The original adult admission price to Disneyland in 1955 was $1.00.
That dollar bought entry through the park gates, not unlimited access to every attraction. When Disneyland opened, guests generally paid separately for rides and shows using individual attraction tickets. Adult ticket books followed later in 1955; the first books cost $2.50 and combined admission with a selection of ride coupons.
Disneyland’s public opening was July 18, 1955, after the televised dedication and press preview on July 17. The $1 admission fee covered adults, while children’s admission was lower. Attraction coupons were graded from A through C at first, with higher-letter tickets reserved for the more elaborate or popular experiences. The famous E ticket was introduced later, in 1959.
The common mistake is answering $2.50, which was the price of an early adult ticket book rather than basic admission. Another source of confusion is the $3.50 “Big 10” book, which combined admission with ten attractions. Disneyland eventually abandoned the pay-per-ride system and moved to all-inclusive admission in 1982.