Tokyo DisneySea opened in Japan in 2001 with a concept unlike any Disney park before it. Instead of building around familiar Disney lands/themes, Imagineers created a park inspired by the myths, legends and romance of the ocean.

In 1983, Tokyo Disneyland opened as Disney’s first park outside the United States. Rather than simply copying Disneyland or Walt Disney World, Imagineers adapted it for Japan (including enclosing their Main Street area as World Bazaar) to take into account the local climate.

While visiting Switzerland, Walt Disney saw the Matterhorn and immediately envisioned it at Disneyland. Shortly after his trip, the attraction opened as the Matterhorn Bobsleds. This attraction would be the first tubular steel roller coaster and an instant classic for Disneyland.

IllumiNations debuted at EPCOT in 1988 as a groundbreaking nighttime spectacular. Combining fountains, lasers, lighting, fireworks and projections, it transformed World Showcase Lagoon into one of Disney’s most ambitious stages.

Cinémagique opened at Walt Disney Studios Paris in 2002, taking guests on a journey through a century of cinema. The ground breaking theatrical attraction mixed live action, film clips and Disney style storytelling before closing in 2017.

The Disney Magic began a new chapter for Disney vacations in 1998 as Disney Cruise Line’s first ship. Disney designed the vessel to blend the look of a classic ocean liner with the storytelling and details expected inside a Disney park, which revolutionized the cruise industry.

Expedition Everest opened to guests in 2006 with Disney’s most ambitious animatronic yet. The original Audio-Animatronic was designed to move with enormous force, but technical/engineering problems ultimately changed how guests experience the figure today, in the famous “B-mode”.

The original Test Track was supposed to open to guests in 1997. Instead, construction and delays pushed its grand opening back two years to 1999. The original attraction sent guests through extreme tests before launching them outside at up to 65 mph, similar to today.

When Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort opened in 1988, Walt Disney World introduced a new level of resort luxury. Its Victorian architecture, massive lobby and waterfront setting quickly made it one of the resort’s signature hotels.

Disney-MGM Studios opened to guests in 1989, but the idea began as something smaller, a movie themed pavilion planned for EPCOT. What started as an attraction concept grew into a groundbreaking theme park. This piece of art was created by Disney Legend, Joe Rohde.

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, moved to Disneyland in 1967, then arrived at Walt Disney World in 1975. Few attractions have followed such a remarkable journey or remained part of the parks for so long.

River Country opened in 1976 as Walt Disney World’s first water park. Designed like an old fashioned swimming hole, its slides and pools used filtered Bay Lake water, adding to an experience unlike any of Disney’s water parks.

Horizons opened at EPCOT in 1983 with an unusual idea, guests could choose how their journey into the future ended. By voting for the Desert, Space, or Under the Ocean, you would decide which future you wanted to see.

Walt Disney World Speedway (1995-2015) The “Mickyard” was a 1-mile tri-oval racetrack built by Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp for $6 million with an initial capacity of 51k seats. It hosted races from 1996-2000 and was most recently used as the Richard Petty Driving Experience

Epcot Center Construction Preview I just love this sign. It is so unique and would have only been seen very rarely. I find it amazing that it was captured on film to be preserved for eternity. Also....... no pets. (From the collection of @TomKMorris)

Tapestry of Nations (later named Tapestry of Dreams) was a parade at Epcot that was performed through World Showcase from 1999-2003. Even though the parade only ran until 2003 you could still hear the iconic music after each performance of Illuminations until 2019.

Walt Disney inspecting some of the finished animatronic figures for the newly finished African Veldt Jungle Cruise scene at Disneyland in 1964. So nice of Walt to help protect that zebra while he sleeps from that curious pride of lions.

Aerial view of Disney’s River Country at Walt Disney World (1976-2001) River Country was Walt Disney World’s first water park and was located on Bay Lake and near Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds.

Mickey’s Country House as seen at Mickey’s ToonTown Fair in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

A “guard booth” as seen at Disney-MGM Studios when walking from the Chinese Theater towards the ABC Commissary. This was always a personal favorite detail of mine as it really gave an “on the lot” feel. I especially enjoyed being able to look into the booth and enjoy the details