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1954

- Walt agrees to produce a regular television show for ABC in return for funding. (January)
- Excavation of the Disneyland site begins (August 13^th)
- "The Disneyland Story" airs, the first episode of Disneyland television show (October 27^th)

1955                                                                Back to Timeline

- 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 17^th
- Disneyland opens to the public on July 18^th
- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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)
- Fort Wilderness (Opened June 1956, closed November 2002)
- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Midget Autopia (Opened April, Closed April 1966)
- Sleeping Beauty Castle (walk through) (Opened April, Closed January 2002)
- 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)
- The first annual New Year’s Eve Party takes place on Dec. 31 with 7,500 guests.
- Leigh Woolfender is 10 millionth guest on December 31

1958:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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 28^th
- Tomorrowland Railroad Station
- Last episode of "Disneyland" television show airs (September 3^rd)
- ABC changes the name of Disney's TV show from "Disneyland" to "Walt Disney Presents".
- First year Candlelight Procession (December)
- Disneyland Kennel Opens (January 18^th)
- Milt Albright founds the Magic Kingdom Club

1959:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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 14^th)
- Matterhorn Bobsleds (Opened June)
- Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad adds Ernest S. Marsh Engine. July 25^th
- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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 15^th
- “Meet Me at Disneyland” first airs on national TV June 9^th, Last show September 8^th
- The Tahitian Terrace opened in 1962 in the Adventureland

1963:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Enchanted Tiki Room (Introduction of Audio-Animatronics) (Opened June 23^rd)
- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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 17^th.
- 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                                                                Back to Timeline

- 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 3^rd

1966:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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 18^th
- Walter Elias 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Pirates of the Caribbean (Opened March 18^th)
- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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 21^st 

1969:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Haunted Mansion (August 9^th)
- The Mark III Monorails Debuted (22 million guests carried) Specs: 137 FT., 5 Car, extended stations needed.
- On March 23^rd, 100 VWs paraded down Main Street to celebrate “Love Bug Day”.
- On July 20^th 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- The Legacy of Walt Disney (Opened January, Closed February 1973)
- July 17^th Disneyland celebrates it 15^th Birthday.  (130 original Disneyland cast members known as “Club 55” gathered for this special celebration)
- "Disneyland Showtime" airs on national TV March 22^nd

1971:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Davy Crockett’s Explorer canoes (redesigned, were the Indian War Canoes) (Opened May)
- October 1^st, the Walt Disney World Resort opened in Orlando Florida.
- At 11:13 am, on Thursday, June 17^th, Valerie Suldo becomes guest number 100 million.
- Roy Oliver Disney dies from a cerebral hemorrhage at 11:45 PM December 20, at the age of 78.

1972:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Country Bear Jamboree (Opened March, Closed July 1986)
- Teddi Bara’s Swingin’ Arcade (Opened March, Closed October 2002)
- Bear Country opens (Disneyland’s 7^th themed land)
 -Main Street Electrical Parade premieres. (Opened June 17th, Closed November 25, 1997, reopened at DCA)
- 11 ride ticket books are introduced. 

1973:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- America Sings (Opened June 28^th, Closed April 1988)
- Herbie Day at Disneyland aired on a national TV special July 11th. 

1975:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- June 22^nd, Elsie Mae Houck becomes the 150 millionth guest.
- Two Disneyland specials air on national television.  Monsanto presents Walt Disney’s America on Parade, April 3^rd 1976 and Christmastime at Disneyland December 6^th.
- Gorrilla's in Camp added to the Jungle Cruise Attraction. 

1977:                                                               Back to Timeline

- John Komlos goes to Disneyland for the first time (June). And yes he did ride on Space Mountain!
- Space Mountain (May 27^th)  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)
- The Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through was redesigned in 1977 adding new dioramas replacing the original Eyvind Earle’s diaramas.

1978:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Matterhorn renovation including ice caverns and Abominable Snowman.
- Mickey’s official Birthday party November 18^th and 19^th. 

