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Attraction, Resort and
Entertainment Opening Dates |
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Walt Disney World ›› Attraction, Resort and Entertainment Opening
Dates
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Walt Disney World
Resort Milestones
November 11, 1965 Walt Disney announces Florida Project
Fall 1967 Site preparation begins
Spring 1969 Construction begins on Magic Kingdom, two hotels
October 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
October 1, 1982 Epcot Grand Opening
May 1, 1989 Disney-MGM Studios opens
June 1, 1989 Typhoon Lagoon & 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
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 30, 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
October 1 2001 100 Years of Magic celebration begins
January 2005 Launch of "Magic Your Way"
May 5 2005 "Happiest Celebration on Earth" begins, celebrating 50 years
of Disney parks
October 1 2006 "Year of a Million Dreams" begins, celebrating the dreams
of Disney Park guests
The Magic Kingdom, Opened October 1 1971
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Attraction |
Opening Date |
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20,000
Leagues Under the Sea |
October 1, 1971 |
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Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad |
November 15, 1980 |
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Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin |
1998 |
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Carousel of
Progress |
January 15, 1975 |
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Cinderella's
Carrousel |
October 1, 1971 |
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Circle-Vision 360,
America The Beautiful |
November 25, 1971
became Magic Carpet Around The World in 1975 became American Journeys on
October 15, 1984 |
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Country Bear
Jamboree |
October 1, 1971
became Country Bear Vacation Hoedown on May 5, 1986 |
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Davy Crockett's
Explorer Canoes |
October 1, 1971 |
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Diamond Horseshoe
Revue |
October 1, 1971
became Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree on October 1, 1986 |
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Dreamflight |
June 26, 1989 |
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Dumbo the Flying
Elephant |
October 1, 1971 |
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Enchanted Tiki
Birds |
October 1, 1971 |
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"The Enchanted Tiki Room -- Under New Management" |
1998 |
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Flight to the Moon |
December 1971
became Mission to Mars on June 7, 1975 |
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Frontierland
Shooting Gallery |
October 1, 1971
became Frontierland Shootin' Arcade September 26, 1984 |
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Grand Prix Raceway |
November 28, 1974 |
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Hall of Presidents |
October 1, 1971 |
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Haunted Mansion |
October 1, 1971 |
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If You Had Wings |
June 5, 1972
became Dreamflight on June 26, 1989 |
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It's A Small World |
October 1, 1971 |
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Jungle Cruise |
October 1, 1971 |
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Laugh Floor Comedy Club |
2007 |
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Legend of The Lion King |
1994 |
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Liberty Square
Riverboat |
October 2, 1971 |
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Mad Tea Party |
October 1, 1971 |
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Magic Journeys |
October 1, 1982 -
Opened in EPCOT CENTER Relocated to Magic Kingdom December 5, 1987 |
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Main Street
Vehicles |
October 1, 1971 |
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Mickey Mouse Revue |
October 1, 1971 -
September 14, 1980 Relocated to Tokyo Disneyland. Opened April 15, 1983 |
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Mickey's
Birthdayland |
June 22, 1988
became Mickey's Starland on May 23, 1990 |
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Mickey's PhilharMagic |
October 2003 |
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Mickey's Toontown Fair |
1996 |
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Mike Fink Keel
Boats |
October 1, 1971 |
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Mr. Toad's Wild
Ride |
October 1, 1971 |
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New Tomorrowland (MK) including
The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter |
1995 |
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Peter Pan's Flight |
October 1, 1971 |
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Pirates of the
Caribbean |
December 15, 1973 |
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Skyway |
October 1, 1971 |
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Snow White's
Adventures |
October 1, 1971 |
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Space Mountain |
January 15, 1975 |
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Splash Mountain |
1992 |
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StarJets |
November 28, 1974 |
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Stitch's Great Escape! |
November 16, 2004 |
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Swan Boats |
June 1, 1973 - Now
discontinued |
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Swiss Family
Treehouse |
October 1, 1971 |
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The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh |
