1. The History of Disney told through Disney License Plates
Stephen Garner

2. DLP HISTORY Subjectivity of Information for Disney License Plates
No factual information exits
No data is maintained by the Disney Company or Disney Archives
Information Sources
Cast Members
Auction site sellers
Collectors

3. DLP HISTORY – 1923
Walt Disney Productions is founded by Walt and Roy Disney on October 16th
Originally know as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio
Copyright used on most license plates until 1986

4. DLP HISTORY – 1926
At Roy Disney’s suggestion, the company changed its name to the Walt Disney Studios shortly after moving into the new studio on Hyperion Avenue in Los Angeles

5. DLP HISTORY – 1929
The original partnership formed in 1923 is replaced by Walt Disney Productions, Ltd.
Three other companies, Walt Disney Enterprises, Disney Film Recording Company, and Liled Realty and Investment Company, are also formed.

6. DLP HISTORY – 1930’s Walt Disney Enterprises created
Entity of the Disney Company handling the licensing of merchandise during the 1930’s
Consolidated into Walt Disney Productions in 1938

7. DLP HISTORY – 1938
Walt Disney Enterprises, Disney Film Recording Company, and Liled Realty and Investment Company are merged into Walt Disney Productions

8. DLP HISTORY – 1940
Disney corporate head quarters, Walt Disney Studios, is built in Burbank, California

9. DLP HISTORY – 1952 WED (Walter Elias Disney) Enterprises is formed
Design and development organization founded by Walt Disney to develop Disneyland
Became Walt Disney Imagineering in 1986

10. DLP HISTORY – 1955 Disneyland opens
It wouldn’t be until the 1960’s that license plates are produced
Even then they were only bicycle plates!
The State of California requires both a front and rear license plate on vehicles, making souvenir plates unmarketable at the time

11. DLP HISTORY – 1955
License Plate Frames were the only marketable items in the way of license plate merchandise at Disneyland

12. DLP HISTORY – 1955 Disneyland Hotel opens
Formerly owned by the Wrather Corporation
Purchased by Disney in January 1988
No plates have been produced

13. DLP HISTORY – 1960’s First known license plates are produced
Series of 6 bicycle plates
Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald & Snow White
Produced by the Louis Marx Company
Walt Disney Productions copyright

14. DLP HISTORY – 1966 Walt Disney dies
Before his death, he was planning the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) in Florida
EPCOT was to help solve the country’s urban problems
This would later become Walt Disney World

15. DLP HISTORY – 1967
The Reedy Creek Improvement District is created by the Florida legislature with certain governing powers, encompassing the newly purchased property for the planned Walt Disney World park.

16. DLP HISTORY – 1970 First known full size (6” X 12”) plate is produced
Walt Disney World (WDW) pre-opening plate
Sold at WDW Preview Center
Controversial release due to color and style

17. DLP HISTORY – 1970
Plate was removed from sale and replaced due to its look-a-like appearance to the official State of Florida plate

18. DLP HISTORY – 1970 A color change eliminated the problem
WDW proves to be the starting point of producing license plates, as only one plate is required on vehicles in the State of Florida

19. DLP HISTORY – 1971 Walt Disney World opens
First plate released after the park opened is a character plate featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Brer Bear

20. DLP HISTORY – 1971
WDW’s Contemporary Resort opens

21. DLP HISTORY – 1971
WDW’s Polynesian Resort opens

22. DLP HISTORY – 1971
WDW’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground opens

23. DLP HISTORY – 1971 WDW’s Disney Village Resorts open
Vacation Villas (now demolished)
Later know as the Townhouses -1977
Torn down to make way for Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Treehouse Villas – 1975
Fairway Villas (now demolished)
Club Lake Villas – 1980 (now demolished)
Later know as Club Suites and the Bungalows
Grand Vista Homes (now demolished)
All Villas and the Homes became the Villas at the Disney Institute in 1996
No plates have been produced for any of these resorts

