Chronology of Disneyland Theme Park

Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson
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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.

1966

January
  • The Thimble Drome Flight Circle exhibit area at Disneyland closes. [1300.172]
  • The Hobbyland area at Disneyland closes. [1300.208]
April 3
  • The Midget Autopia attraction in Disneyland closes. [228.329] [1300.283]
May 28
  • The It's a Small World attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. The river is 1400 feet long; there are over 500 singing dolls and effects. [26.119] [209.31] [228.258] [414.25] [757.49] [939.120] [1300.220] (June [9] [328.270])
  • The Topiary Gardens area opens in Fantasyland, outside It's a Small World. [1300.427]
(month unknown)
  • Thomas Guy Cleveland climbs onto the Monorail track to sneak into Disneyland. As a Monorail train approaches, he tries to hide on a fiberglass canopy three feet below the rail. The Monorail strikes and kills him. [450.170]
July 1
  • The Primeval World Diorama attraction opens on the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad at Disneyland. [9] [19] [26.26] [228.400] [1300.344]
July 24
  • The New Orleans Square area opens at Disneyland. It cost US$15-18 million, and occupies 3 acres. Walt Disney and the mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, dedicate the area. [4] [23] [26.69] [48.345] [91.53] [228.354] [757.38] [1300.301]
  • The Cristal d'Orleans shop opens on Royal Street in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. [1300.118] [1378.42,163]
  • The Mint Julep Bar opens in New Orleans Square in Disneyland. [1300.287]
  • The Creole Café restaurant opens in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. [1300.118] [1378.161]
  • The One-of-a-Kind antique shop opens in New Orleans Square in Disneyland. [1300.309] (1967 [228.373])
  • The French Market buffet restaurant opens in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. [228.195] [1300.176]
August 28
  • The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit display at Disneyland closes. [501.576] [1300.432]
September 5
  • The Flying Saucers ride closes in Tomorrowland at Disneyland, due to difficulties keeping the vehicles working. [193.16] [228.189] [245.92] [1300.173] (August 5 [910.36])
  • The Art of Animation display in Tomorrowland at Disneyland closes. [1300.52] [1378.43]

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  • The Tomorrowland Jets ride in Disneyland closes. [1300.54] [1378.45]
  • The Rocket to the Moon attraction in Disneyland closes for refurbishing, and the Moonliner rocket is dismantled. [501.474] [1300.293,360]
  • The Art Corner shop in Tomorrowland at Disneyland closes. [1378.43] (September 6 [1300.52])
September 6
  • The Yacht Club food facility at Disneyland closes. [1300.445] (Yacht Bar [501.625])
September
  • The Space Bar eatery at Disneyland closes. [1300.386]
September 19
  • The Monsanto Hall of Chemistry display at Disneyland closes. [228.338] [939.97] [1300.199]
December 18
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Disneyland Around the Seasons. [228.135] [370.398]

1967

January 3
  • The Circle-Vision theater in Disneyland is closed for remodelling. [1300.106]
February 14
  • The Pirate's Arcade Museum opens in New Orleans Square. [1300.331]
March 18
  • The Pirates of the Caribbean attraction opens in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. It includes 119 Audio-Animatronics figures; 64 human, 55 animals. The whole attraction cost about US$8 million to build. [9] [4] [26.26] [209.30] [228.389] [232.84] [321.26] [757.38] [939.146] [1300.332]
  • The Blue Bayou Restaurant opens in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. [1300.78] [1378.85]
(month unknown)
  • Disney renames the Circarama, U.S.A. theater at Disneyland to Circle-Vision 360. [228.93]
June 15
  • The Club 33 restaurant opens at 33 Royal Street, in New Orleans Square, in Disneyland. [257.24] [1300.111] (June 13 [1378.144]) (May [91.53])
June 25
  • The Circle-Vision 360 theater re-opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland (previously called Circle-Vision). The updated film America the Beautiful is shown. [9] [4] [23] [1300.106] [1378.27]
(month unknown)
  • The Character Shop opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [1378.128]
  • Disney releases the film Disneyland Around the Seasons. [23]
July 2
  • Tomorrowland at Disneyland re-opens following a complete re-design and rebuilding. [19] [757.38] [939.52]
  • The Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant opens in Disneyland. [501.563] [1300.421]
  • The Carousel of Progress attraction opens at Disneyland. [9] [4] [26.26] [1300.92] [1378.120]
  • The PeopleMover attraction begins operation in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [4] [26.26] [228.383] [1300.322]
  • The Rocket Jets ride opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. Former name was Tomorrowland Jets. [9] [26.26] [501.474] [1300.54]
August 5
  • The Adventure Through Inner Space attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland, using the Omnimover ride system. [9] [4] [1378.8] ("Thru" [26.26] [1300.41,307])
August 12
  • The former Rocket to the Moon re-opens as the redesigned Flight to the Moon attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [4] [26.26] [1300.360] (July [228.188])
August
  • The first death on Disneyland's PeopleMover is recorded. 15-year old Rickey Yama tries to hop between cars as it passes through a tunnel. He slips and is wedged between the two cars, with his head and upper body crushed. [163] [450.171]
December 1
  • The Monsanto House of the Future display at Disneyland closes. [228.339] [1300.210]

