A complete collection of WDW Magazine’s Today in Disney History archives, where we share exciting dates throughout Disney’s history.
Over the past century, Disney has constantly made history with incredible achievements across the fields of animation, theme parks, and technology. As part of our “Today in Disney History” column, we share some of the biggest stories throughout the Walt Disney’s Company’s history on a monthly basis. Each month we highlight specific dates as notable ones from Disney’s history, with an accompanying story to expand on what makes that date so unique. We’ve compiled our Today in Disney History archives of each of these dates to help you navigate through each and every one.
Today in Disney History Archives:
Magic Kingdom Park entrance in 1971 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Disney)
TIDH: January
- January 2, 1979: Dumbo’s Circus Parade Debuted at the Magic Kingdom
- January 3, 1994: EPCOT’s Kitchen Kabaret Closed
- January 4, 2003: The Final Polynesian Revue Performance at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- January 9, 1999: Horizons Closed Permanently at Walt Disney World
- January 10, 1970: The Disney World Preview Center Opened
- January 12, 2001: Opening of Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort
- January 16, 1994: The First Walt Disney World Marathon Took Place
- January 18, 1991: Eastern Airlines Suspended Service
- January 23, 2009: The Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade Debuted in the Magic Kingdom
- January 24, 2007: Finding Nemo – The Musical Opening Date at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- January 24, 2007: The Seas With Nemo & Friends Opened at EPCOT
- January 25, 1961: 101 Dalmatians Premiered in Theaters
TIDH: February
- February 2, 1967: Roy Disney’s EPCOT Press Conference
- February 7, 1940: Pinocchio Premiered at New York’s Center Theatre
- February 8, 2001: Disney’s California Adventure Opened
- February 14, 1999: The Very First Disney Cruise Wedding on Castaway Cay
- February 24, 2009: Bock the Manatee was Released
- February 26, 1996: Here’s What the Original Disney Website Looked Like in the Early Days
- February 28, 2018: The 25th EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Kicked Off
TIDH: March
- March 1, 1924: Alice’s Day at Sea Premiered in Theaters
- March 7, 1942: Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner Was Born
- March 9, 1984: Splash was Released
- March 14, 2008: The Pixar Play Parade Debuted at Disney California Adventure
- March 15, 1975: America the Beautiful Premiered at the Magic Kingdom
- March 22, 1975: Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village Opened
- March 23, 2007: Meet the Robinsons Character Meet-and-Greets Began at Disney-MGM Studios
- March 28, 1987: The First Disney Store Outside a Park Opened
TIDH: April
- April 1, 1995: Blizzard Beach Opened at Disney World
- April 8, 1974: Discovery Island Opened at Disney World
- April 12, 1992: Disneyland Paris Opening Day
- April 15, 1971: The First Monorail Was Set On the Tracks
- April 20, 1991: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Opened at Disney-MGM Studios
- April 22, 1998: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Opened
TIDH: May
- May 2, 2003: The Lizzie McGuire Movie Opened in Theaters
- May 12, 2017: Magic Kingdom’s First “Happily Ever After”
- May 16, 1991: Muppet*Vision 3D Opened
- May 17, 1991: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Opening Date
- May 28, 1966: “it’s a small world” Opened in Disneyland
TIDH: June
- June 5, 1994: The First EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Ends
- June 6, 1959: Submarine Voyage Opened at Disneyland
- June 7, 1975: Mission to Mars Opened at the Magic Kingdom
- June 10, 2000: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! Reopens… With a Special Twisttion=edit
- June 14, 1959: Disneyland Introduces E-Ticket Attractions
- June 17, 2016: Soarin’ Over the World Debuts
- June 20, 1976: River Country Opening Day at Disney World
- June 21, 2016: Frozen Ever After Opened in EPCOT
- June 26, 1957: The Disneyland Viewliner Opened
- June 27, 1985: Disney Acquired the Rights to Create Disney-MGM Studios Park
