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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com. It's July 13, 1955, outside the gates of Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

It's a few days before the opening of the new theme park, but a special preview event is about to begin for a select

group of VIPs. Waiting at the entrance for guests is Walt Disney himself, founder and CEO of the

Walt Disney Company. Walt chainsmokes nervously. This theme park has been years in the making

and costs millions of dollars. It's a huge gamble for Walt and his company,

and now the moment of truth is near. Cameras flash as Hollywood stars and their families

arrive at the gates. The celebrities stop to pose for photos with Walt. He shakes hands with

Terry Grant and then with Spencer Tracy. And when the guests have all assembled, Walt leads them inside.

Layed out before them is a magical world designed to transport them away from the reality of the

everyday and into a world of pure fantasy. The guests seem delighted by what they see.

But as much as Walt is eager to show off Disneyland to these celebrities,

he's more concerned with the reaction of his real guests, those he built the park for.

So as the A-listers leave to explore Disneyland on their own, Walt gathers a dozen of their children

together. He ushers them all onto the Disneyland Railroad, a miniature locomotive that will carry

guests around the park. And once the children are all on board, Walt jumps into the driver's seat.

He toots the horn, and the train pulls away. As the engine gains speed, Walt looks behind him

at the children's faces. They point excitedly at the rides and stalls and

gardens all laid out waiting for them. Walt smiles, the tension lifting from his shoulders.

Suddenly, it all seems worthwhile. For the past decade, Walt Disney has devoted his life to Disneyland.

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