With over 17 million visitors a year, Tokyo Disneyland ranks as the most highly visited theme park in the world. And after visiting the park just once, is not hard to see why.
One interesting fact about the theme park is that although it carries the Disney name, it is in fact owned and operated by a separate company, known as the Oriental Land Company (OLC).
Started after World War II as a conglomerate of several different large Japanese companies (railroad, steel, etc.), OLC's main focus was to reclaim the shallow areas of Tokyo Bay. Such reclaimed land however was then ordered by the Japanese government to be utilized for "leisure" purposes. Who knew that it would house the most successful theme park ever to be built to date?
It was at this point Oriental Land Company (OLC) sent study teams around the world to determine the best use for the land (golf, amusement/theme parks, sports complexes, etc.) One team visited the Anaheim, California Disneyland, and their mind's were made up. However, when OLC approached The Walt Disney Company in the mid-1960's, just prior to Walt Disney's death, the company was interested but was more focused on developing the Orlando, Florida park at that time.
Imagining the potential, OLC again approached the Walt Disney Company in the late 1970's and agreeing to a handsome licensing contract, Tokyo Disneyland was opened on April 15, 1983.
Now, with over 45 rides covering an area of 115 acres, Tokyo Disneyland continues to see larger crowds by the day.
In addition, Tokyo Disneyland (TDL) is currently undergoing a major expansion, in their creation of Disney Sea. This new addition to the park will add a whole new dimension oriented towards a sea-type atmosphere.
Welcome! This is one of the first signs that visitors see as they begin their adventure at Tokyo Disneyland!
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