Chronology of Disneyland Theme Park

Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson
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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.


1960

January 21
  • Disney releases the live-action short film Gala Day at Disneyland to theaters. [23] [85.349] [228.201] [1300.183]
February 10
  • The Stage Coach attraction ceases operations in Frontierland at Disneyland. [1300.393] (February 1, 1956 [501.520])
February 17
  • The Satellite View of America exhibit at Disneyland closes. [501.515] [1300.389]
March
  • The film America the Beautiful opens in the Circarama, U.S.A theater in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [26.26] [228.21,93]
April
  • The Electric Cars attraction begins operation on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. [9] [26]
May 28
  • The Western Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland attraction opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. The attraction cost US$1.8 million to build. It includes early technology leading to Audio-Animatronics, with 200 mechanical moving animals. [9] [20] [4] [26.26] [228.332] [939.71] [1300.298,349] (Grand Opening June 12 [328.288])
  • The Art of Animation display opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [26.26] [1300.52] [1378.43]
June 3
  • The Puffin Bakery shop in Disneyland closes. [228.403] [1300.346]
June 10
  • The Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules ride at Disneyland re-opens as Pack Mules Through Nature's Wonderland. [9] [26.26] [225.110] [228.378] [1235.20] [1300.297]
June 15
  • The Hallmark card shop opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [228.225] [1300.198]
June
  • Walt Disney Productions buys ABC's one-third interest in Disneyland for US$7.5 million, and is released from their TV contract. ABC cancels Zorro and The Mickey Mouse Club. [48.286] [267.206] [328.222] [426.74] [1102.569] (1957 [238.205])
(month unknown)
  • Disneyland welcomes its 20 millionth guest. [26.26]
  • The first Parade of Toys is held in Disneyland. [26.26]
  • Walt Disney Productions buys the Western Printing and Lithography share of Disneyland (13.79%). [267.207] [328.222]
  • Roy Disney buys out Walt Disney's 17.25% share of Disneyland for Walt Disney Productions. [267.207]
  • Disneyland, Inc. becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walt Disney Productions. [328.222] [426.74]

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  • The Fire-Wagon horse-drawn Main Street vehicle ceases operating at Disneyland. [228.186]
  • The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway company renews its contract with Disney for a second five-year term, paying US$75,000 in the first three years, then US$100,000 for the last two years, to have its name and logo carried on the Disneyland railroad system. [328.274]
July
  • The Hall of Aluminum Fame attraction at Disneyland closes. [1300.198] (Aluminum Hall of Fame [228.20])
July 31
  • The Sunkist Citrus House shop opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [501.530] [1300.403]
August 31
  • The Bathroom of Tomorrow exhibit at Disneyland closes. [1378.160] (August 30 [1300.68])
September
  • Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev is refused entry to Disneyland, due to security concerns. [4] [19] (1959 [228.273])
October 1
  • The Dixieland at Disneyland evening concert show is first held at Disneyland, at the Rivers of American in Fontierland. [756.42] [1300.145]
November 27
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, entitled Moochie of Pop Warner Football: From Ticonderoga to Disneyland. Walt Disney gives a cameo appearance in this show. [228.339] [370.395]
December
  • The Skull Rock and Pirate's Cove are completed around the Pirate Ship Restaurant in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [939.90] [1300.374]
December 18
  • The Christmas in Many Lands parade begins this season's performances at Disneyland. [421.42]

