|
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 |
|
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) |
|
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) |
|
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) |
|
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 |
