Last updated: 12/31/18

Looking for a specific Disney historical date? Look no further. Here are more than you will ever need to know!

Here is what I was able to dig up about the history of Disney so far. As always, I will be adding more and updating these periodically as I find new stuff. Be sure to check back regularly.

Important Dates in Disney History

Important Disney Company Dates

Year of the founding of The Walt Disney Company: 1923
When was Walt Disney born? December 5, 1901
When did Walt Disney die? December 15, 1966
When did Roy Disney die? December 20,1971
Year that Radio Disney was launched in: 1996
Year that the first Disney Store opened: 1987

Important Disney Parks Dates

What year did Disneyland open: 1955
What year did Disney World open: 1971
Year that Epcot was announced: 1978
What year did Epcot open: 1982
What year did Disneyland Paris open: 1992 (as Euro Disney Resort)
When did Euro Disney become Disneyland Paris: 1995
What year did Hong Kong Disneyland open: 2005
What year did Tokyo Disney Resort open: 1983
Year that Tokyo DisneySea opened: 2001
Year Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa opened: August 29, 2011
When did Shanghai Disney Resort break ground? 2011
What year did Shanghai Disney Resort open? 2016
When did the Disneyland Monorail open? June 14, 1959
Original run of Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland: June 17, 1972-November 25, 1996
Date the Main Street Electrical Parade returned to Disneyland: January 20, 2017
Year the Disneyland Hotel opened: 1955
Year Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel opened: 2000
Year that Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: 2001
Year that Disney California Adventure Park opened: 2001
Cars Land opening at Disney California Adventure: June 2012
Year that Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opened in Disneyland: 1963
Year that New Orleans Square opened at Disneyland: 1966
Year that It’s a Small World opened at Disneyland: 1966
Year that Space Mountain opened at Disneyland: 1977
Date that Star Tours opened in Disneyland: January 9, 1987
Year that Disneyland started using Disney Dollars: 1987
Year that Downtown Disney opened at Disneyland Resort: 2001
When was Walt Disney World announced? November 15, 1965
Year that the Reedy Creek Improvement District was created: 1967
Year that Space Mountain opened at Disney World: 1975
Year that the PeopleMover at Disney World opened: 1975
Year that Disney’s Hollywood Studios was announced: 1985
When did Disney’s Hollywood Studios open? Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened on May 1, 1989 as Disney-MGM Studios
When did Disney’s Animal Kingdom open? Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened on April 22, 1998
When did Blizzard Beach open? Disney’s Blizzard Beach opened on April 1, 1995
When did Typhoon Lagoon open? Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon opened on June 1, 1989
When did Disney Springs open? Disney Springs opened on March 22, 1975 (as Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village)
Year that Discovery Island opened at Disney World: 1974 (as Treasure Island)
Year that Discovery Island closed at Disney World: 1999
Year that River Country opened at Disney World: 1976
Year that River Country closed at Disney World: 2001
Year that the Polynesian Resort opened at Disney World: 1971
Year that the Contemporary Resort opened at Disney World: 1971
Year that Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground: 1971
Year that Disney World’s Grand Floridian opened: 1988
Year that Disney World’s Caribbean Beach Resort opened: 1988
Year that Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts opened: 1990
Year that Disney’s Yacht Club resort opened: 1990
Year that Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter opened: 1991
Year that Disney’s Old Key West Resort opened: 1991
Year that Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside opened: 1992
Year that Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opened: 1994
Year that Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort opened: 1994
Year that Disney’s All-Star Music Resort opened: 1994
Year that Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Boardwalk Villas opened: 1996
Year that Disney’s Coronado Springs resort opened: 1997
Year that Disney’s All-Star Movies resort opened: 1999
Year that Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House) opened: 2001
Year that Disney’s Beach Club Villas opened: 2002
Year that Disney’s Pop Century resort opened: 2003
Year that Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort opened: 2004
Year that Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas (Kidani) opened: 2007
Year that Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary opened: 2009
Year that the Treehouse Villas opened: 2009
Year that Disney’s Art of Animation opened: 2012
Year that the Disney World monorail was extended to Epcot: 1982
Years that Fantasyland in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom was overhauled and expanded: 2012-2014
Year that Downtown Disney at Disney World was relaunched as Disney Springs: 2016
First year the Disney World Marathon was run: 1994
Year the Disney Vacation Club launched: 1991
Year that the Disney Cruise Line launched: 1998