From 1955 to Forever: 70 Years of Marriage and Magic at Disneyland

For seven decades, Disneyland Resort has been a consistent backdrop for endless milestones and ongoing family traditions, serving as a welcoming home for all guests looking to enjoy quality time with their loved ones.

From first-time visitors traveling from Minnesota to lifelong Southern Californians planning an annual winter trip, the resort has opened new doors for so many guests traveling from around the world, starting with its legendary first season in 1955 and continuing through today, as the Disneyland Resort 70^th Celebration continues.

Few stories capture that enduring spirit better than Dick and Cynthia Borrud’s 70-year connection to Disneyland. Married in August of 1955, this perfect match first visited Disneyland just five weeks after its historic opening in 1955 as part of a wonderful SoCal honeymoon. Since then, this loving couple has made a point to return to Disneyland Resort every year of operation, growing with one another as the days go by and reflecting the everlasting energy that has defined the resort for generations.

Eager to learn more about these sweet soulmates and their Anaheim adventures along the way? Read on to discover the origins of their very first trip and the unforgettable times they’ve had together at Disneyland over the past 70 years!

There are so many phenomenal places in the world to potentially travel on a honeymoon, but the couple had a key reason why they chose to visit sunny Southern California back in the summer of ‘55.

Officially married on August 21, 1955, just over one month after Disneyland opened its gates to the world, Dick and Cynthia Borrud set off on their honeymoon on a road trip from Mabel, Minnesota, to California in a 1950 Studebaker, towing a homemade tent camper trailer for their adventure across the nation. Fresh off their wedding and full of enthusiasm, they headed to Los Angeles so Cynthia could meet Dick’s family for the very first time, marking some of their first steps as lovely newlyweds ready to take on the world together.

On their long, winding way to The Golden State, they journeyed through mountains, hills, and national parks, making stops at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Estes Park and Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado, and finally Las Vegas in Nevada, before driving all night through the desert on the road to L.A. on August 26. After a few days of local fun with family, their honeymoon culminated with a perfect cherry on top with a stop at The Happiest Place on Earth.

Arriving early in the morning that day, Dick and Cynthia noticed just how big the parking lot in front of the park seemed. Before even entering the park, they could feel this brand-new destination was humming with magic, exuberance, and an overall sense of happiness.

Once they stepped through the gates, Dick and Cynthia recalled that all the guests in the park were dressed up for the occasion: men wearing slacks and women adorned in dresses and heels, with a sense of joyous bustle in the air.

On their very first visit, the lovely dynamic duo boarded King Arthur Carrousel, Mark Twain Riverboat, Jungle Cruise, and the Disneyland Railroad. It was a pleasant day with warm weather and plenty of excitement among thousands of happy smiles. Accompanied by Dick’s grandmother, stepmom, and two younger brothers, the pair stayed late into the afternoon, even enjoying a nice lunch in the picnic area outside the park during the day — check out two photos from their very first visit above!

This milestone moment made such a lasting impression that they ended up making it a tradition to return to Disneyland at least once a year when visiting family members in Southern California. Since that magical trip in August 1955, the couple has visited the resort every year (outside of 2020), eventually bringing their four children and two grandchildren along for the ride over the years.

Since 1955, Dick and Cynthia have been able to experience the Disneyland of past and present, documenting so many of these trips with their fair share of pictures and special memories. Have a favorite attraction from the past, a former beloved restaurant that you remember dining at, or a now-retired snack that is always in the back of your mind? There’s a good chance that this delightful duo knows what you’re referring to.

Over the years, Dick and Cynthia even became somewhat of familiar Disneyland “experts” within the park, learning to precisely plan out their day with the ticket books that they received on earlier visits to Disneyland (especially by making sure to plan out their visits to the E-Ticket attractions) and now using the Disneyland app with family members to stop by their favorite rides. While Disneyland has evolved over the past seven decades, it remains a place full of comfort, warmth, and a present sense of nostalgia for all.

On this year’s trip, Cynthia mentioned just how beautiful and inviting the park remains 70 years later. As for Dick, he mentioned how happy everyone always is when visiting the parks and enjoys connecting with cast members across the resort, sharing the couple’s happy history along the way.

As time passed, new memories were created and added to the family’s cherished photo album.

With children and eventually grandchildren entering the picture, new family members joined in on the fun over the years: meeting characters at a young age, boarding classic park attractions as they grew up, and certainly scooping up a fair share of goodies each and every visit no matter the age.

92 and 93 years young respectively and now living in Ellensburg, Washington, Dick and Cynthia remain young at heart with a dear connection to Disney. When visiting this year during the 70^th anniversary of Disneyland Resort, the duo used this vacation as another opportunity to live in the moment and experience all that the resort has to offer, this time with their daughter, Julie, and their grandchildren, Anna and Lars Enger, at their side.

Dick and Cynthia noted that they especially enjoy boarding the Disneyland Railroad, “it’s a small world,” and Jungle Cruise on trips to the resort these days, three classic attractions that they’ve come to love over the years with each successive visit.

In addition, they appreciate having a glass of wine at Mendocino Terrace at Disney California Adventure park, before venturing over to Cars Land to witness the neon lights in the area glow up at sunset. They also love ordering coffee and treats from the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe on Main Street, U.S.A., to enjoy on the restaurant’s patio, enjoying some quality time in Disneyland park that takes them back to the days of yesteryear.

With 70 years of experience at Disneyland, these two have plenty of favorite choices and tips up their sleeves – read on to check out some of their top picks below!

So, all these years later, what still makes their yearly trip to Disneyland so special?

The couple says that these visits give them time to reflect on all the happy memories made over the years, looking back on that inaugural visit in 1955 and all the incredible family moments made in the decades since. Yet, as time goes by, two constant forces remain the same for this perfect pair – a true, compassionate love for one another and an authentic, everlasting connection to The Happiest Place on Earth, 70 years in the making.