1961

March 27
  • The Snow White Wishing Well and Grotto opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.26] [501.509] [1300.382]
April 10
  • The Monorail is temporarily shut down for extension to the Disneyland Hotel. [1300.291]
April 19
  • Disneyland welcomes its 25-millionth guest, Dr. Glenn C. Franklin. [228.134] [910.27]
May 28
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring Disneyland '61 and Olympic Elk. [228.137] [370.396]
June 1
  • The Disneyland Monorail re-opens, extended to the Disneyland Hotel, crossing over West Street. This extends the line from 0.8 to 2.5 miles. A third train is added. All engines are replaced by Mark II versions. [9] [23] [29] [267.254] [328.298] [757.37] [1300.291]
June 15
  • The first Disneyland Grad Nite Party is held. About 8500 students attend from 28 Los Angeles schools, the largest high school graduation party ever in the US. [228.214] [757.37] [1300.192] [1364.77]
(month unknown)
  • Dick Nunis becomes director of Operations for Disneyland. [228.363] [409.2]
  • Marc Davis retires from animation work, and switches to designing Disneyland park attractions. [259.72]
  • Disneyland welcomes its 24 millionth guest. [26.26]
  • Tinker Bell makes her debut at Disneyland. The part is performed by Tiny Kline, a 71-year old circus aerialist from Europe. [4] [26.26] [450.109]
  • The Submarine Voyage attraction at Disneyland is updated with new animation. [501.529]
August 6
  • The Flying Saucers ride opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [4] [26.26] [193.16] [228.189] [245.92] [757.37] [1300.173] (Flying Saucer Ride [910.36])
September
  • The Holidayland picnic area at Disneyland closes. [228.237] [1300.209]
  • Don DeFore's Silver Banjo Barbecue food facility at Disneyland closes. [228.143] [1300.146]
September 30
  • Louis Armstrong performs at Disneyland for the first time, for the second Dixieland at Disneyland show. [228.29] [756.42]
December 17
  • The Babes in Toyland exhibit opens at the Opera House on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. It shows sets from the movie of the same name. [9] [4] [26] [1300.61] [1378.52]
December
  • A 24-foot Christmas star is added to the top of the Matterhorn Mountain in Disneyland. [4]

1962

January 8
  • The Chicken Plantation Restaurant in Frontierland at Disneyland closes, and is torn down to make way for New Orleans Square. [1378.132]
January
  • The Aunt Jemima's Pancake House in Disneyland closes temporarily for remodelling. [1300.61] [1378.48]
  • The Main Street Shooting Gallery in Disneyland closes. [1300.260]
April 14
  • The Spring Fling night-time event is first held at Disneyland. For a single entrance fee, guests have unlimited use of all rides. [501.519] [1300.393]
April 15
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Disneyland After Dark. The show marks the network TV debut of the Osmond Brothers. [232.50] [228.134] [370.396]
June 8
  • McDonnell Douglas begins sponsorship of the Rocket to the Moon attraction at Disneyland. The Moonliner rocket is repainted. [501.474] [1300.293]
June 9
  • The KTTV TV station in Los Angeles, California, begins airing the weekly series Meet Me at Disneyland. [228.316]
June
  • The Tahitian Terrace restaurant opens in Adventureland at Disneyland. [4] [26.57] [501.537] [1300.406]
  • The Big Game Safari Shooting Gallery attraction opens in Adventureland at Disneyland. [9] [26.26]
(month unknown)
  • Disney releases the live-action film Disneyland After Dark to theaters in England. [23] [85.350,360]
  • The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland is expanded with a bathing pool of Audio-Animatronics Indian elephants. [4] [26.26] [228.269]
  • At Disneyland, the Frontierland Station is moved across the railroad tracks, to make room for more attractions. [328.268]
  • The Plaza Pavilion Restaurant in Disneyland is renamed Stouffer's In Disneyland Plaza Pavillion. [1300.337]
July 4
  • The Indian Trading Post shop opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [228.254] [1300.214]
July 17
  • The Aunt Jemima's Kitchen restaurant opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. Former name was Aunt Jemima's Pancake House. [1300.61] [1378.48]
September 8
  • The KTTV TV station in Los Angeles, California, airs the last of the weekly series Meet Me at Disneyland. [228.316] [1300.137]
September 28
  • The third annual Dixieland at Disneyland show is held. [756.42]
November 18
  • The Swiss Family Treehouse attraction opens in Adventureland at Disneyland. The opening ceremony is hosted by Walt Disney, with Hayley Mills, John Mills, Kevin Corcoran. The sixty foot tall artificial tree has 300,000 bright red vinyl leaves. (The leaves soon fade, and are replaced by green ones.) [9] [4] [26.26] [910.29] [939.62] [1300.403] ("Tree House" [501.534])
December
  • The Mineral Hall shop at Disneyland closes. [1300.286] (1963 [228.333])
December 23
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Holiday Time at Disneyland. [228.236] [370.397]

