Disneyland spokesman Tim O'Day, hired as a parade performer in 1976 and knowledgeable about virtually every Disneyland detail, is practically the grand marshal of the theme park's rich history, including its integration to motion pictures. The co-author of Disneyland: Then, Now and Forever talked with Box Office Mojo about the Happiest Place on Earth.
Box Office Mojo: Which principle defines Disneyland?
Tim O'Day: Having fun in the company of family and friends. Walt [Disney] wanted some kind of an amusement enterprise, a three-dimensional immersive experience where friends and family could share in the experience of fantasy, the promise of the future, nostalgia, our heritage—each of which are like movie genres.
Box Office Mojo: Is there anything about today's Disneyland that Walt Disney might lament?
O'Day: Walt had quite the vivid imagination and I think his great lament would be not having fulfilled every concept [for Disneyland]. He was always such a fan of technology, and I know he tried to stay ahead of tomorrow with the attractions in Tomorrowland.
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