When Disneyland opened in 1955, many doubted that it would be a success. They couldn’t have been more wrong – and Disney remains the world leader in the theme park industry by a huge distance even now.
Almost six decades have passed since Disneyland welcomed its first guests. Since then, the Disney theme park empire has spread across the globe, with five huge resorts now operational and another under construction. The company’s existing parks have evolved, too, with new attractions and entire new lands being added to their line-ups.
Join us on a journey through six decades of Disney theme park history, brought to life in 130 classic photographs.
1. Disneyland construction begins (1954)
On July 16, 1954, construction work begins on Walt Disney’s first theme park on a 160-acre site near Anaheim, California. Walt himself oversees the construction process.
2. Disneyland opens (1955)
On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opens as part of an “International Press Preview”. Around 28,000 people pile into the park, many of them using counterfeit tickets. ABC broadcasts the event live, including a host of errors. Drinking fountains were not operational, due to a plumbers’ strike, and the asphalt on Main Street, USA was so soft that ladies high-heeled shoes sank into it. Negative press followed, and Walt referred to the day as “Black Sunday”. Despite this, attendance levels are very high.
3. Mickey Mouse meets guests at Disneyland (1955)
Here’s Mickey on the opening day of Disneyland in 1955. Notice how crude the costume looks!
4. The Skyway opens at Disneyland (1956)
Unlike one of Disney’s movies, which were largely left alone once they were released to theaters, Disneyland could be consistently updated and improved. “It’s something that will never be finished,” said Walt. “Something I can keeping developing and adding to.”
Walt was true to his word. In June 1956, the Skyway opened, connecting Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Built by Swiss specialist Von Roll, it was the first aerial ropeway of its type in the USA.
5. Disneyland hits 5 million visitors (1956)
Despite the troublesome opening day, Disneyland proved to be an overnight success story. During its first week, 161,657 visitors passed through its gates. Just seven weeks after opening, the park registered its one millionth guest, and by the end of the first year total attendance had reached 3.6 million. By October 1956, 5 million people had visited the park.
6. Monsanto House of the Future opens (1957)
One of Tomorrowland’s first walkthrough attractions, the Monsanto House of the Future operated from 1957 to 1967. The attraction was sponsored by the Monsanto Chemical Company’s Plastics Division, and focused on plastic as the building material of the future. The setting was meant to be 1986, although many of the proposed innovations didn’t catch on.
7. Alice in Wonderland opens (1958)
Disneyland expanded its line-up in 1958 with the opening of Alice in Wonderland. Mickey didn’t look much better at that stage…Minnie looks particularly ferocious, though.
8. E-Tickets introduced (1959)
A new tier of ticket, the “E” Ticket is introduced. Guests still pay per-ride at Disneyland, and the E-Ticket is reserved for the most impressive attractions. The term is still used for high-end attractions today.
9. Disneyland Monorail opens (1959)
On one momentous day in 1959, three major new attractions opened at Disneyland. One of these was the Monorail, which Walt hoped would encourage cities around the world to adopt the transport system. Vice President Richard Nixon was on hand to dedicate the attraction.
10. Matterhorn Bobsleds opens (1959)
Disney had a long-standing relationship with Arrow Development, which was involved in the manufacture of a number of early Disneyland rides. The company’s Imagineers had noted the growing popularity of “wild mouse”-style roller coasters, and inspired by a break in the Swiss Alps, Walt Disney decided to use one to take guests on a journey around the iconic Matterhorn.
An enormous fibreglass replica of the Matterhorn was constructed, with duel coaster tracks being installed by Arrow. The tubular steel design enabled the ride to romp around tight bends with ease, as well as racing through a signature splashdown element.
11. Submarine Voyage opens (1959)
Boasting a total of 8 submarines, the Submarine Voyage carried guests on a trip past animatronic fish and (for a while) models dressed as mermaids. Despite its chronically poor capacity, the ride proved to be a smash hit with guests.
12. Monorail extension (1961)
In June 1961, the Disneyland Monorail was extended, with the track now covering a total of 2.5 miles and linking Tomorrowland to the Disneyland Hotel. A new fleet of Mark II monorail trains was also introduced.
