Every year at Disney World is truly full of historic events — park openings, new attraction debuts, new parades, and much more!

Ever wondered what major Disney event(s) happened the year YOU were born? We’re going through a BUNCH of them here starting with Disneyland Resort’s opening in 1955. Hop in our time machine and get ready to go through all the major events in Disney history!

1955

• Disneyland Resort Opens (July 17, 1955)
• Golden Horseshoe Revue opens at Disneyland (ended in 1986, replaced by Golden Horseshoe Jamboree which closed in 1994, then replaced by the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, and Woody’s Roundup which each ran for different periods of time)
• Rocket to the Moon opens at Disneyland (it later becomes Flight to the Moon and then Mission to Mars, which closes in 1992)
• Lady and the Tramp premieres

1956

• Tom Sawyer Island opens to the public in Disneyland Park
• Skyway to Tomorrowland and Skyway to Fantasyland open at Disneyland Park (close in 1994)
• Rainbow Caverns Mine Train opens at Disneyland (runs through 1959)
• Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks premieres at Disneyland (changed to Believe…There’s Magic in the Stars in 2000, later replaced by other firework shows, then brought back for a period of time and then later replaced again)

1957

• Holidayland opens at Disneyland Resort — curious about what Holidayland was? Check out this article from our friends over at AllEars.net.
• The Monsanto House of the Future opens in Disneyland Park (closes in 1967)

1958

• Alice in Wonderland attraction opens at Disneyland Park (June 14, 1958)

1959

• The Dapper Dans begin to perform at Disneyland Park under that name as a re-imagined group
• Matterhorn Bobsleds open in Disneyland Park (June 14, 1959)
• Disneyland Monorail opens (June 14, 1959)
• Submarine Voyage ride opens in Disneyland Park (closes in 1998 and becomes the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride in 2007)
• Sleeping Beauty premieres

1960

• Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland opens in Disneyland Park (replaces the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train and runs through 1977)
• Pollyanna premieres
• Walt Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson premieres

1961

• The Disneyland Monorail System is extended to the Disneyland Hotel
• Flying Saucers attraction (where guests rode in individual vehicles floating on a cushion on air) opens in Disneyland Park (closes in 1966). According to D23, it was one of the “worst maintenance headaches at Disneyland, as the technicians continually tried to keep it operating. Eventually, they gave up.”
• Walt Disney’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians premieres
• The Parent Trap premieres

1962

• The Swiss Family Treehouse opens in Disneyland Park in Adventureland (later retimed to Tarzan’s Treehouse in 1999)

1963

• The Enchanted Tiki Room attraction opens in Disneyland (June 23, 1963)
• The Sword in the Stone premieres

1964

• The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair opens. Many classic Disney attractions were built for this World’s Fair and would ultimately make their way to Disneyland, Disney World, and other parks around the world, including “it’s a small world,” Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Carousel of Progress, and Ford Motor Company’s Magic Skyway (portions of which would later live on at the Disney parks). Learn more about the 1964 New York World’s Fair and its importance in Disney history by checking out this article from our friends over at AllEars.net.
• Mary Poppins is released

1965

• The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opens at Disneyland Park (later closed in 1973, but returned in 1975, received a major rehab in 2001, closed in 2005 but then reopened in 2009)

1966

• “it’s a small world” opens in Disneyland Park (May 28, 1966)
• Walt Disney passes away (December 15, 1966)

1967

• Pirates of the Caribbean attraction opens at Disneyland Park (March 18, 1967)
• Carousel of Progress opens at Disneyland (moved from the World’s Fair to Tomorrowland at Disneyland, ultimately closes in 1973 and moves to Disney World in 1975)
• Tomorrowland is remodeled in Disneyland
• Adventure Thru Inner Space opens in Disneyland Park (closes in 1985)
• Rocket Jets opens in Disneyland (closes in 1997 and is replaced by Astro Orbitor in 1998)
• PeopleMover opens in Disneyland (closes in 1995)
• The Jungle Book premieres

1968

• The Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day short premieres (which later inspires the Winnie the Pooh attractions that appear in the Disney theme parks)
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the song “The Bare Necessities” in the film The Jungle Book for an Oscar Award in the category Music, Song.

