MILESTONES:

Nov. 11, 1965

Walt Disney announces Florida Project

Fall 1967

Site preparation begins

Spring 1969

Construction begins on Magic Kingdom, two hotels

Oct. 1, 1971

Opening day for Walt Disney World Vacation Kingdom

December 1971

Inaugural Walt Disney World Golf Classic

March 1975

Walt Disney Village opens

June 1976

River Country water adventure park opens

Oct. 1, 1982

Epcot grand opening

May 1, 1989

Disney-MGM Studios opens

June 1, 1989

Typhoon Lagoon and Pleasure Island open

January 1994

Inaugural Walt Disney World Marathon

April 1, 1995

Blizzard Beach water adventure park opens

June 1995

Michael Eisner announces Disney's Animal Kingdom

July 1995

Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings Pavilion opens

January 1996

Inaugural Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Resort

January 1997

Walt Disney World Resort celebrates 25 years

September 1997

Downtown Disney opens

March 1997

Disney's Wide World of Sports opens

April 22, 1998

Disney's Animal Kingdom opens

June 1998

DisneyQuest opens

July 1998

Disney Cruise Line launches first ship, the Disney Magic

December 1998

Cirque du Soleil La Nouba opens at Downtown Disney West Side

March 1999

Asia opens in Disney's Animal Kingdom

July 1999

Launch of Disney's FASTPASS

August 1999

Disney Cruise Line's new ship, Disney Wonder, makes its maiden voyage

Oct. 1, 2001

100 Years of Magic celebration begins

Oct. 9, 2003

Launch of Magical Gatherings program

January 2005

Launch of "Magic Your Way"

May 5, 2005

"Happiest Celebration on Earth" begins, celebrating 50 years of Disney parks

October 4, 2006

"The Year of a Million Dreams" celebration kicks off

ATTENDANCE MARKS:

August 1972

Attendance passes 10 million

March 1976

50-millionth guest

October 1979

100-millionth guest

July 1987

Total attendance tops 250 million

August 1992

400-millionth guest

September 1994

1-billionth guest to a Disney theme park worldwide

Oct. 13, 1995

500-millionth guest

June 24, 1998

600-millionth guest

August 2003

50-millionth water park guest

NEW ATTRACTION OPENINGS:

1971:

26 Magic Kingdom attractions: Jungle Cruise; Swiss Family Treehouse; Sunshine Pavilion (Tropical Serenade); Cinderella's Golden Carrousel; Dumbo, the Flying Elephant; Mad Tea Party; Mickey Mouse Revue; Mr. Toad's Wild Ride; "it's a small world"; Snow White's Adventures; Diamond Horseshoe Revue; Frontier Shooting Gallery; Country Bear Jamboree; Mike Fink Keel Boats; Hall of Presidents; Haunted Mansion; Main Street horseless carriage, Jitney, fire truck, horse-drawn streetcar and omnibus; Main Street Cinema; Walt Disney World Railroad; Skyway; Tomorrowland Speedway; 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

1972:

If You Had Wings

1973:

Pirates of the Caribbean; Walt Disney Story; Swan Boats; Tom Sawyer Island

1974:

StarJets; "Magic Carpet 'Round the World" film

1975:

Space Mountain; Carousel of Progress; WEDway PeopleMover; Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes

1980:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

1982:

Five Future World and nine World Showcase pavilions at Epcot: Spaceship Earth; The Land; Journey Into Imagination; Universe of Energy; World of Motion; Canada; United Kingdom; France; Mexico; Germany; Italy; China; Japan; American Adventure

1983:

Horizons (EC)

1984:

Morocco pavilion (EC); "American Journeys" film (MK)

1986:

The Living Seas (EC); "Captain EO" (EC)

1988:

Mickey's Starland (MK); Norway pavilion(EC); Disney-MGM Studios production facilities

1989:

Dreamflight (MK); Wonders of Life (EC); original Disney-MGM Studios attractions: Great Movie Ride; Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour; Magic of Disney Animation; "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!"; Behind the Scenes Special Effects walking tour; Superstar Television; Monster Sound Show

1990:

Star Tours; "Here Come the Muppets" show; "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure

1991:

"Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D" (ST)

1992:

Splash Mountain (MK); Voyage of the Little Mermaid (ST)

1993:

ATAS Hall of Fame plaza (ST)

1994:

