"Discover the incredible true story of a family who secretly lived in Disneyland for 16 years—right under the noses of millions of visitors!
Amusement parks are a dream come true for both young and old, and leaving them is always a disappointment.
On top of that, navigating the various attractions and deciding how to spend your time can feel like wandering through a colorful and cheerful labyrinth. Disneyland perfectly embodies all these qualities, standing as the ultimate symbol of amusement parks. After all, who hasn’t dreamed of visiting the "happiest place on Earth" and seeing their childhood characters come to life?
Just consider this: in 2019, before pandemic-related restrictions reduced its capacity to around 10,000 visitors, Disneyland Paris averaged over 40,000 daily visitors.
Since its opening in 1992, the French park has welcomed more than 320 million guests—a number that skyrockets when we look at the United States. And yet, no one noticed the family who lived in Disneyland for 16 years in California.
The protagonists of this remarkable story have sparked admiration and even a bit of envy worldwide, as no one is actually allowed to live inside the park. Let’s dive into their incredible story.
This Family Lived in Disneyland for 16 Years
There are many stories from the world of Disney that inspire wonder and emotion—real-life fairy tales that make their protagonists timeless.
This was the case for Owen and Dolly Pope, the only people ever allowed to live inside Disneyland, thanks to Walt Disney himself.
Owen, a horse trainer from Texas, married Dolly in 1935. They not only built a life together but also worked as a team, caring for animals and organizing shows at fairs.
Their expertise and passion didn’t go unnoticed by Walt Disney, who hired them to take care of the livestock in Frontierland—a 19th-century American Wild West-themed attraction found in all Disney parks except Hong Kong.
Their primary responsibility was managing horses and ponies.
Since the animals required constant care and the Popes were heavily involved in the attractions, a logical decision was made: they were allowed to live permanently inside Disneyland in California.
At first, they stayed in a trailer near the Conestoga Wagons attraction, where they trained the horses. Later, they were offered a more permanent home on Disney property.
Initially, the Popes thought they had been recruited for a film project, but just three days before Disneyland’s grand opening, they moved into their new home inside the park.
This marked the creation of the Pony Farm, where the couple lived until 1971.
That year, they relocated to Florida to manage the Tri-Circle-D Ranch in Walt Disney World, where they remained until retiring in 1975.
Did No One Notice Them?
Looking back on the Popes’ story, it’s easy to see why some people find it mysterious.
Some mistakenly believe the couple was hidden in Disneyland, which is why visitors never noticed them.
However, in reality, Owen and Dolly Pope were officially employed, and their work contract included housing within the park.
Most likely, no one gave it much thought at the time—after all, the magical attractions of Disneyland were far more attention-grabbing than a themed house, no matter how charming.
Their home was tucked away from major attractions, and during the park’s opening hours, the couple spent most of their time working, even handling minor maintenance tasks.
Walt Disney himself decided that no one else would be allowed to live inside the park, making their house the only official residence ever built in Disneyland.
A commemorative plaque once marked its significance. However, in 2016, the Pope house was removed to make way for the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction and was later moved to an area near the employee parking lot.
Original article published on Money.it Italy 2025-03-30 19:29:23. Original title: Questa famiglia ha vissuto a Disneyland per 16 anni, nessuno se ne è mai accorto
