Major Disney anniversaries to commemorate in 2025
We all love to celebrate and commemorate major anniversaries, and the Walt Disney Company always has major milestones to mark.
Pluto turns 95 this year, Daisy Duck turns 85, Disneyland will be turning 70 and next year marks the 55th 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 some rides, films, TV shows, and events marking major anniversaries. Here’s the major Disney anniversaries to look forward to in 2025.
JANUARY
January 7, 2024 – Tale of the Lion King had its final performance at Disneyland. (1st anniversary)
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. (55th anniversary)
January 11, 1930 – The first official theater-based Mickey Mouse Club begins at the Fox Dome Theater in Ocean Park, California (95th anniversary)
January 12, 1990 – International Gateway at Epcot opens. (35th anniversary)
January 13, 1930 –Mickey Mouse comic strip begins. (95th anniversary)
January 13, 1990 – The Walt Disney World Swan Hotel opens at Disney World. (35th anniversary)
January 15, 1975 – Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom opens. (50th anniversary)
January 15, 1975 – Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom opens. (50th anniversary)
January 17, 2020 – Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, and Awesome Planet films debut at EPCOT. (5th anniversary)
January 17, 2020 – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park. (5th 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. (30th anniversary)
FEBRUARY
February 7, 1940 – “Pinocchio” is released. (85th anniversary)
February 11, 2000 – “The Tigger Movie” is released. (25th anniversary)
February 15, 1950 – “Cinderella” is released. (75th anniversary)
February 23, 1935 – “The Band Concert,” the first Mickey Mouse cartoon in color, is released. (90th anniversary)
February 25, 2010 – The Wide World of Sports complex is officially renamed to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. (15th anniversary)
February 25, 2020 – Bob Chapek named Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, former CEO and Chairman Bob Iger becomes Executive Chairman. (5th anniversary)
MARCH
March 3, 1995 – Indiana Jones Adventure opens at Disneyland. (30th anniversary)
March 04, 2020 – Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. (5th anniversary )
March 5, 2010 – The live-action “Alice in Wonderland” premieres. (15th anniversary)
March 06, 2020 – “Onward” premieres. (5th anniversary)
March 15, 2005 – Crush ‘n’ Gusher, a water coaster ride, opens at Typhoon Lagoon at Disney World. (20th anniversary)
March 15, 2020 – Disneyland and Walt Disney World close due to the COVID pandemic.
March 21, 1975 – “Escape to Witch Mountain” premieres. (50th anniversary)
March 22, 1975 – Walt Disney World Village, now Disney Springs, opens. (50th anniversary)
March 23, 2000 – “Aida” opens on Broadway. (25th anniversary)
APRIL
April 1, 2015 – Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows opens. (10th anniversary)
April 1, 1995 – Blizzard Beach opens at Disney World. (30th anniversary)
April 03, 2020 – Star India’s Hotstar streaming service becomes Disney+ Hotstar. (5th anniversary)
April 7, 1995 – “A Goofy Movie” premieres. (30th anniversary)
April 18, 2015 – Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival opens at Epcot. (10th anniversary)
MAY
May 1, 2015 – “Avengers: Age of Ultron” premiers in the U.S. (10th anniversary)
May 4, 2005 – Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters opens at Disneyland. (20th anniversary)
May 5, 2024 – Smellephants on Parade opened in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. (1st anniversary)
May 5, 2005 – Soarin’ opens at Epcot. (20th anniversary)
May 5, 2005 – Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show opens at Hollywood Studios. It closed April 2, 2016. (20th anniversary)
May 15, 1995 – California Grill Restaurant opens on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. (30th anniversary)
May 19, 2000 -“Dinosaur” premiers (25th anniversary)
May 12, 1932 – Goofy makes his first appearance in “Mickey’s Revue.” (93rd anniversary)
May 24, 2024 – Dreams That Soar premiered at Disney Springs until September 2. (1st 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. (40th anniversary)
May 28, 2010 – Silly Symphony Swings soft opening at Disney California Adventure. (15th anniversary)
JUNE
June 4, 1990 – The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel opens. (35th anniversary)
June 7, 1940 – Daisy Duck makes her first appearance in “Mr. Duck Steps Out.” (85th anniversary)
June 7, 1975 – Mission to Mars opens the Magic Kingdom. It later closes on Oct. 4, 1993. (50th anniversary)
June 9, 1934 – Donald Duck makes his first appearance in “The Wise Little Hen.” (91st anniversary)
June 10, 2024 – CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza opened at EPCOT. (1st anniversary)
June 15, 2005 – Adventures by Disney runs its first trip with paying guests. (20th anniversary)
June 17, 2024 – Test Track closed at EPCOT for a refurbishment and renovation. (1st anniversary)
June 18, 2010 – “Toy Story 3” premieres. (15th anniversary)
June 19, 2015 – “Inside Out” premieres. (10th anniversary)
June 22, 1970 – The Walt Disney Archives is established. (55th anniversary)
June 22, 1955 – “Lady and the Tramp” premieres. (70th anniversary)
June 23, 2024 – Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade closed at the Magic Kingdom to make way for a new Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge. (1st anniversary)
June 23, 1995 – “Pocahontas” premieres. (30th anniversary)
June 23, 2010 – Disney announces that it will build Golden Oak, a luxury residential resort on property aimed at the highly affluent. (15th anniversary)
June 24, 1893 – Roy O. Disney is born. (132nd anniversary)
