| 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's Hollywood 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 |
| 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's Hollywood Studios production
facilities |
| 1989: |
Dreamflight (MK);
Wonders of Life (EC); original Disney's Hollywood Studios attractions:
Great Movie Ride; Disney's Hollywood 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