1979:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (September 2^nd, replaces Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland)
- The first baby is born at Disneyland on Main Street July 4^th (Teresa Salcedo) 

1980:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Disneyland celebrates its 25^th birthday with a 25 hour long party.
- Disneyland’s 25^th Anniversary Parade entertains all year long. 

1981:                                                               Back to Timeline

- On January 8^th, at 11:00 am, Gert Schelvis, becomes the 200 millionth guest.
- ”Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary" airs on national TV March 6^th

1982:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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 50,000^th performance.
- Tron footage added to the PeopleMover's Superspeed Tunnel (Opened July 2^nd 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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 25^th 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 23^rd
- Tokyo Disneyland opened its doors on April 15

1984:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Frontierland Shooting Arcade (Opened March, Closed July 1996)
- Videopolis (Opened June, Closed June 1995)
- July 17^th, Disneyland celebrates its 30^th birthday
- Yearlong “30 years of Magic” celebration
- Disneyland’s 30^th Anniversary Celebration airs nationally, on February 2^nd.
- On February 6^th, Disneyland begins a year around, 7 days a week operation.
- Brook Charles Arthur Burr becomes the 250 millionth guest on August 24^th.
- Submarine Voyage submarines are renamed and repainted (grey to yellow)

1986:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Star Tours (January 12^th )
- The Disney Gallery (Opened July, Closed August 7, 2007)
- Disney Dollars where introduced on May 5^th. (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.
- The Disney Legends award was created in 1987 by Andrea Favilli. The awards are cast in bronze and hand-crafted each year by the artist that characterize the contribution made by each talented recipient.  Click here for a list of the recipients.

1988:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Mickey’s 60^th Birthday.
- Mickey’s 60^th Birthday Parade and Mickey’s Birthday Bash are celebrated daily during the summer.
- Disneyland Hotel acquired from Wrather Corporation by Disney Corporation. 

1989:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Herb Ryman passed away on February 10, 1989, in Los Angeles.  Born June 28, 1910, in Vernon, Illinois, Herbert Dickens Ryman graduated from Chicago Art Institute, with honors, before moving to Hollywood in 1932.Herb met Walt Disney for the first time at a gallery exhibit of his work. Walt was so impressed with the paintings on display that he invited Herb to join The Walt Disney Studios. While Herb went on to serve as an art director for such feature-length animated classics as "Fantasia" and "Dumbo," Disneyland became the centerpiece of his Disney career. Among his contributions were designs for Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle and New Orleans Square. In 1988, his 1964 painting of New Orleans Square was selected by the State Department for display at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. Herb also contributed concepts for the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and for attractions featured at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, including Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
- Splash Mountain (July 17^th)
- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Disneyland Celebrates its 35^th Birthday July 17^th.
- Party Gras Parade debuts.

1991:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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.
- Disney announces plans for a second Anaheim theme park. It is originally envisioned as a smaller version of Epcot Center, with the working title “Westcot.”

1992:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Lindsay Komlos visits Disneyland for the first time.
- Fantasmic Opens (May 13^th)
- Beauty and the Beast (Opened April, Closed April 1995) 
- Mission to Mars closes (Nov)

1993:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Mickey’s ToonTown (January 26^th)

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. 
- Aladdin’s Oasis opened in Disneyland’s Adventureland replacing the Tahitian Terrace.

1994:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Daniel Komlos visits Disneyland for the first time.
- Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin (Opened January 26^th)
- 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:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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 40^th Birthday on July 17th.
- "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:                                                              Back to Timeline

- 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
- The proposed Westcot theme park is officially scrapped in favor of Disney’s California Adventure. The new Frank Gehry-designed Team Disney building unites all of Disneyland’s administrative and creative employees under one roof.
- Disneyland announces plans for a new theme park to be built in the existing Disneyland Parking lot.  DCA was announced on July 17^th 

1997:                                                              Back to Timeline