24. DLP HISTORY – 1971
The telephone service for WDW is started as the Vista-Florida Telephone System and was operated by Disney and United Telephone System
In February 2001 the Vista-United Telecommunications company was dissolved as it was purchased by the Smart City Telecommunications (SCT) Network

25. DLP HISTORY – 1971 WDW holds its first Golf Classic tournament
Tournaments have been held every year since
License plates issued to identify tournament participants and members
First use of plastic license plates

26. DLP HISTORY – 1971 WDW Golf Classic Club issues plates to its members
Classic Club members can play along side of the pros during major tournaments

27. DLP HISTORY – 1972-1975 WDW produced only a few plates
Likely caused by the problems with the WDW pre-opening plate
Plates were not yet popular souvenirs or collectible items

28. DLP HISTORY – 1973 WDW’s Golf Resort opens
Became the Disney Inn in February 1986
Became the Shades of Green Resort in February 1994
For military and DOD personnel only
No plates have been produced

29. DLP HISTORY – 1974 Treasure Island located in WDW’s Bay Lake opens
Becomes Discovery Island in 1977
Closed in 1999 after the opening of the Animal Kingdom
No plates have been produced

30. DLP HISTORY – 1975 WDW’s Lake Buena Vista Village opens
Shopping complex
Became Walt Disney World Village
Became Disney Village Marketplace
Became Downtown Disney Marketplace – 1996
No plates have been produced

31. DLP HISTORY – 1975 WDW’s Treehouse Villas open
Part of the Disney Village Resorts and the Vacation Villas
Integrated into the Disney Institute Villas in 1996
Still in existence, but no longer available to the public
No plates have been produced

32. DLP HISTORY – 1976
Disney celebrated the U.S. Bicentennial with the America on Parade event
Unique plate released at both Disney parks (Disneyland and Walt Disney World)
Not park specific, this was the first souvenir full size plate sold at Disneyland

33. DLP HISTORY – 1976 River County, WDW’s first Water Park opens
River Country closed in 2001 due to lack of popularity caused by the newer water parks

34. DLP HISTORY – 1978 WDW’s Fairway Villas open
Part of the Disney Village Resorts and the Vacation Villas
Integrated into the Disney Institute Villas in 1996
Demolished, no longer in existence
No plates have been produced

35. DLP HISTORY – 1980 WDW’s Club Lake Villas opens
Part of the Disney Village Resorts and the Vacation Villas
Became Club Suites in 1989
Became the Bungalows when integrated into the Disney Institute Villas in 1996
Demolished, no longer in existence
No plates have been produced

36. DLP HISTORY – 1981
WDW starts releasing plates on a regular basis, starting with the EPCOT Center pre-opening plate

37. DLP HISTORY – 1982
EPCOT Center, WDW’s second park opens

38. DLP HISTORY – 1983 Tokyo Disneyland opens No plate releases until 1988
Japan has very strict regulations for license plates used on vehicles

39. DLP HISTORY – 1983
Premier Cruise Line was the "official cruise line“ for Disney
Premier operated from 1983 to 2000
Marketed cruises as part of a land/sea vacation package including visits to Walt Disney World
In 1995 Disney decided to start its own cruise line and ended its relationship with Premier.

40. DLP HISTORY – 1985
Disneyland turns 30

41. DLP HISTORY – 1985 Disneyland’s first full size plate is released
First Disneyland park specific plate
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the park
Starts a series of yearly plates that feature Mickey and Sleeping Beauty Castle

42. DLP HISTORY – 1985
Disneyland license plates carried a Warning Notice on them regarding prohibited use
This warning can also be found on early WDW plates

43. DLP HISTORY – 1985
Oldsmobile becomes a sponsor of the WDW Golf Classic
Remains a sponsor through 1997

44. DLP HISTORY – 1986
Walt Disney Productions corporate name changes to The Walt Disney Company on February 6th

45. DLP HISTORY – 1986
WED Enterprises changes its name to Walt Disney Imagineering

46. DLP HISTORY – 1986
WDW celebrates its 15th Anniversary

47. DLP HISTORY – 1988 Company D Stores established
Exclusive stores selling merchandise to Cast Members
First store opens at Disneyland in 1988
Second store opens at Walt Disney World at the Team Disney building in 1991
Third store opens in Epcot in 1992