1969

• The Haunted Mansion opens at Disneyland Park (August 9, 1969)

1970

• The Aristocats is released

1971

• Walt Disney World Resort (with Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort, and Polynesian Village Resort) opens (Oct 1, 1971)
• Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground opens later in 1971
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea opens October 14th, 1971 (closes in 1994)

1972

• The Main Street Electrical Parade begins in Disneyland Park (June 17, 1972)
• Country Bear Jamboree opens at Disneyland Park (later renamed and ultimately closes in 2001)
• If You Had Wings opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World (closes in 1987)

1973

• Pirates of the Caribbean attraction opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World (December 15, 1973)
• Tom Sawyer Island opens to the public in Magic Kingdom in Disney World
• Robin Hood premieres

1974

• The America Sings attraction opens in the Carousel Theater in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park (closes in 1988)
• The film Magic Carpet ‘Round The World premieres in the Circle-Vision 360 theater at Walt Disney World
• Hoop-dee-Doo Musical Revue launches in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground in Disney World

1975

• Space Mountain opens in Walt Disney World (January 15, 1975)
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World (moved here from Disneyland with a theme song change, ultimately returning back to its classic theme song in 1993)
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover opens in Magic Kingdom
• The Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village opens at Walt Disney World (to later become Downtown Disney and eventually Disney Springs)
• Mission to Mars opens at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom (in Disney World) (closes in Disneyland in 1992, closes in Magic Kingdom in 1993)

1976

• Disney’s River Country water park opens in Walt Disney World

1977

• Space Mountain opens in Disneyland (May 4, 1977)
• The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh movie premieres
• The Rescuers premieres
• Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope premieres

1978

• The Matterhorn attraction at Disneyland gets a massive refurb, including the introduction of the Abominable Snowman!
• We get the first Disney World Christmas parade
• The Cat From Outer Space movie is released

1979

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens in Disneyland (September 2, 1979)

1980

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens in Disney World
• Mickey Mouse Revue in Magic Kingdom closes (attraction originally opened with the park in 1971)
• Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back premieres

1981

• Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark premieres
• The Fox and the Hound premieres
• Disney on Ice is Founded — According to Oh My Disney, Walt Disney’s history with ice skating goes far back, but “In 1981, the Ice Capades launched a whole Disney-themed ice spectacle under the name ‘Walt Disney’s World on Ice’. In 1998, it became as it is known today: ‘Disney on Ice.’”

1982

• EPCOT Center opens at Walt Disney World Resort (Oct 1, 1982)

1983

• Tokyo Disneyland opens (April 15, 1983)
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey opens in Disneyland Park
• A totally remodeled Fantasyland opens at Disneyland Park
• The Journey into Imagination attraction opens at EPCOT Center (March 5, 1983)
• Horizons opens at EPCOT in Disney World (closes in 1999)
• First Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held in Disney World
• Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi premieres

1984

• The Morocco Pavilion opens at EPCOT Center (September 7, 1984)

1985

• The Black Cauldron is released
• Disney gets into television animation and Saturday morning cartoon shows with The Adventures of the Gummi Bears. This then paved the way for many future television cartoon shows from Disney.

1986

• The Living Seas pavilion opens at EPCOT
• Captain EO opens in Disneyland and EPCOT
• The Great Mouse Detective premieres

1987

• Star Tours opens in Disneyland (January 9, 1987)
• Magic Journeys opened with EPCOT but is moved to Fantasyland Theatre in Magic Kingdom in 1987 and ultimately closes in 1993 (also played in Disneyland from 1984-1986)

1988

• Mickey’s Birthday Land Opens in Magic Kingdom. Read more about the history of Mickey’s Birthday Land by checking out this article from our friends at AllEars.net.
• Grand Floridian Resort & Spa opens at Walt Disney World
• Caribbean Beach Resort opens at Walt Disney World
• Maelstrom opens in the Norway pavilion in EPCOT
• The IllumiNations nighttime spectacular premieres in EPCOT
• Oliver & Company premieres
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit is released

1989

• Splash Mountain opens in Disneyland
• Disney-MGM Studios opens in Walt Disney World (May 1, 1989) (later renamed to Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
• Typhoon Lagoon water park opens at Walt Disney World (June 1, 1989)
• Star Tours opens in Disney-MGM Studios (December 15, 1989)
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! opens in Disney-MGM Studios
• The Magic of Disney Animation tour opens at Disney-MGM Studios (changes over the years and closes in 2015 to become Star Wars Launch Bay)
• Delta Dreamflight opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World (later renamed and ultimately closed in 1998)
• Wonders of Life pavilion opens in EPCOT with Body Wars, Cranium Command, and The Making of Me (closes permanently in 2007)
• The Little Mermaid is released

