1954
Walt agrees to produce a regular television show for ABC in return for funding. (January)
Excavation
of the Disneyland site begins (August 13th)"The Disneyland Story" airs, first episode of Disneyland television
show (October 27th)
1955
July 17 1955 Disneyland Opens at a cost of $17 million
Attractions included:
Main
Street USA
Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad, Two Disneyland steam trains (C.K. Holliday and E.P. Ripley) (Opened
July, Closed October 1974)
Main Street Railroad Station (Opened July)
Horse Drawn Street Cars (Opened July)
Horse
Drawn Fire Wagon (Closed August 1960)
Main Street Cinema (Opened July)
Horse Drawn Surreys (Closed January 1971)
Main
Street Penny Arcade (Opened July)
Main Street Shooting Gallery (Closed January 1962)
Adventureland
Jungle Cruise (Opened July)
Fantasyland
King Arthur Carrousel (Opened July)
Peter Pan Flight (Opened
July)
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (Opened July)
Canal Boats of the World (Opened July, Closed September 1955)
Snow
White’s Adventures (Opened July)
Casey Jr. Circus Train (Opened July)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Opened August)
Mickey
Mouse Club Theater (Opened August, Closed January 1964)
Mickey Mouse Club Circus (Opened November, Closed January 1956)
Mad
Tea Party (Opened July)
Frontierland
Stage Coach (Closed February 1956)
Mule Pack (Closed February 1956)
Mark Twain Riverboat (Opened
July)
Golden Horseshoe Review (Opened July, Closed October 1986) replaced with Golden Horseshoe Jamboree
Davy Crockett
Museum (Closed December 1955)
Conestoga Wagons (Opened August, Closed September 1959)
Mike Fink Keel Boats (Opened December,
Closed January 1994)
Indian Village (Closed January 1956)
Miniature Horse Corral (Closed July 1957)
Frontierland
Railroad Station (Opened July)
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland Autopia (Closed September 1999)
Space Station X-1 (Opened July, Closed January 1958)
Cinerama
USA (360 degree film, A Tour of the West) (Closed January 1960)
Monsanto Hall of Chemistry (Closed September 1966)
Rocket
to the Moon (Closed September 1966)
Moonliner (Closed September 1966)
Clock of the World (Closed September 1966)
The
World Beneath Us (Closed December 1959)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Opened August, Closed August 1966)
Aluminum Hall
of Fame (Opened December, Closed July 1960)
Thimble Drome Flight Circle (Opened September, Closed January 1966)
Hobbyland
(Opened September, Closed January 1966)
Dateline Disneyland airs July 17th
Disneyland opens to the public
on July 18th
Disneyland opens to the public with admission costing just $1. Cost
of attractions ranged from 10 to 35 cents.
September 8, 1955 Elsa Marquez one millionth visitor
Fantasy in the
Sky added 1956
Disneyland Hotel Opens October
Ticket books are first available containing A, B and C tickets (October)
1956:
Astro Jets (Opened March 1956, Closed August 1964)
Bathroom of Tomorrow (Opened April 1956, Closed August 1960)
Storybook Land Canal Boats (Opened
June 1956)
Tom Sawyers Island (Opened June 1956)
Tom Sawyer Islands Rafts (Opened June 1956)
Skyway to Tomorrowland
and Skyway to Fantasyland (Opened June 1956, Closed November 1994)
Horseless Carriages (red and yellow) (Opened May 1956)
Rainbow
Ridge Pack Mules (Opened June 1956, Closed October 1959)
Rainbow Mountain Stage Coach (Opened June 1956, Closed September
1959)
Rainbow Caverns Mine Train (Opened July 1956, Closed October 1959)
Main Street Omnibus (Opened August 1956)
Indian
Village (Opened July 1956, Closed October 1971)
Indian War Canoes (Opened July 1956, Closed January 1971)
Junior Autopia.
