Disneyland's State of the Resort
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At that moment a voice was heard from the wings. It said, quite forcefully, “Well, not exactly.�? Ouimet looked bemused, then pleased, as Art Linkletter entered from stage left. As they shook hands, applause filled the air. Linkletter reminded Ouimet that, as “one who was there,�? July 17, 1955 was far from a perfect day.

Even at 93 years old, Art Linkletter commanded the stage.

Taking the stage, Linkletter joked that he had been greeted backstage by a gray haired old man with a cane. “Do you remember me?�? the man asked. Linkletter admitted he didn’t. “Why,�? said the man, “I was on your TV show when I was four years old!�?

“I knew Walt Disney for twenty years before he built Disneyland,�? said Linkletter. He related how Walt contacted him to host the opening day television broadcast. It was the most ambitious live television production attempted up to that time. Linkletter chuckled as he recalled the goofs that happened behind the scenes, as well as a few that made their way onto the screen:

A cast member, ordered to guard a backstage area, attempted to bar Walt himself from passing through.

Linkletter, live on camera, frantically searched for a microphone that turned up under a pile of lumber.

In the hot weather, women’s heels sank into the warm asphalt, leaving some to walk away in stocking feet.

During the parade, with his TV monitor too dark, Linkletter instead described the performers directly in front of him, despite the fact that the home viewers were seeing something completely different.

But it was with real fondness that Linkletter recalled that he had the concession to sell all film and cameras in Disneyland for ten years. “Ah, I love to think about that!�? he savored.

Art Linkletter reminisced about events of 50 years ago.

Despite the initial problems, Linkletter asserted, “Disneyland made history in the entertainment of families.�? He went on to add, “It’s been a great fifty years, and it’s gonna be another great fifty years, with all the plans you’ll see today.�? Preparing to leave, Linkletter apologized for “hurrying off,�? but confided that he had an important lunch date… with Martha Stewart. “Kind of a ‘coming out party’,�? he said with a sly grin.

Art Linkletter exited to a warm round of applause as Matt Ouimet again took the stage. He noted that many in the auditorium doubtless had their own stories about Disneyland’s opening day. But beyond that, he went on, the Disneyland Resort is also a business that has a great impact on the community. The extent of that impact was not well known, though. So, he said, a study was commissioned from CB Richard Ellis, CBRE Consulting, and Allan D. Kotkin & Associates.

According to their findings, Disneyland is the number one visited destination in the Western United States. Ouimet proudly presented a few numbers:

The Disneyland Resort annually generates $3.6 billion in third party economic impact to non-Disney businesses throughout Southern California.

It supports 65,700 jobs in Southern California.

The Disneyland Resort, and its visitors, generates $225 million in taxes to various area cities and communities.

The impact of spending by Disneyland Resort visitors outside of the Resort totals $1.9 billion annually.