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.


1975

January 5
  • The Flight to the Moon attraction at Disneyland closes. [228.188] [1300.360]
February 12
  • The film of The Walt Disney Story closes at Disneyland. [501.594]
February 17
  • The Walt Disney Story at Disneyland closes for remodelling. [1300.440]
March 21
  • The Mission to Mars attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27] [228.335] [1300.288]
June 12
  • The Walt Disney Story Featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction opens in the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland. [9] [228.218] [1300.196,440]
June 14
  • The America on Parade parade begins in Disneyland. [1378.27]
September 26
  • The National Broadcasting Company airs The Rockford Files TV show in the USA. A character says to others "Why don't you guys go back to Disneyland and leave me alone, huh?" [1169]
October
  • Emperor Hirohito of Japan visits Disneyland. [228.235]

1976

January 9
  • The Disneyana Shop opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [228.133] [1300.130] (1974 [1230.30])
January
  • Dole Pineapple begins sponsoring the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland. [228.164]
(month unknown)
  • In the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, the "Mouse-O-Rail" debuts, a lead unit of the Mark II series monorails, formerly used at Disneyland. [328.298]
  • Disneyland welcomes its 150 millionth guest. [26.27]
  • A private Victorian railcar joins the Lilly Belle train in Disneyland. [20]
  • The name of the Hills Brothers Coffee House in Disneyland changes to Maxwell House Coffee House. [228.235]
September 6
  • The America on Parade show ends at Disneyland. [4] [228.21]
September 12
  • The America on Parade parade ends at Disneyland. [1378.27]

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October
  • The "Winnie the Pooh for President Day" event is held at Disneyland. [501.616]
(month unknown)
  • The Fantasy on Parade Christmas parade makes its last run (until 1980) at Disneyland. [228.174]
December 6
  • The TV special Christmas in Disneyland with Art Carney airs, featuring Sandy Duncan and Glen Campbell. [1300.137] [1378.135] (December 8 [389.53]) (\iChristmas in Disneyland\i [386.92] [389.53])
December
  • The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland is expanded with seven new scenes and 31 figures, including "Gorillas in Camp". [9] [228.269]
  • The Hills Bros. Coffee House and Coffee Garden at Disneyland closes. [1300.208]
  • The Town Square Café opens in Town Square at Disneyland. [1300.430]

1977

January 2
  • The Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland attraction in Disneyland closes. [228.332] [1235.30] [1300.298]
January
  • The two-acre area of Nature's Wonderland in Disneyland begins its transformation into Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. [4]
May 4
  • The Space Mountain attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. Estimated cost to build: $20 million. [209.31] [501.515] [939.106] [1300.386]
  • The Starcade games arcade opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27] [501.521] (May 27 [1300.394])
May
  • The PeopleMover Superspeed Tunnel opens at Disneyland. [9]
May 27
  • The Space Mountain ride is dedicated in Tomorrowland, at Disneyland. Total cost was US$20 million. [4] [9] [26.27]
(month unknown)
  • Tinker Bell's show is cancelled at Disneyland. [20]
  • The Golden Bear Lodge restaurant in Disneyland is renamed Hungry Bear Restaurant. [1300.189]
  • The Main Street Electrical Parade re-opens at Disneyland after being updated. [26.27] [228.306]
  • The Very Merry Christmas Parade debuts at Disneyland. [26.27]

1978

June
  • The Matterhorn Bobsleds ride at Disneyland re-opens after improvements have been made to the interior, adding the Abominable Snowman (three of them), an ice cavern with glowing crystals, and snow storms. [9] [26.27] [228.315] [913.18] [914.66]
July 14
  • The American Egg House restaurant opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [1300.47] [1378.28]
September 1
  • The Stage Door Cafe restaurant opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [501.520] [1300.394]
September
  • The Oaks Tavern restaurant in Disneyland closes. [228.364]

1979

  • Sherrill Anne Hoffman, riding the Space Mountain attraction at Disneyland, becomes ill, almost unconscious. Taken to a hospital, she falls into a coma and dies a week later. Doctors discover she had a heart tumor which was likely dislodged by the ride, travelled to her brain, and killed her. [450.175]
July 4
  • The first baby is born at Disneyland, Teresa Salcedo, born to Rosa and Elias Salcedo of Los Angeles. [757.40] [1300.64] [1378.78]
September 2
  • The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. It cost US$15.8 million to build. [4] [9] [26.27] [328.288] [757.40] [1300.74] [1378.78] (September 15 [939.68])