(Opened July 1956, Closed December 1958)
Kelley’s Jungle Killers (Opened February 1956, Closed September 1956)
Color
Gallery (Opened March 1956, Closed January 1963)
Tom and Huck’s Treehouse (Opened June 1956)
Phantom Boats (Opened
July 1956, Closed October 1956)
Mineral Hall (Opened July 1956, Closed December 1962)
Fantasyland Theater (Opened August
1956, Closed December 1981)
Fantasyland Railroad Station opens
D tickets are added (January)
1957:
Midget Autopia (Opened April, Closed April 1966)
Sleeping Beauty Castle (walk through) (Opened April)
Holidayland
(Opened June, Closed January 1961)
Monsanto House of the Future (Opened June, Closed December 1967)
Viewliner (Opened
June, Closed September 1958)
Motor Boat Cruise (Opened June, Closed January 1993)
Indian Village Rafts (Opened July,
Closed January 1971)
Frontierland Shooting Gallery. (Opened July, Closed March 1985)
Leigh Woolfender is 10 millionth
guest on December 31
1958:
Grand Canyon Diorama (Opened March)
Alice in Wonderland (Opened June)
Columbia Sailing Ship (Opened
June)
Motorized Main Street Fire Truck (Opened August)
Satellite View of America (Opened January, Closed February 1960)
Disneyland
and Santa Fe Railroad adds Fred Gurley Engine. March 28th
Tomorrowland Railroad Station
Last episode of
"Disneyland" television show airs (September 3rd)
ABC changes the name of Disney's TV show from "Disneyland" to "Walt Disney Presents".
First
year Candlelight Procession (December)
Disneyland Kennel Opens (January 18th)
Milt Albright founds the Magic
Kingdom Club
1959:
Fantasyland Autopia (Opened June, Closed September 1999)
Submarine Voyage (Opened June, Closed September
1998)
Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System, Mark I Train on a .8 mile track around Tomorrowland (Opened June 14th)
Matterhorn
Bobsleds (Opened June)
Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad adds Ernest S. Marsh Engine. July 25th
Soviet Premier
Nikita Krushchev is denied permission to visit Disneyland, sparking an international incident.
E-tickets added to ticket
book (June)
Disneyland welcomes its 15 millionth guest.
The "Mickey Mouse Club" TV show is cancelled.
1960:
Main Street Electric Cars
Art of Animation Exhibit (Opened May, Closed September 1966)
Mine
Train Through Nature’s Wonderland (Opened May, Closed January 1977)
Skull Rock (Opened December, Closed January 1982)
Pirate’s
Cove (Opened December, Closed January 1982)
New Cinerama Film (America the Beautiful). (Opened July, Closed June 1967)
Catfish
Cove (Opened January, Closed January 1964)
Pack Mules Through Nature’s Wonderland (Opened June, Closed October 1973)
Disney
sues the ABC TV network for the right to take their shows elsewhere, and buys ABC's one-third interest in Disneyland for $7.5
million.
Disneyland Welcomes 20 millionth guest.
1961:
Snow White Grotto and Wishing Well (Opened March)
Debut of the Mark II Monorail Extended track length
to 2.5 miles, Monorail to the Disneyland Hotel (June) Specs: 112 FT., 4 Car, 108
Person Seating Capacity
Flying Saucers (Opened August, Closed September 1966)
Babes in Toyland Exhibit (Opened December,
Closed September 1963)
Disney's TV show changes names from "Walt
Disney Presents" to "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" and debuts in color on NBC. (September 24)
First all night grad night party for High School Graduates is held in June.
25 Millionth Guest welcomed to
Disneyland, Dr. Glenn C. Franklin on April 19th.
Tinkerbell has her first flight at Disneyland
1962:
Safari Shooting Gallery (Opened June, Closed January 1982)
Adventureland Shooting Gallery (Opened
January, Closed November 1969)
Indian Village (Expansion)
Jungle Cruise (New scenes added) A group of Audio-Animatronics elephants in the Elephant Bathing Pool are added
to the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland.
Swiss Family Tree House. (Opened November, Closed
May 1999)
”Disneyland After Dark” airs on national TV April 15th
“Meet
Me at Disneyland” first airs on national TV June 9th, Last show September 8th
1963:
Enchanted Tiki Room (Introduction of Audio-Animatronics) (Opened June 23rd)
Mickey Mouse
Club Headquarters (Opened January, Closed January 1964)
First year for Parade of Toys during the Christmas holiday season.