13. Flying Saucers open (1961)
The futuristic Flying Saucers ride was installed in Tomorrowland in 1961, having been manufactured by longtime Disney partner Arrow Development and National Research Associates. Like a large-scale version of air hockey, it saw guests boarding personal flying saucers that sat on a cushion of air, and then bouncing into each, bumper cars-style. There was no steering wheel, instead guests simply leaned from side to side to try and guide their saucer.
Unfortunately, the Flying Saucers proved to be troublesome and expensive to maintain. This, coupled with the ride’s low capacity, meant that they were scrapped in 1966 as Tomorrowland was converted into New Tomorrowland.
14. Swiss Family Treehouse opens (1962)
The Swiss Family Treehouse opened at Disneyland in 1962. Concrete roots, steel limbs and 300,000 plastic leaves were used in its creation.
15. Walt Disney decides on Florida for second theme park project (1963)
Following a flight from New Orleans to Burbank, California on November 22, Walt Disney declares: “Well, that’s the place – Florida.” On the same day, President John F. Kennedy is assassinated. Several further visits to the state follow as Walt hunts for the perfect site.
16. New York World’s Fair (1964/65)
Walt Disney uses the 1964/65 World’s Fair to test the East Coast audience’s appetite for Disney-style entertainment. His Imagineers build four attractions for the fair: the Carousel of Progress (for General Electric), It’s a Small World (for Pepsi-Cola and UNICEF), the Ford Magic Skyway and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (for the State of Illinois).
Three of the attractions are later relocated to Disneyland, and important breakthroughs such as realistic audio-animatronic human characters and a high-capacity boat ride system are made.
17. Disney goes public with Florida Project (1965)
After the Orlando Sentinel reports that the “mystery buyer” of large swathes of land in Central Florida is Disney, Disney breaks cover. A press conference is held with Walt Disney, Roy Disney and Governor Hayden Burns on November 15 to confirm plans for a new theme park near Orlando.
18. New Orleans Square opens at Disneyland (1966)
On July 24, New Orleans Square opens at Disneyland. However, its two major attractions, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion, are not yet ready.
19. Walt Disney dies (1966)
On December 15, 1966, Walt Disney passes away. Roy Disney, who had been hoping to retire, decides to stay on and complete the construction of the Florida resort in his honor.
20. The EPCOT film is shown (1967)
In a video recorded less than two months before his death, Walt Disney describes his plans for the Florida project. As well as a second Disneyland-style theme park, a key element is to be the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, a working city in which future technologies will be developed and tested. The film is shown to members of the Florida legislature at the Park East Theatre in Winter Haven on February 2, 1967.
21. Construction of Magic Kingdom (1967-71)
Construction work on the Magic Kingdom gets underway. The central castle, Cinderella Castle, will stand at 189 feet tall, compared to Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland which is just 77 feet tall.
22. Pirates of the Caribbean opens at Disneyland (1967)
The groundbreaking Pirates of the Caribbean ride opens at Disneyland, combining the high capacity boat ride system pioneered by It’s a Small World with realistic audio-animatronic characters.
23. Club 33 opens at Disneyland (1967)
The private, members-only Club 33 opens at Disneyland, becoming the first location at the park to offer alcoholic beverages.
24. PeopleMover, Carousel of Progress and Adventure Thru Inner Space open (1967)
An updated Tomorrowland opens at Disneyland. Three new attractions are installed: the PeopleMover (which Walt Disney had hoped would form a key part of transporation systems at EPCOT), the Carousel of Progress (relocated from the 1964 New York World’s Fair) and Adventure Thru Inner Space (the first dark ride to use the high-capacity Omnimover system).
25. Haunted Mansion opens at Disneyland (1969)
Some seven years after construction work began, the Haunted Mansion dark ride opens at Disneyland. The attraction goes on to spawn similar rides at several other Disney parks.
26. Magic Kingdom opens at Walt Disney World (1971)
The Magic Kingdom opens at Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971. On October 25, Roy Disney joins Mickey Mouse to dedicate the park. He dies just two months later.
