Mickey Mouse. Donald Duck. Goofy. Walt Disney's creations have been a permanent fixture in children's lives for many decades, but one of the most continuous and resilient of these is the ever popular and constantly dreamed-about Disneyland in Anaheim, Los Angeles.

Disneyland opened on a sweltering hot July day in 1955 after a rough year of construction. Despite the many set-backs and rushed efforts, Disneyland opened to success. But before the people could rush through the gates to enter their dreamland, Walter E. Disney unveiled a plaque that would set the scene for the many adventures that would come to reality in his park.

"Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy" was what the plaque said at the entrance. It is a phrase embodies the spirit of a happy childhood intended by Walt Disney and, as a result, Disneyland has become a place for the young and the old, for ideas and dreams, for joy and inspiration. Indeed, its location even befits the hopes that it held for the American community. In a city where many come to live out their dreams of stardom and enterprise, Disneyland gave shape to the many dreams that children of all ages and generations have wanted to live out.

Because of this, well over 515 million guests have entered its hallowed gates in its 52 year history and each one of these visitors will most certainly have felt that they were truly entering a dream land - Everything is oversized. Everything is brightly coloured. Everything from the buildings to the transport to the food looks like a caricature. It is like walking into your favourite cartoon where you can spend your days playing with your favourite characters.

From here, the world is your oyster. Visitors can head through 19th century-styled Main Street to enjoy a treat from the ice cream parlour and a game at the penny arcade before heading over to Adventureland to have a ride on the thrilling Indiana Jones Adventure. From here, visitors can go for a tea party with the Mad Hatter in Fantasyland's Mad Tea Party then wander over to Mickey's Toontown to say hi to their favourite Disney characters. There are also the rides for the thrill-seekers such as Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds and the ever-popular Splash Mountain.

Of course there are the entertainment options that include the nightly fireworks display fired off Cinderella's castle and the Parade of Dreams that brings over 50 of the world's most loved Disney characters through Disneyland's streets on colourful floats.

There are so many rides and attractions to visit and enjoy that will suit anyone and everyone of all ages and tastes. With so many options, it is no wonder that one of the most popular tickets that are bought by visitors each year is the five-day pass - giving enough time to allow hardcore Disney fans to see and enjoy everything that the theme park has to offer.

Despite the huge expanse of the 85-acre park, Disneyland Park continues to grow. With each new Disney film, a new attraction is created. It seems that time will see the park grow and thrive and, at the same time, bring people back to explore its changes while enjoying the much-loved attractions of old. It is most definitely a world of "yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy."

As Walt Disney always said: "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."