- “it’s a small world” Holiday (November 27^th)
- Magic Eye Theater (Featuring Captain EO with Michael Jackson) Closed April 1997 to reopen as Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in May 1998.
- Light Magic (Opened May 23^rd, 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 26^th)
- July 5th, Minnie Pepito is the 400 Millionth Guest welcomed at Disneyland
- Lillian Disney (Walt's wife) dies December 17, at the age 98
- The traditional New Year’s Eve Party and midnight fireworks extravaganza over Sleeping Beauty Castle are broadcast live from Disneyland as part of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve ‘98 on ABC-TV. (December 31st)
 

1998:                                                              Back to Timeline

- American Space Experience (Opened May)
- Cosmic Waves (Opened May, closed January 2002)
- 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)
- Innoventions (Opened November)
- New Tomorrowland is dedicated on Thursday May 21^st 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:                                                              Back to Timeline

- Radio Disney opens in Tomorrowland(Opened January)
- Tarzan’s Treehouse (June 23^rd, 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)
- Fastpass premiers at Disneyland in an effort to deal with the park’s number one guest complaint – long lines.
- On May 20, Disneyland hosts the official homecoming of Army Staff Sargeant Andrew Ramirez, Staff Sargeant Christopher Stone, and Specialist Steven Gonzales.  It is the first time the three U.S. soldiers, who had been captured by Serbian forces on March 31, stand on American soil since their release from captivity.

2000:                                                               Back to Timeline

- One Day Adult Ticket Prices increase from $39 to $41 (January)
- The Disneyland Kennel Closes (Jan)
- Animator Marc Davis Died January 12, He was with Disney since 1935.  He was one of the finest draftsmen ever to work at the Walt Disney Studio. Born in 1913 in Bakersfield, California, he was one of the "Nine Old Men" whom Walt Disney gathered around him in the 1930s to develop the new art of animation.
- The new Chevron Autopia attraction opens in Disneyland. It incorporates area formerly occupied by both previous Autopia attractions. (Opens June 29th)
- DCA Special Preview (Opened July, Closed January 2002)
- Disneyland Celebrates its 45^th Birthday July 17th..
- 45 Years of Magic Parade (Opens February, Closes March)
- Imagineer David Gengenbach, who oversaw the design of some of Walt Disney World's most popular rides, died Monday March 27th of complications from a heart transplant. He was 66. Hired in 1966 as a project manager and project engineer, Gengenbach worked his way up to vice president of Walt Disney's WED Enterprises.  During his tenure he oversaw the Pirates of the Caribbean boat conveyance system, directed the design and installation of Space Mountain and worked on the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride. He also worked on the design and implementation of the Mark III and Mark IV monorail systems.
 - Disneyland's new 45th Anniversary Fireworks show "Believe: There's Magic In the Stars" debuts.
- $41 adult ticket price now applies to visitors ages 10 and older. The price previously started at age 12. Children ages 3 to 9 can still get into the theme park for $31 (April)
- Parade of Stars Parade (Opens April)
- Children tickets are now for children 10 and younger, previously 12 and younger. (April)
- Pin Trading stations open around the park.
- Disneyland restricts smoking inside the park to three small designated areas.
- Rocket Rods close (Sept)
- In Disneyland, the Haunted Mansion attraction is decorated with elements from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas film, with temporary new name Haunted Mansion Holiday.(October)
- Disney auctions the original "Disneyland" sign on eBay.com, selling the sign for US$30,700 (November)
- One Day Adult Ticket Prices increase from $41 to $43 (Nov)
- Woody’s Roundup (Opens January 2000, Closes December 2000)
- Annual Attendance for 2000 13.9 million

2001:                                                               Back to Timeline

- 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
- The Main Street Electrical Parade (returns Spring 2001)
- 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 8^th, 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 12^th.
- Disney's Grand Californian Hotel opens
- Disneyland unveils the renovated Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction (July)
- “Blast” playing at the Hyperion Theater opened November 22^nd  Closed September 2^nd 2003
- Disney Cruise Line celebrated its 1 millionth guest, Steven Hitzel, in August
- The 100^th anniversary of Walt Disney’s birth (December 5^th)
- The Country Bear Jamboree in Bear Country at Disneyland closesSept 9th)
 

