Disneyland’s Disastrous Opening Day with Riley Swedelius-Smith and Miranda Zickler

American Hysteria

W!ZARD Studios

Society & Culture

4.4 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 10 November 2025

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Our associate producer (and my brother) Riley Swedelius-Smith is here to tell our producer Miranda Zickler and me about the chaotic opening day of The Happiest Place on Earth way back in 1955. We’ll learn about the many quirks of Walt Disney, the events that unfolded as he tried to build his ludicrous dream, and how everything went down when it was finally time to present the park to the American public–live on television. Source: Disney's Land by Richard Snow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content Or subscribe to American Hysteria on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get some of our new merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠americanhysteria.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, all profits go to The Sameer Project, a Palestinian-led mutual aid group who are on the ground in Gaza delivering food and supplies to displaced families. Leave us a message on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Urban Legends Hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Producer and Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Miranda Zickler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Associate Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Riley Swedelius-Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional editing by AJ McKinley Hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The team decided pretty quickly, okay, we're going to shut the water off, but don't tell Walt,
0:09.9	which is a big theme in this story. Nobody wants to tell Walt or anything. And, you know, I wonder why.
0:24.1	We've already packed your bags, sweetie.
0:25.8	Yes, it's happening. We're all going to Disneyland.
0:30.3	Our associate producer, sound designer, research assistant, and my brother, Riley
0:36.2	Swedellius Smith, is here to tell our producer, Miranda
0:40.4	Zickler, and me about the chaotic opening day of the happiest place on earth in 1955.
0:50.7	You may know Riley's storytelling skills from our subscribers-only podcast Hysteria Home Companion,
0:58.2	where he has become quite the beloved presence, and we are thrilled that he is finally making
1:04.9	his premiere on the main feed. We'll learn about the many quirks of Walt Disney, the events that unfolded as he
1:14.1	tried to build his ludicrous cartoonish dream, and how everything went down when it was
1:20.7	finally time to present the park to the American public live on television.
1:33.6	I'm your host, Chelsea Weber Smith, along with my podcast dream team. And this is American Hysteria.
1:42.1	Well, I am so excited to get going on an episode that has been a very long time coming. And I would like to introduce officially for his true first episode on the feed.
1:58.2	Our associate producer, sound designer, researcher, Riley Swedelea Smith, also my
2:05.0	brother.
2:05.8	Hello.
2:06.5	So excited that you're here, Riley.
2:08.2	All true.
2:09.1	It's all true.
2:10.0	The rumors are true.
2:12.3	I'm happy to be here.
	...

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