Major Disney anniversaries to commemorate in 2020

We all love to celebrate and commemorate major anniversaries, and with the Walt Disney Company turning 97 years old in 2020, there will be a lot of milestones to mark.

Pluto turns 90 this year, Daisy Duck turns 80, Disneyland will be turning 65 and next year marks the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Preview Center opening, showing all what the new park will look like when it opens in 1971.

In addition, there are a number of rides, films, TV shows and events marking major anniversaries. Here’s what coming in 2020.

JANUARY

January 10, 1970 – The Walt Disney World Preview Center opens. The building contains artist renderings, a film and a 625 square foot model of the park that is scheduled to open in 1971. (50th anniversary)

January 11, 1930 – The first official theater-based Mickey Mouse Club begins at the Fox Dome Theater in Ocean Park, California (90th anniversary)

January 12, 1990 – International Gateway at Epcot opens. (30th anniversary)

January 13, 1930 -Mickey Mouse comic strip begins. (90th anniversary)

January 13, 1990 – The Walt Disney World Swan Hotel opens at Disney World. (30th anniversary)

January 15, 1975 – Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom opens. (45th anniversary)

January 15, 1975 – Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom opens. (45th anniversary)

January 21, 1995 – The Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable opens in The Land pavilion at Epcot in Disney World. It replaced Symbiosis and closed Feb. 3, 2018. (25th anniversary)

FEBRUARY

February 7, 1940 – “Pinocchio” is released. (80th anniversary)

February 11, 2000 – “The Tigger Movie” is released. (20th anniversary)

February 15, 1950 – “Cinderella” is released. (70th anniversary)

February 23, 1935 – “The Band Concert,” the first Mickey Mouse cartoon in color, is released. (85th anniversary)

February 25, 2010 – The Wide World of Sports complex is officially renamed to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. (10th anniversary)

MARCH

March 3, 1995 – Indiana Jones Adventure opens at Disneyland. (25th anniversary) 

March 5, 2010 – The live-action “Alice in Wonderland” premieres. (10th anniversary)

March 15, 2005 – Crush ‘n’ Gusher, a water coaster ride, opens at Typhoon Lagoon at Disney World. (15th anniversary)

March 21, 1975 – “Escape to Witch Mountain” premieres. (45th anniversary)

March 22, 1975 – Walt Disney World Village, now Disney Springs, opens. (45th anniversary)

March 23, 2000 – “Aida” opens on Broadway. (20th anniversary)

APRIL

April 1, 2015 – Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows opens. (5th anniversary)

April 1, 1995 – Blizzard Beach opens at Disney World. (25th anniversary)

April 7, 1995 – “A Goofy Movie” premieres. (25th anniversary)

April 18, 2015 – Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival opens at Epcot. (5th anniversary)

MAY 

May 1, 2015 – “Avengers: Age of Ultron” premiers in the U.S. (5th anniversary)

May 4, 2005 – Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters opens at Disneyland. (15th anniversary)

May 5, 2005 – Soarin’ opens at Epcot. (15th anniversary)

May 5, 2005 – Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show opens at Hollywood Studios. It closed April 2, 2016. (15th anniversary)

May 15, 1995 – California Grill Restaurant opens on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. (25th anniversary)

May 19, 2000 -“Dinosaur” premiers (20th anniversary)

May 12, 1932 – Goofy makes his first appearance in “Mickey’s Revue.” (88th anniversary)

May 27, 1985 – President Ronald Reagan visits Epcot for a special parade which includes the high school bands that could not perform at his inaugural parade in January because of frigid weather. (35th anniversary)

May 28, 2010 – Silly Symphony Swings soft opening at Disney California Adventure. (10th anniversary)

JUNE

June 4, 1990 – The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel opens. (30th anniversary)

 June 7, 1940 –  Daisy Duck makes her first appearance in “Mr. Duck Steps Out.” (80th anniversary)

June 7, 1975 –  Mission to Mars opens the Magic Kingdom. It later closes on Oct. 4, 1993.