1990

• The Walt Disney World Yacht and Beach Resort open in Walt Disney World
• The Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure opens at Disney-MGM Studios in Disney World
• The Rescuers Down Under is released
• The Disney Afternoon airs its first broadcast

1991

• Muppet*Vision 3D opens in Disney’s MGM-Studios in Disney World
• Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage premieres in Disney-MGM Studios
• The SpectroMagic nighttime parade debuts at Magic Kingdom in Disney World
• Port Orleans Resort opens at Walt Disney World 
• Disney Vacation Club program debuts with the Vacation Club Resort (later renamed to Old Key West Resort)
• The Rocketeer premieres 
• Beauty and the Beast premieres

1992

• Euro Disney Resort opens (later renamed to Disneyland Paris Resort) (April 12, 1992)
• Fantasmic! has its first show in Disneyland (May 13, 1992)
• Splash Mountain opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World (July 17, 1992)
• Dixie Landings Resort opens at Walt Disney World (is later merged with Port Orleans Resort in 2001)
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid opens at Disney-MGM Studios
• Aladdin premieres

1993

• Mickey’s Toontown opens at Disneyland Park
• Hocus Pocus is released
• Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas premieres

1994

• Roger Rabbit’s CarToon Spin opens in Disneyland Park
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens in Disney-MGM Studios (July 22, 1994)
• In 1994-1995, Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom at Disney World is totally remodeled
• The Timekeeper opens in Magic Kingdom (officially closed in 2006)
• The Legend of the Lion King opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World (closes in 2002 and is replaced by Mickey’s PhilharMagic)
• Honey, I Shrunk the Audience opens in EPCOT (closes in 2010)
• Innoventions opens in EPCOT in Disney World (ultimately closes in 2019)
• Kitchen Kabaret (which opened October 1st, 1982) closes and is replaced by Food Rocks which opens in 1994 (and ultimately closes in 2004)
• The first EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is held
• All-Star Sports and Music Resorts open in Walt Disney World
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort opens at Walt Disney World
• The Lion King premieres

1995

• The Indiana Jones Adventure attraction opens in Disneyland Resort (March 3, 1995)
• The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights is moved from Jennings Osborne’s home to Disney-MGM Studios
• ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter opens in Magic Kingdom (closes in 2003)
• The first EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is held
• Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable opens at EPCOT (closes in 2018 and is replaced by Awesome Planet in 2020)
• The first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is held in Disney World 
• Blizzard Beach water park opens at Walt Disney World (April 1, 1995)
• Disney acquires ABC
• Toy Story premieres
• Pocahontas premiers

1996

• Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is transformed into a birthday cake for Disney World’s 25th Anniversary
• Mickey’s Starland at the Magic Kingdom is renamed to Mickey’s Toontown Fair and new attractions open (including The Barnstormer)
• Ellen’s Energy Adventure opens at EPCOT
• World of Motion closes at EPCOT (later superseded by Test Track)
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn opens at Walt Disney World
• The Disney Institute opens in Disney World (closes in 2002)
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame premieres

1997

• The Star Wars Weekends takes place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the first time
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort opens at Walt Disney World
• Hercules premiers

1998

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens (April 22, 1998)
• An extensively remodeled Tomorrowland reopens in Disneyland
• Innoventions opens in Disneyland (closes in 2015)
• Rocket Rods opens in Disneyland Park (closes in 2000)
• Fantasmic! premieres in Disney-MGM Studios
• SuperStar Television closes in Disney-MGM Studios (replaced by Disney’s Doug Live which closes in 2001)
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World (October 7, 1998)
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride closes in Magic Kingdom in Disney World (September 7, 1998)
• Enchanted Tiki Birds is refurbished in Disney World and opens at Enchanted Tiki Birds Under New Management
• Disney Cruise Line’s first ship, the Disney Magic, sets out for its maiden voyage (July 30, 1998)
• Mulan is released
• A Bug’s Life is released

