July 4 - Teresa Salcedo

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On this day, in 1979, Theresa Salcedo became the first baby to be born in a Disney theme park. The fourth of July was hot that year in Anaheim. Rosa Salcedo was very pregnant and very uncomfortable. She and her husband, Elias, decided that maybe some of that discomfort could be relieved by a visit to Disneyland, it was the happiest place on earth after all. The couple arrived at the park and spent some time walking around together. Rosa was obviously limited in the rides she could participate in. She began to tire and Elias suggested they rest in the shade, having his wife sit on a bench on Main Street USA, just behind the Plaza Inn restaurant.

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Whether it was the heat, all the walking around she’d done that day, or it was just time, Rosa went into labor on that bench. Park employees were notified and, as they would do in any medical emergency, they called for an ambulance. The baby, however, wasn’t going to wait around for that sort of foolishness. By the time paramedics arrived, Rosa was too far along for mother and baby to be moved safely. She ended up giving birth to a healthy 6 pound 10 ounce daughter right there. When it was decided that everyone involved was in stable condition, Rosa, Elias and the newest member of their family, Teresa, were transported to a nearby hospital. A few days later, Disney created a nice photo op and had Mickey, Donald and Goofy visit Teresa and her mother in the hospital.

image courtesy thisfairytalelife.com

That’s where the story should have ended but someone in the Disney PR department had a bright idea on how to capitalize on the story even more and gave birth to one of the most persistent Disney Urban Legends out there (maybe second only to the cryogenics one). A couple of months later, Disneyland was having a ceremony to celebrate the opening of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Since the press was going to be around anyways, why not invite the Salcedo family back for a special side ceremony acknowledging Disneyland’s first official citizen? There are so many reasons why not, but Disney did it anyways.

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A small presentation was held in front of Sleeping Beauty castle. The Salcedos were presented with a Disneyland birth certificate with the serial number 1 on it. Characters gathered around, pictures were taken, I’m sure there was probably some kind of confetti. And that’s literally it. Except a certain segment of the public refuses to believe that. Somehow in popular thinking, that birth certificate translated into a lifetime pass to Disneyland, which grew into a certainty that anyone born on Disney property would receive the same thing. Pure balderdash, as anyone who actually thought about that prospect for even a moment would quickly realize. I’m sure the Salcedos were given complimentary admission on the day of the ceremony, but that would be it. Disney doesn’t want thousands of really pregnant women jamming themselves into every corner of their parks, trying to induce labor (and then keep it quiet enough so they can’t be whisked off to a hospital) all for free tickets. That’s just an insane scenario to even briefly contemplate. And yet the legend persists. Even though Disney quickly realized that even the birth certificate was a bad idea and never gave out another one.

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That being said, a total of four babies have been known to come into this world at Disneyland, although gathering information about them isn’t easy. One, in 1984, was born in the park’s First Aid station. Apparently that time Dad had left mom alone to go ride Space Mountain (she couldn’t for obvious reasons), she went into labor while he was gone and by the time he was finally reunited with her (Excuse me, but my very pregnant wife isn’t where I left her. Oh, you’re the guy. Come with me, sir), he was a father. Another birth reportedly took place in an office backstage and the fourth birth happened in the parking lot. We do know that all of four of the babies so far have been girls. So I guess if you’re looking to make Disneyland history, we are all still waiting for a boy to be born there. Just don’t expect a lifetime supply of goodies for your efforts.