48. DLP HISTORY – 1988 WDW’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa opens
Formerly known as the Grand Floridian Beach Resort
Name changed in 1997

49. DLP HISTORY – 1988
WDW’s Caribbean Beach Resort opens

50. DLP HISTORY – 1988 Tokyo Disneyland 5th Anniversary
Unique item produced
Is it a plate or serving tray?
Embossed (stamped)
No bolt holes
¼” lip border
6½" X 13" in size

51. DLP HISTORY – 1989
Disney-MGM Studios, WDW’s third park opens

52. DLP HISTORY – 1989 Pleasure Island opens at WDW
Adult entertainment complex
Becomes part of Downtown Disney in 1997

53. DLP HISTORY – 1989
WDW’s Swan Resort opens
Operated by Westin Hotels

54. DLP HISTORY – 1989
WDW’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park opens

55. DLP HISTORY – 1989 WDW issues its first Lodging Resort plate
Featuring the Fort Wilderness Resort

56. DLP HISTORY – 1990
Last of the Disneyland year series is produced

57. DLP HISTORY – 1990
Disneyland celebrates its 35th Anniversary

58. DLP HISTORY – 1990 WDW’s Dolphin Resort opens
Operated by Sheraton Hotels

59. DLP HISTORY – 1990
WDW’s Yacht Club Resort opens

60. DLP HISTORY – 1990
WDW’s Beach Club Resort opens

61. DLP HISTORY – 1990 WDW issues its first Cast Member license plate
Features the opening of the MGM Studios, WDW’s third park
CM plates are distributed by Cast Activities or the Company D Stores

62. DLP HISTORY – 1991
WDW celebrates its 20th Anniversary

63. DLP HISTORY – 1991
Star Spangled Celebration is held at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
Both parks released a license plate

64. DLP HISTORY – 1991 WDW’s Port Orleans Resort opens
Merged with Dixie Landings Resort in 2001
The combined resorts became the Port Orleans Resort

65. DLP HISTORY – 1991 Disney Vacation Club is started
A time-share vacation property
Since 1991, six DVC properties at WDW have opened
Two other DVC properties, one in Vero Beach, Florida and one in Hilton Head, South Carolina, brings the total number of DVC properties to eight

66. DLP HISTORY – 1991 WDW’s Disney Vacation Club Resort opens
1st DVC Resort at WDW
Renamed Old Key West Resort in 1996

67. DLP HISTORY – 1992 Euro Disneyland opens
Now known as the Disneyland Paris Resort
Plate was sold in the U.S. Parks
Most of the Euro Disney and Disneyland Paris plates produced have a “Made in the U.S.A.” marking

68. DLP HISTORY – 1992
Euro Disneyland’s (Disneyland Paris) Hotel Cheyenne opens

69. DLP HISTORY – 1992
Euro Disneyland’s (Disneyland Paris) Hotel Santa Fe opens

70. DLP HISTORY – 1992
Euro Disneyland’s (Disneyland Paris) Hotel New York opens
No plates have been produced

71. DLP HISTORY – 1992
Euro Disneyland’s (Disneyland Paris) Newport Bay Club Hotel opens

72. DLP HISTORY – 1992
Euro Disneyland’s (Disneyland Paris) Disneyland Hotel opens
No plates have been produced

73. DLP HISTORY – 1992
Euro Disneyland’s (Disneyland Paris) Davy Crockett Ranch opens
Formerly known as Camp Davy Crockett

74. DLP HISTORY – 1992
Euro Disneyland’s (Disneyland Paris) Sequoia Lodge opens

75. DLP HISTORY – 1992
Euro Disneyland’s (Disneyland Paris) Disney Village opens
A shopping, dining and entertainment complex
Formerly known as Festival Disney
Name changed in 1996
No plates have been produced