1999

• Tarzan’s Treehouse opens at Disneyland Park
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opens at Magic Kingdom in Disney World 
• Skyway to Tomorrowland and Skyway to Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom close (opened with the park in 1971)
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith opens in Disney-MGM Studios in Disney World (dedicated July 29, 1999, opened to the public the next day)
• Sounds Dangerous opens in Disney-MGM Studios
• Test Track has its grand opening in EPCOT (March 17, 1999)
• Journey Into Imagination in EPCOT reopens as Journey Into Your Imagination with a completely redesigned attraction
• Horizons closes in EPCOT
• The Millennium celebration starts in Disney World, and as part of the celebration a giant “2000” is added over the globe of Spaceship Earth beginning in October and the Leave a Legacy program begins in EPCOT (the 2000 was later swapped out for the word “EPCOT” in 2001, and the whole wand and EPCOT structure was removed in 2007)
• Tapestry of Nations parade debuts at EPCOT (ending in 2001)
• SpectroMagic ends its run at Walt Disney World
• The Main Street Electrical Parade returns to Disney World for a brief period 
• All-Star Movies Resort opens at Walt Disney World
• Kali River Rapids opens in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Maharajah Jungle Trek opens in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Journey to the Jungle Book closes and is replaced by Tarzan Rocks! in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Tarzan Rocks! closes in 2006)
• The Discovery River Boats close at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• March of the ARTimals parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has its last performance
• Tarzan premieres
• Toy Story 2 is released
• Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace is released

2000

• IllumiNations 2000 premieres in EPCOT
• Countdown to Extinction in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is re-named “Dinosaur!”
• Fantasia 2000 is released
• The Emperor’s New Groove is released

2001

• Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort opens (Feb 8, 2001)
• Tokyo Disney Sea at Tokyo Disneyland Resort opens (Sep 4, 2001)
• Haunted Mansion is changed to a holiday theme inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas for the first time for the holiday season in Disneyland
• Grand Californian Hotel opens at Disneyland Resort
• Main Street Electrical Parade returns to Disney California Adventure Park as Disney’s Electrical Parade (ended its main run in 2009, but operated seasonally until 2010)
• River Country water park closes at Walt Disney World
• Share a Dream Come True, Dreams Come True, and Celebrate a Dream Come True “sister” parades begin in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and run for a combined total of about 13 years
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World 
• Disney Stars and Motor Cars parade begins in Disney-MGM Studios (runs through 2008)
• Playhouse Disney — Live on Stage opens at Disney-MGM Studios (eventually becomes Disney Junior — Live on Stage)
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Play It opens in Disney-MGM Studios (closes 2006) and in Disney California Adventure Park (closes 2004)
• Giant Sorcerer Mickey hat is added to Disney-MGM Studios (later removed in 2015)
• Tapestry of Nations comes back as the Tapestry of Dreams parade in EPCOT (runs through 2003)
• Mickey’s Jammin Jungle Parade opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (ends in 2014)
• In 2001-2002 Dino-Rama opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom featuring Primeval Whirl, TriceroTop Spin, and midway games
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opens at Walt Disney World
• Atlantis: The Lost Empire premieres
• Monsters, Inc. premieres

2002

• Walt Disney Studios park opens in Disneyland Paris
• a Bug’s Land opens in Disneyland Park (closes in 2018)
• Superstar Limo closes at Disney California Adventure Park
• Journey Into Your Imagination in EPCOT reopens with a renovated attraction now called Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Star Wars: Episode II — The Clone Wars is released
• Lilo & Stitch premieres
• Treasure Planet premieres

2003

• Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular officially debuts at Disney California Adventure Park. Frozen — Live at the Hyperion replaces Aladdin.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opens at Disneyland Park
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World
• Alien Encounter closes in Magic Kingdom in Disney World
• Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams fireworks spectacular begins at Magic Kingdom (October  2003)
• Mission: SPACE opens in EPCOT (August 15, 2003)
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort opens at Walt Disney World
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl is released, starting the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise
• Finding Nemo premieres
• Brother Bear premieres

2004

• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens in Disney California Adventure Park
• Stitch’s Great Escape! opens at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World (eventually just becomes used for a Stitch meet-and-greet, Disney officially confirms it is permanently closed in 2020)
• Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom in Disney World is TP-ed to celebrate the opening of Stitch’s Great Escape!
• Turtle Talk with Crush opens in EPCOT (and later opens in Disney California Adventure in 2005)
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa opens at Walt Disney World on the site of the former Disney Institute
• Disney acquires the Muppet properties and Bear in the Big Blue House
• The Incredibles premieres
• Home on the Range premieres