2002:                                                               Back to Timeline

- Superstar Limo closes after being open less than one year.
- Cosmic Waves closes (Jan)
- Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough closes (Jan)
- Mickey’s Detective School (Opened April)
- Fort Wilderness closes (Nov)
- Who Wants to be a Millionaire- Play It! (Opened DCA) 
- The Walt Disney Studios theme park opens at the Disneyland Paris Resort

2003:                                                               Back to Timeline

- One Day Adult Ticket Prices increase from $45 to $47 (Jan)
- “Disney’s Aladdin - Live on Stage” show playing at the Hyperion Opened January 17^th
- David Mumford, senior principal show set designer and a longtime Imagineer, passed away January, 21^st, following a long, courageous struggle with cancer.

Flick’s Fun Fair opens (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.
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opens (April)
- A young man is killed during the derailment of a train on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Pirates of the Caribbean becomes a successful movie, with many scenes taken directly from the Disneyland attraction. It marks the first time a theme park attraction has generated a successful film.
- Disneyland airspace is declared a no-fly zone
- Matt Ouimet is the new president of the Disneyland Resort. (October)
 

2004                                                                                Back to Timeline

- Disneyland records its 500 Millionth Guest, Bill Trow.  (Jan 8th)
- Tower of Terror debuts in California Adventure
- John Hench dies, at age 95. Hench worked at Disney for 64 years, the longest of any Disney employee. He worked on animation, and took part in the creation of all Disney parks. (Feb 5th)
- Comcast launches a hostile takeover bid for Disney, publicly releasing a letter to Michael Eisner outlining the proposed financial terms. If approved, Comcast would issue 0.78 of a Comcast share for each Disney share (total value US$54 billion) plus assume Disney's debt of about US$12 billion. Disney shareholders would then own about 42 percent of the combined company, which would be worth US$125 billion.  (Feb 11th)
- The Disney board unanimously rejects the Comcast deal. (Feb 16th)
- March 2nd On the evening before the annual shareholders meeting, Michael Eisner, Robert Iger, and the Disney board of directors meets. Eisner offers to resign, but the board opposes this. Eisner agrees to cede the title of chairman to George Mitchell. 
- March 3rd At the Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Walt Disney Company holds its annual shareholders meeting. After various speeches, the inspector of elections reads the vote tallies. 45 percent of shareholders withheld their votes to re-elect Michael Eisner to the board of directors, and 24 percent withheld votes from George Mitchell. The Disney board of directors meets, deciding to replace Michael Eisner with George Mitchell as chairman. A press releases is issued making the announcement.
- Comcast withdraws its bid to buy the Walt Disney Company, due to Disney executive reluctance to support the acquisition, and Comcast investor concerns over business focus. (April 28th)
- Sam McKim, an artist who drew the first souvenir maps of Disneyland in 1954 and the preliminary sketches for many Disney theme park rides, has died. He was 79. McKim was one of the first park designers who became known as "Imagineers." He died of heart failure, The Walt Disney Co. said. McKim joined Disney in 1954 and his sketches inspired the designers of attractions, shops and restaurants for the original Disneyland. He produced sketches of all four attractions Disney built for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. His artwork contributed to the story development of several pavilions at Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida. (July 9)
- An Olympic full-length 21-foot wide pool is completed on Main Street in Disneyland.(October)