1980

March 6
  • The CBS TV network airs the special Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary, starring Danny Kaye. [126.C22] [228.278] [386.127] [1300.137]
June
  • The second death on Disneyland's PeopleMover is recorded. Geraldo Gonzales tries to switch cars, slips, falls on the tracks, and is crushed and dragged by the following vehicle. [163] [450.173]
(month unknown)
  • The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants its first official wish, a trip to Disneyland for seven-year-old Frank Salazar. [914.13]
  • The Pony Farm at Disneyland is renamed Circle D Corral. [1378.139]
October 28
  • Thirty former Mouseketeers take part in filming a TV special for the 25th anniversary of The Mickey Mouse Club show, including appearing on a parade float down Disneyland's Main Street. [1336.176] [1357]
(month unknown)
  • The Fantasy on Parade Christmas parade begins running again at Disneyland. [228.174]
Year
  • Total attendance at Disneyland during the year: 11.5 million. [1074.166]

1981

January 8
  • Disneyland welcomes its 200-millionth guest, Gert Schelvis. [26.27] [501.626] [1073.133]
March 7
  • The first murder at Disneyland is recorded. James O'Driscoll stabs and kills Mel Yorba, after accusing him of touching his girlfriend. (O'Driscoll is convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced to sixteen years in prison. Over five years later, a jury finds Disney negligent in not getting emergency help quickly enough, and awards US$600,000 to Yorba's family. Disney appeals, and settles out of court.) [163] [450.142]
July 9
  • Walt Disney Productions acquires Retlaw Enterprises for US$46.2 million in Disney stock. The deal gives Disney the rights to the Walt Disney name and Disneyland's monorail and steam railroad. [128.D4] [1073.133] [1364.62] (1982 [34.293] [108.49])
December 20
  • The Fantasyland Theater at Disneyland closes. [228.175,323] [1300.280]

1982

January
  • The Big Game Safari Shooting Gallery in Disneyland closes. [1300.72]
January 28
  • Wally Boag gives his last performance at the Golden Horseshoe Revue at Disneyland. He did the show almost continuously since its opening in 1955, putting him in the Guiness Book of Records for the most number of performances of a show, about 40,000. [249.98] [1300.80] [1378.86]
March 26
  • The Brass Boutique shop opens in New Orleans Square in Disneyland. Formerly La Boutique d'Or. [1378.95]
June
  • The videotape souvenir A Day at Disneyland is released. [1300.129] [1378.177]
  • Disneyland replaces its ticket books with a "Passport", for single day unlimited use of all attractions. [193.16] [228.155] [450.67] [939.34] [1300.320] (1981 [26.27])
July
  • The Disneyland Band gives its 50,000th performance. [228.135] [1300.134]
August 29
  • The Captain Hook's Galley restaurant in Fantasyland at Disneyland closes. [1300.332] [1378.117]
September 6
  • The Alice in Wonderland ride at Disneyland closes for a major remodelling. [1300.44] [1378.20]
September 30
  • Pepsi-Cola ends sponsorship of the Golden Horseshoe Revue show at Disneyland. [228.208]
(month unknown)
  • The Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland temporarily ceases operation. (It returns in 1985.) [228.306]
October 1
  • The Casa Mexicana restaurant opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. Former name was Casa de Fritos. [1300.95] [1378.121]
  • Eastman Kodak begins sponsorship of the Golden Horseshoe Revue show at Disneyland. [228.208]
December 22
  • (4:34 PM) All electrical power to Disneyland and Anaheim is cut due to winds knocking over a northern California powerline. The park is evacuated, but power returns in under two hours. [450.189]

