The Decade That Changed Walt Disney World…Forever

The late 1980s through the 1990s was revolutionary for The Walt Disney Company. This period ushered in the former CEO Michael Eisner, who, together with Frank Wells, changed the entire company.

This time is often called the Disney Decade and the Disney Renaissance. But what exactly was the Disney Decade? Let’s dig in!

The Disney Decade (Overview)

Many describe the Disney Decade beginning with the release of The Little Mermaid (1989). It marked the end of a rough few decades for the iconic company.

Following the success of The Little Mermaid, Disney continued to produce a series of critically acclaimed and commercially successful animated films. These include Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), The Lion King (1994), and Pocahontas (1995).

Many consider the “Disney Decade” to have ended with Tarzan (1999), while others claim it started to taper off earlier. Nevertheless, Disney was setting records, making tons of money, and expanding into various other industries.

The Disney Decade also included the acquisition of ABC and ESPN and the birth of the Disney Channel (including its many shows).

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Other significant elements of the Disney Decade include the company beginning its working relationship with Pixar (which it later acquired after Eisner left), partnerships with Miramax, the creation of the Disney Store, and the debut of Disney Cruise Line.

This period also saw the creation of Euro Disney (now Disneyland Paris), the California Adventure Park in Anaheim, and the birth of the Disney Vacation Club.

Related: Is It Worth It? 3 Reasons to Travel to Disney World as a Californian

However, some other significant changes came to Walt Disney World Resort.

The Disney Decade at Walt Disney World Resort

When the Disney Decade began, EPCOT had just opened its doors. There were no other plans to build a third or fourth theme park in Florida. The construction of EPCOT already stretched the company’s budget (which is why many countries and original attractions never came to fruition).

Three significant changes came to Walt Disney World Resort during these transformative years under Michael Eisner: Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and the inclusion of new thrill rides at the current parks.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Originally named Disney-MGM Studios, this film-themed park opened in 1989 to rival Universal Studios Orlando. It started as a concept of making an entertainment pavilion at EPCOT to show how movies were made.

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However, the idea expanded more and more, and when Disney leaders learned Universal Studios was building a new park in the area, they decided to push ahead with a new third gate.

Its initial attractions included The Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, Backstage Studio Tour, and the Magic of Disney Animation.

Related: The Great Movie Ride – Whatever Happened To Its Props And Costumes?

Although most of those attractions and the original movie-making theme have been removed, many elements are still around today.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Some may argue that this theme park’s opening date may not be part of the “Disney Decade.” But even if that were true, the development and concept were part of it.

It opened in 1998, adding the fourth theme park to the Walt Disney World Resort. Although a Walt Disney World vacation had been a multi-day vacation before, the fourth theme park made it a requirement.

Thrill Attractions

One of Michael Eisner’s goals with the Walt Disney World Resort is to make it more appealing to teens and adults. Of course, this required a delicate balance to maintain the family-friendly brand and audience.

The 1990s saw many thrill rides added to places such as Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, and Disney-MGM Studios.

In Magic Kingdom Park, Splash Mountain was introduced. It helped add a little thrill to the park while keeping the Disney feel with dark ride elements and an exterior that blends into the skyline.

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Magic Kingdom also saw the addition of the controversial ExtraTERRORestial Alien Encounter. It was a very adult-friendly attraction that terrified an entire generation of kids by simulating an escaped alien attacking guests.

Related: The Dark History Behind Disney World’s Most Controversial Ride

During this time, Disney introduced Test Track at EPCOT – the theme park’s first thrill ride.

The Disney Decade also ushered in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Similar to the other big thrills introduced during this time, these were themed to the idea of Hollywood and intended to draw in younger crowds.

Other Additions

Although they weren’t thrill rides, this decade also brought us Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Fantasmic!, and Honey I Shrunk the Audience (now gone), Blizzard Beach, and the Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf.

Could There Be Another ‘Disney Decade’?

There were also many failed proposals that happened during this time as well. By some standards, Euro Disney and California Adventure parks were failures that the company had to go back and fix.

But there were also other unsuccessful aspects, such as Disney’s America, WestCOT, and Port Disney. However, most Disney fans and cast members will cite this period as the best moment of Disney’s greatest. Even if there were certain failures, the company was still willing to take risks, push the envelope, and focus on the experience of its fans.

So, will we ever see another Disney Decade like the former one? Maybe.

But not in the near future… and likely not with its current CEO Bob Iger.