June 28, 2024 – – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened at the Magic Kingdom. (1st anniversary)
JULY
July 1, 1975 – Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at Magic Kingdom opens. (50th anniversary)
July 03, 2020 – “Hamilton” debuts on Disney+ (5th anniversary)
July 3, 1985 – Tinker Bell makes her first flight over the Magic Kingdom during fireworks. (40th anniversary)
July 11, 2020 – Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom reopen with safety protocols during the pandemic. (5th anniversary)
July 15, 2020 – EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopen with safety protocols during the pandemic. (5th anniversary)
July 15, 2005 – Turtle Talk with Crush opens at Disney California Adventure. (20th anniversary)
July 15, 1995 – The new Disney Wedding Pavilion officially opens at the Walt Disney World Resort. (30th 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. (70th anniversary)
July 17, 2015 – “Ant-Man” premieres. (10th anniversary)
July 17, 2024 – Revamped Country Bear Musical Jamboree opened in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom. (1st anniversary)
July 18, 1965 – The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opens at Disneyland. (60th anniversary)
July 24, 1985 – “The Black Cauldron” premieres. (40th anniversary)
July 29, 1950 – “Treasure Island” premieres. (75th anniversary)
July 31, 1995 – Disney agrees to purchase Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion. (30th anniversary)
July 31, 2020 – Black Is King”, a visual album written, directed, and executive produced by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, debuts on Disney+. (5th anniversary)
July 31, 1955 – Casey Jr. Circus Train opens at Disneyland. (70th anniversary)
AUGUST
August 3, 1990 – “DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp” premieres. (35th anniversary)
August 16, 1955 – Dumbo the Flying Elephant opens at Disneyland. (70th anniversary)
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 04, 2020 – “Mulan” (live-action) debuts on Disney+. (5th anniversary)
September 5, 1927 – The first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short “Trolley Troubles” is released. (98th anniversary)
September 5, 1930 – Pluto makes his first appearance in “The Chain Gang.” (95th anniversary)
September 12, 2005 – Hong Kong Disneyland opens. (20th anniversary)
September 23, 1980 – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom opens. (45th anniversary)
OCTOBER
October 1, 1971 – Walt Disney World opens. (54th anniversary)
October 1, 1982 – Epcot opens (43rd anniversary)
October 1, 1995 – Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, a Disney Vacation Club, opens in Vero Beach, Florida. (30th anniversary)
October 1, 2005 – Robert A. Iger becomes Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. (20th anniversary)
October 3, 1955 – First program of the Mickey Mouse Club television series. (70th anniversary)
October 5, 1995 – The Disneyland Hotel opens. (70th anniversary)
October 16, 1923 – Walt and Roy O. Disney found The Disney Cartoon Brothers Studio. The company eventually becomes The Walt Disney Company. (102nd anniversary)
October 25, 2024 – Hungry Bear Restaurant reopened under the name “Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree” and Ray’s Berets opened at Disneyland. (1st anniversary)
NOVEMBER
November 4, 2005 – “Chicken Little” premieres. (20th anniversary)
November 5, 1990 – Yacht and Beach Club Resorts open at Walt Disney World. (35th anniversary)
November 13, 1940 – Fantasia premieres. (85th anniversary)
November 13, 2024 – Louis’ Critter Club opened at Disneyland. (1st anniversary)
November 15, 2024 – Critter Country is renamed as Bayou Country and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened at Disneyland. (1st anniversary)
November 15, 2024 – Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season premiered at Disney California Adventure. (1st anniversary)
November 15, 2000 – The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opens. (25th anniversary)
November 16, 2015 – Star Wars Launch Bay opens at Disneyland. (10th anniversary)
November 16, 1990 – The Rescuers Down Under” premieres. (35th anniversary)
November 22, 1995 – “Toy Story” premieres. (30th anniversary)
November 24, 2010 – “Tangled” premieres. (15th anniversary)
November 24, 1995 – The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights display debuts at the Disney-MGM Studios. It later closes Jan. 6, 2016. (30th anniversary)
November 25, 2015 – “The Good Dinosaur” premieres. (10th anniversary)
November 28, 1995 – The Walt Disney World Speedway opens at the Walt Disney World Resort. It later closes in 2015. (25th anniversary)
DECEMBER
December 1, 2015 – Star Wars Launch Bay opens Hollywood Studios. (10th anniversary)
December 3, 1980 – Tokyo Disneyland groundbreaking and site dedication takes place. (45th anniversary)
December 5, 1901 – Walt Disney is born. (124th anniversary)
December 9, 2005 – “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” premieres. (20th anniversary)
December 15, 2000 – “The Emperor’s New Groove” premieres. (25th anniversary)
December 15, 1966 – Walt Disney passes away. (59th anniversary)
December 17, 2010 – “Tron: Legacy” premieres. (15th 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. (35th anniversary)
December 17, 2024 – – A new Disney Vacation Club tower called Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort opened at the Walt Disney World Resort. (1st anniversary)
December 20, 1971 – Roy O. Disney passes away. (54th anniversary)
December 21, 1960 – “Swiss Family Robinson” premieres. (65th anniversary)
December 21, 2024 – The Disney Treasure cruise ship has its maiden voyage. (1st anniversary
December 24, 1970 – “The Aristocats” premieres. (55th anniversary)
December 25, 2020 – “Soul” premieres on Disney+. (5th anniversary)