Originally posted: 2/9/2003

Last updated: 3/14/2004

1948 – Walt Disney has an idea for a park that the whole family can attend.  He wants to build the Mickey Mouse Park on 8 acres next to the Disney Studio in Burbank, California.

With the land next to the studio unavailable, Walt turns to the Stanford Research Institute to recommend a site for the park.  Their selection is Anaheim.  Walt purchases 160 acres.

Walt recruits animators from his studio to begin designing the park's attractions.  He gives these designers the title "Imagineers" and is adamant that they create unique attractions that don't look anything like traveling carnival rides.
 

1953 – The ABC television network agrees to provide some funding for the park, now to be named Disneyland, in exchange for a weekly TV show.
 

1954 – Construction begins on the $17 million theme park.
 

1955:

Disneyland opens on July, 17th with 18 attractions in five themed "lands":

• Fantasyland, with King Arthur's Carousel, the Mad Tea Party Tea Cups, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Sleeping Beauty's Castle, Snow White's Adventures, a Peter Pan attraction and the Canal Boats of the World.
• Tomorrowland, with Autopia (car ride), Space Station X-1, the Monsanto Hall of Chemistry, the World Beneath Us, the Clock of the World, the Moonliner, Rocket to the Moon and the Circarama Theater (which shows the movie Tour of the West).
• Frontierland, with an Indian Village, the Disneyland Stagecoach, the Mule Pack, the Miniature Horse Corral and the Golden Horseshoe Revue show.
• Adventureland, featuring the Jungle Cruise and the Mark Twain Riverboat ride.
• Main Street U.S.A., with a train station for the Disneyland Railroad, the Main Street Cinema, a Horse Drawn Fire Wagon, a Penny Arcade and a Shooting Gallery.

Approximately 60,000 people visit the park on opening day.

In August, the Conastoga Wagons are added in Frontierland, the Mickey Mouse Club Theater opens in Fantasyland and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea premiers in Tomorrowland.

A Hobbyland attraction and the Thimble Drome Flight Circle debuts in Tomorrowland in September.

The Mickey Mouse Club Circus opens in Fantasyland in November.

The Aluminum Hall of Fame opens in Tomorrowland in December.

The Mike Fink Keel Boats are added to Frontierland in December.

Admission this year is $1.00.  The cost of the individual attractions ranged from 10 to 35 cents.
 

1956:

The Mickey Mouse Club Circus (Fantasyland) and the Indian Village (Frontierland) close in January.

Keller's Jungle Killers lion show runs in Fantasyland from February through September.

The Disneyland Stagecoach and the Mule Pack are removed from Frontierland in February.

The Color Gallery and Astro Jets open in March in Tomorrowland.

The Bathroom of Tomorrow attraction opens in April.

Horseless Carriage (Antique cars) opens in May in Main Street U.S.A.

The Skyway (Sky Ride) is added in June between the Fantasyland and Tomorrowland sections.

The Phantom Boats are added in July in Tomorrowland, but are removed in October.

Junior Autopia is added to Fantasyland in July.

The Indian Village is added to Adventureland in July.

The double-decker Omnibus opens in August in Main Street U.S.A.

Fantasyland Theater opens in August.

The Rainbow Caverns Mine Train, the Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules, the Rainbow Mountain Stage Coach, Tom Sawyer Island, the Indian War Canoes and Mineral Hall are added in Frontierland.

Canal Boats of the World is rethemed as Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland.

"D" tickets are first introduced this year.

The park celebrates its 5 millionth guest this year.
 

1957:

A walkthrough of Sleeping Beauty's Castle and the Midget Autopia are added in Fantasyland in April.

Viewliner, a small gauge train with a figure-eight track is added in June and has stations in both Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.

Motor Boat Cruise is added to Fantasyland in June.

The House of the Future, featuring a walkthrough tour, opens in June in Tomorrowland.

Holidayland, a separate picnic-like area designed for special parties, is added in June.

The Miniature Horse Corral is removed from Frontierland in July.

Indian Village Rafts and the Shooting Gallery are added to Frontierland in July.

A second bus, Omnibus #2, is added to Main Street U.S.A. in August.

The park celebrates its 10 millionth guest this year.
 

1958:

Space Station X-1 is replaced by Satellite View of America in Tomorrowland in January.

The Grand Canyon Diorama is added to the route of the Disneyland Railroad between Tomorrowland and Main Street U.S.A. in March.

Columbia sail boat attraction is added to Frontierland in June.

Alice in Wonderland, a dark ride where guests ride in "caterpillar" cars, opens in Fantasyland in June.

A Fire Engine ride is added to Main Street U.S.A. in August.

Viewliner is removed in September.

Junior Autopia is removed from Fantasyland in December.
 