27. Bear Country opens at Disneyland (1972)
Bear Country replaces Disneyland’s Indian Village. It brings with it the first clone of an attraction at the Magic Kingdom – Disneyland’s own version of the Country Bear Jamboree.
28. Pirates of the Caribbean opens at the Magic Kingdom (1973)
The first major expansion to the Magic Kingdom was set to be the Western River Expedition, a major attraction in Frontierland. However, guests complained so frequently that there was no clone of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean at the park that management opted to cancel those plans and install a version of the popular boat ride instead.
29. Space Mountain construction at the Magic Kingdom (1974)
The popularity of the Magic Kingdom with teens and young adults led to Imagineers rushing to design thrill rides for the park. A clone of Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds was considered, but ultimately a space-themed roller coaster (based on an idea from Walt Disney before his death) was installed instead.
30. Treasure Island opens at Walt Disney World (1974)
Located in Walt Disney World’s Bay Lake, Discovery Island first opened to the public in April 1974 as Treasure Island. It was designed to be a wildlife observation attraction, and was renamed after being designated as a zoological park.
31. Space Mountain opens at the Magic Kingdom (1975)
The first Space Mountain opens at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on January 15, 1975, offering an indoor roller coaster ride in the dark.
32. Disney’s River Country water park opens (1976)
Back in 1976, Walt Disney World was short on attractions to keep guests on-site for more than a day or two. The only theme park at that stage was the Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT Center would not open until 1982. To add to its roster, the resort installed its first ever water park: Disney’s River Country.
Located near Discovery Island on the shore of Bay Lake, River Country boasted a rustic “wilderness” theme. The theming was heavy on rocks and boulders, and was designed to resemble an “old-fashioned swimming hole”.
33. Space Mountain opens at Disneyland (1977)
Disneyland opens its own version of Space Mountain in Tomorrowland. It is smaller than the Magic Kingdom’s version, and does not feature the same dual-track design.
34. EPCOT Center construction begins (1979)
After years of speculation, Disney finally begins working on the construction of EPCOT at Walt Disney World. However, Walt’s plan for a working city is dropped in favor of a second theme park that will effectively become a permanent World’s Fair.
35. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad construction at Magic Kingdom (1979)
Despite the work on EPCOT Center, Disney is keen to maintain interest in the Magic Kingdom. Although it will open after Disneyland’s version, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was first designed for the park. The enormous structure required 650 tons of steel, 4,675 tons of “mud” and more than 9,000 gallons of paint to construct.
36. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens at Disneyland (1979)
In September 1979, Disneyland welcomes the first version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – the “wildest ride in the wilderness”.
37. Tokyo Disneyland groundbreaking (1980)
Construction work commences on Tokyo Disneyland, the first Disney theme park that will not be owned by Disney itself. Instead, the virtual clone of the Magic Kingdom will be owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company.
38. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens at the Magic Kingdom (1980)
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens at the Magic Kingdom. It is essentially a mirror image of the Disneyland version, but is 25 percent larger.
39. Construction work on Tokyo Disney Resort (1981)
Full construction work on Tokyo Disneyland begins in April 1981, including work on a clone of Space Mountain.
40. Disneyland passport introduced (1982)
Disneyland abolishes the pay-per-ride A-E Ticket system in favor of the $12 Disneyland Passport, a new pay-one-price system. The same system is introduced at EPCOT Center and the Magic Kingdom – and the Passport above could actually be used at any of the three Disney parks in the US.
41. EPCOT Center opens at Walt Disney World (1982)
On October 1, 1982, EPCOT Center opens as Walt Disney World’s second theme park. The park is divided into two main sections: Future World (which showcases future technologies) and World Showcase (which features pavilions dedicated to nations from around the world).
42. New Fantasyland opens at Disneyland (1983)
The original Fantasyland at Disneyland was built on a limited budget, and there was always a plan to update it later on. This finally happened in 1983 during a period of unprecedented expansion at Disney parks, with Pinocchio’s Daring Journey (a version of which had already opened at Tokyo Disneyland) being the headline new ride.
