As ten of thousands of guests walk through Disneyland every day, the vast majority don’t even notice the small plaque on the ground in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
The small plaque marks the spot where the Disneyland Time Capsule is buried. The time capsule – shaped like Sleeping Beauty Castle, which gives it the nickname “Time Castle” – was dedicated on the 40th anniversary of Disneyland on July 17, 1995. It is set to be “dug up” and opened on the 80th anniversary of Disneyland on July 17, 2035 … which is just over a decade away, if you can believe it.
The plaque reads:
Placed beneath this marker on July 17, 1995:The Disneyland 40th Anniversary “Time Castle,” containing Disneyland memories, messages, and milestones, lies beneath this spot. The Disneyland Time Castle is dedicated to the children of the 21st century, who may unlock its contents on the 80th Anniversary of Disneyland July 17, 2035.
The time capsule includes several items including 40th anniversary merchandise, Cast Member name tags, park maps and brochures, memorabilia from the opening of Indiana Jones Adventure (which opened a couple months earlier), video recordings of park events, park tickets from 1995, and an aerial photo of the Disneyland Resort and surrounding areas.
Disney California Adventure has its own time capsule, buried in February 2012 during the construction of Buena Vista Street. That time capsule is scheduled to be opened after 25 years, in 2037. You can find the plaque on the ground near the very front of the park, after walking through the entry turnstiles.
Let me know what you thought about this Disneyland secret! Did you already know about it or did you learn something new?