- June 28, 1988: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Opened at Walt Disney World
TIDH: July
- July 1, 1975: WEDway PeopleMover Opens at the Magic Kingdom
- July 3, 1985: Tinker Bell’s Flight Over Magic Kingdom Begins at Walt Disney World
- July 3, 2017: DisneyQuest Officially Closes
- July 4, 1979: First Disneyland Baby
- July 9, 1999: Discovery Island Ceases Operations
- July 10, 1981: The Fox and the Hound Theatrical Debut
- July 13, 1925: Walt and Lillian Disney Married
- July 15, 1955: Disneyland’s Opening Day
- July 17, 1989: Splash Mountain at Disneyland Opened
- July 22, 1994: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
TIDH: August
- August 1, 1997: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Opens
- August 2, 1998: The First Disney Cruise Line Guests Arrived at Castaway Cay
- August 9, 1969: Haunted Mansion Opened at Disneyland
- August 17, 1986: “Luxo Jr.” Became Pixar’s First Animated Project
- August 19, 1989: Tower of Life Debuts
- August 24, 2989: Ewok Village Opens at Disney-MGM Studios
- August 25, 1989: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! Opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
TIDH: September
- September 2, 1979: Big Thunder Mountain Opens at Disneyland
- September 4, 2001: Tokyo DisneySea Opens
- September 6, 1976: America on Parade Ended at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom
- September 15, 1997: Downtown Disney West Side Opens
- September 15, 1996: Ellen’s Energy Adventure Opening Date at EPCOT
- September 24, 1936: Disney Legend Jim Henson’s Birthday
- September 29, 2019: Disney Skyliner’s Opening Day
TIDH October
- October 1, 1988: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Opens
- October 3, 1955: The Mickey Mouse Club Airs First Episode
- October 3, 1971: Peter Pan’s Flight Opened at Walt Disney World
- October 5, 1955: Disneyland Hotel Opening Day
- October 5, 2014: Maelstrom Closed at EPCOT
- October 10, 1961: Jodi Benson, Voice of Ariel, Was Born
- October 14, 1971: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Opened in the Magic Kingdom
- October 16, 1923: Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio Founded
- October 18, 1967: ‘The Jungle Book’ Debuted in Theaters
- October 19, 1989: EPCOT’s Wonders of Life Pavilion Opening Day
- October 23, 1982: Carnival de Lumiere, EPCOT’s First Nighttime Show Debuts
- October 25, 1971: Roy Disney’s Disney World Dedication
- October 27, 1979: Halloween Hysteria at Magic Kingdom
- October 31, 1995: The First Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
TIDH November
- November 1, 2003: Theaters Released Brother Bear and That Bangin’ Soundtrack
- November 7, 2014: ‘Big Hero 6’ Debuted in America
- November 9, 2001: Debut of Disney’s LuminAria at Disney California Adventure
- November 14, 2007: Yak & Yeti Opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- November 16, 2004: Turtle Talk With Crush Opened in EPCOT
- November 15, 1980: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Opened at the Magic Kingdom
- November 19, 1971: Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Opens
- November 21, 1994: Honey I Shrunk the Audience Opened in EPCOT
- November 22, 1991: Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage Opens
- November 29, 1934: Disney’s First Balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
TIDH: December
- December 5, 1901: Walt Disney Was Born
- December 6, 1903: Walt Disney’s Sister, Ruth Flora Disney, Was Born
- December 11, 1992: The Muppet Christmas Carol Debuted
- December 14, 2003: Disney’s Pop Century Resort Opened
- December 16, 1952: WED Enterprises Founded
- December 19, 1843: A Christmas Carol Was Published by Charles Dickens
- December 21, 1937: Snow White First Premiered
- December 24, 1971: Flight to the Moon Opened in the Magic Kingdom
- December 25, 1963: The Sword in the Stone Comes to Theaters
- December 27, 1904: Debut of Peter Pan Stage Play by J.M. Barrie
%20Issue%20Bundle&url=https://www.wdw-magazine.com/product/welcome-to-dlr-magazine-bundle/&media=https://www.wdw-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DLR-2023-Collection-Bundle.jpg){kind=link}
