Magic Kingdom – Walt Disney World’s only theme park at the time — opened on October 1, 1971, launching 23 opening day attractions alongside two official Disney hotels.
Original 1971 Resorts
Only two Disney resort hotels were welcoming guests on October 1: Disney’s Contemporary Resort (then known as the Contemporary Resort-Hotel) and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (then known as the Polynesian Village Resort).
The monorail was open and rides were free. It had four stops: TTTC, Magic Kingdom, the Polynesian and the Contemporary. Here’s a 1971 postcard showing the monorail (on the back, it calls it the “highway in the sky”).
Both resorts Walt Disney World offered the kind of amenities and dining that attracted celebrities like John Lennon and national figures, like President Nixon and Henry Kissinger.
At the Contemporary Resort, rooms cost between $25 and $44 a night.
The Top of the World restaurant on the 15th floor featured dinner shows with a live orchestra. Entertainers performed there for two-week stints, including Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Avalon and Diahann Carroll, among others. The signature dishes included prime rib roasted in rock salt for $7.50 and Cherries Jubilee flambéed tableside. Where Chef Mickey’s is today, the Grand Canyon Terrace Restaurant was a fine dining restaurant serving continental cuisine, including Oysters Casino appetizer ($2.25) and Chateaubriand with bearnaise sauce.
At the Polynesian Village Resort, the Papeete Bay Verandah featured South Pacific-themed buffets, roast suckling pig, and tropical cocktails served in carved coconut shells for $3.50 to $5.00.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground wasn’t open on opening day but it did open later on November 19, 1971.
Opening Day Dress Code
When Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, people dressed up to go to theme parks. Disney World has guidelines for apparel today, but in 1971, they were even more strict. In 1971, many boys and men started growing their hair long and were called “hippies.” Some got suspended from school because of the length of their hair. You might be surprised to learn that in 1971 (according to the New York Times), men and boys with long hair or people who were dressed like “hippies” were turned away at the gate.
Magic Kingdom Attractions
Main Street, U.S.A.
- Walt Disney World Railroad – round-trip transport around the park aboard the original locomotives: Walter E. Disney, Lilly Belle, and Roger E. Broggie.
- Main Street Vehicles, including the horse-drawn Trams, Fire Engine, Omnibus, Jitney, Horseless Carriage. You could ride with a ticket in 1971.
- Main Street Cinema – screening classic silent films and early Mickey shorts. Today, there is a tiny screen airing videos in the gift shop.
Adventureland
- Jungle Cruise
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- Tropical Serenade (now known as Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room)
Frontierland
- Country Bear Jamboree (a brand-new attraction made specifically for Florida that became an instant hit). Refurbished, but still around!
- Frontierland Shootin’ Gallery. It was closed in 2024.
- Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes. Closed in 1994.
Liberty Square
- The Haunted Mansion
- The Hall of Presidents
Fantasyland
- “it’s a small world”
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Mad Tea Party
- Cinderella’s Golden Carousel (now known as Prince Charming Regal Carousel)
- Snow White’s Adventures (Later renamed Snow White’s Scary Adventures). This ride was closed in 2012.
Tomorrowland
- Grand Prix Raceway (now known as Tomorrowland Speedway)
- Skyway to Fantasyland (these suspended gondolas were a little like the Skyliner we have today). These were closed in 1999.
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Photo Credit: passport2dreams.blogspot.com
Notable Attractions That Opened Later in October
A few classic rides missed October 1 by just a few days or weeks, but they were open by the Grand Opening Celebration on October 23.
- Liberty Square Riverboat: Opened October 2, 1971. Closed in 2025.
- Peter Pan’s Flight: Opened October 3, 1971
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Opened October 14, 1971 (20 minute ride with underwater scenes of mermaids and sea life). Closed in 1994.
Ticket Prices Then and Now
An adult ticket to Walt Disney World today on October 1 costs $202. But on opening day, Walt Disney World had a different pricing system.
In 1971, guest admission followed a “pay-as-you-go” coupon book system inherited from Disneyland. You purchased a base admission ticket to enter the park, then redeemed individual lettered coupons (A through E) for attractions.
| Ticket Type | Price (1971) | Inflation Adjusted (2026 Value) | What It Included |
| General Admission | $3.50 | ~$28.00 | Park entry only (Adult). |
| 7-Adventure Book | $4.75 | ~$38.00 | Admission + 7 ride coupons. |
| 11-Adventure Book | $5.75 | ~$46.00 | Admission + 11 ride coupons. |
- A & B Coupons ($0.10–$0.25): Main Street Vehicles, Main Street Cinema.
- C & D Coupons ($0.40–$0.60): Dumbo, Mad Tea Party, Swiss Family Treehouse.
- E-Tickets ($0.75–$0.90): For top tier rides, like Jungle Cruise, The Haunted Mansion, Country Bear Jamboree and The Hall of Presidents.
You may have heard of the ultra-expensive VIP tours at Walt Disney World that they have today. The Magic Kingdom service today is for up to ten guests and does not include the cost of park admission or gratuity. A minimum 7-hours is required to book and the total price (less park admissions and tip) runs between $3,150 and $6,650.
Now compare that to the guided tours that were offered in 1971. Instead of $6,650 for up to a group of ten, guests paid $6.50 for each person ($3.75 for children). That works to…let’s see…100 times less per person! The 3-hour tour included admission, ride tickets and up to 25 people could participate in a group. Things sure have changed, haven’t they?
Snacks Then and Now
- Sunshine Tree Terrace, still in business today, served The Citrus Swirl, a vanilla soft-serve swirled with frozen orange juice concentrate, promoted by its mascot, the Orange Bird. Price: 25 cents. (Dole Whip did not arrive in Magic Kingdom until 1986). Today, the orange and vanilla soft serve swirl, made with orange Dole Whip, is $5.79.
- Nestle Ice Cream Bars were sold on Main Street, U.S.A.
- Popcorn was sold from walk-up carts throughout the park, just like today, in red-and-white striped boxes for 25 cents in 1971. That same box of popcorn would cost you $6 — 24 times that much!
Classic Restaurants and Signature Dishes
Columbia Harbour House (Liberty Square) served clam chowder served in sourdough bread bowls for $1.50 and fried seafood platters $2.25. Today, you can still get clam chowder, without the bread bowl, for $6.79. A fried seafood platter would cost you $14.29.
The Diamond Horseshoe (Frontierland) presented free vaudeville revue shows and cold sandwich platters with fruit pies for dessert.
Pinocchio Village Haus (Fantasyland) served burgers, hot dogs and fries.
The Main Street Bakery was also open on opening day and served Sara Lee pastries.
There were some table service restaurants too, including the Plaza Restaurant and Town Square Restaurant. Some popular foods served at Walt Disney World in 1971 included fried chicken, Monte Cristo sandwiches, Chef’s salads and crab or shrimp salad served in an avocado half.
