Since the Tencennial (Part Two)

This a continuation of a previous post looking at changes since the first 10 years of Walt Disney World. Specifically, we are looking at milestones reported in the Fall 1991 issue of Disney News magazine which was celebrating Walt Disney World's Tencennial.

1975:

• The Lake Buena Vista shopping village opened with 29 shops and four restaurants.
  • This area has expanded into the Downtown Disney area, separated into the Marketplace, Pleasure Island, and West Side. It houses more than 30 shops, 16 eateries, and other entertainment venues.
• Mission to Mars and Star Jets open in Tomorrowland.
  • Mission to Mars has gone through various changes and now houses Stitch's Great Escape. Star Jets was re-themed into a retro-futuristic design and re-named to Astro Orbitor in 1994 when the new Tomorrowland opened.
• Daily performances of America on Parade celebrate the nation's bicentennial.
• The Hall of Presidents opens.
  • While this was reported in Disney News as opening in 1975, it actually was an opening day attraction at the Magic Kingdom in 1971.
  • Many changes were made to this attraction in 1993. The script was re-written and narrated by a new voice. The incumbent president began to deliver a speech. President Lincoln's speech was updated.

1976:

• River Country at the Fort Wilderness Campground opens.
  • This water park was closed in 2001 after its more-successful counterparts, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, opened in 1989 and 1995, respectively.
• The Magic Kingdom welcomes its 50-millionth guest.

1977:

• The Empress Lilly riverboat is dedicated. It was home to three restaurants and a lounge.
  • Today Fulton's Crab House is located in the riverboat.
• The Main Street Electrical Parade makes its debut at Walt Disney World.
  • The parade had been running since 1992 at Disneyland. The Orlando version made a concurrent run until 1991 when it was replaced by SpectroMagic. It then moved on to Disneyland Paris. In 1999, the Disneyland version was refurbished and brought to Walt Disney World where it ran until 2001. The parade has since been moved back to California and runs at Disney's California Adventure park.

1978:

• Daily parades are held to celebrate Mickey Mouse's 50th birthday.
• The Magic Kingdom sets a one-year attendance record with over 14 million guests.

1979:

• Ground breaking begins for EPCOT Center.
• The Magic Kingdom welcomes its 100-millionth visitor.

1980:

• The Lake Buena Vista Conference Center and 136 Club Lake Villas open.
  • The villas became the housing portion of the Disney Institute when it opened in 1992. They were closed in 2003 and demolished to make way for the Saratoga Springs Resort.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad makes its debut.

1981:

• Walt Disney World celebrates its Tencennial.