Disney World Magical Moments Timeline

1971
Walt Disney World opens on October 1st!!!! It included the Magic Kingdom; Polynesian Resort; Contemporary Resort; Fort Wilderness; and the Palm and Magnolia Golf Courses open.

1972
Carousel of Progress and If You Had Wings (now known as Take Flight) opens in the Magic Kingdom.

1973
Pirates of the Caribbean, Plaza Swan Boats, Richard F. Irvin River Boats, The Walt Disney Story, and Tom Sawyer Island open in Magic Kingdom; Golf Resort (now known as Shades of Green) opens.

1974
Star Jets (now known as Astro Orbiter) opens in Magic Kingdom; Treasure Island (now known as Discovery Island) opens; Lake Buena Vista Golf Course opens; Pioneer Hall Dinner Theatre in Fort Wilderness opens.

1975
Space Mountain and WEDway People-Mover (now known as Tommorrowland Transit Authority) opens in Magic Kingdom; Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village (now known as Village Marketplace) opens it doors.

1976
River Country opens; America on Parade runs through the Magic Kingdom.

1977
Empress Lilly Riverboat (now known as Fulton's Crab House) docks at Villiage Marketplace; Main Street Electrical Parade debuts in Magic Kingdom

1978
Treasure Island renamed Discovery Island.

1980
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens in Magic Kingdom and the Mickey Mouse Revue moves to Tokyo Disneyland.

1981
October 1st marks 10th anniversary!

1982
Epcot opens on October 1st!!!

1983
Journey Into Imagination, New World Fantasy Show, Horizons, and Epcot Outreach & Teachers Center open in Epcot.

1984
Morocco pavilion opens in Epcot; American Journeys opens in Magic Kingdom.

1986
Captain EO and the Living Seas open in Epcot.

1988
Wonders of Life, Norway and IllumiNations open in Epcot; Grand Floridian and Caribbean Beach Resorts open.

1989
Disney-MGM Studios opens!!! Mickey's Starland opens in Magic Kingdom; Body Wars, Dream Flight and Cranium Command open in Epcot; Typhoon Lagoon opens; Pleasure Island opens.

1990
Star Tours and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience Movie Set Adventure opens at Disney-MGM Studios; Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts open; Swan and Dolphin Resort opens.

1991
SpectroMagic replaces Main Street Electrical Parade in Magic Kingdom; Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3-D and Beauty & the Beast Stage Show opens in Disney-MGM Studios; Port Orleans Resort opens.

1992
Splash Mountain opens in Magic Kingdom; Voyage of The Little Mermaid opens in Disney-MGM Studios; Disney's Old Key West and Dixie Landings Resorts open; Osprey Ridge & Eagle Pines Golf Courses open for business.

1993
The Hall of Presidents and Carousel of Progress change in Magic Kingdom; The American Adventure in Epcot changes; Backlot Theater opens in Disney-MGM Studios.

1994
Legend of the Lion King and The Timekeeper opens and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea closes in Magic Kingdom; Innoventions replaces Communicore, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience replaces Captain EO, Food Rocks replaces Kitchen Kabaret; and The Circle of Life replaces Symbiosis in Epcot; The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens in Disney-MGM Studios; Blizzard Beach opens; All-Star Sports and Music Resorts open; Wilderness Lodge Resort opens; Planet Hollywood opens.

1995
Alien Encounter opens in Magic Kingdom; Disney's Wedding Pavilion opens; Walt Disney World Speedway races open.

1996
25th Anniversary celebration includes Remember the Magic Parade and Illuminations 25! Mickey's Toontown Fair replaces Starland in Magic Kingdom; Ellen's Energy Adventure opens in Epcot; Backstage Pass to 101 Dalmations and Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame-A Musical Adventure opens in Disney-MGM Studios; Disney Institute opens; Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf opens; Celebration formed; BoardWalk opens; Rainforest Cafe opens in Disney Village Marketplace; Dream Flight renamed Take Flight.

1997
Test Track opens in Epcot; Disney's Wide World of Sports opens; Coronado Springs Resort opens.

1998
Disney's Animal Kingdom opens!!! Downtown Disney West Side opens; Disney Cruise Line sets sail!!! Rainforest Cafe opens in Animal Kingdom; Bet Soundstage Club replaces Neon Armadillo Music Saloon and a Country Club replaces Fireworks Factory on Pleasure Island; DisneyQuest opens in Downtown Disney West Side and Cirque du Soleil expected to open in the fall; Copperfield Magic Underground expected to open in fall in Disney-MGM Studios.

1999
Disney's Animal Kingdom opens the land of Asia; All-Star Movie Resort opens in January.

2000
Disney's Winter Summerland Minature Golf opens at WDW; in Magic Kingdom at Fantasyland, new ride the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opens and in Tomorrowland, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin opens; at Disney MGM Studios, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster opens.

2001
Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge opens; Near Animal Kingdom the new Animal Kingdom Lodge opened; Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It! opens in Disney-MGM Studios; Magic Carpets of Aladdin opens in Magic Kingdom.

2002
Magic Kingdom - Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin ride and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride are new attractions.

2003
Mission: Space replaces Horizons pavillion in Epcot's Future World.

2004
The best is yet to come!