History of Magic Kingdom in Timeline
Magic Kingdom Park, inaugurated on October 1, 1971, is a renowned theme park situated within the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. Operated by The Walt Disney Company, the park's official name has undergone minor revisions over time, originally known as Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom (1971-1994) and later simplified to The Magic Kingdom (1994-2017). Inspired by the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California, Magic Kingdom, envisioned by Walt Disney and designed by WED Enterprises, immerses visitors in a world of fairy tales and beloved Disney characters.
1943: Musical Inspiration for Main Street
The soundtrack on Main Street includes selections from the 1943 Broadway musical "Oklahoma!".
1957: Musical Influence on Main Street
The music played at the entrance to Main Street incorporates selections from the 1957 Broadway musical "The Music Man".
1960: Swiss Family Treehouse Opening
Swiss Family Treehouse, inspired by the 1960 film "Swiss Family Robinson," opened in Adventureland.
1966: Walt Disney's Passing
Walt Disney, heavily involved in planning Walt Disney World, passed away in 1966 before realizing his vision for the park.
1967: Construction Begins
Following Walt Disney's death, his brother Roy oversaw the project, and construction on Magic Kingdom and the resort began in 1967, envisioned as a grander version of Disneyland.
October 1, 1971: Magic Kingdom Opening
On October 1, 1971, Magic Kingdom Park opened at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida.
October 25, 1971: Roy O. Disney
This date marks a significant event in Magic Kingdom's history, likely related to Roy O. Disney, Walt's brother who oversaw the park's completion.
1982: Epcot Monorail Opens
In 1982, a spur monorail line connecting the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) to Epcot was added upon the park's opening.
1988: Mickey's Birthdayland Opens
Mickey's Birthdayland, later transformed into Mickey's Toontown Fair, debuted in 1988 to commemorate Mickey Mouse's 60th birthday.
1992: The Magic Carpets of Aladdin Debut
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, a ride based on the 1992 animated film, was added to Adventureland.
1994: Name Change to Magic Kingdom Park
In 1994, to distinguish it from Disneyland, the park was officially renamed Magic Kingdom Park.
September 11, 2001: Closure Due to 9/11 Attacks
On September 11, 2001, Magic Kingdom closed for the first time due to a non-hurricane event, in response to the terrorist attacks.
2009: Inspiration for Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Tiana's Bayou Adventure, a log flume ride, draws inspiration from the 2009 animated film "The Princess and the Frog".
February 11, 2011: Mickey's Toontown Fair Closes
On February 11, 2011, Mickey's Toontown Fair closed to make way for the Storybook Circus area.
February 12, 2011: Mickey's Toontown Fair Closure
On February 12, 2011, Mickey's Toontown Fair closed to make way for the expansion of Fantasyland.
2012: Introduction of Alcohol at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Be Our Guest Restaurant, which opened in 2012, became the first location in Magic Kingdom to sell wine and beer.
2012: "Magic Kingdom" Film Announced
Jon Favreau announced his plans for a film called "Magic Kingdom", envisioned as a "Night at the Museum at Disneyland" concept, in 2012.
December 2014: Expansion of Alcohol Sales
In December 2014, alcohol sales expanded to four additional restaurants in Magic Kingdom: Cinderella's Royal Table, Liberty Tree Tavern, Tony's Town Square Restaurant, and the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen.
2014: The Giggle Gang Ends
In 2014, The Giggle Gang, a streetmosphere circus act that was part of Storybook Circus, ended its two-year run.
2018: Alcohol Sales at All Table Service Restaurants
In 2018, Magic Kingdom became the second Magic Kingdom-style park, after Disneyland Paris, to offer alcohol at all table service restaurants.
March 15, 2020: Closure Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Magic Kingdom closed on March 15, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 11, 2020: Reopening After COVID-19 Closure
After a closure due to the pandemic, Magic Kingdom reopened on July 11, 2020.
2021: "Magic Kingdom" Television Series Announced
In 2021, a television series inspired by the "Magic Kingdom" concept was announced for Disney+, with Ronald D. Moore at the helm, exploring the lands as gateways to other worlds.
2023: Most Visited Theme Park
In 2023, Magic Kingdom hosted 17.72 million visitors, becoming the most visited theme park globally for the seventeenth consecutive year and North America for at least the past twenty-three.
2024: Planned Expansion Announcement
In early 2024, Disney announced plans for a 12-to-14-acre expansion of Magic Kingdom, located beyond Big Thunder Mountain.
