In this Sunday, July 17, 1955 file photo, children sprint across a drawbridge and into a castle that marks the entrance to Fantasyland at the opening of Walt Disney’s Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo)
Walt Disney points to a lion during a renovation at the Jungle Cruise. (Photo by Renie Bardeau/Disneyland)
1955
Disneyland debuts on July 17 with Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland and Main Street U.S.A.
Major attractions include Jungle Cruise, Autopia, Disneyland Railroad and Mark Twain Riverboat.
1956
Tom Sawyer Island opens.
The Sailing Ship Columbia makes its way around the Rivers of America as a Davy Crockett Explorer Canoe follows behind at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
1958
Columbia Sailing Ship opens.
The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Disneyland Monorail and Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, July 12, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
1959
Matterhorn Bobsleds, Disneyland Monorail and Submarine Voyage open.
Walt Disney in the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland. (Courtesy of Disneyland)
1963
Enchanted Tiki Room opens.
Visitors to the Opera House watch Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
1965
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opens.
In this Sunday, July 17, 1955 file photo, Walt Disney sits on a rock in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle in the Fantasyland section of Disneyland on opening day of the amusement theme park in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo)
1966
It’s a Small World opens.
New Orleans Square opens.
Walt Disney dies on Dec. 15.
The PeopleMover, top, traverses over the Motor Boat Cruise and the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail in this historic photo. (Photo courtesy of the Disneyland Resort)
1967
Pirates of the Caribbean opens.
Tomorrowland 2.0 expansion debuts with the PeopleMover, Adventure Thru Inner Space, Carousel of Progress and “America the Beautiful” in CircleVision 360.
Club 33 opens.
Haunted Mansion Holiday during Halloween Time at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, September 3, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
1969
Haunted Mansion opens.
1971
Disneyland reaches 100 million visitors.
Elliot the Dragon travels down Main Street U.S.A for the Main Street Electrical Parade during the Return of the Spectaculars event at Disneyland in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
1972
Bear Country theme land with Country Bear Jamboree replaces the Indian Village.
Main Street Electrical Parade debuts.
Construction of Space Mountain at Disneyland before the 1977 debut of the space-themed indoor roller coaster. (Courtesy of Disney)
1977
Space Mountain opens.
Disney cast members Terry Prince, left, and Linda Calderon ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad during a special preview for employees in 2014. (Photo by Bruce Chambers, Orange County Register)
1979
Big Thunder Mountain opens.
1981
Disneyland reaches 200 million visitors.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant at Fantasyland inside Disneyland at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, in 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
1983
Remodeled Fantasyland debuts with the new Pinocchio’s Daring Journey.
Disney
Then Disney CEO Michael Eisner and Star Wars creator George Lucas used a Star Wars lightsaber for the Star Tours ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 9, 1987 as Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse looked on while wearing rainbow-colored space suits. (Courtesy of Disney)
1987
Star Tours opens.
1988
Bear Country themed land becomes Critter Country.
Riders from the first virtual queue group react head down the falls on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a log flume ride based on Disney’s 2009 film The Princess and the Frog. The ride used to be the Splash Mountain attraction themed to Disney’s 1946 film Song of the South. ..(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
1989
Splash Mountain opens.
Disneyland reaches 300 million visitors.
Tom Sawyer Island is lit up during Fantasmic at Disneyland in Anaheim in 2017. (File photo by Jeff Gritchen)
1992
“Fantasmic” water show debuts.
1993
Mickey’s Toontown opens.
1994
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin opens.
This Indiana Jones-themed adventure, which opened in 1995, takes riders into an ancient, cursed temple in India. (Courtesy of Disney Resorts)
1995
Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye opens.
1997
Disneyland reaches 400 million visitors.
The Rocket Rods attraction took over the PoepleMover track as part of the New Tomorrowland in 1998 at Disneyland. (File photo by Michael Kitada, Orange County Register/SCNG)
1998
Tomorrowland 3.0 opens with Rocket Rods, “Honey I Shrunk the Audience” 3D film and Innoventions.
2000
The 10,250-space Mickey and Friends parking structure opens.
The California Screamin’ rollercoaster rides steel tracks over the midway in Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2001
Disney California Adventure, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Downtown Disney open.
Major attractions include Grizzly River Run, California Screamin’ and Soarin’ Over California.