Innoventions (EC); The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (ST); Legend of The Lion King (MK); "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" (EC); The Timekeeper (MK); Theater of the Stars (ST)

1995:

New Tomorrowland (MK) including The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter

1996:

Mickey's Toontown Fair (MK); Universe of Energy (EC)

1998:

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (MK); "The Enchanted Tiki Room-Under New Management" (MK); original Animal Kingdom attractions: The Boneyard; Countdown to Extinction; Cretaceous Trail; Kilimanjaro Safaris; Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail; Wildlife Express; Conservation Station; "It's Tough to be a Bug"

1999:

Test Track (EC); Disney's Winter Summerland miniature golf course; Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (ST); The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (MK); Millennium Village, Leave a Legacy, Imagination! presented by Kodak (EC); "Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey" (ST); "Bear in the Big Blue House" (ST)

2000:

DisneyQuest's interactive Pirates of the Caribbean adventure (DD)

2001:

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (MK); "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It!" (ST); "Walt Disney: One Man's Dream" (ST); Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama! TriceraTop Spin (AK); "Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage" (ST)

2002:

Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama! Primeval Whirl (AK)

2003:

Mission: SPACE (EC); "Mickey's PhilharMagic" (MK)

2004:

Stitch's Great Escape! (MK); "Turtle Talk With Crush" (EC)

2005:

Crush 'n' Gusher (TL); Soarin' (EC); "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show" (ST); Lucky the Dinosaur (AK)

2006:

Expedition Everest (AK), "The Seas with Nemo & Friends" (EC)

2007:

"Finding Nemo-The Musical" (AK), Monster's, Inc. Laugh Floor (MK)

RESORT OPENINGS:

1971:

Disney's Contemporary Resort; Disney's Polynesian Resort; Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

1972:

Disney's Village Resort (Treehouse & Vacation Villas); Royal Plaza; Grosvenor (Dutch Inn); TraveLodge; Holiday Inn (Courtyard by Marriott, Howard Johnson)

1973:

Shades of Green (Disney Inn, 1986-93, Golf Resort, 1973-86)

1974:

Discovery Island; Pioneer Hall

1975:

Disney Village Marketplace; Fairway Villas

1977:

Empress Lilly Riverboat

1978:

Disney's Polynesian Resort expansion

1980:

Walt Disney World Conference Center; Club Lake Villas

1983:

Buena Vista Palace; Hilton at Disney Village

1987:

Doubletree (Guest Quarters, Pickett) Suite Hotel

1988:

Disney's Grand Floridian Beach Resort; Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

1990:

Disney's Yacht Club Resort; Disney's Beach Club Resort; Walt Disney World Swan; Walt Disney World Dolphin

1991:

Disney's Port Orleans Resort

1992:

Disney's Dixie Landings Resort; Disney's Old Key West Resort (DVC); Bonnet Creek Golf Club

1994:

Disney's All-Star Sports Resort; Disney's Wilderness Lodge

1995:

Disney's All-Star Music Resort

1996:

Disney Institute; Disney's BoardWalk

1997:

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

1999:

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort

2000:

The Villas at Wilderness Lodge (DVC)

2001:

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

2002:

Disney's Beach Club Villas (DVC)

2003:

Disney's Pop Century Resort

2004:

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (DVC)

2006:

Disney's All Star Music Family Suites

ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS:

1971:

Televised opening with 1,076 piece marching band, 60-nation World Symphony Orchestra, Bob Hope, Julie Andrews, Glen Campbell; All-American College Band program debuts; Candlelight Processional debuts

1972:

First Easter parade and Grad Nites

1974:

Donald Duck's 40th birthday; "Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue" debuts

1975:

"Fantasy in the Sky" begins as a Disney-designed fireworks show

1975-76:

"America on Parade" bicentennial salute

1977:

"Main Street Electrical Light Parade" debuts

1978:

Mickey Mouse 50th birthday parade and first Christmas at Walt Disney World television special

1979:

First World Series of Entertainment

1981:

Yearlong Tencennial Celebration

1982:

Epcot opens featuring entertainment from big bands and international folk groups; "Sparkling Christmas Spectacular" show (MK)

1983:

First live telecast of Christmas parade; "Disney World is Your World" show (MK); "Mickey's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" show (MK); "Holiday Splendor" show (EC)

1984:

Donald Duck's 50th birthday parade; WorldFest & "Laserphonic Fantasy" (EC)

