Partytime to celebrate 50 years of Disneyland

A string of celebratory events will be held this week to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Disney park.

Disneyland in southern California opened in 1955, attended by more than 28,000 visitors and the singer Frank Sinatra.

Since then the Disney empire has expanded to include sites in Paris and Tokyo.

Anniversary celebrations will start simultaneously on May 5 at Disneyland and at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Jeff James, vice president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for the UK and Ireland, said: “Over the past 50 years, Disneyland has transformed the way we holiday and has become synonymous with escapism, magic and fun.

“From the very first Park in California, Walt’s dream has captured the public imagination and continues to attract visitors of all ages.”

The newest Disney theme park is to open in Hong Kong in September this year.