Magic Kingdom

“Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney… and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place… a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn — together.”

-Roy Oliver Disney, October 25, 1971

History

1971-1972: The Early Days

The Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, to a crowd of 10,000 visitors. Attractions open that day were:

Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel
Country Bear Jamboree
Diamond Horseshoe Revue
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Frontierland Shooting Gallery
Hall Of Presidents
Haunted Mansion
It’s A Small World
Jungle Cruise
The Mad Tea Party
Mickey Mouse Revue
Audio-Animatronics
Mike Fink Keel Boats
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Skyway to Tomorrowland
Skyway to Fantasyland
Snow White’s Adventures
Swiss Damily Treehouse
Tropical Serenade
Grand Prix Raceway
The Walt Disney World Railway

On the rest of 1971 other attractions opened:

Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat
Peter Pan’s Flight
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Flight to the Moon
Electrical Pageant Water Parade
America the Beautiful

All of those attractions were divided into six lands:

In 1972 the If You Had Wings attraction opened in Tomorrowland. And on the park’s first aniversary 10.7 million guests had passed through it’s gates.

1973-1974: Something New

On 1973 many new
attraction that later turned into timeless classics:

The Walt Disney Story
Tom Sawyer Island
Tom Sawyer Island Rafts
Plaza Swan Boats
Richard F. Irvine Riverboat
Pirates of the Caribbean

On 1974 America the Beautiful closed and the next day it reopened with a new film, Magic Carpet ‘Round the World which after a year closed and America the Beautiful reappeared. Star Jets opened on Tomorrowland. By the end of 1974 the park’s popularity was so that on December 29, a record 74,597 day-guests passed through the gates and for the first time in history, closed due to over-capacity.

1975: Liftoff for Tomorrowland

On January 1975 long-awaited Space Mountain opened in Tomorrowland. After some time, when travelling to the Moon lost it’s Mystique, Flight to the Moon became Mission to Mars. On June, America on Parade opened to honor the American Bicentennial. The classic Carousel of Progress was moved from Disneyland to Magic Kingdom.

1976-1981: Main Street Milestones

Although 1976 was quiet in terms of new attractions, the Magic Kingdom hit a milestone when Susan Brummer passed through the gates as the park’s 50,000,000 th visitor. On June 1977 the Main Street Electrical Parade premiered. The period from 1978 to 1981 was quiet at the Magic Kingdom as a second gate, EPCOT Center broke ground in preparation for an October 1, 1982 opening. Mickey Mouse Revue closed on September 1980, followed by the retirement of the Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat. But big news came on November with the opening of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. A Dream Called EPCOT film began showing at the EPCOT Preview Center in Magic Kindiom, generating excitement for the new park. 1981 focused on Magic Kingdom’s 10 Year Aniversary. The stage show Disney World Is Your World opened and the Tencennial Parade started running. Disney World welcomed its 126,000,000 th guest during the tencennial celebrations.

1982-1983: The Quiet Years

Most of Walt Disney World’s energy was focused on EPCOT Center through 1982 and 1983. The Plaza Swan Boats no longer swam the park’s island watersas of August 1983. The Magic Kingdom edured more quiet years.

1984: A New Boss

A change of power occured on 1984. Michael Eisner became the new chairman and chief executive officer. On July 1984 the Show Biz Is show opened only to close two months later. America the Beautiful was replace by American Journeys while on the other end of the park, Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade opened.

1985-1987: More Development but not at Magic Kingdom

After the upheaval of 1984 it would takeanother four years before any new development occurred on the Magic Kingdom. Time and Money were used to open the third gate at Walt Disney World. The $300 million “Hollywood that Never Was and Always Will Be” was opened as Disney MGM Studios. Merlin’s Magic Shop was closed at the Magic Kingdom and the Diamond Horseshoe Revue was Renamed the Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree. If You Had Wings was renamed If You Could Fly. Magic Journeys the first 3-D attraction in the park debuted.