1968

January 21
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Disneyland - From the Pirates of the Caribbean to the World of Tomorrow. [228.135]
(month unknown)
  • Disneyland holds its first St. Patrick's Day parade. [26.26]
  • Disneyland holds its first Cinco de Mayo fiesta. [26.26]
  • Dick Nunis becomes vice president of Operations for Disneyland. [228.363] [409.2]
  • Mark III trains are added to the Disneyland monorail system. [228.338]
  • The Autopia attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland is redesigned. [1378.49]
  • The Ken-L Land Pet Motel pet boarding facility at Disneyland is renamed Kennel Club, sponsored by Kal Can. [228.273] [1300.232]
September
  • The Wurlitzer Music Hall shop at Disneyland closes. [501.622] [1300.445]

1969

March 23
  • Herbie Day is held at Disneyland, a contest for decorated Volkswagen cars, in promotion of the film The Love Bug. Hundreds of Volkswagen Beetle cars drive down Main Street, U.S.A. [228.232] (Love Bug Day [757.38] [1300.247])
(month unknown)
  • The Captain Hook's Galley restaurant opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. Former name of this site was Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant. [1300.332] [1378.117,132]
July 20
  • Disney broadcasts the televised moon landing of Apollo 11 in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [757.38] [939.108]
August 9
  • The Haunted Mansion attraction opens in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. [9] [19] [20] [26.26] [193.35] [228.229] [246.93] [414.85] [651.75] [757.38] [1300.201] (August 29 [939.149])
August 16
  • Disneyland attendance hits a record 82,516 visitors in one day. [27.53] [134.A16] [1300.204]
October
  • Disney releases the 16-mm color film The Magic of Disneyland. [23] [228.304] [1300.251]

1970

January 15
  • The Legacy of Walt Disney display opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. [9] [26.26] [228.284] [1300.239]
March 22
  • The NBC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled Disneyland Showtime airs, featuring the opening of the Haunted Mansion attraction. [228.137] [395.83]
(month unknown)
  • The Aunt Jemima's Kitchen restaurant in Disneyland closes. [1378.48]
  • The Magnolia Tree Terrace restaurant opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [1378.48]
August 6
  • The Youth International Party (Yippies) holds an informal "First International Yippie Pow Wow" at Disneyland. After a tense day breaking up groups, Disneyland vice president of Operations Dick Nunis orders the park closed at 7:10 PM. In total, 23 of about 300 Yippies are arrested on a variety of charges. [450.149] [501.626]
September
  • The Upjohn Pharmacy shop on Main Street in Disneyland closes. [501.582] [1300.433]
  • Eighty members of the American Guild of Variety Artists and 48 members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees stage a strike at the Disneyland gates, seeking higher wages. (This is the first employee strike in the park's fifteen-year history.) [424.68] (August [450.69])
(month unknown)
  • The tenth (and final) annual Dixieland at Disneyland show is held. [756.42]

1971

May 1
  • Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Billy Jack to theaters in the USA. A man wears a Disneyland souvenir t-shirt. [1138]
May 19
  • The Indian War Canoes attraction in Disneyland is renamed Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes. [9] [26.27] [228.119] [1300.216]
June 14
  • The All American College Band first performs at Disneyland. [1300.45]
June 17
  • At 11:13 AM, Disneyland welcomes its 100-millionth guest, Valerie Suldo of New Jersey. [4] [22] [26.27] [96.85] [193.32] [501.625] [757.38] [1073.113] [1300.142]
(month unknown)
  • The Magnolia Tree Terrace restaurant in Disneyland closes. [1378.48]
  • The River Belle Terrace restaurant opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [1378.48]
  • The Firehouse Five Plus Two band at Disneyland disbands. [228.186]
  • Dick Nunis becomes executive vice president of Disneyland. [409.2] (1972 [228.363])
October 1
  • The Market House store opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [228.311]
October
  • The Indian Village attraction in Disneyland closes. [228.254] [1300.214]