2005                                                                                      Back to Timeline

- Happy Birthday Disneyland!!  Disneyland celebrated its 50th birthday July 17th.
- May 5th Disneyland begins an 18-month-long anniversary celebration of its 50th birthday.
- Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams premiered on May 5, 2005 as part of the 18-month Happiest Homecoming on Earth. As with Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years, the Happiest Homecoming ended but the parade didn’t. It ran until November 11, 2008.
- Soarin' opens at Epcot Center.  While the ride is the same as the DCA version Soarin' Over California, it is decide to drop the "Over California" for the east coast version of the ride. (Spring)
- Disney blogger and unofficial tour-giver, Jim Hill, is finally escorted out of Disneyland and asked not to return. Hill had been conducting his unofficial tours of the park for years, but in early 2005, three women who had signed up for an official Disney tour ended up in Hill’s group by mistake. They complained to Disneyland officials, and Disneyland promptly put an end to Hill’s work (he charged $25 per person).
- Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blaster opens in Tomorrowland.
- Thurl Ravenscroft, whose voice was known worldwide through his work in movies, television and at Disneyland, has died of prostate cancer. He was 91. Thurl Ravenscroft voice is used in Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion and the Enchanted Tiki Room and more. (May 22)
- Space Mountain is completely re-tracked, re-painted white, and re-opens with a new soundtrack and new special effects. The opening is attended by former astronaut Neil Armstrong. (July 15th)
- The Turtle Talk with Crush attraction opens in Disney's California Adventure. (July 15th)
- The 2005 Disney Legends ceremony is held in Anaheim, California, for Steve Martin and Art Linkletter. (Sept 20th)
- Michael Eisner resigns from the Disney board of directors, also his last day as CEO of the company. The value of the company during Eisner's term rose from US$3 billion to US$60 billion. (Sept 30th)
- Hong Kong Disneyland is set to opens in September, with a press day occurring in July.  Hong. Kong Disneyland begins taking reservations Feb 15th. The park cost US$1.8 billion.
- Robert Iger is named next CEO of the Walt Disney Company and officially takes over Oct 30th. (March 13th)
- Disney begins testing its Virtual Magic Kingdom online gaming community. The free service is scheduled for launch in the summer. (May 30th)
- In Disneyland, in the forecourt of Sleeping Beauty Castle, about 1000 people part of display of "Mouseketeer Ears", to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland, The Mickey Mouse Club TV show, and the Mouseketeers. Ten of the original Mouseketeers are present at the resort for the celebration. (Oct 3rd)
- Robert Iger becomes CEO (Oct)
- E. Cardon "Card" Walker, the former Walt Disney Co. chief executive who headed the company for nearly 15 years following the deaths of founders Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney, has died of congestive heart failure at his home in La Canada, Calif. He was 89. During his 45-year tenure at Disney, the executive rose through the ranks after starting out in the mailroom in 1938. In the 1950s and '60s, Walker worked closely with the Disney brothers on a wide range of Disney projects, including the development of the Disneyland attractions It's a Small World, Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion and the animated features "101 Dalmatians" and "The Jungle Book."  (Nov 28)
- Early in the morning, a six-story tall plastic Christmas tree catches fire in Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel. (Dec 28th)
- Just before Christmas 2005, the soft opening of Monsters, Inc.: Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! The official grand opening was January 23, 2006

2006                                                                                        Back to Timeline

- Goofy's Bounce house closes (Jan)
- One Day Adult Ticket Prices increase from $56 to $59 (January)
- January 23 - The Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue! attraction opens in Disney's California Adventure Park
- Martin Sklar, the creative force behind most of Walt Disney Co.'s theme parks, will step down as head of the company's famed Imagineering division. (Feb 17)
- Emmalee Mason of Colorado was Disneyland's 2-billionth visitor. She got the golden key to the Magic Kingdom and a lifetime pass to all eleven Disney Parks. She served as the Grand Marshal in Disneyland's 50th Anniversary Parade. (May 2)
- Ed Grier is named president of the Disneyland Resort. Matt Ouimet leaves Disney for Starwood Hotels and Resorts (July 25)
- Walt Disney named as inductee into the California Hall of Fame. (July 31)
- Pirates of the Caribbean in both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom added the characters Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa to the attractions' storylines.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest premieres on a giant screen set up in the Disneyland park. It appears the new version of the attraction is a hit, with the movie breaking all box-office records. It has the largest three day opening in history ($132 million, passing Spiderman's $114 million), it's the first movie to hit $100 million in only two days, it also sells more tickets than any other movie has in a three day period. By the end of ten days, it's over the quarter billion mark at approximately $268 million, another record. By the fourth week, Pirates has already become the biggest grossing Disney film in history, pulling in $358  million, passing the Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo's $340 million, which had been Disney's best.
- Disney announces it is phasing out unhealthy food served in its parks, and cutting back on licensing characters promoting snacks with excess sugar and fat. (Oct 16th)
- Jedi Training camp opens (Oct)
- Expedition Everest opens at the Disney World's Animal Kingdom.  It is the single most-expensive attraction ever built at Walt Disney World.
- Soarin' opens at Epcot Center.  While the ride is the same as the DCA version Soarin' Over California, it is decide to drop the "Over California" for the east coast version of the ride.