1983

January 16
  • Merlin's Magic Shop at Disneyland closes. [228.318] [1300.277]
February 5
  • Columbia Pictures releases the film Blue Thunder to theaters in Germany. A car has a Disneyland parking sticker. [1139]
April 21
  • The TV special Believe You Can... and You Can! airs, celebrating the opening of the new Fantasyland at Disneyland. [1378.70]
May 25
  • The newly renovated Fantasyland re-opens at Disneyland. The drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty Castle lowers for the second time. [228.175] [472.64] [757.40] [939.39,81] [1300.44] (May 23 [914.55])
  • The Mickey's Christmas Chalet shop opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [228.325] [1300.280]
  • The Village Haus Restaurant opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [501.587]
  • The Pinocchio's Daring Journey ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. Previous attraction in the location was Fantasyland Theater. [9] [26.27] [228.389] [939.88] [1300.329]
  • The Village Inn opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [1300.437]
  • The new Snow White's Scary Adventures ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27] [501.510] [1300.380]
  • Gepetto's Arts & Crafts shop opens in Fantasyland. [1300.184]
May
  • The new Peter Pan's Flight ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27] [228.385]
  • The new Mr. Toad's Wild Ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27]
  • The new Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27]
June
  • Disney introduces annual passports for use at Disneyland. [1378.36]
  • 18-year old Philip Straughan and a friend take a maintenance boat out for a joyride on the Rivers of America at Disneyland. Near Tom Sawyer's Island, they strike a rock, and Straughan falls out. His drowned body is recovered an hour later. [163] [450.174]
(month unknown)
  • The Pirate Cove in Fantasyland at Disneyland is removed. [247.20]
  • Disneyland holds the Flights of Fantasy parade. [26.27]
  • Tinker Bell's show returns to Disneyland. [20]
  • The Sword in the Stone Ceremony opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [501.535]
September 30
  • The American Egg House restaurant closes at Disneyland. [1300.47] [1378.28]
October 1
  • The Town Square Café opens in Town Square at Disneyland. [1300.430]

1984

January 3
  • The Circle-Vision 360 theater and film America the Beautiful close at Disneyland. [1300.106] [1378.27]
January 4
  • Dollie Young, riding the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride at Disneyland, falls off, is struck by another sled, and dies. [135.A6] [163] [450.174]
April 14
  • The new Alice in Wonderland ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27] [914.55] [939.122] [1300.44] [1378.20]
April 30
  • Eastman Kodak ends sponsorship of the Golden Horseshoe Revue show at Disneyland. [228.208]
June 9
  • Donald Duck and Clarence Nash lead a ticker-tape parade through Disneyland, celebrating 50 years since Donald Duck's film debut in The Wise Little Hen. [108.120]
June
  • The Magic Journeys attraction opens at Disneyland. [9]
June 28
  • The Disney Channel premieres the series Big Bands at Disneyland. [1300.137] [1378.76]
June 30
  • The South Seas Traders shop opens in Adventureland at Disneyland. [501.515] [1300.382]
(month unknown)
  • Disneyland's Sailing Ship Columbia is rerigged and redecked. [26.27]
  • The Audio-Animatronic Mr. Lincoln at Disneyland is reprogrammed, using new technologies for limbs. [228.218]
July 4
  • The World Premiere Circle-Vision theater opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland, sponsored by PSA. Previous name of the theater was Circle-Vision 360. The pre-show attraction film is All Because Man Wanted to Fly, with main film being American Journeys. [9] [23] [228.17,22,93] [472.64] [501.621] [1300.106] [1378.23,28]
September 17
  • Five unions representing 1844 Disneyland workers vote on the company's offer of a three-year wage freeze. The vote is 97 percent rejecting the offer, and authorizing a strike if needed. [450.69]
September 24
  • Unions representing one-third of Disneyland's employees vote 69 percent to reject the company's latest contract offer, and authorize a strike. [14] [164.B5]
  • Michael Eisner and Frank Wells try to reassure nervous Disneyland employees, speaking from a bandstand built for the film Something Wicked This Way Comes. (Within the first year, over 1000 Disney employees lose their jobs.) [745.21,76] [1074.166]
September 25
  • Nearly 1800 disgruntled Disneyland workers stage a strike. [14] [171.A17] [450.69] (September 26 [1])
October 6
  • Disneyland striking workers are told they will be fired if they don't go back to work by the 10th. [14]
October 16
  • Striking Disneyland workers vote 70 percent in favor of accepting a new contract, ending the park's longest strike, 22 days. [14] [171.A17] [450.75] (October 15 [1074.167])
December 2
  • 20-year old Margarita Granados gives birth to a baby girl in Disneyland. [173.B5]
Year
  • Total attendance at Disneyland during the year: less than 9.5 million. [1074.166]

End of 1975-1984. Next: 1985.

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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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