Disneyland
showcases its first “Cavalcade of Big Bands”
1964:
Columbia Sailing Ship (Opened February)
Tomorrowland Jets (Opened August, Closed September 1966)
Jungle
Cruise (New scenes added).
The New York World's Fair opens. Walt
Disney's WED company constructed pavilions for: Ford ("Magic Skyway"); General Electric ("Progressland"); the state of Illinois
("Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln") and Pepsi-Cola ("It's a Small World"). (April 22)
Disneyland
Goes to the World’s Fair, airs for the first time on The Wonderful World of Color May 17th.
May of 1964
the first person to be injured bad enough to loose their life occurred on the Matterhorn, Mark Maples. He was ejected from
ride and dies 4 days later.
1965
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (Transplanted from the 1964-65 World’s
Fair in New York. (Opened July, Closed January 1973)
Fashions and Fabrics Through the Ages (Opened March, Closed December
1965)
First Disneyland Ambassador to the World selected in 1964, begins her duties (Julie Reihm)
The 50 millionth guest
is welcomed at Disneyland, Mary Adams on August 12th.
"The Disneyland Tenth Anniversary Show" airs on national TV January
3rd
1966:
Kathy Komlos visits Disneyland for the first time.
“it’s a small world” (Opened
May) Primeval World Diorama (Opened July)
Fort Wilderness (Opened June)
New Orleans Square (Walt Dedicated
the first new land to open since Disneyland’s opening in 1955 in July, at a cost of 18 million dollars).
"Disneyland
Around the Seasons" airs on national TV December 18th
Walt Disney, dies of cancer
at 9:35 AM December 15, at the age of 65. He had been recovering from surgery a month earlier to remove one of his lungs.
Roy Disney, his brother, takes over the Disney corporation.
1967:
Pirates of the Caribbean (Opened March 18th)
Circle Vision Featuring America the Beautiful
(Opened June, Closed January 1964)
Carousel of Progress (Opened July, Closed September 1973)
PeopleMover (Opened July,
Closed August 1985)
Rocket Jets (Opened July, Closed January 1997)
Flight to the Moon (Opened August, Closed March 1975)
Adventures
through Inner Space (Opened August, Closed September 1985)
Alpine Gardens (Opened December, Closed February 1996)
Club
33 (Private club) opens in New Orleans Square
In July, The all new Tomorrowland was dedicated, at a cost of 23 million
dollars. It was dubbed “A World on the Move”
1968:
First year for the following St Patrick’s Day Parade, Cinco De Mayo Fiesta, plus a Valentine’s
Day Party, Spring Fling, Easter Parade, and Angels-Disneyland Fun Day Double Header.
“From Pirates of the Caribbean
to the World of Tomorrow” TV special aired January 21st
1969:
Haunted Mansion (August 9th)
The Mark III Monorails Debuted (22 million guests carried)
Specs: 137 FT., 5 Car, extended stations needed.
On March 23rd, 100 VWs paraded down Main Street to celebrate
“Love Bug Day”.
On July 20th the landing of Apollo 11 on the Moon was televised on the Tomorrowland
Stage.
"The Magic of Disneyland" is released on film in October
1970:
The Legacy of Walt Disney (Opened January, Closed February 1973)
July 17th Disneyland
celebrates it 15th Birthday. (130 original Disneyland cast members known as “Club 55” gathered
for this special celebration)
Roy Disney dies from a cerebral hemorrhage at 11:45 PM December 20, at the age of 78.
"Disneyland
Showtime" airs on national TV March 22nd
1971:
Davy Crockett’s Explorer canoes (redesigned, were the Indian War Canoes) (Opened May)
October
1st, the Walt Disney World Resort opened in Orlando Florida.
At 11:13 am, on Thursday, June 17th,
Valerie Suldo becomes guest number 100 million.
1972:
Country Bear Jamboree (Opened March, Closed July 1986)
Teddi Bara’s Swingin’ Arcade
(Opened March, Closed October 2002)
Bear Country opens (Disneyland’s 7th themed land)
Main Street Electrical
Parade premieres. (Opened June 17th, Closed November 25, 1997, reopened at DCA)
11 ride ticket books are introduced.
