This Day in Disney History- January 1
Welcome back, and let me be the 8000th person to wish you a happy New Year! Today we are are looking at the events on this day in Disney history- January 1!
January 1st was a huge day in Disney history, with the opening of a new Disney Vacation Club resort, the closure of an EPCOT Center pavilion, and also the opening of a new Adventureland attraction! Let’s get into it!
Fantasyland Autopia Opens (1959)
Firstly, on this day in 1959, The Fantasyland Autopia opened at Disneyland.
Formally known as the Junior Autopia, this version of the attraction ran until 2000, when Disneyland’s two Autopia attractions were merged into a larger Tomorrowland track.
Walt Disney Serves as Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade (1966)
On this in 1966 Walt Disney served as the Grand Marshal in the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Walt and Mickey Mouse rode together in a white Chrysler Imperial.
Main Street Electrical Parade is Performed at the Orange Bowl (1978)
On this day in 1978, Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade was performed at the halftime show of the Orange Bowl.
It was one of the rare times a Disney parade was performed outside of the theme parks.
Symbiosis (1995)
On this day in 1995, Symbiosis closed in The Land pavilion.
The last of The Land’s original attractions, Symbiosis was replaced a few weeks later by Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable.
Delta Ends Sponsorship of Dreamflight (1996)
On this day in 1996, Delta Airlines discontinued its sponsorship of Disney World’s Delta Dreamflight.
The attraction would subsequently be renamed Take Flight, and all references to Delta were removed.
Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats Opens (1997)
On this day in 1997, Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats opened in the Magic Kingdom.
Located near the Jungle Cruise, this extra-charge attraction allowed guests to pilot their own small boat through an obstacle course. The attraction finally closed in 2012.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Villas Open (2001)
On this day in 2001, The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opened.
The newest Disney Vacation Club Resort, the lodges were inspired by turn-of-the-century National Park lodges.
Wonders of Life Closes (2007)
On this day in 2007, the Wonders of Life pavilion permanently closed.
The pavilion originally opened in October 1989 in EPCOT Center’s Future World. The gold domed pavilion housed the popular attractions Body Wars and Cranium Command in addition to The Making of Me and Goofy About Health.
Disney in the Stars Ends (2018)
Finally, on this day in 2018, Disney in the Stars was performed for the final time.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s nightly firework performance, Disney in the Stars’ end occurred subsequently with the closure of the park’s Sleeping Beauty Castle for renovation.
That’s all for this day in Disney history- January 1! So, be sure to come back tomorrow to see what happens next!