43. Journey into Imagination opens (1983)
The original version of the Journey into Imagination ride opens at EPCOT Center, becoming one of the park’s most popular attractions.
44. Tokyo Disneyland opens (1983)
On April 15, 1983, the first Disney theme park to be located outside the United States opens in Japan.
45. A new era (1984)
Following the arrival of Michael Eisner as Disney CEO and Frank Wells as Chairman, prices begin to rise rapidly at the company’s theme parks. The price of a single-day Disneyland ticket hits $56, compared to $12 just two years earlier.
46. Morocco Pavilion opens at EPCOT Center (1984)
In September 1984, the Morocco Pavilion becomes one of the first additions to the World Showcase line-up at EPCOT Center.
47. Disney-MGM Studios announced (1985)
At his first shareholders meeting in February 1985, Michael Eisner announces plans to construct Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World. This will combine a working movie studio and a theme park. Eisner is immediately accused of stealing plans from Universal’s parent company MCA, which is planning its own studio theme park in Orlando.
48. Living Seas Pavilion opens at EPCOT Center (1986)
An enormous budget of $90-million made The Living Seas Pavilion the most expensive attraction ever built at a Disney park when it opened in 1986. Its star attraction was an enormous aquarium that held some 5.7 million gallons of water. It took 22 months to construct, with 12,000 cubic yards of concrete and 900 tons of reinforcing steel being used to build the tank. The rest of the pavilion consumed 8,000 cubic yards of conrete and 850 tons of structural steel. The recipe for the artificial saltwater called for 27 truckloads of common table salt.
The Living Seas was designed to compete with nearby SeaWorld Orlando, but the rival park actualy saw an increase in attendance in 1986.
49. Captain EO opens at Disneyland (1986)
Michael Eisner, recognising that Disney’s own live-action and animation movie output had been weak in the years prior to his arrival, instituted a policy of collaborating with outside companies and individuals on new theme park attractions. The result of one of these collaborations was Captain EO, a “4-D” musical show starring Michael Jackson. Clones of the attraction are installed at EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland.
50. Typhoon Lagoon construction begins (1987)
Eager to compete with nearby Wet ‘n Wild, Eisner greenlights the construction of a second, larger water park at Walt Disney World – Typhoon Lagoon.
51. Star Tours opens at Disneyland (1987)
The result of another collaboration with a third-party (this time Star Wars creator George Lucas), Star Tours opens at Disneyland. The simulator-style attraction take guests on a tour of the galaxy which soon goes awry, and is built using military-grade flight simulators. A clone is later installed at Disney-MGM Studios.
52. EuroDisney agreement signed (1987)
Michael Eisner signs an agreement with the French government to build a fourth Disney resort in France. This will be centered around a Disneyland-style park, and plans are also initiated to build a second Disney-MGM Studios theme park on the site.
53. Big Thunder Mountain opens at Tokyo Disneyland (1987)
The third version of Big Thunder Mountain opens at Tokyo Disneyland. It is the first version of the ride to be manufactured by Dutch supplier Vekoma.
54. Disneyland Hotel bought by Disney (1988)
The Disneyland Hotel, originally owned and operated by Jack Wrather under an agreement with Walt Disney, is finally acquired by Disney. To force the sale, Disney threatens to increase the fee that it charges the hotel for allowing its guests to use the Disneyland Monorail.
55. Illuminations debuts at EPCOT Center (1988)
The original version of Illuminations debuts on the World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT Center. It is described as a nighttime spectactle that would capture “the glitter of Times Square, the fantasy of Paris at nigh and the splendor of Piccaddilly”.
56. Norway Pavilion opens at EPCOT Center (1988)
In another expansion to the World Showcase line-up, the Norway Pavilion opens. The star attraction is Maelstrom, a boat ride that was due to be called “SeaVenture” until weeks before its opening day.
57. EuroDisney construction begins (1988)
Construction work on the EuroDisney resort begins. As well as the theme park, no fewer than seven on-site hotels are planned.
