MILESTONES: |
Nov. 11, 1965 |
Walt Disney announces
Florida Project |
Fall 1967 |
Site preparation
begins |
Spring 1969 |
Construction begins on
Magic Kingdom, two hotels |
Oct. 1, 1971 |
Opening day for Walt
Disney World Vacation Kingdom |
December 1971 |
Inaugural Walt Disney
World Golf Classic |
March 1975 |
Walt Disney Village
opens |
June 1976 |
River Country water
adventure park opens |
Oct. 1, 1982 |
Epcot grand opening |
May 1, 1989 |
Disney-MGM Studios
opens |
June 1, 1989 |
Typhoon Lagoon and
Pleasure Island open |
January 1994 |
Inaugural Walt Disney
World Marathon |
April 1, 1995 |
Blizzard Beach water
adventure park opens |
June 1995 |
Michael Eisner
announces Disney's Animal Kingdom |
July 1995 |
Disney's Fairy Tale
Weddings Pavilion opens |
January 1996 |
Inaugural Indy 200 at
Walt Disney World Resort |
January 1997 |
Walt Disney World
Resort celebrates 25 years |
September 1997 |
Downtown Disney opens |
March 1997 |
Disney's Wide World of
Sports opens |
April 22, 1998 |
Disney's Animal
Kingdom opens |
June 1998 |
DisneyQuest opens |
July 1998 |
Disney Cruise Line
launches first ship, the Disney Magic |
December 1998 |
Cirque du Soleil La
Nouba opens at Downtown Disney West Side |
March 1999 |
Asia opens in Disney's
Animal Kingdom |
July 1999 |
Launch of Disney's
FASTPASS |
August 1999 |
Disney Cruise
Line's new ship, Disney Wonder, makes its maiden voyage |
Oct. 1, 2001 |
100 Years of Magic
celebration begins |
Oct. 9, 2003 |
Launch of Magical
Gatherings program |
January 2005 |
Launch of "Magic Your
Way" |
May 5, 2005 |
"Happiest Celebration
on Earth" begins, celebrating 50 years of Disney parks |
October 4, 2006 |
Year of a Million Dreams celebration begins |
2008 |
Disney MGM Studios name change to Disney's Hollywood Studios; Pleasure
Island permanently closes; Year of a Million Dreams celebration ends |
2009 |
Fantasyland Expansion announced |
2010 |
Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex renamed ESPN Wide World of Sports
Complex |
2012 |
New Fantasyland opens at Magic Kingdom; My Disney Experience App
launches |
2014 |
Fastpass+ debuts |
2015 |
Star Wars and Toy Story themed lands announced as part of the expansion
of Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park |
|
|
ATTENDANCE MARKS: |
August 1972 |
Attendance passes 10
million |
March 1976 |
50-millionth guest |
October 1979 |
100-millionth guest |
July 1987 |
Total attendance tops
250 million |
August 1992 |
400-millionth guest |
September 1994 |
1-billionth guest to a
Disney theme park worldwide |
Oct. 13, 1995 |
500-millionth guest |
June 24, 1998 |
600-millionth guest |
August 2003 |
50-millionth water
park guest |
|
|
NEW ATTRACTION
OPENINGS: |
1971 |
26 Magic Kingdom
attractions: Jungle Cruise; Swiss Family Treehouse; Sunshine Pavilion
(Tropical Serenade); Cinderella's Golden Carrousel; Dumbo, the Flying
Elephant; Mad Tea Party; Mickey Mouse Revue; Mr. Toad's Wild Ride; "it's
a small world"; Snow White's Adventures; Diamond Horseshoe Revue;
Frontier Shooting Gallery; Country Bear Jamboree; Mike Fink Keel Boats;
Hall of Presidents; Haunted Mansion; Main Street horseless carriage,
Jitney, fire truck, horse-drawn streetcar and omnibus; Main Street
Cinema; Walt Disney World Railroad; Skyway; Tomorrowland Speedway;
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea |
1972 |
If You Had Wings |
1973 |
Pirates of the
Caribbean; Walt Disney Story; Swan Boats; Tom Sawyer Island |
1974 |
StarJets; "Magic
Carpet 'Round the World" film |
1975 |
Space Mountain;
Carousel of Progress; WEDway PeopleMover; Davy Crockett's Explorer
Canoes |
1980 |
Big Thunder Mountain
Railroad |
1982 |
Five Future World and
nine World Showcase pavilions at Epcot: Spaceship Earth; The Land;
Journey Into Imagination; Universe of Energy; World of Motion; Canada;
United Kingdom; France; Mexico; Germany; Italy; China; Japan; American
Adventure |
1983 |
Horizons (EC) |
1984 |
Morocco pavilion (EC);
