Disneyland’s First-Ever Customer Has Been Using His Lifetime Ticket Every Year Since 1955

Judita Kusaitytė
BoredPanda staff

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. 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. 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 definitely be something bucket list-worthy. And this man has done it back in 1955! Scroll down for the whole story!

Dave MacPherson was a 22-year-old college student back in July 1955 when he became the first Disneyland customer ever. This handsome Scotsman smirking at the camera is Dave MacPherson who at the time of the grand opening of Disneyland was only 22 years old and studied at Long Beach State College. He was the first customer to set foot in the legendary amusement park on the day it was opened to the common people.

He figured out he wanted to be first in line and started at 2 AM on opening day and was the first person to enter the park after Disney’s family members and celebrities. 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.

He doesn’t know what happened to his admission ticket but he preserved this copy of the complimentary card that came with it. He then turned off the TV, hopped onto his motorbike and rode approximately 10 miles from Long Beach, California to Anaheim. He then walked to the nearest ticket booth and just started a line… at 2 o’clock in the morning! After waiting for a good few hours, he then proceeded to purchase the first ticket sold to the common public.

But proudly says he has been coming back every year since. Seems that MacPherson really appreciates the honor, since he keeps coming back every year.

With his ticket, he received a complimentary card but didn’t actually get to use it because the long ride back to Long Beach awaited him. Luckily for him, he received a lifetime pass for being the first commoner ever to enter the park and has enjoyed his privileges annually ever since.

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

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 interests decades later.

The Disneyland he visited had its grand opening on July 17th, 1955 and was opened to the public the next day, July 18th, after Disney’s family members and celebrities got a chance to visit.

Disneyland was the first of two theme parks in the Disneyland resort in California. Walt Disney himself came up with the concept for it after visiting numerous amusement parks with his children during 1930-1940 and brought it to life a couple of decades later. It cost 17 million US dollars to complete the park.

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.

For its opening day, Disney executed a televised event, which was open only to Walt Disney’s family, the media and invited guests who were mostly celebrities of all kinds. During the park’s opening to the wide public the next day, Walt Disney himself disappeared shortly after opening the gate, leaving many people, including our Scotsman Dave MacPherson slightly disappointed. Despite that, he still said it was the best day!

As well as seeing Walt Disney himself!

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