Holidayland: The Long Lost Land of Disneyland

Read Time:2 Minute, 55 Second

Imagine your excitement, your parents came home and told you that this year’s company picnic is not going to be held at the local park but instead it will be at the newly opened Disneyland. In 1957 this was the idea Walt had. Unfortunately, the dream was dashed when parents pulled up to the gate of Disneyland and drove past the entrance and continued to the back of the park.

From the early designs, Walt and Imagineers planned for more than just an amusement park. Original plans included Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland, Main Street, U.S.A., and New Orleans Square. Nestled between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland originally was a small wooded area for picnics and outdoor activities, “Holiday Park”.

The creation of Milt Albright a Disney publicist tasked with increasing attendance during off-peak times. Meant to be a location for families and companies to come for a picnic and outdoor activity with the added perk of visiting Disneyland.

As designs changed within the park the need for space increased. Soon the “Holiday Park” was moved outside the berm separating the fantasy of Disneyland from the outside world of everyday reality.

Relocated outside the Frontierland berm it came with a new name, HOLIDAYLAND. Missing the features of the inter-berm LANDs, it was a characterless, themeless, 9-acre picnic park, consisting of Horseshoe Toss, Volleyball, and Softball fields. The centerpiece was Disneyland’s Mickey Mouse Club Circus—the “world’s largest candy-striped circus tent”, where families could find food vendors and of a parental favorite, a bottomless mug of beer. Alcohol did not fit into Walt’s idea for a family park but this was technically not in DISNEYLAND.

Holidayland could be rented by companies, organizations, and families for recreational getaways. A day at Holidayland would consist of Sack Races, Softball, basketball all the standard COMPANY PICNIC EVENTS.

Many children may have been disappointed with the thought of a day at Disney to find that they were Disneyland adjacent to a park just like they have down the block from their homes.

The rides of Holiday land were not like those of the rides beyond the berm. Here seesaws, swings sets, slides and monkey bars were plainly decorated except for the flags on the monkey bars similar to the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

If kids survived a day of running and playing under the hot Anaheim sun in the sparsely shaded park and if Dad hadn’t had too many Bottomless Mugs, with admission to Happyland guests could enter the park at 4 pm through the dedicated entrance to Disneyland.

During slow periods, Disney would host events in the park to show future plans for Disneyland and the Walt Disney Company. Walt and staff would turn a press event into a huge family picnic for family, coworkers, and press.

Holidayland did not hold up to sustain itself. A lack of enough bathrooms for the 7000 people capacity and 1000’s of bottomless mugs, lack of shade from the blazing summer sun, and no lights for evening use and the further need for space to expand Disneyland called for the closing after just 4 years.

Happyland was part of Walt’s concept for an all-around Family Friendly Resort which grew into Disney World. Today, New Orleans Square’s Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion buildings now occupy the space of Holidayland. These rides start inside the berm of Disneyland but upon entering the ride building transports you under the berm and onto the land that was once Holidayland.