Disneyland is an entertainment resort located in Anaheim, California. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company and includes two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, as well as three hotels and a shopping, dining and entertainment district known as Downtown Disney.
Walt Disney founded this resort in the 1950s. When it first opened to the public on July 17, 1955, it included Disneyland, a 100-acre parking lot (with a capacity of 15,167 seats), and the Disneyland Hotel, which was run by Disney business partner Jack Wrather.
After a successful model with several parks and hotels at Walt Disney World in Florida, the company purchased large tracts of land adjacent to Disneyland to expand the business model into Anaheim.
During the expansion period, the entire complex became known as the Disneyland Resort, and the original theme park was named Disneyland Park. The company also acquired the Disneyland Hotel from the Wrather Company and the Pan Pacific Hotel from the Tokyu Group. In 2000, the Pan Pacific became known as Disney’s Paradise Pier.
In 2001, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, a second theme park named Disney California Adventure, and the shopping, dining, and entertainment district at Disney Center were added.