58. Disney-MGM Studios opens at Walt Disney World (1989)
On May 1, 1989, Disney-MGM Studios opens to the public. Although it features only a handful of attractions, it proves to be hugely popular. In the face of criticism from early guests, Disney immediately initiates expansion plans.
59. Pleasure Island opens at Walt Disney World (1989)
The Pleasure Island area opens at Walt Disney World, featuring a host of themed nightclubs. It is designed to discourage guests from leaving the property to head to downtown Orlando.
60. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon opens (1989)
The second water park at Walt Disney World throws open its gates in June 1989, featuring a “post-disaster” theme.
61. Splash Mountain opens at Disneyland (1989)
The Splash Mountain water ride opens at Disneyland, featuring a host of audio-animatronic characters. Many of these were relocated from the shuttered America Sings! attraction.
62. Wonders of Life Pavilion opens at EPCOT Center (1989)
Wonders of Life opened in 1989, and hosted a variety of interactive attractions such as a personal health quiz and bicycle simulators. The highlight, though, was Body Wars – a simulator ride through the human body. This was joined by Cranium Command, a humorous show about the importance of the human brain.
63. Port Disney plans announced (1990)
Anxious to expand Disneyland to create a multi-day resort similar to Walt Disney World, Disney announces plans to build a second, separate resort – Port Disney – in Long Beach. The DisneySea theme park is to be the main attraction, featuring an enormous, record-breaking aquarium dubbed Oceana.
64. WestCOT plans announced (1991)
Disney announces plans for WestCOT, a West Coast version of EPCOT Center to be built next to Disneyland. It aims to play the authorities in Long Beach and Anaheim off against each other, ensuring better incentives to build a theme park in one of the two areas.
65. Splash Mountain construction at Magic Kingdom (1991)
With Disney’s theme parks enjoying a major spending spree, construction work takes place on a clone of Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom.
66. Euro Disney Resort opens (1992)
On April 12, 1992, the Euro Disney Resort opens to the public. Euro Disneyland features more attractions on its opening day than any other Disney park in history. Despite this, attendance levels are well below projections.
67. Fantasmic! opens at Disneyland (1992)
With the introduction of Fantasmic! at Disneyland in 1992, the company took the concept of evening entertainment at theme parks to a whole new level. Designed to reinvigorate the space in front of the Rivers America, Fantasmic! was a collaboration between Disney’s animation studios and its Imagineers. Massive modifications were required to Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, with equipment being installed underwater to enable the show’s range of elaborate effects.
68. Splash Mountain opens at the Magic Kingdom (1992)
The first guests begin to ride Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom during a soft opening in July 1992.
69. Splash Mountain opens at Tokyo Disneyland (1992)
The third version of Splash Mountain opens in Japan on October 1, 1992.
70. Construction of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (1993)
Aiming to address complaints that the park lacks thrill rides to compete with those at Universal Studios Florida, Disney constructs its most expensive attraction yet at Disney-MGM Studios: the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Some 1,500 tons of steel were used to build it, along with 145,800 cubic feet of concrete. The roof is lined by 27,000 tiles.
71. Mickey’s Toontown opens (1993)
Inspired by “Toontown” in 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Mickey’s Toontown opens at Disneyland. It features the homes of popular characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Versions will later open at the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland.
72. Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril opens at Euro Disneyland (1993)
Designed as “quick fix” to add more thrill rides to the park’s line-up and boost attendance, Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril opens in Adventureland at Euro Disneyland. It is the first Disney roller coaster to feature an inversion.
73. Construction of Disney’s Blizzard Beach (1994)
Construction work on a third water park at Walt Disney World moves along at a rapid pace.
74. EPCOT Center renamed as Epcot ’94 (1994)
In an attempt to show that the park is not outdated, EPCOT Center is renamed as Epcot ’94.
75. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens (1994)
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror makes its debut at Disney-MGM Studios, and instantly becomes one of the most popular attractions at the Walt Disney World resort. The drop sequence is powered by two huge motors, which are 12 feet tall, 35 feet long and weigh a massive 132,000 pounds.