1973:
The Walt Disney Story Debut (Opened April)
Disneyland Presents – Preview Coming Attractions
(Opened January, Closed July 1989)
Disneyland Railroad (Opened October) Replaced Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad
Disneyland
Showcase
1974:
America Sings (Opened June 28th, Closed April 1988)
Herbie Day at Disneyland aired on
a national TV special July 11th.
1975:
Mission to Mars (Opened March, Closed November 1992)
The Walt Disney Story Featuring Great Moments
with Mr. Lincoln. (Expansion) (Opened June)
America on Parade debuts in July (and continued to September 1976).
Space
Mountain Construction Begins (June)
1976:
June 22nd, Elsie Mae Houck becomes the 150 millionth guest.
Two Disneyland specials air on national
television. Monsanto presents Walt Disney’s America on Parade, April 3rd 1976 and Christmastime at
Disneyland December 6th.
Gorrilla's in Camp added to the Jungle Cruise Attraction.
1977:
John Komlos goes to Disneyland for the first time.
Space Mountain (May 27th) Guests
include US Mercury Astronauts Scott Carpenter, Walley Schirra, US Senator John Glenn, Betty Grissom (Virgil “Gus”
Grissom’s widow), Gordon Cooper, Alan Shepard, and Donald “Deke” Slayton.
Space Stage (Opened January,
Closed January 1986)
Starcade (Opened May)
1978:
Matterhorn renovation including ice caverns and Abominable Snowman.
Mickey’s official Birthday
party November 18th and 19th.
1979:
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (September 2nd, replaces Mine Train Through Nature’s
Wonderland)
The first baby is born at Disneyland on Main Street July 4th (Teresa Salcedo)
1980:
Disneyland celebrates its 25th birthday with a 25 hour long party.
Disneyland’s
25th Anniversary Parade entertains all year long.
1981:
On January 8th, at 11:00 am, Gert Schelvis, becomes the 200 millionth guest.
”Kraft
Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary" airs on national TV March 6th
1982:
In June, Disneyland retires the ticket coupon books and begins to use the one price unlimited attraction
Passport $12 for adults.
In July, the Disneyland Marching Band celebrated its 50,000th performance.
Tron
footage added to the PeopleMover's Superspeed Tunnel (Opened July 2nd removed, August 21, 1995)
Casa de Fritos
renamed "Casa Mexicana"
EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community
of Tomorrow) opens at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. EPCOT features 2 distinct areas - Future World & World
Showcase.
1983:
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Snow White’s Scary Adventures (Was Snow White’s Adventures)
The
Sword and the Stone
New versions of the following:
Peter Pan’s Flight
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Dumbo the
Flying Elephant
Mad Tea Party
King Arthur’s Carrousel
On March 25th the new Fantasyland Grand Opening
celebrated with the lowering of the Castle drawbridge, this was only the second time in the park’s history (the first
being opening day, 1955)
Flights of Fantasy Parade (Opened June, Closed September)
"Believe You Can...and You Can!"
television special celebrating the new Fantasyland airs on national TV April 23rd
Tokyo
Disneyland opened its doors on April 15
1984:
Alice in Wonderland (redesign)
Magic Journeys (Opened June, Closed January 1986)
Wonders of China
(Opened July, Closed July 1996)
American Journeys (Opened July, Closed July 1996)
Country Bear Christmas Show (Opened
November, Closed January 2001)
Michael Eisner takes over as Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company
1985:
Frontierland Shooting Arcade (Opened March, Closed July 1996)
Videopolis (Opened June, Closed June
1995)
July 17th, Disneyland celebrates its 30th birthday
Yearlong “30 years of Magic”
celebration
Disneyland’s 30th Anniversary Celebration airs nationally, on February 2nd.
On
February 6th, Disneyland begins a year around, 7 days a week operation.
Brook Charles Arthur Burr becomes the
250 millionth guest on August 24th.