1959:

Four new attractions are added in June:

• Disneyland Monorail in Tomorrowland,
• Submarine Voyage, also in Tomorrowland,
• Fantasyland Autopia and
• Matterhorn Bobsleds in Fantasyland.

Rainbow Mountain Stage Coach and Conastoga Wagons are removed in September.

Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules are removed in October.

The World Beneath Us attraction closes in Tomorrowland in December.

"E" tickets are first introduced this year.

The park celebrates its 15th millionth guest this year.
 

1960:

Catfish Cove opens in Frontierland in January.

The Tour of the West movie in Tomorrowland's Circarama Theater closes in January.

The Satellite View of America is removed from Tomorrowland in February.

The Rainbow Caverns Mine Train is rethemed and renamed Mine Train Through Natures Wonderland.  This is the first attraction to feature Animatronics.  It debuts in May.

The Art of Animation attraction opens in Tomorrowland in May.

Pack Mules Through Natures Wonderland opens in June.

The America the Beautiful movie opens in July in the Circarama Theater.

The Aluminum Hall of Fame closes in July.

The Bathroom of Tomorrow (Tomorrowland) and Main Street U.S.A.'s Horse Drawn Fire Wagon close in August.

Skull Rock and Pirate's Cove are added to Fantasyland in December.
 

1961:

Holidayland is removed in January.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs attraction is added to Fantasyland in March.

Flying Saucers are added to Tomorrowland in August.

The Babes in Toyland exhibit is added to Main Street U.S.A. in December.

The Disneyland Monorail is extended to the Disneyland Hotel.

The park celebrates its 25 millionth guest.
 

1962:

In January, the Shooting Gallery is moved from Main Street U.S.A. to Adventureland.

A Safari Shooting Gallery is also added to Adventureland in June.

The Swiss Family Treehouse debuts in Adventureland in November.

Mineral Hall closes in December.
 

1963:

Mickey Mouse Club Headquarters open in January on Main Street U.S.A.

The Color Gallery closes in January.

The Enchanted Tiki Room attraction is added in June, featuring 200 Animatronics birds.

The Babes in Toyland exhibit is removed from Main Street U.S.A. in September.
 

1964:

Catfish Cove, the Mickey Mouse Club Headquarters and the Mickey Mouse Club Theater close in January.

Columbia's Below Decks Museum opens in Frontierland in February.

Astro Jets are renamed Tomorrowland Jets in August.
 

1965:

The Fashions and Fabrics Through the Ages exhibit runs from March until December in Tomorrowland.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is added to Main Street U.S.A. in July.  The attraction features an Animatronics Abe Lincoln delivering actual Lincoln speeches and was originally created for the 1964 World's Fair in New York.

The park celebrates its 50 millionth guest.
 

1966:

Tomorrowland's Hobbyland exhibit and the Thimble Drome Flight Circle close in January.

Midget Autopia is removed from Fantasyland in April.

It's a Small World debuts in May in Fantasyland after having also been created for the 1964 World's Fair.

Fort Wilderness is added to Frontierland in June.

The Primeval World Diorama is added to the Disneyland Railroad in July.

New Orleans Square opens as the sixth themed "land" in July.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea closes in August.

The Art of Animation, Clock of the World, Flying Saucers, Hall of Chemistry, Moonliner, Rocket to the Moon and Tomorrowland Jets attractions close in September.

Walt Disney dies at the age of 65 from cancer in December.  Walt's brother, Roy, assumes control of the company.
 

1967:

Pirates of the Caribbean opens in March in the New Orleans Square area.

The Tommorowland area, already outdated, is demolished and rebuilt:

• The America the Beautiful film is re-shot and the theater is moved to the area formerly occupied by Satellite View of America and is renamed the Circle-Vision 360 Theater.  It opens in June.
• Tomorrowland Jets, re-themed and renamed Rocket Jets, re-opens in July.
• The PeopleMover is added in July.
• The 2-story Carousel Theater replaces the Space Bar and houses the Carousel of Progress, featuring over 60 Animatronics figures.  It debuts in July.
• Rocket to the Moon is rebuilt as re-opens as Flight to the Moon in August.
• The Adventure Thru Inner Space attraction premiers in August, replacing both the Hall of Chemistry and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea exhibit.
• Tomorrowland Terrace replaces the Yacht Bar restaurant.
• The Alpine Gardens are added in December.

1968:

Tomorrowland's Monorail station is rebuilt.

Both Autopia's (Tomorrowland and Fantasyland) get new cars.
 

1969:

The Haunted Mansion is added in the New Orleans Square section in August.  This attraction was originally conceived as a walkthrough haunted-house, but was later switched after the Imagineers learned how to make a ride system that continuously moved, even while loading.

In November, the Shooting Gallery is removed from Adventureland.
 