76. Euro Disneyland renamed as Disneyland Paris (1994)
The disastrous financial performance of Euro Disney leads to Disney threatening to close the resort, leaving its partner banks with the land. In the end, a turnaround plan is agreed and the theme park is renamed as Disneyland Paris.
77. Honey, I Shrunk the Audience opens at Epcot ’94 (1994)
Captain EO is replaced at Epcot by Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, a new 4-D movie based on the movies starring Rick Moranis. The show is later brought to Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland.
78. Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye opens at Disneyland (1995)
The ground-breaking Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye dark ride opens at Disneyland, featuring Enchanted Motion Vehicles that simulate fast-moving jeeps. Universal, which is planning a second theme park at its Orlando resort, decides to revise its plans for a Spider-Man dark ride in response to Disney “raising the bar”.
79. Disney’s Blizzard Beach opens at Walt Disney World (1995)
Walt Disney World’s third water park opens, featuring an unusual theme based around a freak snow-storm that has hit Florida.
80. Disney’s Animal Kingdom announced (1995)
Disney announces plans to build a fourth theme park at Walt Disney World. Combining a zoo and a theme park, it is designed to discourage guests from visiting Busch Gardens Tampa and keep them on Disney property for longer. An enormous 145-feet-tall fake tree, the Tree of Life, will sit at the park’s heart, built around an old oil rig.
81. Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune opens at Disneyland Paris (1995)
The $100 million, Jules Verne-themed Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune opens in Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris. It sparks an improvement in the resort’s fortunes, with attendance climbing to 10.7 million and profits of $22.8 million.
82. Epcot ’95 becomes Epcot (1996)
Walt Disney World drops the practice of adding a year to the end of Epcot’s name, and the park assumes its current moniker.
83. Second theme park agreed for Tokyo Disney Resort (1996)
Disney and the Oriental Land Company conclude an agreement to build a new theme park and hotel at the Tokyo Disney Resort. The park is to be known as Tokyo DisneySea, and will incorporate elements from the planned DisneySea park for Long Beach.
84. Construction of Disney’s California Adventure and Downtown Disney (1998)
With plans for WestCOT and Port Disney having been abandoned following the poor performance of Euro Disneyland, Disney opts to build a cheaper second gate at Disneyland, themed around California itself.
85. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith construction (1998)
Construction work takes place on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney-MGM Studios. The coaster itself is built first, then surrounded with a 3.7 million cubic feet ride building.
86. Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens (1998)
On April 22, 1998, Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens as Walt Disney World’s fourth theme park. An elaborate grand opening ceremony is attended by a crowd of 2,000, with Michael Eisner calling the park “a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama and learn.”
87. New Tomorrowland opens at Disneyland (1998)
Disneyland opens a revised version of Tomorrowland. Budget cuts mean that the original plans are scaled back, and the main new attraction is the Rocket Rods, which replaces the PeopleMover. Technical problems with the high-speed ride mean that it will close after just two years.
88. DisneyQuest opens at Walt Disney World (1998)
Disney opens its first indoor, “virtual reality” theme park at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney.
89. Construction of Tokyo DisneySea (1998)
Construction work on Tokyo DisneySea begins. It will become the most expensive theme park ever built, at around $4 billion.
90. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin opens (1998)
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin replaces Take Flight at the Magic Kingdom, becoming the first of a number of Toy Story-themed shooters at Disney parks around the world.
91. FastPass introduced (1999)
Disney introduces a new ride reservation system, FastPass, at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
92. Test Track opens at Epcot (1999)
After major technical problems during its construction and testing, the high-speed Test Track attraction finally opens at Walt Disney World’s Epcot – almost two years late.
93. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith opens (1999)
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith debuts at Disney-MGM Studios. The band themselves are on-hand at the opening ceremony.
94. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt opens at Tokyo Disneyland (2000)
Costing more than $130 million to create, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt dispenses with the traditional OmniMover system used by rides such as the Haunted Mansion. Instead, it uses a unique local positioning system (LPS), enabling computers to control the movement of each individual car.
