How the park grew, from 1955 to today - Orange County Register

How the park grew, from 1955 to today

Join us as we take a year-by-year trip down memory lane and recount the 70-year history of the Disneyland Resort

Children sprint toward Sleeping Beauty Castle on Disneyland’s opening day, July 17, 1955. The Associated Press

Walt Disney points to animatronic animals during a renovation of the Jungle Cruise. Courtesy of Renie Bardeau

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Walt Disney checks out the decor in the Enchanted Tiki Room, which opened in 1963. Courtesy of Disneyland

The PeopleMover, top, and Monorail, center, pass over the Motor Boat Cruise in 1959 or later. courtesy of Disney

Construction is underway leading up to the 1997 opening of Space Mountain at Disneyland. Courtesy of Disney

In 1987, CEO Michael Eisner and director George Lucas use a lightsaber for the Star Tours ribbon-cutting. Courtesy of Disney

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ByBradyMacDonald|bmacdonald@scng.com

ByBradyMacDonald|bmacdonald@scng.com">

1955: Disneyland debuts July 17 with Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A. Major attractions include Jungle Cruise, Autopia, Disneyland Railroad and Mark Twain Riverboat.

1956: Tom Sawyer Island opens.

1958: Columbia Sailing Ship opens.

1959: Matterhorn Bobsleds, Disneyland Monorail and Submarine Voyage open.

1963: Enchanted Tiki Room opens.

1965: “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” opens.

1966: It’s a Small World and New Orleans Square open. Walt Disney dies Dec. 15.

1967: Pirates of the Caribbean opens. Tomorrowland 2.0 expansion debuts with the PeopleMover, Adventure Thru Inner Space, Carousel of Progress and “America the Beautiful” in CircleVision 360. Club 33 opens.

1969: Haunted Mansion opens.

1971: Disneyland reaches 100 million visitors.

1972: Bear Country theme land with Country Bear Jamboree replaces the Indian Village. Main Street Electrical Parade debuts.

1977: Space Mountain opens.

1979: Big Thunder Mountain opens.

1981: Disneyland reaches 200 million visitors.

1983: Remodeled Fantasyland debuts with the new Pinocchio’s Daring Journey.

1987: Star Tours opens.

1988: Bear Country themed land becomes Critter Country.

1989: Splash Mountain opens. Disneyland reaches 300 million visitors.

1992: “Fantasmic” water show debuts.

1993: Mickey’s Toontown opens.

1994: Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin opens.

1995: Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye opens.

1997: Disneyland reaches 400 million visitors.

1998: Tomorrowland 3.0 opens with Rocket Rods, “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” 3D film and Innoventions.

2000: The 10,250-space Mickey and Friends parking structure opens.

2001: Disney California Adventure, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Downtown Disney open. Major attractions include Grizzly River Run, California Screamin’ and Soarin’ Over California.2002: A Bug’s Land themed land opens at Disney California Adventure.

2004: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens. Disneyland reaches 500 million visitors.

2005: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters opens.

2006: Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue replaces Superstar Limo at Disney California Adventure. Pirate’s Lair is added to Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland.

2007: Disney announces a $1.1 billion plan to fix Disney California Adventure over a five-year period after a dismal start. Rethemed Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opens after the attraction sat closed for nine years.

2008: Toy Story Midway Mania opens. Disneyland Monorail Mark VII trains debut.

2009: It’s a Small World adds 29 Disney and Pixar characters.

2010: “World of Color” water show debuts.

2011: Little Mermaid — Ariel’s Undersea Adventure replaces Golden Dreams at California Adventure. Star Tours is updated with new randomized scenes. Goofy’s Sky School roller coaster replaces Mulholland Madness at California Adventure.

2012: Cars Land opens with Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi’s Flying Tires and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. Buena Vista Street makeover of California Adventure entrance debuts with Red Car Trolley. The rethemed Hollywood Land replaces Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

2015: Paint the Night parade debuts. Grizzly Peak Airfield themed land replaces Condor Flats.

2016: Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters replace Luigi’s Flying Tires. Soarin’ Around the World replaces Soarin’ Over California.

2017: Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! replaces Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

2018: The Pixar Pier themed land with the reimagined Incredicoaster and the Paradise Gardens dining area replaces Paradise Pier.

2019: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge themed land opens with Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run motion simulator ride. Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and Jessie’s Critter Carousel open in Pixar Pier. The 6,500-space Pixar Pals parking structure opens.

2020: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance dark ride opens in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. COVID-19 pandemic forces closure of Disneyland and California Adventure along with every Disney park around the world.

2021: Disneyland and California Adventure reopen after a 412-day pandemic closure. Avengers Campus themed land opens with Web Slingers.

2023: Mickey’s Toontown makeover debuts with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. “Wondrous Journeys” fireworks show debuts. San Fransokyo Square replaces the Pacific Wharf food court.

2024: $1.9 billion DisneylandForward plan is approved by the city of Anaheim, laying out long-term plans for theme park, retail and parking expansion. Disney announces plans to invest $30 billion in theme parks worldwide over the next decade. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure replaces Splash Mountain in the rethemed Bayou Country themed land. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel transforms into Pixar Place Hotel. Disneyland announces plans for a Mandalorian and Grogu makeover coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in May 2026.

2025: “Walt Disney — A Magical Life,” with the first audio-animatronic figure of Walt Disney, is set to open July 17. Construction has started on Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab attractions in Avengers Campus. Disneyland announces plans to start construction on a “Coco” boat ride in Pixar Pier. Plans to transform a portion of the Hollywood Backlot area in California Adventure’s Hollywood Land into an “Avatar” destination experience are announced. Disneyland announces plans to build a 6,000-space parking garage, pedestrian bridge and transportation hub beginning in 2026 on the east side of the resort.