1999 |
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The Laugh Floor Comedy Club |
April 2 2007 |
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Tom Sawyer Island |
October 1973 |
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Walt Disney Story |
April 15, 1973,
Dedicated on May 6, 1973 |
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Walt Disney World
Railroad |
October 1, 1971 |
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WEDway PeopleMover |
July 1, 1975 |
Epcot, Future World, October 1st 1982
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Attraction |
Opening Date |
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Anacomical
Players |
October 30, 1989 |
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Astuter Computer |
October 1, 1982
became Backstage Magic on February 6, 1984 |
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Body Wars |
October 30, 1989 |
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Captain EO |
September 12, 1986 |
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Cranium Command |
October 30, 1989 |
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Electronic Forum |
December 23, 1982 |
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Energy Exchange |
September 27, 1982 |
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EPCOT Outreach |
June 4, 1983 |
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Expo Robotics |
February 13, 1988 |
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Fitness
Fairgrounds |
October 30, 1989 |
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FutureCom |
September 27, 1982 |
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Goofy About Health |
October 30, 1989 |
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Harvest Theater |
September 27, 1982 |
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Horizons |
October 1, 1983 |
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Image Works |
September 28, 1982 |
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Journey into
Imagination Ride |
March 6, 1983 |
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Kitchen Kabaret
Revue |
September 27, 1982 |
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Listen to The Land |
September 28, 1982 |
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Magic Journeys |
October 1, 1982,
relocated to Magic Kingdom |
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Mission: SPACE |
October 9, 2003 |
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Person of the
Century Poll |
January 13, 1990 |
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Soarin' |
May 1, 2005 |
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Spaceship Earth
Narration by Walter Cronkite added on May 29, 1986 |
September 27, 1982 |
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Teacher's Center |
August 24, 1983 |
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Test Track |
1999 |
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Turtle Talk With Crush |
2004 |
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The Living Seas |
January 15, 1986 |
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The Making of Me |
October 30, 1989 |
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The Seas with Nemo and Friends |
January 24, 2007 |
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Universe of Energy |
September 27, 1982 |
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World of Motion |
October 1, 1982 |
Epcot, World Showcase, October 1st, 1982
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Attraction |
Opening Date |
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The American
Adventure |
October 1, 1982 |
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Canada |
September 28, 1982 |
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O Canada! |
September 28, 1982 |
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Portraits of
Canada |
March 25, 1987 -
discontinued the original film, O Canada!, returned |
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China |
September 28, 1982 |
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Wonders of China |
September 28, 1982 |
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France |
September 28, 1982 |
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Impressions de
France |
September 28, 1982 |
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Germany |
October 1, 1982 |
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International
Gateway |
January 11, 1990 |
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Italy |
October 1, 1982 |
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Japan |
October 1, 1982 |
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Mexico |
October 1, 1982 |
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El Rio del Tiempo |
October 21, 1982 |
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Morocco |
September 15, 1984 |
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Norway |
May 6, 1988 |
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Maelstrom |
July 5, 1988 |
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United Kingdom |
October 1, 1982 |
Disney MGM Studios, May 1, 1989
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Attraction |
Opening Date |
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Backstage Studio
Tour |
May 1, 1989 |
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Here Come The
Muppets |
May 26, 1990
closed September 1991 |
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Honey, I Shrunk
the Kids Adventure Zone |
December 1990 |
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Indiana Jones Epic
Stunt Spectacular! |
August 25, 1989 |
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Jim Henson's
Muppet*Vision 3-D |
May 17, 1991 |
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Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show |