2007                                                                                       Back to Timeline

- Jan - Rockin' Space Mountain opens (Jan)
- Jan 9 - Don Edgren of Murrieta, who was a project engineer on several attractions at Disneyland, vice president of engineering at Disneyworld in Florida, and director of engineering for Tokyo Disneyland, has died. Mr. Edgren was 83. (January 9)
- Feb 12 - Peter Ellenshaw, matte artist: born London 24 May 1913; married 1942 Bobbie Palmer (one son, one daughter); died Santa Barbara, California. He designed several of the rides for Disneyland, as well as painting the iconic first map of the theme park. (February 12)
- March 15 - Eustace Lycett helped develop Circle-Vision, a process of film projection on a 360-degree screen; and he was involved in the theme park's "Rocket to the Moon" attraction. He also worked on the engineering for "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair and the ensuing "Mr. Lincoln" attraction at Disneyland. Eustace Lycett died today he wsa 91. (March 15)
- March 18th - The Pirates of the Caribbean turned 35. 
- May 1 - Earl Raymond Jackson, dubbed "the voice of Disneyland," who died April 30. He was 72. He moved with family to California in 1967, working in the Entertainment Division at Disneyland. After producing and announcing many live shows, including the premier of Disneyland on Parade, Jackson was dubbed "the voice of Disneyland" by Walt Disney. (May 1)
- May 7 - Fulton Burley, the wisecracking Irish tenor who entertained millions of Disneyland guests for 25 years as the popular star and master of ceremonies at the long-running Golden Horseshoe Revue, passed away on Monday May 7th. Burley also provided the voice of the Irish parrot, Michael, for the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction at Disneyland, and toured the country on numerous occasions hosting live shows to promote theatrical reissues of such popular Disney films as The Jungle Book, and Cinderella.” He was honored as a Disney Legend in a special ceremony at the Studio in 1995.
- Tom Sawyer's Island is converted to The Pirate's Lair at Tom Sawyer's Island.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End opens with the largest Memorial Day weekend take of any film in history ($152 million) with the largest launch of any film in history (4,362 theatres). Still, the film falls a bit short of the actual three-day weekend numbers. The film had early openings on Thursday (officially before the weekend), which consequently may have hurt the film in setting an official record the way Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest did last year. All said and done, the three-day tally was $115 million, making it the fourth largest film opening in history behind Spider-Man 3 ($151 million), Pirates 2 ($136 million) and Shrek 3 ($122 million).
- The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opens at Disneyland.
- Disney purchases Pixar (for about $7.5 billion) in stock to make Pixar head, Steve Jobs of Apple, a board member and Disney's largest stock holder.
- The Disney Gallery Closed August 7, 2007
- Nov 6 - Bruce Gordon, a former Disney Imagineer who spent 25 years working in a variety of top creative capacities for the Disney theme parks and authored/co-authored definitive books on a wide range of Disney subjects and legends including; The Nickel Tour, The Art of Disneyland and Disneyland; Then Now and Forever, passed away suddenly on November 6th at his home in Glendale, California.  He was 56 years old.

