A True Disney Baby

By Beth Skarp

Those of us who are true Disney aficionados love decorating our nursery in Disney themes in anticipation of our newest arrivals. Who can resist a baby dressed in his or her first set of Mickey ears or adorable Disney character outfit. I admit, my grown children were dressed as true Disney babies and my husband and I adored doing this, much to the chagrin of my children. 

A rumor used to be floating around that “if” a baby was born anywhere on Disney property, the infant would receive a lifetime pass to Disney. This is truly an Urban Legend. I mean, think about it. If this were the case, expectant Mother's would be lined up all around the Magic Kingdom in hopes of delivering their child or children—all in hopes of obtaining a Lifetime Pass for them. Talk about a logistical nightmare!

One infant actually has an official Disneyland Birth Certificate and was literally born on Main Street USA. On July 4th of 1979, in an overcrowded park on a stifling hot day, Rosa and Elias Salcedo of Los Angeles were trying their best to enjoy their visit despite the fact that Rosa was in the final term of her pregnancy. Why anyone would go so close to their due date is beyond me. Yes, I have gone to Disneyland while several months pregnant and actually had an enjoyable time. However, I have never gone anywhere close to my delivery date. 

While sitting down to rest on a bench behind the Plaza Inn, Rosa went into labor unexpectedly. The baby was in a rush to be born, coming much faster than either Rosa or Elias expected. Rushing off to the hospital was not practical for Rosa or her unborn child. Medics were called in to assist Rosa, and “Princess” Teresa Salcedo was born, just a few steps from Main Street USA. 

Like all true Princesses, Teresa was a small and petite girl in size but born perfectly healthy. Mother Rosa and newly born Princess Teresa were then transported to the local Medical Center to be checked out.

A few months later, in a special ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, Teresa Salcedo was presented with “Disneyland Birth Certificate Number One”. The family happily posed with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto—better known as the Fab Five.

Incidentally, this celebration coincided opening of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad which occurred in September as well. This was the first time in Disneyland's 24 year history that a child had been born inside the park, but not the first time that a child had been born literally on Disneyland property.  

Disney Legend, Ron Dominguez, has more of a connection to Disneyland than others. I recently learned that the Dominguez family owned much of the property that Walt bought for Disneyland in the early 1950's. Ron, his mother and his brother were all born in the area that is now New Orleans Square, Club 33, the Blue Bayou, and the Pirates of the Caribbean. The Dominguez family “home” later became offices for Walt's staff. Ron Dominguez still bills himself as a "Native-Disneyland-American" a nationality few can claim. 

There will, of course, be other babies born in Disney Resorts and Parks. Only Teresa Salcedo has the Disneyland Birth Certificate to prove this. And yes, only one can be called the “"Native-Disneyland-American". All others will have just a story to tell (and will have to pay full price like everyone else to visit their special birthplace).

While Disney Birth Certificates are no longer issued (to the best of my knowledge), you can send Disney a birth announcement of your new baby and you will receive a Happy Birthday Response back from them. I have done this for all three of my children—and each one is unique and different. My grown children have their respective Disney Happy Birthday Responses, so I don't have them to post a picture for you.

You can send your child's birth announcement to either California(Disneyland) or Florida (Walt Disney World). Below are the addresses:

Mickey and Minnie Mouse 
Walt Disney World 
1675 N Buena Vista Dr 
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

– or --

Mickey and Minnie Mouse
The Walt Disney Company 
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521