Walt Disney World History

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	"The Year of a Million Dreams" celebration kicks off
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 (EC); “The Seas with Nemo & Friends" (EC); ” “Dream Along With Mickey” (MK)
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 Resort 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 at MK: “Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial,” “Woody’s Cowboy Camp,” “Main Street Family Fun Day Parade,” “Let’s Have a Ball”; 25th Anniversary Celebration of the wedding of Luke and Laura (ST); "High School Musical" Pep Rally (ST)
2007:	"Jedi Training Academy" immersive experience (ST); "The Year of a Million Dreams" celebration continues throughout the year