1985:

Radio City Rockettes (EC); "Skyleidoscope" (EC); President Reagan reviews the Inaugural Bands (EC); Easter telecast; Big Band Bash; Six World Series Entertainment Nights; first Goofy Games ceremonies; Tinkerbell flies above Cinderella Castle for the first time (July 4)

1986:

11,000 guests for 15th anniversary kickoff; 15th birthday parades

1987:

"All America" parade (MK); "Daredevil Circus Spectacular" (EC)

1988:

Mickey's 60th birthday parade; "IllumiNations" premiere (EC)

1989:

"Disney Character Hit Parade" (MK)

1990:

Pleasure Island nightly New Year's celebration begins; "DisneyMania" show (MK); "Dick Tracy & the Diamond Double Cross" show (ST); "Dick Tracy" film world premiere at Pleasure Island; "Here Come the Muppets" show (ST); Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (ST); "Sorcery in the Sky" (ST)

1991:

Disney entertainment "World" record; six new shows to celebrate 20th anniversary: "Surprise Celebration" parade (MK); "SpectroMagic" nighttime parade (MK); "Surprise in the Skies" show (EC); "Hollywood's Pretty Women" show (ST); "Muppets on Location" show (ST); "Dinosaurs Live!" parade (ST); also: "Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage" show (ST); Moulin Rouge (EC); Points of Light ceremony with President Bush (EC); Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awards ceremony

1992:

"Voyage of the Little Mermaid" show (ST); "Aladdin's Royal Caravan" parade (ST); "Jolly Holidays" dinner show

1993:

Sword in the Stone (MK); "SPLASHTACULAR!" show (EC); "The Magical World of Barbie" show (EC)

1994:

"Mickey Mania" parade (MK); "Ellington Under the Stars" salute (EC); fountain ballets (EC); first annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (EC); "Holiday IllumiNations" (EC); Candlelight Processional moves to Epcot and extends series (EC); first running of Walt Disney World Marathon

1995:

"Rhythms of the World" series (EC); "Galaxy Search" show (MK); "Every Day's a Holiday" show (MK); "The Spirit of Pocahontas" show (ST); "Toy Story Parade" (ST); "Swinging Summer Nights" series (EC); first annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival (EC)

1996:

"25th Anniversary Parade" and celebration; ABC Super Soap Weekend (ST); Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MK); "IllumiNations 25" (EC); "The Hunchback of Notre Dame-A Musical Adventure" show (ST)

1997:

Richard Petty Driving Experience (DWWS); "Disney's Magical Holidays" included: Spectacle of Lights with the Osborne Family Light Display (ST); Holidays Around the World (EC); Candlelight Processional (EC); "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" (MK); Jolly Holidays Dinner Show at Disney's Contemporary Resort

1998:

"Fantasmic!" show (ST), "Mulan" parade" (ST); "Festival of the Lion King" show (AK); "Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends" show (AK); "Journey into Jungle Book" show (AK); "March of the ARTimals" (AK); "Flights of Wonder" show (AK)

1999:

"Main Street Electrical Parade" (MK); "Tarzan Rocks!" show (AK); Walt Disney World Yearlong Millennium Celebration begins featuring new entertainment such as "IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth" and "Tapestry of Nations" parade (EC); "Disney's Doug Live!" (ST); "Lord of the Dance" (EC)

2000:

Millennium Celebration continues

2001:

100 Years of Magic celebrating Walt Disney's 100th birthday and his legacy of creativity and spirit of adventure; new parades in all four theme parks - "Share a Dream Come True" (MK), "Tapestry of Dreams" (EC), "Disney Stars and Motor Cars" (ST), "Mickey's Jammin' Jungle" (AK); "Cinderella's Surprise Celebration" show (MK); "Blast!" show (EC)

2002:

100 Years of Magic celebration continues throughout the year; SHOCKWAVE show (EC)

2003:

"Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show"; "Wishes" fireworks show (MK)

2005:

"Cinderellabration" (MK)

2006:

“Dream Along with Mickey” (MK), Immersive Experiences at MK: “Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial,” “Woody’s Cowboy Camp,” “Main Street Family Fun Day Parade,” “Let’s Have a Ball”; 25th Anniversary Celebration of the wedding of Luke and Laura (ST); "High School Musical" Pep Rally (ST)

2007:

"The Year of a Million Dreams" celebration continues throughout the year