Timeline: 1971 - 1980

1971: Disney's Magic Kingdom first opened its doors on October 1st for approximately 10,000 visitors. The park opened with the following attractions: Cinderella's Golden Carousel, Country Bear Jamboree, Diamond Horseshoe Revue, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Frontier Shooting Gallery, Hall of Presidents, Haunted Mansion, It's a small world, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, Mickey Mouse Revue, Mike Fink Keel Boats, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Skyway, Snow Whites Adventure, Swiss Family Tree House, Tiki Room, Tomorrowland Speedway and the Walt Disney Railroad.
The Liberty Square Riverboat and Rivers of America opened on October 2nd; the day after the grand opening.
In 1971 adult admission cost $3.50, while a seven-ride attraction ticket book cost $4.75 and a eleven ride book $5.75.
Disney's contemporary resort, Disney's Polynesian and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground all opened this year at Walt Disney World Resort.
Walt Disney World Resort was officially dedicated on October 23rd by Roy O. Disney; Walt's Brother.
NBC aired a Disney Tv special on October 29th; Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
Two Championship Golf Courses also opened, the Palm and Magnolia.
Jack Nicklaus became the first champion at the Inagrual Walt Disney World Open Invitational.
Several other attractions also opened by the end of 1971 including Flight to the Moon and Circle Vision 360.
Roy O. Disney died December 20th 1971 and Donn Tatum became Chairman of the Board at Walt Disney Productions.

1972: If you had wings opened in tomorrowland and featured state of the art OmniMover vehicles. The Walt Disney Story also made its debut in Town Square of Magic Kingdom.

1973: The Carousel of Progress is moved from Disneyland, CA where it first opened in 1967 to the Magic Kingdom. Tom Sawyer Island debuts in Frontierland while Pirates of the Caribbean opened in adventureland's caribbean plaza.
The Golf Resort opens its doors adjacent to the Magic Kingdom.
The Walt Disney World Open Invitational changes its name to the Walt Disney World Golf Classic and the the Swan Boat ride opens in the plaza at Magic Kingdom.

1974: Star Jets, later to be known as Astro Orbiter opened in tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom along with Treasure Island, now known as Discovery Cove which was opened at the Walt Disney World Resort. The Hoop-Dee-Doo musical revue makes a debut at the Pioneer Hall in Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
The Lake Buena Vista Golf course opens at Lake Buena Vista Village.
The Disney president, Card Walker announced the plans for EPCOT.


1975: The Carousel of Progress opened in tomorrowland with a new theme song, "The best time of your life".
Astronauts Scott Carpenter, Gorden Cooper and Jim Irvin take the first ride during the grand opening of RCA's Space Mountain, while Flight to the Moon evolves into Mission to Mars in tomorrowland.
Treehouse Village, a complex of 60 vacation townhomes and The Lake Buena Vista Village, (later to be known as the Disney Village Marketplace, opened in the Walt Disney World Resort.
Attendance at the Walt Disney World was recorded at surpassing 50 million guests!

1976: River Country opens as Walt Disney World Resort's first water park at Fort Wilderness campground.

1977: The Main Street Electrical Light Parade made it debut in Magic Kingdom.

1978: Treasure Island is officially renamed Discovery Cove.

1979: With a initial budget of an enormous $600 million construction began at EPCOT.


1980: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens in Frontierland. The Mickey Mouse Revue in Fantasyland is closed and shipped to Tokyo Disneyland.