Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth

A history of the engineering marvels behind one of America’s most innovative and beloved entertainment experiencesWhen Disneyland opened to the public in 1955, it demystified the hidden world of factory automation through its extraordinary new attractions.In this fascinating book, Roland Betancourt tells the story of how the visionary engineers and designers at Disney transformed the technologies of the postwar assembly line into an entertainment experience unlike anything the world had ever seen. Disneyland and the Rise of Automation traces the origins and evolution of these technical innovations during the theme park’s first three decades in operation, exploring how engineers reimagined the systems and machines of industrial manufacturing and the military.The magnetic tape used to test ballistic missiles was repurposed to animate the talking macaws in the Enchanted Tiki Room.Programmable Logic Controllers, widely used on automotive assembly lines, brought to life the spectacular ride