2008                                                                                        Back to Timeline

- February 7th - at the age of 62, Charles Coburn, topiary designer, dies. He was a California horticulturist who created topiary works for Disneyland and for movie stars. Coburn suffered from cancer.
- April 14th - Ollie Johnston died of natural causes on Monday, at the age of 95. Oliver Martin Johnston, Jr. (October 31, 1912 – April 14, 2008) was a Disney motion picture animator. He was one of Disney's Nine Old Men, and the last living member. His work was recognized with the National Medal of Arts in 2005.  He was a directing animator at Walt Disney Studios from 1935 to 1978. He contributed to many films including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Bambi and Pinocchio.  Johnston co-authored, with Frank Thomas, the reference book The Illusion of Life. The partnership of Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston is fondly presented in the documentary Frank and Ollie, produced by Thomas' son Theodore.
- June 16th - The new Home of the Future is opened at Innoventions in Disneyland Park.
- June 17th - Toy Story Midway Mania opens at Disney's California Adventure park.
- July 25th - Randy Pausch, the computer science professor and former Disney Imagineer died today from pancreatic cancer. He was 47.
- July 25th - Harriet Burns, the first female artist at Walt Disney Imagineering and a designer of several famous Disneyland rides pat away.  She was 79.  She received her Disney Legends award in 2000 for imagineering.
- September - Golden Dreams closed to the public. The movie was shown to school groups through July 2009.  It was later demolished in July of 2009 to make way for the The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.
- October 15th - Blue Sky Cellar Opens at DCA.  Blue Sky Cellar is basically a prview center for the new additions coming with the DCA expansion beginning next year through 2012.

- October - The Sun Wheel closed in October 2008 and will reopen as Mickey’s Fun Wheel in May 2009.
- November 11th - Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams ended its run.
- November 26th - The Sleeping Beauty Walkthrough opened to guests just in time for the long Thanksgiving weekend. It had been closed for more than seven years.

2009                                                                                        Back to Timeline

- January 1 - Celebration Promotion begins.  If you pre-register you get into one of the Disney Resort parks for free on your birthday.
- February 27 - Dorothea Holt Redmond dies at 98. In 1964, she joined what is now known as Walt Disney Imagineering and helped envision elements of Disneyland and Disney World. She was one of the key designers of Walt Disney's New Orleans Square apartment that was later used as the Disney Gallery.  Following Redmond's original renderings, the park recently restored the apartment above Pirates of the Caribbean and turned it into the Disneyland Dream Suite and is now used for VIPs.
- February - it's a small world opens with new boats, a new flume, improved audio, enhanced lighting, and the thorough restoration of the classic scenes.  It also had the new addition of Disney characters.  This was very controversial to true diehard Disney enthusiasts.  The Disney characters now included in the different regions are Cinderella, Snow White, Alice, Pinocchio, Jasmine and Aladdin, Woody and Jessie, Jiminy Cricket, Tinker Bell, Three Caballeros, Lelo and Stitch,
- April 29 -Disney Legends Rolly Crump and Don Edgren receive recognition by getting their windows at Disneyland .
- May 20th - Wayne Allwine, a veteran Disney voiceover talent and Emmy® Award-winning sound effects editor, who provided the voice of Mickey Mouse for the past 32 years, passed away on Monday (May 18) at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, from complications due to diabetes. He was 62 years old. Allwine's wife of 20 years, Russi Taylor, who provides the voice of Minnie Mouse, was by his side at the time of his passing.  Allwine had been providing the voice of Disney's world-renowned cartoon mouse since 1977, when he first lent his familiar falsetto to animated segments for The New Mickey Mouse Club. He went on to provide Mickey's voice for such theatrical efforts as Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), The Prince and the Pauper (1990), the 1997 Oscar®-nominated short Runaway Brain and the direct-to-DVD feature, Mickey, Donald and Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004), etc. His voice has been heard at Disney Theme Parks around the world, on television (Mickey's 60th Birthday, Mickey's MouseWorks, The House of Mouse and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, etc.), at live stage events and on many radio broadcasts.
-May 29th - Disney honored Samuel Jacobo from Summit High School in Fontana as the "recognized" 5,000,000 Grad Nite Guest. A tradition since 1961.
- May - The Sunglass Shack at DCA closed for complete demolition.
- June 6th - the Submarine Voyage celebrates its 50th anniversary.  It ran until September 9, 1998 then closed until June 2007 as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
- June 12th - Disneyland begins its Summer Nightastic promotion.  Slated to last through August 23rd it features a new fireworks show "Magical", which features a flying Dumbo puppet; additions to Fantasmic including a new 40 foot dragon, Flotsom and Jetsom floats powered by jet skis and new digital projectors;  Enhancements to the Electrical Parade including  new Tinker Bell float and pixie dust added to all floats; new additions to pixie Hollow including new lighting and fountains; and the TLT Nightclub located at the Tomorrowland Terrace featuring bands and DJs on selected nights.
-  June 9th - Donald Duck turns 75.  Donald made his first appearance in the Disney animated short “Little Wise Hen” on June 9, 1934. Disney considers that his birth date.
- June 14th - the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland turn 50. The Matterhorn was the first tubular steel roller coaster in the world, and was the first roller coaster at a Disney park.
- June 14th - the Monorail celebrates its 50th anniversary.  The Mark I trains (Red and Blue) consisted of 3 cars each.  They were replaced in 1961 by the Mark II trains.
- July - Golden Dreams is demolished in July to make way for the The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. The rotunda will ramain as part of the show exterior.
- June - Corn Dog Castle closed for transformation into a new eatery that will reuse the existing infrastructure.
- June - Souvenir 66 in DCA closed and will eventually reopen with a new theme and a new name.
- July - The Orange Stinger closed to become Silly Symphony Swings sometime in 2010.
- August 9th - Haunted Mansion celebrates its 40th anniversary.
- November 16th - Roy E. Disney has past away.  Roy who had suffered from stomach cancer for a year, died at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, California.  Roy became a Disney Legend for Film, Animation & Administration, in 1998. Roy began his career with Disney in the 50's as an editor, screenwriter and producer. Two short films he worked on were nominated for Academy Awards: the 1959 “Mysteries of the Deep,” which he wrote, was nominated as best live action short, and the 2003 film “Destino,” which he co-produced, was nominated as best animated short.  Despite his heritage, Roy Disney never got the chance to lead the company as his father and uncle had. But as an investor who grew his Disney stock into a billion-dollar fortune, he ultimately had a huge impact on the company’s destiny.