"American Journeys" film (MK) |
1986 |
The Living Seas (EC);
"Captain EO" (EC) |
1988 |
Mickey's Starland
(MK); Norway pavilion(EC); Disney-MGM Studios production facilities |
1989 |
Dreamflight (MK);
Wonders of Life (EC); original Disney-MGM Studios attractions: Great
Movie Ride; Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour; Magic of Disney Animation;
"Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!"; Behind the Scenes Special
Effects walking tour; Superstar Television; Monster Sound Show |
1990 |
Star Tours; "Here Come
the Muppets" show; "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure |
1991 |
"Jim Henson's
Muppet*Vision 3D" (ST) |
1992 |
Splash Mountain (MK);
Voyage of the Little Mermaid (ST) |
1993 |
ATAS Hall of Fame
plaza (ST) |
1994 |
Innoventions (EC); The
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (ST); Legend of The Lion King (MK);
"Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" (EC); The Timekeeper (MK); Theater of the
Stars (ST) |
1995 |
New Tomorrowland (MK)
including The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter |
1996 |
Mickey's Toontown Fair
(MK); Universe of Energy (EC) |
1998 |
Buzz Lightyear's Space
Ranger Spin (MK); "The Enchanted Tiki Room-Under New Management" (MK);
original Animal Kingdom attractions: The Boneyard; Countdown to
Extinction; Cretaceous Trail; Kilimanjaro Safaris; Gorilla Falls
Exploration Trail; Wildlife Express; Conservation Station; "It's Tough
to be a Bug" |
1999 |
Test Track (EC);
Disney's Winter Summerland miniature golf course; Rock 'n' Roller
Coaster Starring Aerosmith (ST); The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
(MK); Millennium Village, Leave a Legacy, Imagination! presented by
Kodak (EC); "Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey" (ST); "Bear in the
Big Blue House" (ST) |
2000 |
DisneyQuest's
interactive Pirates of the Caribbean adventure (DD) |
2001 |
The Magic Carpets of
Aladdin (MK); "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It!" (ST); "Walt
Disney: One Man's Dream" (ST); Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama!
TriceraTop Spin (AK); "Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage" (ST) |
2002 |
Chester and Hester's
Dino-Rama! Primeval Whirl (AK) |
2003 |
Mission: SPACE (EC);
"Mickey's PhilharMagic" (MK) |
2004 |
Stitches Great Escape!
(MK); "Turtle Talk With Crush" (EC) |
2005 |
Crush 'n' Gusher (TL);
Soarin' (EC); "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show" (ST); Lucky
the Dinosaur (AK) |
2006 |
Expedition Everest
(AK), "The Seas with Nemo & Friends" (EC) |
2007 |
"Finding Nemo-The
Musical" (AK), Monster's, Inc. Laugh Floor (MK) |
2008 |
Toy Story Midway Mania (DHS); Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian (DHS);
Pixie Hollow (MK) |
2009 |
American Idol Experience (DHS); Characters In Flight Balloon (DTD); Sum
of All Thrills (EC-Innoventions) |
2010 |
Captain EO returns (EC); |
2011 |
Star Tours: The Adventure Continues (DHS); Disney Junior: Live on Stage
(DHS) |
2012 |
New Fantasyland (MK): Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid;
Enchanted Tales with Belle; Storybook Circus; Dumbo featuring dual
spinners and interactive play area queue; Casey Jr. Soak and Splash Play
Area (MK); Test Track 2.0 (EC) |
2013 |
Princess Fairy Tale Hall Meet & Greet (MK) |
2014 |
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (MK) |
|
|
RESORT OPENINGS: |
1971 |
Disney's Contemporary
Resort; Disney's Polynesian Resort; Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and
Campground |
1972 |
Disney's Village
Resort (Treehouse & Vacation Villas); Royal Plaza; Grosvenor (Dutch
Inn); TraveLodge; Holiday Inn (Courtyard by Marriott, Howard Johnson) |
1973 |
Shades of Green
(Disney Inn, 1986-93, Golf Resort, 1973-86) |
1974 |
Discovery Island;
Pioneer Hall |
1975 |
Disney Village
Marketplace; Fairway Villas |
1977 |
Empress Lilly
Riverboat |
1978 |
Disney's Polynesian
