September 12, 1986 –
Walt Disney World
Captain EO, an
all-new 3-D fantasy sci-fi musical movie attraction opens at EPCOT. The film,
directed by Francis Ford Coppola, stars Michael Jackson, and was produced by George
Lucas. Set in the future in a far off
galaxy, the 17-minute film tells the story of Captain EO and his ragtag crew of
space travelers, and features an eclectic cast of characters, including other
notable actors and actresses, including Dick Shawn and Angelica Huston. EPCOT
is the first Disney park to present the film – it will open at Disneyland in California just 6 days later, and
later followed by Tokyo Disneyland in 1987).
September 12, 2005
- Hong Kong Disneyland
After nearly 6 years of planning, preparation and
construction, Hong Kong Disneyland
debuts. It is the company’s 5th
vacation resort, and the 11th Disney theme park in the world. The park was closely modeled after the
original Disneyland in Anaheim, CA which opened 50 years (and 2 months)
earlier. In honor of the original Magic
Kingdom, Hong Kong Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle was built to match the
Anaheim original. The theme park and its’
adjoining hotels, retail, dining and entertainment facilities stretch out over
310 acres on Lantau Island – and the park features the largest Adventureland of
any Magic Kingdom park around the globe.
