Join us as we take a year-by-year trip down memory lane and recount the 70-year history of the Disneyland resort.
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1955
- Disneyland debuts on 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 opens.
- New Orleans Square opens.
- Walt Disney dies on 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.
Disney
Then Disney CEO Michael Eisner and Star Wars creator George Lucas used a Star Wars lightsaber for the Star Tours ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 9, 1987 as Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse looked on while wearing rainbow-colored space suits. (Courtesy of Disney)
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 open.
- 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 9 years.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2008
- Toy Story Midway Mania opens.
- Disneyland Monorail Mark VII trains debut at Disneyland.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2009
- It’s a Small World adds 29 Disney and Pixar characters at Disneyland.
2010
- “World of Color” water show debuts.
2011
- Little Mermaid — Ariel’s Undersea Adventure replaces Golden Dreams at DCA.
- Star Tours is updated with new randomized scenes.
- Goofy’s Sky School roller coaster replaces Mulholland Madness at DCA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2012
- Cars Land opens with Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi’s Flying Tires and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree.
- Buena Vista Street makeover of DCA entrance debuts with Red Car Trolley.
- The rethemed Hollywood Land replaces Hollywood Pictures Backlot.
2015
- Paint the Night parade debuts at Disneyland.
- 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 replaced Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
2018
- The Pixar Pier themed land with the reimagined Incredicoaster and the Paradise Gardens dining area replaces Paradise Pier.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2020
- Rise of the Resistance dark ride opens in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
- COVID-19 pandemic closes Disneyland and Disney California Adventure along with every Disney park around the world.
2021
- Disneyland and Disney 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 at Disneyland.
- 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 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 Coco boat ride in Pixar Pier.
- Plans to transform a portion of the Hollywood Backlot area in DCA’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 Disneyland resort.