Independent and fan-made. Not affiliated with Disney.
Where fans have fun together.

The story behind our name.

Is it “to all who come” or “to all that come”?

The dedication plaque says “to all who come.” The wording with “that” is a misquote. The opening-day plaque shown on this page records the wording, including the date July 17, 1955.

What is the full Disneyland dedication speech?

The full dedication is transcribed below from the opening-day plaque dated July 17, 1955.

Portrait of Walt Disney, 1946
Photo: Walt Disney, 1946 · Public domain
THE WORDS THAT INSPIRED OUR NAME

“To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land.

Here age relives fond memories of the past... and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.

Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”

— Walt Disney · Disneyland opening day, July 17, 1955
▶ Watch Walt say it
A LITTLE HISTORY

This Happy Place Facts

01

Where it started

Walt Disney dedicates Disneyland, July 17, 1955. From ABC’s live opening-day broadcast. Video: ABC7 Los Angeles.
Disneyland’s opening-day dedication plaque dated July 17, 1955
  • Walt Disney first said “this happy place” in Disneyland’s dedication on opening day, July 17, 1955.
  • The dedication plaque sits at the base of the Main Street, U.S.A. flagpole.
  • It reads “To all who come.” The misquote “To all that come” has even appeared on official merchandise.
02

The Partners statue

Plaque beneath the Partners statue describing Disneyland as a happy place where parents and children can have fun together
  • Unveiled November 18, 1993, Mickey Mouse’s 65th anniversary.
  • Its plaque calls Disneyland “a happy place,” but the wording is a composite of separate Walt remarks.
03

The phrase travels the world

  • Magic Kingdom, 1971: Roy O. Disney welcomed all who come to “this happy place.”
  • Tokyo, 1983 · Paris, 1992 · Hong Kong, 2005: Each dedication opens with Walt’s welcome line.
  • Shanghai, 2016: Bob Iger’s dedication opens with Walt’s welcome and adds that Shanghai Disneyland “is your land.”
  • Only Walt spoke the phrase at Disneyland. Every later use is an homage.
04

Myth check

  • “The Happiest Place on Earth” is a marketing tagline, not a Walt Disney quote.

More about the dedication

Where is the Disneyland dedication plaque?

The Disneyland dedication plaque sits at the base of the Main Street, U.S.A. flagpole in Town Square at Disneyland Park. It records the opening-day dedication and its July 17, 1955 date.

Did Walt Disney say “The Happiest Place on Earth”?

“The Happiest Place on Earth” is Disneyland’s marketing tagline, rather than the wording of Walt Disney’s July 17, 1955 dedication. The plaque and dedication video on this page show the wording of that speech.

What was the Walt Disney World dedication?

Roy O. Disney dedicated Walt Disney World on October 25, 1971. His dedication honors Walt’s life and philosophy and the Disney organization’s work, and welcomes visitors of all ages to learn, play and find joy together.

Sources: the dedication plaque and opening-day video reproduced on this page; Disneyland’s official fact sheet; and Walt Disney Archives on the 1971 dedication.