1970:

The Legacy of Walt Disney attraction opens on Main Street U.S.A. in January.

Roy Disney dies in December at the age of 78.
 

1971:

Indian War Canoes and Indian Village Rafts are removed from Frontierland in January.

Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes are added to Frontierland in May.

The park celebrates its 100 millionth guest in June.

The Indian Village is removed from Adventureland in October.
 

1972:

A portion of Frontierland is transformed into Bear Country, the park's 7th themed "land", which opens in March.  It includes the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, the Indian Trading Post, and two new attractions: Country Bear Jamboree and Teddi Barra's Swingin' Arcade.

The Main Street Electrical Parade debuts in June.
 

1973:

In January, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is replaced with a Preview of Coming Attractions on Main Street U.S.A.

The Legacy of Walt Disney is removed from Main Street U.S.A. in February.

The Walt Disney Story premiers on Main Street U.S.A. in April.

The Carousel of Progress is removed from Tomorrowland's Carousel Theater in September.

Pack Mules Through Natures Wonderland closes in October.
 

1974 – America Sings Animatronics show is added in Tomorrowland's Carousel Theater in June.
 

1975:

The Walt Disney Story closes on Main Street U.S.A. in February.

Tomorrowland's Flight to the Moon is refurbished, re-themed and renamed Mission to Mars, which opens in March.

The Walt Disney Story Featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln debuts in June on Main Street U.S.A.
 

1976 – Seven new scenes are added to the Jungle Cruise.
 

1977:

Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland closes in January.

A major expansion is added to Tommorowland, which includes:

• Space Mountain, the indoor, space-themed roller coaster,
• The Space Place restaurant,
• Space Stage outdoor theater,
• The Starcade arcade area and
• The SuperSpeed Tunnel is added to the PeopleMover.

1978 – Matterhorn Bobsleds are remodeled.  Ice caverns and the abominable snowman are added to the ride, which also gets a new computer control system to boost capacity.
 

1979 – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (mine train roller coaster) is added to Frontierland in September.
 

1981:

Fantasyland Theater closes in December.

The park celebrates its 200 millionth guest.
 

1982:

Skull Rock and Pirate's Cove are removed from Fantasyland in January.

The Safari Shooting Gallery is removed from Adventureland in January.

Footage from the Disney movie Tron is added to the PeopleMover.

Admission this year is $12.00.
 

1983:

Snow White's Adventures and Peter Pan both close in January for remodeling.

Snow White's Scary Adventures and Peter Pan's Flight re-open in May, along with a new attraction, Pinocchio's Daring Journey.
 

1984:

The America The Beautiful movie ends its run in Tomorrowland's Circle-Vision 360 Theater in January.

Magic Journeys, a 3-D movie, opens in Tomorrowland in June.

The movies Wonders of China and American Journeys debut in the Circle-Vision 360 Theater in July.

The Country Bear Christmas Special show premiers in Bear Country in November.
 

1985:

The Shooting Gallery gets new light-guns and is renamed Frontierland Shooting Arcade in March.

The Videopolis open-air amphitheater opens in Fantasyland in June and features a 5,000 square-foot dance floor and 70 video screens.

Adventure Thru Inner Space closes in Tomorrowland in September.
 

1986:

Tomorrowland's Magic Journeys movie and Space Stage both close in January.

The Country Bear Vacation Hoedown show premiers in Bear Country in February.

Big Thunder Ranch opens in Frontierland in June.

Country Bear Jamboree show closes in July.

Captain EO, a 17-minute 3-D film featuring Michael Jackson debuts in Tomorrowland in September.

Frontierland's Golden Horseshoe Revue show closes in October and is replaced by a re-vamped Golden Horseshoe Jamboree in November.
 

1987:

Star Tours, created by Disney and George Lucas based on his Star Wars movies, opens in Tomorrowland in January on the former site of the Adventure Thru Inner Space attraction.

The Disney Gallery opens in New Orleans Square in July.
 

1988 – The America Sings show ends its run in Tomorrowland's Carousel Theater in April.
 

1989:

Splash Mountain, a log flume with over 100 Animatronics figures, opens in Bear Country in July.

The Preview of Coming Attractions is removed from Main Street U.S.A. in July.

The movie One Man's Dream opens in Fantasyland's Videopolis in December.

The park celebrates its 300 millionth guest.
 

1990 – One Man's Dream ends its run in April.
 

1991:

In January, Disney announces plans for the Disneyland Resort which will feature the Westcot Center and three hotels.

Plane Crazy is shown from March through October in Videopolis.

Baloo's Dressing Room is shown from March through September in Videopolis.
 

1992:

The Beauty and the Beast stage show debuts in Fantasyland's Videopolis in April.

The night-time Fantasmic show premiers in May.

Mission to Mars closes in November.
 