Resort expansion |
1980 |
Walt Disney World
Conference Center; Club Lake Villas |
1983 |
Buena Vista Palace;
Hilton at Disney Village |
1987 |
Doubletree (Guest
Quarters, Pickett) Suite Hotel |
1988 |
Disney's Grand
Floridian Beach Resort; Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort |
1990 |
Disney's Yacht Club
Resort; Disney's Beach Club Resort; Walt Disney World Swan; Walt Disney
World Dolphin |
1991 |
Disney's Port Orleans
Resort |
1992 |
Disney's Dixie
Landings Resort; Disney's Old Key West Resort (DVC); Bonnet Creek Golf
Club |
1994 |
Disney's All-Star
Sports Resort; Disney's Wilderness Lodge |
1995 |
Disney's All-Star
Music Resort |
1996 |
Disney Institute;
Disney's BoardWalk |
1997 |
Disney's Coronado
Springs Resort |
1999 |
Disney's All-Star
Movies Resort |
2000 |
The Villas at
Wilderness Lodge (DVC) |
2001 |
Disney's Animal
Kingdom Lodge |
2002 |
Disney's Beach Club
Villas (DVC) |
2003 |
Disney's Pop Century
Resort |
2004 |
Disney's Saratoga
Springs Resort & Spa (DVC) |
2006 |
Disney's All Star
Music Family Suites |
2007 |
Disney's Animal
Kingdom Villas (DVC) |
2009 |
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort (DVC) |
2012 |
Disney's Art of Animation Resort |
2013 |
The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (DVC) |
2015 |
Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows (DVC) |
|
|
ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLIGHTS: |
1971 |
Televised opening with
1,076 piece marching band, 60-nation World Symphony Orchestra, Bob Hope,
Julie Andrews, Glen Campbell; All-American College Band program debuts;
Candlelight Processional debuts |
1972 |
First Easter parade
and Grad Nites |
1974 |
Donald Duck's 40th
birthday; "Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue" debuts |
1975 |
"Fantasy in the Sky"
begins as a Disney-designed fireworks show |
1975-76 |
"America on Parade"
bicentennial salute |
1977 |
"Main Street
Electrical Light Parade" debuts |
1978 |
Mickey Mouse 50th
birthday parade and first Christmas at Walt Disney World television
special |
1979 |
First World Series of
Entertainment |
1981 |
Yearlong Tencennial
Celebration |
1982 |
Epcot opens featuring
entertainment from big bands and international folk groups; "Sparkling
Christmas Spectacular" show (MK) |
1983 |
First live telecast of
Christmas parade; "Disney World is Your World" show (MK); "Mickey's 'Twas
the Night Before Christmas" show (MK); "Holiday Splendor" show (EC) |
1984 |
Donald Duck's 50th
birthday parade; WorldFest & "Laserphonic Fantasy" (EC) |
1985 |
Radio City Rockettes
(EC); "Skyleidoscope" (EC); President Reagan reviews the Inaugural Bands
(EC); Easter telecast; Big Band Bash; Six World Series Entertainment
Nights; first Goofy Games ceremonies; Tinkerbell flies above Cinderella
Castle for the first time (July 4) |
1986 |
11,000 guests for 15th
anniversary kickoff; 15th birthday parades |
1987 |
"All America" parade
(MK); "Daredevil Circus Spectacular" (EC) |
1988 |
Mickey's 60th birthday
parade; "IllumiNations" premiere (EC) |
1989 |
"Disney Character Hit
Parade" (MK) |
1990 |
Pleasure Island
nightly New Year's celebration begins; "DisneyMania" show (MK); "Dick
Tracy & the Diamond Double Cross" show (ST); "Dick Tracy" film world
premiere at Pleasure Island; "Here Come the Muppets" show (ST); Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles (ST); "Sorcery in the Sky" (ST) |
1991 |
Disney entertainment
"World" record; six new shows to celebrate 20th anniversary: "Surprise
Celebration" parade (MK); "SpectroMagic" nighttime parade (MK);
"Surprise in the Skies" show (EC); "Hollywood's Pretty Women" show (ST);
"Muppets on Location" show (ST); "Dinosaurs Live!" parade (ST); also:
"Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage" show (ST); Moulin Rouge (EC);
Points of Light ceremony with President Bush (EC); Academy of Television
Arts & Sciences awards ceremony |
1992 |
"Voyage of the Little