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Muppets on
Location |
October 1, 1991 |
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Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith |
1999 |
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Rocketeer
Production Gallery |
July 7, 1991
became Studio Showcase in late September 1991 |
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SoundWorks |
May 1, 1989 |
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Star Tours |
December 15, 1989 |
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SuperStar
Television |
May 1, 1989 |
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The Great Movie
Ride |
May 1, 1989 |
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The Magic of
Disney Animation |
May 1, 1989 |
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The Monster Sound
Show |
May 1, 1989 |
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The Twilight Zone
Tower of Terror |
July 22, 1994 |
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Toy Story Mania |
Coming 2008 |
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Voyage of the
Little Mermaid |
January 6, 1992 |
Disney's Animal Kingdom, April 22 1998
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Attraction |
Opening Date |
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The
Boneyard |
April 22,
1998 |
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Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama! |
2002 |
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Countdown to
Extinction (now Dinosaur) |
April 22,
1998 |
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Cretaceous
trail |
April 22,
1998 |
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Expedition Everest |
April 7, 2006 |
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Finding Nemo The Musical |
January 24, 2007 |
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Kilimanjaro
Safaris |
April 22,
1998 |
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Lucky the Dinosaur |
2005 |
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Pangani Forest Exploration
trail |
April 22,
1998 |
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Primeval Whirl |
2002 |
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Wildlife
Express |
April 22,
1998 |
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Rafiki's Planet
Watch |
April 22,
1998 |
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It's Tough to be a Bug |
April 22,
1998 |
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Kali Rapids |
April 22,
1999 |
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Asia |
April 22,
1999 |
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Resort Openings |
| 1971: Disney's Contemporary Resort; Disney's Polynesian Resort; Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground |
| 1972: Disney's Village Resort (treehouse & Vacation Villas); Royal Plaza; Grosvenor (Dutch Inn);
traveLodge; Courtyard by Marriott (Howard Johnson) |
| 1973: Shades of Green (Disney Inn 1986-1993, Golf Resort 1973-1986) |
| 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 and Disney's Beach Club Resort; Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels |
| 1991: Disney's Port Orleans Resort |
| 1992: Disney's Dixie Landings; Disney Vacation Club Resort at Walt Disney World; 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 |
| 2001: Disney's Animal Kingdom
Lodge |
| 2002: Disney's Beach Club Villas |
| 2003: Disney's Pop Century
Resort |
| 2004: Saratoga Springs Resort |
| 2006: Cinderella Castle Suite
(January 25th 2007) |
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Entertainment Highlights |
| 1971: Televised opening with 1,076 piece band & World Symphony; 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 |
| 1975-76: "America on Parade" bicentennial salute |
| 1977: "Fantasy in the Sky" begins as a Disney-designed fireworks show; "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: Year-long Tencennial Celebration |
| 1982: Epcot premiere with 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 Downtown Disney 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 (RE) |
| 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); "Legend of the Lion King" show (MK); fountain ballets (EC); "Holiday
IllumiNations" (EC); Candlelight Processional moves to Epcot and extends series (EC) |
| 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) |
| 1996: 25th Anniversary Parade and Celebration; ABC Super Soap Weekend (ST); Mickey's Not-So- Scary Halloween Party (MK);
"IllumiNations 25" (EC) |
| 1997: Richard Petty Driving Experience; Disney's Magical Holidays included: Spectacle of Lights with the Osborne Family Light Display (ST); Holidays Around the World with nightly Candlelight Dinner and Processional (EC); Jolly Holidays Dinner Show at Disney's Contemporary Resort; and seven "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parties" (MK) |
| 1998: "Fantasmic!" show (ST), "Mulan Parade" (ST); "Festival of the Lion King"
(AK); "Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends" (AK); "Journey into Jungle Book"
(AK); "March of the ARTimals" (AK); "Flights of Wonder" (AK) |
| 1999: "Main Street Electrical Parade" (MK); "Tarzan Rocks!"
(AK); Walt Disney World Year-Long Millennium Celebration begins featuring new entertainment such as
"IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth" and "Tapestry of Nations," as well as new attractions including Millennium Village, Leave a Legacy and Imagination! presented by Kodak. |
| 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: 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); "Finding Nemo-The Musical" (AK) |
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Attendance Milestones
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
October 13, 1995
500-millionth guest
June 24, 1998
600-millionth guest
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