1988-1990: Junior Jamboree

In honor to Mickey’s 40 th aniversary, a temporary land, Mickey’s Birthdayland opened. The area consisted of Mickey’s House, Grandma Duck’s Petting Farm, Mickey’s Playground and three circus-style tents opened with character meet-and-greets and two live shows includin Minnie’s Surprise Birthday Party. One of the prime attractions was a cow living at the petting farm named Minnie Moo, born with the classic tri-circle Mickey head on her side. On January 1989 If You Could Fly closed, being replaced with Delta Dreamflight. Due to it’s enormous popularity, Mickey’s Birthdayland was kept and renamed Mickey’s Starland.

1991-1993: Parades and a Big Splash

On September 1991 the popular Main Street Electrical Parade. It was replaced on october by the amazing SpectroMagic. The Surprise Celebration Parade ran each afternon since September. It had been 12 years since the Magic Kingdom welcomed a major attraction. In 1992 Splash Mountain opened. The Walt Disney Story closed on October 1992 followed by Mission to Mars. The Hall of Presidents underwent a refurbishment. On December Magic Journeys closed. A month later American Journeys closed followed by Surprise Celebration Parade and Star Jets.

1994: The City of the Future

In 1994 Tomorrowland needed and got a mayor refurbishment. It had begun to look dated so the Imagineers gave it a general design creating a City of the Future.In the process the WEDway PeopleMover adopted the name, Tomorrowland Transit Authority. The attraction 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea closed.

1994-1995: Drama And Comedy

On 1994 The Legend of the Lion King opened at the Mickey Mouse Revue theater. On November the Timekeeper opened with the movie From Time To Time in Tomorrowland. The Penny Arcade and the House of Magic Closed on 1995. Star Jets reopened as Astro Orbiter. On June, 1995 the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter opened giving a slight of Terror to the Magic Kingdom.

1996-1997: Goofy For More

Mickey’s Starland, now called Mickey’s Toontown Fair, enjoyed an expansion in June 1996 adding the Toontown Hall of Fame and kiddie coaster The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm which replaced Grandma Duck’s Petting Farm. The Grand Prix Raceway’s Track was shortened to make room for Toontown attractions. It was later replaced by Tomorrowland Speedway. On the other side of the park the Richard F. Irvine riverboat was renamed the Liberty Belle. On 1997 King Stephan’s Banquet Hall was renamed Cinderella’s Royal Table.

1998-1999: Silver Aniversary Stunner

On 1998 the Mike Fink Keel Boats was closed. Cinderella Castle was turned into a giant cake during Walt Disney World’s 25th Aniversary. After the enormously popular movies, Aladdin, The Lion King and Toy Story, the Tiki Roomreopened as The Enchanted Tiki Room-Under New Management with Aladdin’s Iago and The Lion King’s Zazu as hosts. The brand new Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin became one of the most poular attractions. Sadly on Septemer 1998 a Disney Classic, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride closed. On June 199 Mr. Toad handed the title deed to Winnie the Pooh and his friends when The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh opened.

2000-2002: New Millenium, New Shows
2001 added new entertainment to the park. This included: Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration, Share a Dream Come True Parade, the return of SpectroMagic parade and on Adventureland The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. On October 1 Disney’s 100 Years of Magic
Celebration began, honoring the aniversary of Walt Disney’s Birth.

2003-2004: More Mickey and Friends

The 3-D Movie Mickey’s PhilharMagic took over the Legend of the Lion King in2003 a year after it closed. The incredible Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams firework show lit up the sky for the first time on October 2003. And some days later The EtraTERRORastrial Alien Encounter closed. Its replacement arrived more than a year later with the scary but friendly Stitch’s Great Escape.

2005-Present: Movie Makeovers

Disney could not ignore the 2003 blockbuster movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl so in the 2007, the attraction Pirates of the Caribbean included Jack Sparrow. Then in Tomorrowland the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor opened to give a laugh for the Magic Kingdom Visitors.The Haunted Mansion was refurbished to pleas modern audiences. Even though the last years have been Quiet at the Magic Kingdom it is still a magical place for young and old.