8-year-old boy becomes Disneyland's 1 billionth guest
An 8-year-old Arizona boy visiting Disneyland Park for his birthday made history Friday as the park's one billionth visitor.
Andres Robles became the milestone guest when he entered the park in Anaheim, California, with his parents, Alejandra and Jose Robles, according to Disneyland Resort.
At the park, the family joined a ceremony on Main Street U.S.A., where an updated sign now reads "Population 1,000,000,000."
The Robles family also received a VIP tour guide for the day, which includes a tour of resort founder Walt Disney's private apartment, a ride on the newly opened Soarin' Across America attraction for the country's 250th anniversary and and other special experiences.
"Welcoming our one billionth guest is a remarkable milestone for Disneyland Resort and a testament to the generations of guests who have made this special place part of their lives," Jill Estorino, president of Disneyland Resort, said in a statement Friday. "For more than 70 years, Walt's original park has been a timeless symbol of Disney storytelling, where memories are made and shared, and we are honored to carry that legacy forward for guests today and for generations to come."
Disneyland Resort celebrated its 70th anniversary last year after first opening its gates to guests on July 17, 1955.
The late Walt Disney said its creation was inspired by his own experience as a dad.
"Well, it came about when my daughters were very young," Disney says in archival footage shown in the ABC News' special "The Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of Disneyland -- 20/20 Special Edition." "I felt that there should be something built where the parents and the children could have fun together."
On Disneyland's opening day in 1955, Disney told the park's first guests, "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world," according to the company.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC News.