2005

• Hong Kong Disneyland opens (September 12, 2005)
• Soarin’ opens in EPCOT (May 5, 2005)
• Remember…Dreams Come True fireworks show in Disneyland premieres (later replaced by other shows)
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show opens in Disney-MGM Studios (closes in 2016)
• Chicken Little premieres
• Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith is released

2006

• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! has its grand opening in Disney California Adventure (although it opened to guests in December of 2005)
• Expedition Everest opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (April 7, 2006)
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction opens in EPCOT and The Living Seas is re-themed to this new name 
• Disney acquires Pixar
• Cars premieres

2007

• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opens at Disneyland
• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade debuts in Magic Kingdom
• Disney World decorates Cinderella Castle with the icicle-inspired Dream Lights for the first time (it later gets a Frozen update in 2014)
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor opens in Magic Kingdom
• Wonders of Life pavilion closes at EPCOT. The pavilion essentially closed as of 2004, but some attractions reopened from November 26th, 2006 through January 1, 2007.
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros (which replaced El Río del Tiempo) opens in the Mexico Pavilion in EPCOT
• Finding Nemo — the Musical has its grand opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Ratatouille premieres
• Meet the Robinsons is released

2008

• Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World rebranded as “Disney’s Hollywood Studios”, effective January 7, 2008.
• Pixar Play Parade opens at Disney California Adventure Park (took a break in 2011, but returned in 2012, ultimately ending in 2017, and then moving to Disneyland to run through 2018)
• Toy Story Midway Mania opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Disney World(May 31, 2008) and at Disney California Adventure Park in Disneyland Resort (June 17, 2008)
• Iron Man is released
• WALL-E premieres
• Bolt is released

2009

• Mickey’s Fun Wheel opens in Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure Park in Disneyland Resort
• The first D23 Expo is held in California
• The American Idol Experience opens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (closes in 2014)
• Disney acquires Marvel Entertainment
• The Princess and the Frog premieres
• Up premieres

2010

• The World of Color nighttime show in Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort debuts (June 11, 2010)
• ElecTRONica nighttime event opens at Disney California Adventure Park (closes in 2012)
• Main Street Electrical Parade moves back to Disney World and runs until 2016
• Iron Man 2 is released
• Toy Story 3 premieres
• Tangled premieres

2011

• The Little Mermaid — Ariel’s Undersea Adventure opens in Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort (June 3, 2011)
• Mickey’s Soundsational Parade debuts at Disneyland Park (leaves briefly in 2017, but then returns with some new elements in 2019)
• Goofy’s Sky School opens in Disney California Adventure Park (replacing Mulholland Madness)
• A fire occurs at The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management in Magic Kingdom, and the attraction shuts down and is refurbished. It later reopens under its more original format.
• Mickey’s Toontown Fair at Magic Kingdom closes
• Thor is released
• Captain America: The First Avenger is released
• Winnie the Pooh (movie) premieres

2012

• Cars Land and Buena Vista Street open in Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort
• Mad T Party nighttime event opens at Disney California Adventure Park (closes in 2014)
• New Fantasyland opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World
• Storybook Circus opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures closes in Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World (opened with the park in 1971)
• Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom premieres in Disney World
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort opens in Walt Disney World
• Disney acquires Lucasfilm Ltd.
• Marvel’s The Avengers is released
• Brave premieres
• Wreck it Ralph premieres

2013

• Mystic Point opens at Hong Kong Disneyland
• Mickey and the Magical Map premieres in Disneyland Park
• Jingle Cruise (holiday overlay of Jungle Cruise) opens at Disney World and Disneyland Park
• Princess Fairytale Hall opens in Magic Kingdom in Disney World
• Iron Man 3 is released
• Thor: The Dark World is released
• Frozen premieres
• Monsters University is released

2014

• Maelstrom closes in the Norway pavilion in EPCOT
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opens in New Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom in Disney World (May 28, 2014)
• Festival of Fantasy Parade starts at Magic Kingdom in Disney World
• For the First Time in Forever — A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (moves to the Hyperion Theatre at Echo Lake in 2015) (a version of the show also played in Disney California Adventure Park from 2014-2017)
• Studio Backlot Tour (previously called Backstage Studio Tour and Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour) closes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier is released
• Guardians of the Galaxy is released
• Big Hero 6 premieres

