December 15, 1966- Walt Disney died from lung cancer. His brother and business partner Roy O. Disney postponed his retirement to oversee construction of WDW's first phase.

December 15, 1973 Pirates of the Caribbean ride opens in the Magic Kingdom, similar to the ride that opened in 1967 in Disneyland. The Disneyland version was the last attraction that Walt Disney himself participated in designing.

December 15, 1989 – Star Tours, presented by Energizer, opens at Disney MGM Studios

December 16, 1994 The soft opening of the attraction ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. This attraction replaced Mission to Mars and was then later replaced by Stitch's Great Escape.

December 16, 2015- Jungle Skipper Canteen Restaurant opens in Adventureland.

December 17 1990 - Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set Adventure playground opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It was closed in April 2016 to make room for the construction of a Star Wars Land on the same site.

January 3, 1994 The Kitchen Kabaret featuring Bonnie Appetite and the Kitchen Krackpots a 13-minute audio animatronic show at Epcot's the Land Pavilion which was from opening day, closed. It was replaced by "Food Rocks" which closed also on January 3rd but in the year 2004

January 4, 1989- Official closing of "If You Had Wings" (which had been re-named in 1987 to "If You Could Fly") a two-person Omnimover dark ride in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom- check out the article by @ChuckMirarchi disunplugged.com/2012/08/05/dis…

January 5, 1998 The attraction "Delta Dreamflight" located in Tomorrowland closed. It was replaced by Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin.

January 6, 2012- Disney Parks announce plans to renovate Test Track during the second and third quarters of the year and re-open the ride by fall 2012.

January 7, 1992- Voyage of the Little Mermaid, a live show attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios opens. It replaced the previous attraction, Here Comes The Muppets.

January 7, 2008- Disney- MGM Studios officially changed its name to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

January 10, 1994 - Star Jets closed to undergo a complete makeover as part of the New Tomorrowland. The attraction was re-designed and re-opened in April as the Astro Orbiter.

January 11 2015- More than 25,000 from more than 65 countries started the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon.

January 12, 1995- The attraction ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, which had opened for previews on December 16, 1994 was ordered closed by then Disney CEO Michael Eisner who thought it was not intense enough. It later re-opened officially on June 20, 1995

January 13, 2013 20th Anniversary Walt Disney Marathon was run. youtube.com/watch?v=dZScMF…

January 14, 2014- Walt Disney World begins testing for Disney FastPass+ service at the Magic Kingdom Park. Using paper FASTPASS tickets were not be available throughout the duration of this test.

January 14, 2018- Disney Parks Blog announces that the Nile Hippopotamus, Tuma has given birth at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.

January 14, 2019 A Masai giraffe calf was born around 2 p.m. on the savannah in the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction. The attraction was temporarily closed while the mother giraffe gave birth.

January 25, 1990 Disney and the Coca-Cola Co. sign a 15-year contract that made Coke products the exclusive soft drinks at all Disney parks. articles.orlandosentinel.com/1990-01-25/bus…