1963

January
  • The Color Gallery exhibit in Disneyland closes. [1300.314]
June 23
  • The Enchanted Tiki Room attraction opens in Adventureland at Disneyland. This is the first attraction with sophisticated Audio-Animatronic figures, 225 of them. [9] [19] [22] [23] [26.26] [48.307] [228.164] [242.22] [246.91] [650.22] [757.37] [939.140] [1300.154]
(month unknown)
  • Disney releases the film Disneyland After Dark to theaters in the US. [85.350]
  • Topiary plants first appear at Disneyland. [26.161]
  • United Artists releases the film 40 Pounds of Trouble to theaters. Some scenes were filmed at Disneyland. [325.88]
September 30
  • The Babes in Toyland exhibit at Disneyland closes. [1300.61] [1378.52]
November 22
  • Following the assassination of US President John Kennedy, Disneyland is closed for the rest of the day. [1300.157]

1964

February
  • Thirty-six Disneyland cast members create an "official certificate of membership in the Order of the Red Handkerchief". Eligible members are those who had operated the Mine Train Thru Rainbow Caverns. 256 cast members become members. [328.293]
February 22
  • The Below Decks Museum attraction opens on the Sailing Ship Columbia attraction in Frontierland at Disneyland. [9] [26.26] [1300.367] [1378.147]
March
  • The Ruggles China and Glass House shop opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [501.478] [1300.365]
May
  • The first death in Disneyland is recorded. 15-year old Mark Maples stands up while on the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride, and is catapulted out. He dies four days after the incident. [163] [450.170]
May 17
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair. [226.93] [228.135] [370.397]
(month unknown)
  • The first edition of Walt Disney's Disneyland souvenir book is published. [19]
  • The Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland is expanded with a trapped safari and African veldt region. [228.269]
  • A three-masted windjammer is added to Disneyland's Frontierland. [4]
  • United Airlines begins sponsoring the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction at Disneyland. [228.164]
  • John Hench creates a sketch of a proposed new thrill attraction for Disneyland's Tomorrowland, called Space Port. (It later becomes Space Mountain.) [226.21]
  • The Autopia in Tomorrowland at Disneyland is redesigned. [1378.49]
  • The name of the Mickey Mouse Club Theater in Disneyland is changed to Fantasyland Theater. [228.323] [939.88] [1300.280]
August 7
  • The Astro-Jets ride at Disneyland is renamed Tomorrowland Jets. [1300.54]
September 25
  • The fifth annual Dixieland at Disneyland show is held. [756.42]
November 8
  • The name of the Circarama theater in Disneyland is changed to Circle-Vision. [1300.106]
(month unknown)
  • The Christmas in Many Lands parade is held at Disneyland for the last time. [1378.135]

1965

January 1
  • The first Miss Disneyland begins serving: Julie Reihm of Texas, Disneyland tour guide. [1300.288] [1378.26]
January 3
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Disneyland's 10th Anniversary. [228.137] [370.397] [1073.87]
March
  • The Fashions and Fabrics Through the Ages show debuts at Disneyland, sponsored by Monsanto. [1300.165]
July 18
  • The Plaza Inn restaurant opens on the hub at Disneyland. It was formerly the Red Wagon Inn. [26.53] [228.390] [1300.352]
  • The Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction opens in the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland. [9] [4] [19] [26.45] [228.217] [757.38] [939.29] [1300.195]
August 12
  • Disneyland welcomes its 50-millionth guest, Mary Adams. [228.134]
(month unknown)
  • The Fantasy on Parade Christmas parade debuts at Disneyland. [26.26] [228.174]
December
  • The Fashions and Fabrics Through the Ages show at Disneyland closes. [1300.165]

End of 1960-1965. Next: 1966.

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1952-1955 1956-1959 1960-1965 1966-1974 1975-1984 1985-1989 1990-1999 2000-end


A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/disland/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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