200 Millionth Guest Admitted. (Gert Schelvis)
Duke Adolfo Suarez, former prime minister of Spain Visits Disneyland
Hassan Shawwaf, ambassador to the United States from Saudi Arabia Visits Disneyland
Rafael Cordova, President of Nicaragua Visits Disneyland
J. P. Mbogua, ambassador to the United States from Kenya Visits Disneyland
*Princess Margaret of the Netherlands Visits Disneyland
*Malietoa Panumafili, head of state of Western Samoa and Maiava Iulai Toma, ambassador to the United States from Western Samoa Visits Disneyland
King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan Visits Disneyland
INVESTMENT Total to date: $217 million
ATTENDANCE 11.3 million, the second consecutive year attendance surpassed the 11 million mark.
HIGHLIGHTS:
On Jan. 8 at 11:10 a.m., Gert Schelvis, 26, of Santa Barbara, Calif., became the 200 millionth person to visit the Park during its quarter-century existence. He was greeted by many of the Disney cartoon characters, Park officials and a fanfare by Disneyland trumpeters.
Disneyland Ambassador to the World Willie Van der Zwaag, the Park's 17th Emissary of Goodwill, traveled thousands of miles on behalf of the Magic Kingdom, including visits to Japan, Finland, France, England, the Netherlands and Mexico. The Park's Community Services Awards program honored charitable organizations in Orange County for the 24th year by presenting $125,000 in the form of 61 awards. The Outstanding Award was won by the Orange County Music Center.
Nine Grad Nite Parties were attended by seniors and their dates from 879 high schools, totaling more than 134,000 participants. Schools from 13 states and Mexico were represented. The figure brought 21-year Grad Nite totals to 1,965,000 students from 10,779 senior classes during 135 all-night parties.
Disneyland's summer activities again included the popular "Main Street Electrical Parade," now in its eighth year at the Park. Added to the cavalcade this year was a unit depicting a scene from the Disney motion picture "The Fox and the Hound." The spectacular "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks show was presented nightly during the summer for the 25th consecutive year.
"Fantasy on Parade" made appearances daily during the Christmas season. Additions included Cinderella's Pumpkin Coach and Captain Hook's Pirate Ship from the film classic "Peter Pan."
Several special events were staged throughout the year, including Senior Fun Days, Contempo ?, Country Jubilee, Festival Japan, Saturday Nights at the Park, Disneyland and All That Jazz, Angels-Disneyland Fun Day, Festival Mexico, Senior Festival, Juke Box Saturday Night, Country Weekend, Folk Festival, Share Days, Nite of Joy and New Year's Eve Party.
Top entertainers who performed at Disneyland included: Ray Stevens, Moe Bandy, Gail Davies, Alabama, Susie Allanson, Margo Smith, Donna Fargo, Patti Page, Connie Haines, Ray Anthony, Jose Feliciano, Spyro Gyra, Buddy Rich, Tierra, Kool and the Gang,-the Pointer Sisters, Shalamar, Roy Ayers, Leon Russell, Earl Scruggs, the Spinners, Brenda Lee, Pearl Bailey, Pete Fountain, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Billy "Crash" Craddock,' the Lennon Sisters, Louie Bellson, Count Basie, Les Brown, Harry James, Bob Crosby, Doc Severinsen, Les Elgart, Frankie Avalon, the Four Tops, Mary tells, Jerry Reed, the Kingston Trio, the Limeliters, Tex Beneke, Eddie "Carmine" Mekka, Skiles and Henderson and the Manhattan Transfer.
FAMOUS GUESTS:
*Duke Adolfo Suarez, former prime minister of Spain (March)
*Hassan Shawwaf, ambassador to the United States from Saudi Arabia (April)
*Rafael Cordova, President of Nicaragua (June)
*J. P. Mbogua, ambassador to the United States from Kenya (July)
*Princess Margaret of the Netherlands (August)
*Malietoa Panumafili, head of state of Western Samoa and Maiava Iulai Toma, ambassador to the United States from Western Samoa (August)
*King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan (November)
*Robert D. Wray, Governor of Iowa (December)
*John Spellman, Governor of Washington (December)
*T. F. Gill, ambassador to the United States from New Zealand (December)