Disneyland History | 2006 Debuts Jedi Training Academy

Celebrating 60 years of Disneyland History brings us to the year 2006 which was the Year of a Million Dreams and the debut of Jedi Training Academy.

In just a few days we finish celebrating the countdown to Disneyland’s 60th Diamond Anniversary with 60 other bloggers. Each of us selected a year and 2006 was personally a huge family moment for us as it was the first time we took our youngest son to Disneyland at just nine months old.

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The Happiest Homecoming on Earth which began in 2005 for Disneyland’s 50th Celebration continued in 2006 until September 30th.

Year of a Million Dreams

October 1, 2006 was the beginning of the Year of a Million Dreams that continued through December 2008.

Monsters, Inc. Ride Opened

On January 23, 2006 Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue ride opened.

Boo’s gigantic door welcomed guests as posters and a TV broadcast greeted those waiting in line. The taxi took you on a ride through Monstropolis and Monsters, Inc. where the CDA is searching for a child.

Princess Fantasy Faire

In October 2006 the Fantasyland Theater began the Princess Fantasy Faire. In addition to a show, guests could meet their favorite princess.

This closed in August 2012 and moved to a new location just outside Sleeping Beauty’s castle to make way for Mickey and the Magical Map which debuted on May 25, 2013.

Captain Jack Sparrow Sails to Pirates of the Caribbean

Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies was added to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. He is seen in three different scenes during the ride.

On June 24, 2006 Disneyland closed at 5:30 pm for the movie premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

Jedi Training Academy Debuts

The first padawans joined Jedi Training Academy on October 1, 2006 and taught children ages four to 12 that a Jedi uses the force for knowledge and defense.

For our oldest son’s first Jedi Training Academy experience in 2008, pictured above was his Jedi Master who was also there on opening day.

When we visited in December the Jedi Master in the middle, as seen in photograph from above, was also there on opening day and they are both still teaching the ways of the force to younglings today.

Ride Construction

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage was under construction for a scheduled opening in 2007. The walled off area blocking visual access to the lagoon was decorated with characters from Finding Nemo.

2006 Inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend

September 15-17, 2006 marked the very first half marathon at Disneyland. The Health and Fitness Expo was held on 15th and 16th. Family Run 5K and kids races were held on 16th followed the next day by the half marathon.

The sold out event with 12,000 runners from 49 states and 15 countries successfully launched multiple runDisney events due to a high demand from runners and Disney fans alike.

Mickey Pumpkin Debuted For Halloween

The 12 foot Mickey Pumpkin debuted for Halloween in 2006 on Main Street USA and is a major draw for family photos during October and Mickey’s Trick or Treat Party.

Pictured above are our boys in October 2010 dressed as Captain Hook and Peter Pan for Mickey’s Trick or Treat Party.

Mater and McQueen Speed Through California Adventure

The Cars movie premiered in June 2006 and was the first time you could meet Mater and Lightning McQueen in person.

They stopped traffic as they rolled down California Adventure toward the pier to take pictures and receive hugs from guests.

December 25, 2006

2006 was an awesome year for Disneyland but for our family it meant we took our nine month old son for the very first time. Our oldest son was three years old and had been before but not at Christmas time.

A bucket list item was complete when we spent Christmas Day at Disneyland. It was a very relaxing day with no wait times for any ride we wanted and spending the day with Mickey Mouse and Santa Goofy made for some awesome family memories.

Without realizing it, pictures with the California letters decorated as candy canes in front of California Adventure became an important part of Disneyland’s history since the Esplanade no longer displays these iconic letters.

Although most people wait until their children are older to take them to Disney, by taking them when they are young our boys have grown up at Disneyland. This year was a defining moment for our family as we returned year after year adding to our family memories, even enjoying 28 days at Disneyland in one year.

So much has changed in Disneyland history since 2006. We look forward to continuing our family traditions during Disneyland’s 60th Celebration and hope you enjoyed our photos as we looked back at 2006.