95. Disney’s California Adventure opens (2001)
Disney’s California Adventure opens to the public on February 8, 2001. It proves to be underwhelming, with visitors numbers hitting just 5 million during the year (compared to 12.3 million at neighboring Disneyland). Ticket prices are slashed almost immediately.
96. Tokyo DisneySea opens (2001)
On September 4, 2001, Tokyo DisneySea opens at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Its fortunes contrast with that of Disney’s California Adventure, and it proves to be very popular.
97. Disney’s River Country closes (2001)
Following the opening of Blizzard Beach, Disney’s River Country’s days were numbered. It shut on November 2, 2001, but remains in place today – it was abandoned rather than demolished.
98. Walt Disney Studios, Paris opens (2002)
Plans for Disney-MGM Studios Europe were dropped, but ultimately replaced by plans for a smaller, studio-themed park at the Disneyland Resort Paris. It opened on March 16, 2002. Like Disney’s California Adventure, it was light on attractions, small in size and struggled to attract large numbers of guests.
99. Journey into Imagination with Figment opens (2002)
The original version of Journey into Imagination operated at Epcot until 1998, and was one of the most popular attractions at the park. Following its closure, it was overhauled to become Journey into YOUR Imagination. This version of the ride came in for stinging criticism, and only survived for two years before it was itself replaced. In 2001, the ride was again closed, reopening the following year as Journey into Imagination with Figment, its current incarnation.
100. Expedition Everest construction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (2003-2006)
Designed to fill a thrill ride-shaped hole in Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s line-up, Expedition Everest was created using 5,000 tons of structural steel and 10,000 tons of concrete. A rigid steel structure holds the mountain in place. More than 2,000 gallons of stain and paint were used on the mountain’s rockwork and the buildings in the surrounding village.
101. Hong Kong Disneyland construction begins (2003)
In a joint venture with the Government of Hong Kong, Disney begins construction work on a fifth theme park resort. Hong Kong Disneyland will be located on reclaimed land in Penny’s Bay, Lantau Island.
102. Mission: Space opens at Epcot (2003)
Mission: Space opens at Epct, replacing Horizons. The ride uses centrifugal motion simulators to take guests on a trip to Mars, and stars Apollo 13‘s Gary Sinise.
103. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens at Disney’s California Adventure (2004)
As it attempts to turn around the fortunes of Disney’s California Adventure, Disney opens a clone of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at the park. It lacks the dark ride section of the original, but retains the faster-than-freefall drop.
104. Raging Spirits opens at Tokyo DisneySea (2005)
Raging Spirits, a virtual clone of Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril at Disneyland Paris, opens at Tokyo DisneySea.
105. Hong Kong Disneyland opens (2005)
Hong Kong Disneyland opens on September 12, 2005, following a rapid construction period. The park features a relatively small capacity for a Disney park and attendance levels disappoint.
106. Expedition Everest opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (2006)
The towering Expedition Everest opens at Walt Disney World. To recreate the lowlands surrounding Mount Everest, more than 900 bamboo plants, 10 species of trees and 110 species of shrubs were planted.
107. Tower of Terror opens at Tokyo DisneySea (2006)
Tokyo DisneySea opens its version of the Tower of Terror – the first not to include a backstory based around The Twilight Zone.
108. The Seas with Nemo & Friends opens at Epcot (2007)
A re-imagined version of The Living Seas Pavilion opens at Epcot, now starring the friendly fish from Pixar’s Finding Nemo.
109. Toon Studio opens at Walt Disney Studios, Paris (2007)
Walt Disney Studios, Paris receives a badly-needed expansion, with the opening of Toon Studio. The headline ride is spinning roller coaster Crush’s Coaster, which proves to be popular but suffers from long queues due to its low capacity.
110. Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opens at Disneyland (2007)
After almost 9 years out of action following a “temporary” closure in 1998, Disneyland’s Submarine Voyage attraction was finally revived with a new Pixar theme in 2007.
111. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens at Walt Disney Studios, Paris (2007)
The line-up at Walt Disney Studios is improved with the addition of a clone of the California version of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
112. Disney-MGM Studios renamed as Disney’s Hollywood Stuios (2008)
Disney opts to rebrand Disney-MGM Studios as Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
113. Toy Story Midway Mania opens (2008)
Opened at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure in 2008 (followed by a third installation at Tokyo DisneySea in 2012), Toy Story Midway Mania has proven to be hugely popular. Perhaps the most significant innovation is the software-based nature of the ride’s mini-games. This allows the various games to be swapped out in future, as has already occured on one occasion.
114. Pleasure Island closes (2008)
In September 2008, Disney shuttered Pleasure Island’s clubs, claiming that guests were demanding more family experiences in their place (and refuting rumors that the success of Universal Orlando’s CityWalk had led to a decrease in attendance).
115. Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek opens at Tokyo Disneyland (2009)
Based on the 2001 Pixar movie, Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek! cost $88 million to install in Tokyo Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. The interactive attraction sees guests riding in 4-person cars equipped with “flashlights” that allow them to search for animatronic monsters in the dark.
116. Mickey’s Fun Wheel opens at Disney’s California Adventure (2009)
As part of a multi-year transformation plan, attractions at Disney’s California Adventure begin to undergo makeovers. One of the first is the Sun Wheel, which is transformed into Mickey’s Fun Wheel.
117. Captain EO returns (2010)
Following the death of Michael Jackson, Captain EO returns in place of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience at Disneyland, Epcot, Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland.
118. World of Color debuts at Disney California Adventure (2010)
The spectacular World of Color water and projection show debuts at the newly-renamed Disney California Adventure.
119. Toy Story Playland opens at Walt Disney Studios, Paris (2010)
Walt Disney Studios, Paris receives another expansion, this time in the form of a small land dedicated to Toy Story featuring themed versions of traditional midway rides.
120. Shanghai Disney Resort groundbreaking (2011)
A ground-breaking ceremony is held on the future site of Shanghai Disneyland, the heart of a sprawling new resort that is due to open in 2015.
121. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue opens (2011)
The original Star Tours is overhauled at Disneyland, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Tokyo Disneyland to feature a new storyline. The updated Star Tours: The Adventures Continue features no fewer than 54 different possible experiences, made possible by splicing together various different scenes.
122. The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure opens (2011)
Disney California Adventure receives its latest new ride, a dark ride themed around The Little Mermaid. A clone is brought to the Magic Kingdom the following year.
123. Toy Story Land opens at Hong Kong Disneyland (2011)
The first of three new lands to form part of an ambitious expansion plan opens at Hong Kong Disneyland. It is a clone of Toy Story Playland at Walt Disney Studios, Paris.
124. Cars Land opens at Disney California Adventure (2012)
The sprawling Cars Land expansion opens at Disney California Adventure, featuring headline ride Radiator Springs Racers.
125. Grizzly Gulch opens at Hong Kong Disneyland (2012)
Grizzly Gulch opens at Hong Kong Disneyland. The area’s headline ride is Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, which combines elements of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Expedition Everest.
126. Mystic Point opens at Hong Kong Disneyland (2013)
Hong Kong Disneyland completes its initial expansion program with the opening of Mystic Point. The star attraction is Mystic Manor, a trackless dark ride that is a modern-day version of the Haunted Mansion.
127. MyMagic+ roll-out at Walt Disney World (2013-2014)
Disney begins the roll out of the MyMagic+ system at Walt Disney World. The two major elements are MagicBands (RFID-enabled wristbands) and FastPass+, an updated version of the ride reservation system that allows timeslots to be booked in advance.
128. Pandora – The World of Avatar construction begins (2014)
Construction work begins on Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The new land will feature two major rides: a “flying” ride and a boat ride, and opened in May 2017.
129. New Fantasyland expansion completed at Magic Kingdom (2014)
The New Fantasyland expansion is completed in spring 2014 with the debut of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster.
130. Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy opens at Walt Disney Studios, Paris (2014)
The long-awaited trackless dark ride Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy opens at Walt Disney Studios, Paris in summer 2014.
