bring a “carny” atmosphere into Burbank.
"This and the reality that Walt’s expanded vision for the park had quickly grown far larger than 16 acres, compelled Walt to look outside Burbank. The following year, in 1953, Walt and his Disneyland organization settled on the 160-acre Ball Road subdivision in Anaheim for the new location for Disneyland."
So, instead of Disneyland being right by the studios, it went south and landed in Anaheim and has become a smashing success.
Disney Historian Reflects on Burbank's Rejection
Jim Korkis, the late Disney historian who also published a book titled Disney Never Lands: Things Disney Never Made, reflected on the Burbank ordeal back in 2019.
"The council feared it would indeed be just another noisy carnival attracting the wrong type of people and behavior. At the time, kiddie parks were small, unkempt and crude and larger amusement parks like Coney Island had been neglected during the war and had become seedy spots inhabited by vagrants, pickpockets, prostitutes, drug dealers and worse," Korkis wrote, per the Mouse Planet.
Korkis even added that one councilman stated, “We don't want a carny atmosphere in Burbank. We don't want people falling in the river, or merry-go-rounds squawking all day long.”
Now, 70 years after the opening, Disneyland attracts over 28 million visitors per year, and the city of Burbank seems to have missed out on a massive opportunity.
Related: Disneyland Announces Special Tribute for 70th Anniversary
Disneyland Was Almost Built in a Different California City first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 31, 2025
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