To get ready for its 60th anniversary celebration in July, Disney has released a time-lapse video which shows the park’s construction in the 1950s. (It officially opened on July 17, 1955.)
The video shows several bare-bones structures becoming full-fledged houses and castles — and eventually shows the completed park swarming with visitors.
This video is just a small part of Disneyland’s 60-year anniversary celebration, which will also include keeping the park open for a full 24 hours.
Walt's Wild Men: LIFE Behind the Scenes at Disney Studios
Caption from LIFE. Quartet known as The Mello-Men bays in harmony before screen showing four canine characters whose voices they represent in the forthcoming Disney feature cartoon, "The Lady and The Tramp."Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA Disney animator peers in a mirror to get facial expressions just right.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCreating sound effects for a Disney movie, 1953.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA Disney animator peers in a mirror to get facial expressions just right.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesBehind the scenes at Disney studios, 1953.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesVoicing a character for the feature cartoon, The Lady and the Tramp.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesDisney artists check a cel from the film, The Lady and the Tramp.J. R. Eyerman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA Disney animator and a character he's drawn.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. Jim MacDonald, Disney's sound effects expert, blows across top of jug while other experts make murderous music out of bazooka, disembodied piano and assortment of strings, pipes, hinges, chains.J. R. Eyerman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA Disney animator peers in a mirror to get facial expressions just right.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. Walt at work gives animated version of what he thinks action ought to look like as he directs story conference on his forthcoming Sleeping Beauty.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesWalt DisneyJ. R. Eyerman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images