Submarine Voyage submarines are renamed and repainted (grey to yellow)
1986:
Country Bear Vacation Hoedown (Opened February, Closed September 2001)
Big Thunder Ranch (Opened
June, Closed February 1996)
Magic Eye Theater (Featuring Captain EO with Michael Jackson) (Opened September, Closed April
1997)
Country Bear Playhouse (Opened July, Closed September 2001)
Golden Horseshoe Jamboree (Opened November, Closed
December 1994)
1987:
Star Tours (January 12th )
The Disney Gallery (Opened July)
Disney Dollars where introduced
on May 5th. (Mickey on the $1 and Goofy on the $5, Minnie was added on November 20, 1989 to the $10)
Blast to
the Past premiered in the Spring.
First Disneyland State Fair
Mark V Monorail debuts. Built on the chassis of
the Mark III trains, Fiberglass bodies, Computer Controls and Improved Suspensions.
1988:
Mickey’s 60th Birthday.
Mickey’s 60th Birthday Parade and Mickey’s
Birthday Bash are celebrated daily during the summer.
Disneyland Hotel acquired from Wrather Corporation by Disney Corporation.
1989:
Splash Mountain (July 17th)
One Man’s Dream (Opened December, Closed April 1990)
Renamed
Bear Country to Critter Country.
Claudine Masson is the 300 Millionth Guest of Disneyland on
September 1st.
Disney / MGM Studios (the 3rd Theme Park) opens
at Walt Disney World.
1990:
Disneyland Celebrates its 35th Birthday July 17th.
Party Gras Parade debuts.
1991:
Plane Crazy (Opened March, Closed October)
Baloo’s Dressing Room (Opened March, September
Closed )
Disney Afternoon Avenue (Where Small World Mall was) Based on the Disney Afternoon TV series.
1992:
Lindsay Komlos visits Disneyland for the first time.
Fantasmic (May 13th)
Beauty and the Beast (Opened
April, Closed April 1995)
1993:
Mickey’s ToonTown (January 26th)
New ToonTown attractions:
Mickey’s
House and Movie Barn (Opened January)
Minnie’s House and Garden (Opened January)
Donald’s Boat: The Miss
Daisy (Opened January)
Goofy’s Bounce House (Opened January)
Gadget’s Go Coaster (Opened January)
Jolly
Trolley (Opened January)
Chip and Dale’s Treehouse and Acorn Ball Crawl (Opened January, Ball Crawl Closed and slide
removed January 1998)
Fantasia Gardens (Opened January)
Disney starts Westcot Center planning.
1994:
Daniel Komlos visits Disneyland for the first time.
Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin (Opened January
26th)
Billy Hill and the Hillbillies (Replaces Golden Horseshoe Jamboree) (Opened December)
Disney shelves
plans for Westcot Center, says it's considering new options.
Disneyland records its 350 Millionth Guest.
Frank Wells,
Disney’s president, is killed in a helicopter crash while vacationing in Nevada’s Rudy Mountains.
Lion King
Celebration parade opened in January, closed January 1997.
1995:
The Indiana Jones TM Adventure (February)
Dick Tracy and the Diamond Double Cross (Opened
June, Closed January 1996)
Anamazement (Opened June, Closed October 2001)
Disneyland celebrates its 40th
Birthday
"40 Years of Adventure" airs on national TV March 4th
Reversing a 40-year-old policy, Disneyland officials
allow Michelle Shinn and Mark Gonsalves of San Jose to get married at the park.
1996:
Fantasyland Theater (Opened January) Previously Videopolis
Spirit of Pocahontas (Opened January,
Closed September 1997)
Toy Story Playhouse (Opened January, Closed May 1996)
Triton Gardens (February)
Big Thunder
Mountain transformed into The Hunchback of Notre Dame Festival of Fools stage show. (Opened June, Closed December 1998)
Frontierland
Shooting Exposition (Opened July)
Main Street Electrical Light Parade closes at Disneyland
Space Mountain Sound Track
Added
Disneyland announces plans for a new theme park to be built in the existing Disneyland Parking lot. DCA was
announced on July 17th
1997:
“it’s a small world” Holiday (November 27th)
Light Magic (Opened May
23rd, Closed September)
"Light Magic: A Spectacular Journey" airs on national TV
Aladdin’s Oasis
(Opened January)
The Disneyland Parking lot officially closes for the construction of Disney's California Adventure. (January
26th)
July 5th, Minnie Pepito is the 400 Millionth Guest welcomed at Disneyland
Lillian Disney (Walt's wife)
dies December 17, at the age 98
1998:
American Space Experience (Opened May)
Cosmic Waves (Opened May)
Observatron (Opened May)
Honey
I Shrunk the Audience, The Magic Eye Theater (Opened May)
Rocket Rods (Opened May, Closed September 2000)
Astro Orbiter
(Opened May)
Innovations (Opened November)
New Tomorrowland is dedicated on Thursday May 21st by Michael
Eisner.