He was an avid yacht racer, setting several speed records. For years he was a fixture at the Transpacific Yacht Race between California and Hawaii.  His death occurred 43 years and one day after Walt Disney died, also from cancer. In addition, he died exactly 12 years after his aunt, Lillian Bounds Disney, and 4 days before the 38th anniversary of his father's death. Roy E. Disney's passing came only days before what would have been his 80th birthday.  He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.

2010                                                                                      Back to Timeline

- January 1st - Give a Day Get a Day promotion begins at Disney, promotion promotes volunteering in your community.  Give one day of service to a Disney certified charity organization and get a day free at one of the Disney Resorts.
- January 3rd - Disneyland’s Magic Eye Theater with Honey I Shrunk the Audience, closed for the switchover to Captain EO.
- May 26 - Actor and Disney legend Art Linkletter passed away on this day at the age of 97. Art Linkletter was a personal friend of Walt Disney.  Walt asked Linkletter to be the Master of Ceremonies at the July 17th 1955 opening of Disneyland, but he could not afford to pay him.  They reached an agreement that would allow Linkletter to receive the profit from all cameras and film sold in the park for its first 10 years of Disneyland's operation. This agreement led to what would become the highest-paying television hosting gig in history.

- May 28th - Disney officially changed the name of Disney's California Adventure Park to Disney California Adventure.
- June 25 - Disney Archivist, Dave Smith announced Friday he would be retiring from the Disney Corporation after 40 years.  Shortly after Walt's death, he presented Disney executives with a proposal to start a Disney archive to preserve Walt's and the Disney Corporation's history and joined the company in 1970.  Dave will leave in October and be succeeded by archive manager Becky Cline.
- August 16th - The Dumbo ride at Disneyland turns 55 today.  The ride featuring flying elephants opened a little over one month after the originally opening of Disneyland.