1972

January
  • The New Century Clock Shop opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [228.354]
March 24
  • The Bear Country area opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. It cost about US$8 million to build. [26.93] [98] [1300.69] [1378.63]
  • The Country Bear Jamboree attraction opens in Bear Country at Disneyland. [9] [4] [26.27] [209.30] [232.84] [757.40] [939.128] [1300.116] [1378.157]
  • The Mile Long Bar opens in Bear Country at Disneyland. [228.331] [1300.285]
  • The Teddi Barra's Swingin' Arcade opens in Bear Country at Disneyland. [9] [26.27] [501.540] [1300.409]
  • The Ursus H. Bear's Wilderness Outpost shop opens in Bear Country at Disneyland. [501.582] [1300.434]
June 17
  • The Main Street Electrical Parade premieres at Disneyland. The vehicles feature 500,000 sparkling lights, and 500 miles of wiring. [4] [26.27] [86.24] [228.306] [246.91] [757.40] [939.132] [1300.257]
June 24
  • The Crystal Arts shop opens in Disneyland. [1378.165]
(month unknown)
  • The Creole Cafe restaurant in Disneyland closes. [1378.161]
  • The Cafe Orleans restaurant opens in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. Former name was Creole Cafe. [1378.110]
  • The name of the Creole Café restaurant at Disneyland changes to Sara Lee Café Orleans. [1300.118]
September 24
  • The Golden Bear Lodge Restaurant opens in Bear Country at Disneyland. [228.247] [1300.188]
October
  • The "Winnie the Pooh for President Day" event is held at Disneyland. [501.616]

1973

January 1
  • The Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction at Disneyland closes. [228.217] [1300.196]
February 1
  • The Pack Mules Through Nature's Wonderland ride at Disneyland closes. [225.110] [228.378] [1235.29] [1300.297]
February 11
  • The Legacy of Walt Disney display at Disneyland closes, to be moved to the Opera House. [228.284] [1300.239]
April 8
  • The Walt Disney Story attraction and film opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [9] [4] [26.27] [501.594] [1300.439]
April
  • The Disneyland Showcase attraction opens at Disneyland. [9]
June
  • The first death associated with Disneyland's Tom Sawyer Island is recorded. 18-year old Bodgen De Laurot tries to swim from the island back to the mainland. His drowned body is found the next morning. [163] [450.171]
(month unknown)
  • United Airlines ceases sponsoring the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction at Disneyland. [228.164]
  • The display Disneyland Presents a Preview of Coming Attractions opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [228.136]
September 9
  • The Carousel of Progress attraction at Disneyland closes. (The attraction is moved to Walt Disney World.) [37.127] [1300.92] [1378.120]

1974

April 10
  • The TV special Sandy in Disneyland airs, starring Sandy Duncan. [501.484] [1300.137]
(month unknown)
  • Disneyland streamlines management, consolidating operating, food, and merchandising divisions of each main geographic section into three production areas. [450.66]
June 28
  • Disney holds a press debut of the America Sings attraction in the carousel theater in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [450.172]
June 29
  • The America Sings attraction opens in the Carousel Theater in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [4] [9] [26.27] [163] [939.142] [1300.48] [1378.27]
June 30
  • Disneyland hosts a second "Love Bug Day". [1300.247]
July 8
  • The first death of a Disneyland employee on duty is recorded. Deborah Stone is crushed between a moving wall and a stationary wall of the America Sings revolving theater. [163] [450.172]
July 11
  • The syndicated television special Herbie Day at Disneyland airs. [228.232] [1300.137]
July
  • Work begins on converting the Disneyland Railroad's open-platform observation train car Grand Canyon to a luxury private tour car. [328.223]
September 30
  • The contract with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe company (for sponsorship of the Disneyland railroad) expires, with no renewal agreed to. [328.274] [1300.370]
(month unknown)
  • The Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland temporarily ceases operation. (It returns in 1977.) [228.306]
October 1
  • The name of the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad attraction in Disneyland is shortened to Disneyland Railroad. [228.136] [1300.370]
November 8
  • The National Broadcasting Company airs The Rockford Files TV show in the USA. A character refers to a police badge as "one of those things they hand out at Disneyland". [1167]
December 20
  • The National Broadcasting Company airs The Rockford Files TV show in the USA. Disneyland and the Matterhorn attraction are mentioned. [1168]
End of 1966-1974. Next: 1975.

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1952-1955 1956-1959 1960-1965 1966-1974 1975-1984 1985-1989 1990-1999 2000-end


A list of references to all source material is available.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/disland/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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