Mulan Parade Opens January, Closed January 1999
The Disneyland Parking Lot of 42 years closes on January 22nd
"Live
- The New Tomorrowland" airs on national TV May 22nd
The Animal
Kingdom at Walt Disney World opens. (April)
1999:
Radio Disney (Opened January)
Tarzan’s Treehouse (June 23rd, replacing the Swiss
Family Treehouse)
Disneyland introduces Fast Pass (August)
Cynthia Harris is promoted to President of the Disneyland
resort. With duties, and responsibilities for Disneyland Park, and California Adventure. (December)
A New Orleans Holiday
is added to the Christmas Celebration. (November)
2000:
Woody’s Roundup (Opens January 2000, Closes December 2000)
Autopia (Opens June)
DCA Special
Preview (Opened July, Closed January 2002)
Disneyland Celebrates its 45th Birthday.
45 Years of Magic Parade
(Opens February, Closes March)
Disneyland's new 45th Anniversary Fireworks show "Believe: There's Magic In the Stars" debuts.
Parade
of Stars Parade (Opens April)
Animator Marc Davis Died January 12, He was with Disney since 1935.
The Disneyland Kennel
Closes
Children tickets are now for children 10 and younger, previously 12 and younger. (April)
Pin Trading stations
open around the park.
2001:
Calling all Space Scouts (Club Buzz Stage) (Opened July) On March 15, Mark Ramirez is the 450 Millionth
Guest welcomed to Disneyland.
In April, Disneyland announced that full-time city paramedics were being stationed at its
Anaheim parks in case of emergencies
On September 11, Disneyland closes (before any guests had entered the park) due to
the terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.
On February 8th, Disney’s California Adventure
Opens. It has three districts; Golden State, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and Paradise Pier.
DCA Attractions:
Paradise Pier
California Screamin’
Games of the Boardwalk
Golden Zephyr
Jumpin’
Jellyfish
King Triton’s carousel
Maliboomer
Mulholland Madness
Orange Stinger
S.S. rustworthy
Sun
Wheel
Hollywood Pictures Backlot
Disney Animation
Hyperion Theater
Jim Henson’s
Muppet Vision 3D
Superstar Limo
Golden State
Soarin’ Over California
Golden Vine Winery
Grizzly River
Run
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Mission Tortilla Factory
The Boudin Bakery
Bountiful Valley Farms
It’s
Tough to be a Bug
Downtown Disney opens on January 12th.
“Blast” playing at the Hyperion Theater
opened November 22nd Closed September 2nd 2003
Disney Cruise Line celebrated its 1 millionth
guest, Steven Hitzel, in August
The 100th anniversary of Walt Disney’s birth (December 5th)
2002:
Mickey’s Detective School (Opened April)
Who Wants to be a Millionaire- Play It! (Opened DCA)
2003:
David Mumford, senior principal show set designer and a longtime Imagineer,
passed away January, 21st, following a long, courageous struggle with cancer.
Flick’s
Fun Fair (DCA) Attractions:
Flik’s Flyers
Francis’ Ladybug Boogie
Heimlich’s Chew Chew
Train
Princess Dot’s Puddle Park
Tuck and Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies
Bountiful Farms (Including It’s
Tough to be a Bug) now part of this District.
“Disney’s Aladdin - Live on Stage” show playing at
the Hyperion Opened January 17th
2004
January 8th, Disneyland records its 500 Millionth Guest, Bill Trow.
