Over the years, around 750 million people have experienced Disney’s magic first-hand by visiting Disneyland. There are so many things in life that bring joy to us humans and various amusement parks can sure be taken into the list of those little simple pleasures this world has to offer. Picture yourself walking around one of the world’s most popular theme amusement parks for free, year on year. Well, not just any amusement park, we are talking about Disneyland here. Isn’t that a dream! If you had to pick two good things in this amusement-park world, going to Disneyland and being their first customer ever would be something bucket list-worthy. Just think about the utopia of it – you get to walk around the fantasy world, meeting your favorite characters who are always cheerful and just dying to snap a picture with you. And this man has got it back in 1955!
Image credits: Disneyland
#1
The chance of becoming the first Disney land customer is won by Dave Macpherson when he was a 22-year college student back in July 1955
#2
Scotsman who studied at Long Beach State College during the grand opening of Disneyland happens to be the first customer to set foot in the legendary park the day it was opened to the public. Dave had reportedly stood in the queue to enter the premises from 2 am on opening day, and boy did it pay off!
#3
He immediately turned off the television, and as per the rash plan, hopped onto his bike and set off for a 10-mile ride to Anaheim. After buying a ticket from the nearest booth, he started the line at 2 a.m.
#4
But don’t be mistaken, it’s no lucky coincidence. The young Scotsman observed Disneyland’s opening festivities on television on July 17th, 1955. He marveled at the celebrities enjoying the park when the thought struck him – why not be the first of all the commoners to enter the park.
He hatched the plan while watching the opening day festivities on July 17th, 1955 and then made a 10-mile trip on a motorbike to begin the queue.
#5
He doesn’t know what happened to his admission ticket but he preserved this copy of the complimentary card that came with it.
He said he never got to use the complimentary card he was given back then because he was in a rush to get home. However, he lives with no regret as the lifetime pass he got for being the first commoner to enter the park, had him sorted for life.
#6
Dave recalls how a never-ending stretch of 6,000 people who had queued behind him. Although he has lost the admission ticket now, he has carefully nested a copy of the complimentary card he was given at the time of the purchase.
#7
And even takes his wife Wanda to the Happiest Place on Earth with a couple of friends, nowadays he usually takes his wife Wanda with him, along with their good friends Martha & Joe Ortiz. Funnily enough, Joe was also in Disneyland back in 1955 on July 18th but the men didn’t get to meet them but were brought together by life and common interest’s decades later. His wife Wanda usually assists him in these annual trips to the fantasy world of Walt Disney.
And even takes his wife Wanda to the Happiest Place on Earth with a couple of friends
Seems like he never misses a chance to show off his love for Disney
#8
The Disneyland he visited had its grand opening on July 17th, 1955
For its opening day, Disney executed a televised event, which was open only to Walt Disney’s family, the media and guests who were mostly celebrities of all kinds. He said that seeing the line of 6,000 people behind him was something he would never forget.
He also got the chance to see Walt Disney himself.
And was opened to the public the next day, July 18th, after Disney’s family members and celebrities got a chance to visit
Dave MacPherson was the lucky guy to get in front of all the excited children
He said that seeing the line of 6,000 people behind him was something he would never forget
#14 As well as seeing Walt Disney himself
