Celebrating the Decades:

 !975-1984......


1975...

March... Six years after the first man walked on the moon, Flight to the Moon in Tomorrowland becomes Mission to Mars, sending Guests on a trilling expedition to the next frontiuer.

June..."America on Parade," part of a 15-month salute to the United States Bicentennial and the 20th anniversary of Disneyland, premiers with 50 floats and 150 performers. "Fantasy in the Sky" lights up the sky with red, white and blue fireworks.

 "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" returns the Main Street Opera House, becoming a featured element in The Walt Disney Story.

1976...

January...The Mickey Mouse Club Reunion brings together the original Mouseketeers to celebrate the club's 20th anniversary with a parade and TV show in Fantasyland Theater.

December...The Jungle Cruise adds seven new scenes and 31 new Audio-Animatronics figures.

1977...

May... Four Mercury Program astronauts take part in the official opening ceremonies of Space Mountain, a high-speed race through spave in Tomorrowland.

The SuperSpeed Tunnel is added to the PeopleMover, while Starcade provides fyturistic arcade fun. New entertainment and dining options include the Space Stage and The Space Place restayrant.

December...The new "Very Merry Christmas Parade" brings holiday cheer, featuring traditional Christmas themes and Disney characters.

1978...

June...Updates to the Matterhorn Bobsleds add more show scenes, including and ice cavern, glowing ice crystals and the Abominable Snowman, along with a new ride system featuring tandem bobsleds.

July... The Disneyland Hotel unveils the 13-story Bonita Tower, Anaheim's tallest structure and the first hotel in the U.S. with solar heating system.

November...Disneyland is the focal point for Mickey Mouse's 50th Birthday Celebration with special shows, parades and a party with Mouseketeers from the original Mickey mouse Club TV show.


1979...

September...The wildest ride in the wilderness Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, debuts, sending Guests aboard a runaway mine train through exhilarating scenes of dark caverns, a spooky abandoned mine shaft, and so many twists and turns that Guests are advised to "hold on to your hats and glasses."


1980...

January...Disneyland begins a yearlong Silver Anniversary celebration with a pre-parade show at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses on New Year's Day, followed by a 25-hour party at Disneyland from midnight July 17 to 1a.m. July 18. New entertainment offerings include "Disneyland is Your Land," a show featuring Disney characters, and the "Disneyland 25th Birthday Parade" with more than 250 performers.

 Other special events this year include; Contempo `80, Honor America Weekend, Festival Canada, Nite of Joy, Make believe Ballroom, Country Jubilee, Senior Fun Days, Cowboy Fever Weekend, Mouseedays, Bluegrass & Folk Festival, Top 40 Night and Celebrate the Lands weekends.


1981...


June...Updates are made to the Storybook Land Canal Boats; many of the original 1956 miniature buildings and scenery details are replaced with more durable replicas.

12-12-81 was my first day as a new Cast member, Mark Twain was my first attraction.


1982...


April...Children  are invited to follow clues to find Easter Eggs with hidden prizes during the inaugural Thumper's Easter Egg Hunt.


June...A  single passport allowing admission to all attractions and performances replaces the A, B, C, D, and E attraction coupons.


November...Mickey's Month introduced as an annual celebration of Micky Mouse's birthday, complete with free gifts for Guests and special events like a Mouseketeer Reunion and "Micky's Birthday Parade."

1983...

May...After 20 months of renovations, a new version of Fantasyland debuts with attraction facades themed to the locale and era of the films represented in the area, instead of previous medieval tournament tents. Classics like Snow White's Scary Adventures and Peter Pan's Flight remain, and a new adventure, Pinocchio's Daring  Journey, is added. Village Inn Restaurant, themed after, "Pinocchio," opens and is later renamed Village Haus Restaurant.

June...In the summertime "Flights of Fantasy Parade," colorful air-filled figures bring to life scenes from beloved animated films above rolling stages, dancers and Disney characters.

1984... January  25...My first Daughter, Kimberly is born. Would later go on to be an attraction hostess for "it's a small world" (trainer), Matterhorn Bobsleds and parades.

February / March...Olympic Night at Disneyland raises $600,000 for U.S. Olympic Team for Summer Olympics in Los Angeles , and includes a patriotic parade and an enormous Olympic logo-with fireworks-suspended from a helicopter. During the games, the park hosts thousands of athletes, dignitaries and news media from 140 nations.

April...The final addition to an updated Fantasyland, a newly remodeled Alice in Wonderland pulls Guests down the rabbit hole once again. Kathryn Beaumont, who provided the voice of Alice in the 1951 film, narrates tracks for the attraction.

June...Magic Journeys makes its West Coast premiere at the Space Stage in Tomorrowland.  The popular film showcases a fanciful 3-D adventure through a child's imagination, including a moonscape and a high-flying circus act.

Disneyland celebrates Donald Duck's 50th birthday with a parade, bands, singers and dancers in Town Square, the grand culmination of a 15-city tour across the country.


November...Country Bear Christmas Special debuts in Bear Country at Disneyland. The new show features the original cast of the Country Bear Jamboree in a holiday romp of favorite Yuletide songs. This is the first time an Audio-Animatronics attraction is reprogrammed to create a completely new experience.


so cool...Dr Lee