1993:

A new land, Toon Town, opens in January and includes the following attractions:

• Chip N' Dale Tree House (slides and a ball crawl),
• Gadget's Go Coaster (children's roller coaster),
• Goofy's Bounce House,
• Jolley Trolley (a trip around Toon Town),
• Mickey's House (walkthrough),
• Minnie's House (walkthrough) and
• Miss Daisy's Houseboat.

The Fantasia Gardens are added to Fantasyland in January.

Motor Boat Cruise is removed in January.

The route of the Monorail is moved 40-feet and construction begins in the parking lot outside Adventureland for a new attraction, Indiana Jones Adventures.

The Jungle Cruise temporarily closes for refurbishment.
 

1994:

Disney announces that plans for the Westcot Center have been canceled.

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin (dark ride) opens in Toon Town in January.

The Mike Fink Keel Boats are removed from Frontierland in January.

The Skyway closes in November.

Frontierland's Golden Horseshoe Jamboree show is replaced by Billy Hill and the Hillbillies in December.

The Jungle Cruise reopens.

The park celebrates its 350 millionth guest.
 

1995:

After nearly two years of construction at a cost of $100 million, the Indiana Jones Adventure opens in Adventureland in March.

The Beauty and the Beast stage show ends its run in Fantasyland's Videopolis in April.

Videopolis closes in June.

The Animazement stage show opens in Fantasyland in June.

The PeopleMover closes in August.

Admission this year is $33.00.
 

1996:

The Spirit of Pocahontas stage show debuts in Fantasyland in January.

The Toy Story Funhouse is open from January to May in Tomorrowland.

Tomorrowland's Alpine Gardens are renamed Triton Gardens in February.

Frontierland's Big Thunder Ranch closes in February.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame "Festival of Fools" debuts in Frontierland in June.

The Wonders of China and American Journeys movies end their run in Tomorrowland's Circle-Vision 360 Theater in July.  The theater itself also closes and is removed.

The Frontierland Shooting Arcade is renamed Frontierland Shooting Exposition in July.

Attendance this year is 14.9 million.
 

1997:

Aladdin's Oasis opens in Adventureland in January.

Rocket Jets are removed from Tomorrowland in January.

Pirates of the Caribbean is closed from January through March for refurbishment.

Captain EO concludes its 11-year run in April.

The Spirit of Pocahontas stage show closes in Fantasyland in September.

The park celebrates its 400 millionth guest.

Attendance this year is 14.2 million.
 

1998:

A new Tomorrowland opens in May and features:

• The American Space Experience,
• Astro Orbitor (rocket ride),
• The Cosmic Waves fountain,
• "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" 3-D movie (which replaces Captain EO),
• Observatron and
• Rocket Rods, which replaces the PeopleMover (closed in 1995) and uses the same track, but is much faster (the ride on PeopleMover took 16 minutes compared to 2 minutes for Rocket Rods.)

Submarine Voyage is removed from Tomorrowland in September.

Innoventions opens in Tomorrowland in November.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame "Festival of Fools" closes in Frontierland in December.

Attendance this year is 13.7 million.
 

1999:

Radio Disney opens in Tomorrowland in January.

The Swiss Family Treehouse (Adventureland) closes in May, is remodeled and re-themed and opens as Tarzan's Treehouse in June.

The Fast Pass virtual line system debuts in August.

Both Autopia's (Fantasyland and Tomorrowland) close in September for remodeling.  Both tracks are combined to make one ride that is twice as long.

Admission this year is $39.00.
 

2000:

In January, admission increases to $41.00.

The Woody's Roundup stage show runs from January through December in Frontierland.

In June, Autopia reopens in Tomorrowland.  It features new cars and a new queue area.

A Special Preview of Disney's California Adventure debuts on Main Street U.S.A. in July.

Rocket Rods closes in Tomorrowland in September.  Although the ride was quite popular, it spent its two and a half seasons closed more than open due to maintenance problems.

In November, admission increases again to $43.00.

Attendance this year is 13.9 million.
 

2001:

The Country Bear Christmas Special show in Bear Country closes in January.

The Country Bear Vacation Hoedown show closes in Bear Country in September.

The Animazement stage show closes in Fantasyland in October.

The park celebrates its 450 millionth guest.
 

2002:

The walkthrough of Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Fantasyland closes in January.

A Special Preview of Disney's California Adventure closes on Main Street U.S.A. in January.

The Cosmic Waves fountain is removed from Tomorrowland in January.

Mickey's Detective School stage show debuts in Fantasyland in April.

Teddi Barra's Swingin' Arcade is removed in October.
 

2003:

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opens.

Space Mountain closes on April 10.

In September, a train on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad derails, killing one rider and injuring several others.
 

2004:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad re-opens on March 12.