Visitors ride Flik’s Flyers in A Bug’s Land at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim on Tuesday, Mar 20, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2002
A Bug’s Land themed land opens at Disney California Adventure.
2004
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror open.
Disneyland reaches 500 million visitors.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Oct 18, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2005
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters opens.
Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue at Hollywood Land inside California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, in 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2006
Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue replaces Superstar Limo at Disney California Adventure.
Pirate’s Lair is added to Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2007
Disney announces a $1.1 billion plan to fix Disney California Adventure over a five-year period after a dismal start.
Rethemed Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opens after the attraction sat closed for 9 years.
Riders play Toy Story Midway Mania inside California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2008
Toy Story Midway Mania opens.
Disneyland Monorail Mark VII trains debut at Disneyland.
It’s a Small World inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2009
It’s a Small World adds 29 Disney and Pixar characters at Disneyland.
World of Color Happiness! inside California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
2010
“World of Color” water show debuts.
Star Tours at Tomorrowland inside Disneyland at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, in 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2011
Little Mermaid — Ariel’s Undersea Adventure replaces Golden Dreams at DCA.
Star Tours is updated with new randomized scenes.
Goofy’s Sky School roller coaster replaces Mulholland Madness at DCA.
The passage from Pacific Wharf to Cars Land inside Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Anaheim, CA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2012
Cars Land opens with Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi’s Flying Tires and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree.
Buena Vista Street makeover of DCA entrance debuts with Red Car Trolley.
The rethemed Hollywood Land replaces Hollywood Pictures Backlot.
The Paint the Night Parade travels past It’s a Small World at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
2015
Paint the Night parade debuts at Disneyland.
Grizzly Peak Airfield themed land replaces Condor Flats.
Soarin’ Around the World replaces Soarin’ Over California.
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout towers over A Bug’s Land at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2017
Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout replaced Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Jessie’s Critter Carousel at Pixar Pier inside California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, in 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2018
The Pixar Pier themed land with the reimagined Incredicoaster and the Paradise Gardens dining area replaces Paradise Pier.
Stormtroopers stand guard on the flight deck of a Star Destroyer during Rise of the Resistance at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge themed land opens with Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run motion simulator ride.
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and Jessie’s Critter Carousel open in Pixar Pier.
The 6,500-space Pixar Pals parking structure opens.
A First Order guard stands on a Star Destroyer during Rise of the Resistance at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2020
Rise of the Resistance dark ride opens in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
COVID-19 pandemic closes Disneyland and Disney California Adventure along with every Disney park around the world.
A quintet sits atop a Avengers Headquarters next to Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout! at Avengers Campus inside Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, CA, on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2021
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure reopen after a 412-day pandemic closure.
Avengers Campus themed land opens with Web Slingers.
Jules Salazar-Ayers, 4, visits with Goofy and Pete at Mickey’s Toontown inside Disneyland Park in Anaheim, CA, on Saturday, March 18, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2023
Mickey’s Toontown makeover debuts with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
“Wondrous Journeys” fireworks show debuts at Disneyland.
San Fransokyo Square replaces the Pacific Wharf food court.
Bing Bong, from the movie Inside Out, will be available for guests at the Pixar Place Hotel in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2024
$1.9 billion DisneylandForward plan is approved by the city of Anaheim, laying out long-term plans for theme park, retail and parking expansion.
Disney announces plans to invest $30 billion in theme parks worldwide over the next decade.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure replaces Splash Mountain in the rethemed Bayou Country themed land.
Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel transforms into Pixar Place Hotel.
Disneyland announces plans for a Mandalorian and Grogu makeover coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in May 2026.
The Paint the Night parade rolls down Main Street as part of Disneyland’s 60th anniversary celebration in 2015. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2025
“Walt Disney — A Magical Life” with the first audio-animatronic of Walt Disney is set to open July 17.
Construction has started on Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab attractions in Avengers Campus.
Disneyland announces plans to start construction on Coco boat ride in Pixar Pier.
Plans to transform a portion of the Hollywood Backlot area in DCA’s Hollywood Land into an Avatar destination experience are announced.
Disneyland announces plans to build a 6,000-space parking garage, pedestrian bridge and transportation hub beginning in 2026 on the east side of the Disneyland resort.