Mermaid" show (ST); "Aladdin's Royal Caravan" parade (ST); "Jolly
Holidays" dinner show |
1993 |
Sword in the Stone
(MK); "SPLASHTACULAR!" show (EC); "The Magical World of Barbie" show
(EC) |
1994 |
"Mickey Mania" parade
(MK); "Ellington Under the Stars" salute (EC); fountain ballets (EC);
first annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (EC); "Holiday
IllumiNations" (EC); Candlelight Processional moves to Epcot and extends
series (EC); first running of Walt Disney World Marathon |
1995 |
"Rhythms of the World"
series (EC); "Galaxy Search" show (MK); "Every Day's a Holiday" show
(MK); "The Spirit of Pocahontas" show (ST); "Toy Story Parade" (ST);
"Swinging Summer Nights" series (EC); first annual Epcot International
Food and Wine Festival (EC) |
1996 |
"25th Anniversary
Parade" and celebration; ABC Super Soap Weekend (ST); Mickey's
Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MK); "IllumiNations 25" (EC); "The
Hunchback of Notre Dame-A Musical Adventure" show (ST) |
1997 |
Richard Petty Driving
Experience (DWWS); "Disney's Magical Holidays" included: Spectacle of
Lights with the Osborne Family Light Display (ST); Holidays Around the
World (EC); Candlelight Processional (EC); "Mickey's Very Merry
Christmas Party" (MK); Jolly Holidays Dinner Show at Disney's
Contemporary Resort |
1998 |
"Fantasmic!" show
(ST), "Mulan" parade" (ST); "Festival of the Lion King" show (AK);
"Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends" show (AK); "Journey into Jungle
Book" show (AK); "March of the ARTimals" (AK); "Flights of Wonder" show
(AK) |
1999 |
"Main Street
Electrical Parade" (MK); "Tarzan Rocks!" show (AK); Walt Disney World
Yearlong Millennium Celebration begins featuring new entertainment such
as "IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth" and "Tapestry of Nations"
parade (EC); "Disney's Doug Live!" (ST); "Lord of the Dance" (EC) |
2000 |
Millennium Celebration
continues |
2001 |
100 Years of Magic
celebrating Walt Disney's 100th birthday and his legacy of creativity
and spirit of adventure; new parades in all four theme parks - "Share a
Dream Come True" (MK), "Tapestry of Dreams" (EC), "Disney Stars and
Motor Cars" (ST), "Mickey's Jammin' Jungle" (AK); "Cinderella's Surprise
Celebration" show (MK); "Blast!" show (EC) |
2002 |
100 Years of Magic
celebration continues throughout the year; SHOCKWAVE show (EC) |
2003 |
"Disney's Spirit of
Aloha Dinner Show" (new Polynesian Luau); "Wishes" fireworks show (MK);
Star Wars Weekends becomes an annual event |
2005 |
"Cinderellabration" (MK) |
2006 |
“Dream Along with
Mickey” (MK), Immersive Experiences (MK): “Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate
Tutorial,” “Woody’s Cowboy Camp,” “Main Street Family Fun Day Parade”
and “Let’s Have a Ball”; 25th Anniversary Celebration of the wedding of
Luke and Laura (ST) |
2007 |
"Jedi Training
Academy" immersive experience (MK); "The Year of a Million Dreams"
celebration continues throughout the year; High School Musical Pep Rally
(ST) |
2008 |
Block Party Bash (DHS) |
2009 |
Stitch's Super Sonic Celebration (MK); American Idol Experience (DHS);
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure (EC) |
2010 |
Summer Nightastic (MK); Disney Channel Rocks (DHS); Spectromagic
RETIRES-replaced by Main Street Electrical Parade (MK) |
2011 |
Disney Junior: Live on Stage (DHS); Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun (DHS);
British Revolution replaces British Invasion at UK Pavilion (EC) |
2012 |
Jedi Training Academy (DHS); Agent P's World Showcase Adventure (EC);
Royal Majestymakers (MK) |
2013 |
Incredibles Super Dance Party (MK) |
2014 |
Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party (MK); Festival of
Fantasy Parade (MK); Frozen Fireworks Spectacular (DHS); Frozen Royal
Welcome Ceremony (DHS); Canadian Lumberjack Show replaces Off Kilter at
Canada Pavilion (EC) |
2015 |
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-A-Long Celebration (DHS) |