Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ( Opened )

Very Merry Christmas Parade (  Closed )

Castmember Foot Crushed (Injury)
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Accident Date: January 1, 1979

Accident Type: Injury

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Sherrill Hoffman Sick After Ride (Death)
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Accident Date: August 14, 1979

Accident Type: Death

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February 1979

Fang Yi, vice premier of the People's Republic of China Visits Disneyland

Toalipi Lauti, prime minister of Tuvalu Visits Disneyland

March 1979

Admiral Emilio Massera, chief commander of the Argentine navy and former president of Argentina Visits Disneyland

Honorable David Andrews, minister of foreign affairs of Ireland Visits Disneyland

April 1979

A delegation of vice ministers from the People's Republic of China Visits Disneyland

Willy Ritszhard, former president of the council of Switzerland Visits Disneyland

June 1979

Tabarak Husaen, ambassador to the United States from Bangladesh Visits Disneyland

July 1979

The park's first birth happens July 4: 6-pound, 10-ounce Teresa Salcedo.

Sidi Mohamad, crown prince of Morocco Visits Disneyland

Fumihiko Togo, ambassador to the United States from Japan Visits Disneyland

August 1979

A delegation from the Soviet National Academy of Science Visits Disneyland

September 1979

A delegation from the West German Parliament Visits Disneyland

October 1979

His Holiness Sondej Phphra Ariyawongsakagatayana, supreme patriarch of Thailand Visits Disneyland

November 1979

Lana Zyneb, princess of Morocco Visits Disneyland

December 1979

ADDITIONS:

After seven years of planning and two years of construction, the $15.8 million BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD attraction opened in the Park's Frontierland area. The new adventure, set in the gold rush era of the Old West, takes guests on a harrowing journey through danger-filled caverns and deep sandstone gorges, en-countering swarming bats, crashing landslides and rumbling earthquakes along the way.

INVESTMENT: Total to date: $206 million

ATTENDANCE: 10.76 million

HIGHLIGHTS:

On Feb. 8, Disneyland hosted for the first time a high-ranking official from the People's Republic of China. Fang Yi, Vice Premier of Science and Technology, visited the Park while touring the United States.

Disneyland welcomed the first-ever birth at the Park on a busy July 4 when Teresa Salcedo was born near Main Street, U.S.A. to Rosa and Elias Salcedo of Los Angeles. Teresa weighed 6 lbs. 101/2 oz. and was 191/2 inches long at birth. Mickey Mouse later presented her with "Disneyland Birth Certificate No. 1," recognizing the unprecedented event.

Disneyland Ambassador to the World Leona Dombroske, the Park's 15th Ambassador of Goodwill, traveled thousands of miles on behalf of the Magic Kingdom, including visits to the Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore.

The Park's Community Service Awards program honored charitable organizations in Orange County for the 22nd year by presenting $100,000 Ln the form of 57 awards. The Outstanding Award went to the California Federation of Women's Clubs, Orange County Junior Women's Club.

Disneyland enjoyed its finest attendance for a Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 22-25), when 166,059 guests visited the Park during that period.

Summer activities again featured the popular "Main Street Electrical Parade," which this year added a spectacular 108-foot-long "Honor America" finale unit, and the 23rd year of the "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks.

During Christmas, the third year of the "Very Merry Christmas Parade" was featured, which was highlighted by the addition of a new, five-scene unit tracing the adventures of Pinocchio.

Seven Grad Nite parties were attended by seniors and their dates from 827 high schools, totaling more than 130,000 participants.

Count Basie's 17th consecutive year of per-forming at Disneyland was highlighted June 18th by the Park's gala celebration in honor of his 75th birthday. The Count's birthday party was attended by many of his friends from the entertainment industry, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Joe Williams and Ed McMahon.

A variety of special events were staged throughout the year, including Contempo, Magic Night, Pop 'n' Country Weekend, Festival Japan, Festival Mexico, Angels-Disneyland Fun Day, Kids' Days, Fifty-Plus Fun Days, Disneyland and All That Jazz, Night of Joy, Nifty Fifties and the New Year's Eve Party.

Top names in the music world that performed at Disneyland included Count Basie, Les Brown, Freddy Martin, Bob Crosby, Louie Bellson, Les Elgart, Rose Royce, Pete Fountain, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Tex Beneke, Ray Anthony, B.J. Thomas, Peaches and Herb, Gary's Gang, Willie Aames and Paradise, Dennis Day, Lynn Anderson, Billy "Crash" Craddock, Dottie West, Chuck Berry, The Coasters, Rosie and the Originals, The Olympics, Spyro Gyra, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Bobby Goldsboro, Harry James, Myron Floren, Maureen McGovern, Pure Prairie League, Jan and Dean, Buddy Rich and Billy Vaughn.

FAMOUS GUESTS

*Fang Yi, vice premier of the People's Republic of China (February)

*Toalipi Lauti, prime minister of Tuvalu (February)

*Admiral Emilio Massera, chief commander of the Argentine navy and former president of Argentina (March)

*Honorable David Andrews, minister of foreign affairs of Ireland (March)

*A delegation of vice ministers from the People's Republic of China (April)

*Willy Ritszhard, former president of the council of Switzerland (April)

*Tabarak Husaen, ambassador to the United States from Bangladesh (June)

*Sidi Mohamad, crown prince of Morocco (July)

*Fumihiko Togo, ambassador to the United States from Japan (July)

*A delegation from the Soviet National Academy of Science (August)

*A delegation from the West German Parliament (September)

*His Holiness Sondej Phphra Ariyawongsakagatayana, supreme patriarch of Thailand (October)

*Lana Zyneb, princess of Morocco (November)