It’s 2026, and Disney is still celebrating new milestones.
On Thursday, Disney celebrated the arrival of its 1 billionth guest at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim—a historic moment that was commemorated with significant fanfare.
Visiting 8-year-old Andres Robles was identified by park officials as the 1 billionth guest in Disneyland’s storied history. Andres and his parents, Alejandra and Jose, were visiting Disneyland from their home in Arizona to celebrate Andres’ birthday.
Andres was the “unsuspecting” billionth guest, Disneyland officials said.
He was greeted by Mickey and Minnie Mouse and participated in a ceremony at the Main Street U.S.A train station platform as the family unveiled an updated sign at the park that now reads: “Population 1,000,000,000.”
Andres, Alejandra and Jose were then treated to a VIP tour for the day, which comes with several exclusive perks, including a tour of Walt Disney’s private apartment above the Disneyland fire station. The tour also includes access to the newly opened Soarin’ Across America attraction and other offerings at the theme park.
Disneyland is currently at the tail end of its 70th anniversary celebration, having opened to the public officially on July 17, 1955—that’s more than 14 million visitors per year.
Disneyland Resort President Jill Estorino said the official welcoming of the theme park’s 1 billionth guest is a testament to the timeless tradition and lasting impact of Walt Disney and the properties he brought to life.
“For more than 70 years, Walt’s original park has been a timeless symbol of Disney storytelling, where memories are made and shared, and we are honored to carry that legacy forward for guests today and for generations to come,” Estorino said in a news release.
Disney officials echoed the words that the founder once said, that his beloved Disneyland will “never be completed.”
“It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world,” Walt famously said.
Disneyland Then vs. Now
Since Disneyland’s opening in 1955, a lot has changed.
When it first opened, the resort’s size was significantly more modest, by comparison. When it debuted in 1955, Disneyland was roughly 160 acres with only 20 opening day attractions.
In 2026, the park is more than 500 acres in size and growing, with two full theme parks, the Downtown Disney District and Disney-owned hotel properties. Attractions between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure range from 80-90, depending on how you want to define the catch-all “attraction” label.
When the park opened, admission cost $1, but guests needed to have individual tickets to ride the various attractions. In modern times, the price of admission (now into the triple figures) gets you access to almost everything and no need for ticket booklets—with additional upgrades available for purchase.
Read More: Disneyland will need to retire its fleet of gas-powered Autopia cars soon
Opening day attractions that are still standing today include Jungle Cruise, Autopia, and Peter Pan’s Flight. Other beloved attractions, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Enchanted Tiki Room opened the following decade.
The newest attraction to open at Disneyland is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which officially opened in March 2023—I was there!
However, Disney is in the process of another major expansion in the coming years, adding new immersive experiences inspired by Avatar, Pixar’s Coco, and the world of Marvel’s Avengers.
We will learn even more about Disney’s plans for its first park in August, when the D23 fan convention kicks off at the Anaheim Convention Center. The multi-day event features interactive conventions, panels and showcases that reveal the upcoming direction of the company’s various properties.
