July 16

2011 – The first lesser Flamingo born at Animal Kingdom is welcomed to the Happiest Place on Earth.  He started his journey as an egg which was fitting laid under the Tree of Life.

    July 17

1955 – 28, 000 guests, celebrities, and politicians celebrate the beginning of Disney’s theme park empire with the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California.   The parks opening ceremonies are covered live on ABC.

1965 – Walt address some early issues in Disneyland’s creation:

“A lot of people didn’t believe in what we were doing… my brother had the worries of getting this money and fighting the bankers and things… but we ran out of money… a lot of people don’t realize that we had some very serious problems here, keeping this going… getting it started… But at this time, ten years after opening, I want to join my brother in saying ‘Thanks to you people who have been here with us, and have been part of making this thing come across.” -Walt Disney

1980 – The 25th anniversary of Disneyland is celebrated with a 25 hour party.

1996 – Disney announces the California Adventure theme park

2002 -An electrical fire in the early morning at Epcot, forces the park to be closed for the day

2005 – 15 year-old Madison Steigerwald of Connecticut becomes the first person to enter Disneyland on the parks 50th anniversary.  Diane Disney-Miller re-reads her father’s dedication speech.  Later in the day, the film of Walt Disney reading the dedication speech is shown on screens around the park

     July 18

1955 – 22 year-old Dave McPherson of Long Beach is the first paying guest to enter Disneyland.  For his $1 admission he is rewarded with lifetime passes for himself, and 3 guest to Disneyland and eventually Disney World and Disneyland Paris.  Lifetime passes were also issued to Michael Schwartner, 7, and Kristine Vess, 5.  The two cousins were the first paying children to enter the park.  Walt posses for a picture with them.

1965 -Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln officially opens to the public in the Opera House on Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland.

1989 – A Disney parks classic, Splash Mountain opens at Disney World.  The ride swipes some inspiration from Song of The South

     July 19

1989 – Walt’s Nine Old Men are inducted as Disney Legends.  Ub Iworks shares the honor with them.

2011 – Lightning McQueen joins the cast of Lights, Motor, Action!

     July 20

1985 – Disney World welcomes 7 year-old Virgil Waytes, Jr as it’s 200, 000, 000 guest.  He receives a lifetime pass.

     July 21

1954 – Construction officially begins on Disneyland.  The hyper-speed builders will have the park open in less then a year.

     July 22

1994 – Tower of Terror opens at the then-named Disney-MGM Studios.