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Disney Bloggers Count Down 60 Years of Disney Magic

• 1955 | Welcome To The Happiest Place On Earth by Disney Gals
• 1956 | Storybook Land & Tom Sawyer Island Are Born by Guru Donna Kay
• 1957 | MIT Meets Imagineering  by Disney Running Mama
• 1958 | Down the Rabbit Hole with Alice in Wonderland by Focused on the Magic
• 1959 | An E Ticket Year for Disneyland by I am a Mommy Nerd
• 1960 | A Wooden Anniversary by Babes in Disneyland
• 1961 | Bigger Fun for Everyone at Disneyland in ’61 by Love Our Crazy Life
• 1962 | Adventureland Expansion & Swiss Family Tree House by Inspired by Dis
• 1963 | Enchanted Tiki Room & Audio-Animatronics Take Flight by Flowers Croon
• 1964 | Disneyland Goes to New York World’s Fair by Fans of Mickey Mouse’s House
• 1965 | Disneyland’s Tencennial by Maker Mother Marathon Runner
• 1966 | Disneyland Without Walt by The Delightful Life
• 1967 | A Year of Pirates and New Lands by Frontierland Station
• 1968 | Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A Pictorial Souvenir and Guide by Plus the Magic
• 1969 | Welcome Foolish Mortals by My Adventures in Disneyland
• 1970 | Camping and Tigers and Pancakes Oh My by Lynette Riggs Nobel
• 1971 | An Attendance Milestone for Disneyland by Mostly Mommyhood
• 1972 | The Debut of the Main Street Electrical Parade by Superheros and Teacups
• 1973 | The 50th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company  by Ellen Cusack
• 1974 | A First Trip to Disneyland by Saving Up for Disney
• 1975 | Disneyland’s 20th Anniversary by Krystina Whitten
• 1976 | America on Parade Celebrates the Bicentennial by Funk Squared
• 1977 | Space Mountain Launches by What’s the Point?
• 1978 | Mickey Mouse Turns 50 by Reporting from Disney World
• 1979 | Big Thunder Mountain Debuts by Jane’s World
• 1980 | Disneyland’s Silver Anniversary by Just Me and My Running Shoes
• 1981 | Disneyland Welcomes its 200 Millionth Visitor by Minnesota Girl in the World
• 1982 | Farewell E Ticket  by The Disney Kids
• 1983 | The Transformation of Fantasyland by Trips with Tykes
• 1984 | The Games of the XXIII Olympiad Come to Play at Disneyland by 4 Well Rules
• 1985 | Disneyland’s 30th Anniversary by Can Do It Mom Blog
• 1986 | Looks Like We Started Something with Captain EO by Disney Gals
• 1987 | Lightspeed to Star Tours by Mousekatools
• 1988 | Mickey Mouse’s 60th Birthday Parade by The Real Up House
• 1989 | Splash Mountain Takes Its First Plunge by Sparks of Magic
• 1990 | Disneyland’s 35th Anniversary Party Gras by Run All the Races
• 1991 | Plane Crazy at Videopolis by Dawn’s Dork Diary
• 1992 | A FANTASMIC Year by Tiny Bits of Magic
• 1993 | Mickey’s Toontown- Then & Now by Babes in Disneyland
• 1994 | Parasols, Caricatures & Timeless Family Traditions by Courtney Bautista
• 1995 | 40 Fantastic Years by Lottie Ferguson
• 1996 | Windows on Main Street, U.S.A. by Debbie’s runDisney Challenge
• 1997 | Pirates of the Caribbean Celebrates Turning 30 by Heather Foote McGilvray
• 1998 | Disneyland Welcomes New Tomorrowland by Disney Day by Day
• 1999 | FASTPASS to Disneyland 1999 by Nancy Sinclair Brook
• 2000 | Y2K Brings 45 Years of Magic by The Joys of Boys
• 2001 | Disney California Adventure Park Opens by My No-Guilt Life
• 2002 | Main Street Electrical Parade Returns by Cork, Fork, & Passport
• 2003 | The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh by Idahome
• 2004 | 500 Millionth Visitor by Entertainment New Media Network
• 2005 | A Cinderellabration for Disneyland’s 50th by Park Talk Podcast
• 2006 | Jedi Training Academy Debuts by Plugged In Family