If you’ve spent any time exploring Disney fandom online, you’ve probably stumbled upon the persistent rumor that being born in a Disney park earns you a coveted Lifetime Pass.
Though it makes for a fun story, the reality is far less magical—Disney doesn’t hand out free entry for life just because your parents happened to be visiting when you made your debut. But where did this idea come from? And has anyone actually been born in the park to test the theory?
While Disneyland has been open for nearly 70 years, births inside the park remain extremely rare. Given the close proximity of Disneyland and Walt Disney World to hospitals and medical facilities, the chances of a woman going into labor and delivering her baby before reaching a hospital are very slim.
Yet, despite these odds, one remarkable birth did happen in 1979 that sheds light on what occurs if you find yourself giving birth in the Happiest Place on Earth.
The First Baby Born at Disneyland
On July 4, 1979, Rosa and Elias Salcedo were celebrating the holiday at Disneyland when their plans took an unexpected turn. Riding the Submarine Voyage (now Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage) in Tomorrowland, Rosa, who was heavily pregnant, began feeling sharp pains.
By the time they exited the ride, it was clear she was in labor, and things were progressing rapidly. Without enough time to get her to a hospital, Rosa gave birth to a baby girl, Teresa Salcedo, right on Main Street, U.S.A., making her the first official baby born at Disneyland.
Giving Birth at Disney: Not Part of the Plan
Despite the rumor that circulated earlier this year that Disney might someday build a maternity ward, labor at Disneyland isn’t something they plan or hope for.
While Disney park cast members and First Aid staff were fully prepared to help Rosa and had intended to get her to the hospital, Teresa had other plans. Her quick arrival on Main Street left the staff with little choice but to act fast and assist right where they were. Needless to say, giving birth on Main Street is not what anyone would consider an ideal scenario, but it’s certainly one for the history books.
The Lifetime Pass Myth
The legend of a Lifetime Pass likely stems from Teresa Salcedo’s birth. While she didn’t receive unlimited entry to the parks, her family was treated as guests of honor soon after her birth. During their visit, Teresa was presented with a unique “Disneyland Birth Certificate No. 1” in a special ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Though it was a charming gesture, it wasn’t intended to establish a new tradition for Disney babies.
Other babies have since been born at Disney parks, but none have been treated with the same level of fanfare. In 1984, another woman gave birth at Disneyland’s First Aid center while her family enjoyed Space Mountain.
And in 1997, at Walt Disney World, a newborn was found in a restroom near Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain, later identified as the ninth child of a tourist from the Philippines. These instances, while dramatic, haven’t spurred Disney to start handing out lifetime park passes.
Over the years, a few more babies have been born at Disneyland, including one backstage in 2002 and another in the Anaheim parking lot in 2012. But if you’re hoping for a Lifetime Pass, delivering your baby on Disney property isn’t going to get you there—at least not officially!
Do you think Disney should offer a Lifetime Pass?