76. DLP HISTORY – 1992
EPCOT Center celebrates its 10th Anniversary

77. DLP HISTORY – 1992 WDW’s Dixie Landings Resort opens
Merged with Port Orleans Resort in 2001
Combined resort will be known as the Port Orleans Resort

78. HISTORY – 1993
Tokyo Disneyland celebrates its 10th Anniversary

79. DLP HISTORY – 1993 Euro Disney plate line expands
Featuring themed lands and attractions within the park

80. DLP HISTORY – 1993 Disney Company forms Anaheim Sports, Inc.
Wanting to add sports to its entertainment attractions in California
Mighty Ducks Hockey franchise is started
First few plates issued carried a Disney copyright
Later issues were copyrighted by the NHL

81. DLP HISTORY – 1994 EPCOT Center becomes Epcot
“Center” is dropped from the name
Letters are lower cased

82. DLP HISTORY – 1994
WDW’s Pleasure Island celebrates its 5th Anniversary

83. DLP HISTORY – 1994 WDW’s All-Star Resort opens
All-Star Sports opened in April
All-Star Music opened in November
All-Star Movies opened January 1999

84. DLP HISTORY – 1994
WDW’s Wilderness Lodge opens

85. DLP HISTORY – 1994 The Town of Celebration is established
First residents move in, 1996

86. DLP HISTORY – 1994
The NFFC, a Disney Fan Club, releases a 10th Anniversary plate honoring Disney

87. DLP HISTORY – 1994
Euro Disney formally changes its name to Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris Hotel Resort plates are issued

88. DLP HISTORY – 1995
Disneyland turns 40 and produces it last plate for the 1990’s

89. DLP HISTORY – 1995 Disneyland’s Paradise Pier Hotel opens
Built in 1984 as the Pan Pacific Hotel
Purchased by Disney in 1995 and renamed the Disneyland Pacific Hotel
Renamed to Paradise Pier Hotel in October 2000
No plates have been produced

90. DLP HISTORY – 1995
WDW’s Speedway opens

91. DLP HISTORY – 1995
WDW’s Blizzard Beach Water Park opens

92. DLP HISTORY – 1995
Vero Beach Resort in Florida opens
DVC Resort

93. DLP HISTORY – 1996
WDW celebrates its 25th Anniversary

94. DLP HISTORY – 1996 The Disney Institute opens
A new type of resort offering enrichment classes in the arts, culinary, sports and recreation
The resort closes in July 2003 due to lack of popularity

95. DLP HISTORY – 1996 Villas at the Disney Institute in WDW open
Formerly the Disney Village Resorts and the Vacation Villas
Included the Bungalows, The Townhouses, Treehouse Villas, Fairway Villas and the Grand Vista Homes
Closed July 2003 to make way for the Saratoga Springs & Spa DVC Resort
No plates have been produced

96. DLP HISTORY – 1996
WDW’s Boardwalk Inn opens

97. DLP HISTORY – 1996
WDW’s Boardwalk Villas open
2nd DVC Resort at WDW

98. DLP HISTORY – 1996 Hilton Head Resort in South Carolina opens
DVC Resort

99. DLP HISTORY – 1996 First known Specialty plate is produced
Designed as a give-a-way to guests staying at the Polynesian Resort during its 25th Anniversary
The Polynesian Resort was one of the two Hotel Resorts opened with the WDW park in 1971

100. DLP HISTORY – 1996
Disney purchases Gorda Cay, an uninhabited island in the Bahamas
Will be used as a stop-over for Disney Cruise Lines
Renamed Castaway Cay
“Cay” is pronounced “Key”

101. DLP HISTORY – 1996
Walt Disney Imagineering merges with the Disney Development Company, the Disney Company’s real estate development subsidiary