June 9, 1934 – Donald Duck makes his first appearance in “The Wise Little Hen.” (86th anniversary) 

June 15, 2005 – Adventures by Disney runs its first trip with paying guests. (15th anniversary)

June 18, 2010 – “Toy Story 3” premieres. (10th anniversary)

June 19, 2015 – “Inside Out” premieres. (5th anniversary)

June 22, 1970 – The Walt Disney Archives is established. (50th anniversary)

June 22, 1955 – “Lady and the Tramp” premieres. (65th anniversary)

June 23, 1995 – “Pocahontas” premieres. (25th anniversary)

June 23, 2010 – Disney announces that it will build Golden Oak, a luxury residential resort on property aimed at the highly affluent. (10th anniversary)

June 24, 1893 – Roy O. Disney is born. (127th anniversary)

JULY

July 1, 1975 – Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at Magic Kingdom  opens. (45th anniversary)

July 3, 1985 – Tinker Bell makes her first flight over the Magic Kingdom during fireworks. (35th anniversary)

July 15, 2005 – Turtle Talk with Crush opens at Disney California Adventure. (15th anniversary)

July 15, 1995 – The new Disney Wedding Pavilion officially opens at the Walt Disney World Resort. (25th anniversary)

July 17, 1955 – Disneyland opens, including the following attractions – Autopia, Disneyland Band, Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station, Jungle Cruise, King Arthur Carrousel, Mad Tea Party, Main Street Cinema, Mark Twain Riverboat, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Peter Pan’s Flight, Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Storybook Land Canal Boats. (65th anniversary)

July 17, 2015 – “Ant-Man” premieres. (5th anniversary)

July 18, 1965 – The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opens at Disneyland. (55th anniversary)

July 24, 1985 – “The Black Cauldron” premieres. (35th anniversary)

July 29, 1950 – “Treasure Island” premieres. (70th anniversary)

July 31, 1995 – Disney agrees to purchase Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion. (25th anniversary)

July 31, 1955 – Casey Jr. Circus Train opens at Disneyland. (65th anniversary)

AUGUST

August 3, 1990 – “DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp” premieres. (30th anniversary)

August 16, 1955 – Dumbo the Flying Elephant opens at Disneyland. (65th anniversary)

SEPTEMBER

September 5, 1927 – The first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short “Trolley Troubles” is released. (93rd anniversary)

September 5, 1930 – Pluto makes his first appearance in “The Chain Gang.” (90th anniversary)

September 12, 2005 – Hong Kong Disneyland opens. (15th anniversary)

September 23, 1980 –  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom opens. (40th anniversary)

OCTOBER

October 1, 1971 – Walt Disney World opens. (49th anniversary)

October 1, 1982 – Epcot opens (38th anniversary)

October 1, 1995 – Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, a Disney Vacation Club, opens in Vero Beach, Florida. (25th anniversary)

October 1, 2005 – Robert A. Iger becomes Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. (15th anniversary)

October 3, 1955 – First program of the Mickey Mouse Club television series. (65th anniversary)

October 5, 1995 – The Disneyland Hotel opens. (65th anniversary)

October 16, 1923 – Walt and Roy O. Disney found The Disney Cartoon Brothers Studio. The company eventually becomes The Walt Disney Company. (97th anniversary)

NOVEMBER

November 4, 2005 – “Chicken Little” premieres. (15th anniversary)

November 5, 1990 – Yacht and Beach Club Resorts open at Walt Disney World. (30th anniversary)

November 13, 1940 – Fantasia premieres. (80th anniversary)

November 15, 2000 – The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opens. (20th anniversary)

November 16, 2015 – Star Wars Launch Bay opens at Disneyland. (5th anniversary)

November 16, 1990 – The Rescuers Down Under” premieres. (30th anniversary)

November 22, 1995 – “Toy Story” premieres. (25th anniversary)  

November 24, 2010 – “Tangled” premieres. (10th anniversary)

November 24, 1995 – The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights display debuts at the Disney-MGM Studios. It later closes Jan. 6, 2016. (25th anniversary)

November 25, 2015 – “The Good Dinosaur” premieres. (5th anniversary)

November 28, 1995 – The Walt Disney World Speedway opens at the Walt Disney World Resort. It later closes in 2015. (20th anniversary)

DECEMBER

 December 1, 2015 – Star Wars Launch Bay opens Hollywood Studios. (5th anniversary)

December 3, 1980 – Tokyo Disneyland groundbreaking and site dedication takes place. (40th anniversary)

December 5, 1901 – Walt Disney is born. (119th anniversary)

December 9, 2005 – “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” premieres. (15th anniversary)

December 15, 2000 – “The Emperor’s New Groove” premieres. (20th anniversary)

December 15, 1966 – Walt Disney passes away. (54th anniversary)

December 17, 2010 – “Tron: Legacy” premieres. (10th anniversary)

December 17, 1990 – Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure at Hollywood Studios opens and then closes April 2, 2016, to make way for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. (30th anniversary)

December 20, 1971 – Roy O. Disney passes away. (49th anniversary)

December 21, 1960 – “Swiss Family Robinson” premieres. (60th anniversary)

December 24, 1970 – “The Aristocats” premieres. (50th anniversary)