2015

• Disneyland celebrates its 60th Anniversary
• The Paint the Night nighttime parade and Disneyland Forever fireworks spectacular debut at Disneyland Resort (Paint the Night ran at Disneyland until late 2016, it then moved to Disney California Adventure park and ran there for part of 2018)
• Luigi’s Flying Tires closes in Disney California Adventure Park
• Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens is released
• Star Wars Launch Bay opens in Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Avengers: Age of Ultron is released
• Ant-Man is released
• Inside Out premieres

2016

• Shanghai Disneyland Resort opens (June 16, 2016)
• Soarin’ Around the World replaces Soarin’ in EPCOT and Soarin’ Over California in Disney California Adventure Park
• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters opens, replacing Luigi’s Flying Tires in Disney California Adventure Park
• Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular closes at Disney California Adventure Park
• Frozen Ever After replaces Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion in EPCOT (June 21, 2016)
• EPCOT has its first International Festival of the Holidays, replacing its previous seasonal event “Holidays Around the World”
• The Tree of Life Awakenings begins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic nighttime show opens in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (later replaced by Rivers of Light: We Are One)
• Zootopia premieres
• Moana premieres
• Finding Dory premieres
• Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange are released
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is released

2017

• Main Street Electrical Parade returns to Disneyland briefly from late January to late August of 2017, and again in late 2019
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Disney California Adventure Park reopens as Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!
• The Wishes fireworks in Magic Kingdom come to an end and are replaced by the Happily Ever After fireworks show
• The Great Movie Ride closes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Pandora — The World of Avatar opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (May 27, 2017)
• The first EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is held
• Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi is released
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok are released
• Coco premieres

2018

• The Incredicoaster opens in Disney California Adventure Park (June 23, 2018)
• Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure Park reopens as the newly re-themed Pixar Pier
• Toy Story Land opens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (June 30, 2018)
• UP! A Great Bird Adventure opens in Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens, replacing Flights of Wonder
• Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Ant-Man and the Wasp are released
• Ralph Breaks the Internet is released
• Incredibles 2 is released
• Solo: A Star Wars Story premieres

2019

• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens in Disneyland and Disney World. Both lands open with the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens at Disney World’s Galaxy’s Edge in late 2019.
• Mickey’s Soundsational Parade ends in Disneyland Park and is replaced by the new Magic Happens Parade in 2020
• Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park gets a new paint job
• A number of Pixar rides open on Pixar Pier including Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and Jessie’s Critter Carousel
• LOTS of attractions are closed in EPCOT and changes are made in preparation for the park’s transformation (Fountain of Nations is closed, Innoventions closes, and more)
• Disney Skyliner opens at Disney World
• Lightning McQueen’s racing Academy opens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Rivers of Light: We Are One premieres at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Gran Destino Tower opens at Walt Disney World as an expansion of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort opens at Walt Disney World
• Disney+ becomes available
• Disney acquires 21st Century Fox
• Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker is released
• Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: Far From Home are released
• Toy Story 4 premieres
• Frozen II premieres

2020

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens at Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (March 4, 2020)
• Due to the global pandemic, all Disney theme parks around the world close
• After several months, all of Disney’s theme parks around the world (except for those at Disneyland Resort in California) reopen
• Disneyland Paris is forced to close again
• Hong Kong Disneyland closes for a second time, and subsequently reopens
• The live-action Mulan premieres directly on Disney+ for an additional fee
• Several areas in Disney World receive a new paint job including Cinderella Castle, the Walt Disney World entrance signs, and the entrance sign to Magic Kingdom
• Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure Park reopens as an extension of Downtown Disney
• Largest expansion at Tokyo Disneyland opens
• Primeval Whirl and Rivers of Light in Disney’s Animal Kingdom are reportedly set to close permanently
• Onward premieres
• Still to occur:
  • Soul will be released directly on Disney+

The most wonderful thing is that the Disney theme parks are still evolving, more Disney movies will continue to be released, and lots more magic is on the way. Let us know what things you love most about Disney history or what things you’re most looking forward to in the future!

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what happened the year YOU were born? Let us know in the comments!

The post What Disney Event Happened the Year You Were Born? first appeared on the disney food blog.