102. DLP HISTORY – 1996
Disney buys into the California Angels Baseball franchise
As Disney took over controlling interest, they renamed the team, the Anaheim Angels
Plates never carried a Disney copyright as MLB held those rights

103. DLP HISTORY – 1997
Epcot celebrates its 15th Anniversary

104. DLP HISTORY – 1997
First WDW Magic Kingdom plate is released

105. DLP HISTORY – 1997 Downtown Disney Complex opens
Includes Pleasure Island, West End and the Marketplace

106. DLP HISTORY – 1997
WDW’s Wide World of Sports Complex opens

107. DLP HISTORY – 1997 WDW Hotel Resort license plate line expands
Creating Logo and Character plates for the resorts

108. DLP HISTORY – 1997
WDW’s Coronado Springs Resort opens

109. HISTORY – 1997
Disneyland Paris celebrates its 5th Anniversary

110. DLP HISTORY – 1998
Animal Kingdom, WDW’s fourth park opens

111. DLP HISTORY – 1998 Disney Cruise Lines makes its maiden voyage
Disney Magic sails July 1998
Disney Wonder sails August 1999
Ships registry is the Bahamas

112. DLP HISTORY – 1998 Disneyland Paris issues its last plate
Plates were not popular souvenir items and were discontinued

113. DLP HISTORY – 1998
National Car Rental becomes the sponsor of the WDW Golf Classic

114. DLP HISTORY – 1999
Disney MGM Studios celebrates its 10th Anniversary

115. DLP HISTORY – 1999
WDW starts replacing stamped aluminum plates with plastic plates

116. DLP HISTORY – 2000
Disneyland celebrates its 45th Anniversary

117. DLP HISTORY – 2000
WDW celebrates the Millennium

118. DLP HISTORY – 2000
Tokyo Disneyland Resort releases it first true license plate
Features “Mouse Ear” bolt holes to limit use
Carried a Warning Label on back of plate

119. DLP HISTORY – 2000 Tokyo Disneyland’s Disney Ambassador Hotel opens
No plates have been produced

120. DLP HISTORY – 2000 Tokyo Disneyland’s IKSPIARI opens
A shopping, dining and entertainment complex
No plates have been produced

121. DLP HISTORY – 2001
WDW celebrates its 30th Anniversary

122. DLP HISTORY – 2001
Disneyland’s Downtown Disney opens

123. DLP HISTORY – 2001 WDW’s Villas at Wilderness Lodge opens
3rd DVC Resort at WDW
No plates have been produced

124. DLP HISTORY – 2001
WDW’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opens

125. DLP HISTORY – 2001 Disneyland’s Grand Californian Hotel opens
First Disney Hotel Resort to be located inside a theme park
No plates have been produced

126. DLP HISTORY – 2001
Tokyo Disneyland’s Disney Sea Hotel Mira Costa opens
No plates have been produced

127. DLP HISTORY – 2001
Celebrating the birth of Walt Disney in 1901 with the 100 Years of Magic event

128. DLP HISTORY – 2001 Tokyo Disneyland releases the “Party Express” plate
Commemorates Walt Disney’s love of locomotives

129. DLP HISTORY – 2001
Disneyland resumes limited plate releases

130. DLP HISTORY – 2001
Disneyland’s second park, California Adventure opens

131. DLP HISTORY – 2001 Tokyo Disneyland’s second park, Disney Sea, opens
Twelve plates released, commemorating the opening, all seven lands and three areas within the park

132. DLP HISTORY – 2001
The last WDW Golf Tournament license plates are issued
In 2002 plates were replaced with window stickers, decals and placards

133. DLP HISTORY – 2002 Walt Disney Studios Park Paris opens
Second park for Disneyland Paris
No plates have been produced

134. DLP HISTORY – 2002 WDW’s Beach Club Villas opens 4th DVC Resort at WDW
No plates have been produced

135. DLP HISTORY – 2003
Mickey turns 75

136. DLP HISTORY – 2003 WDW’s Pop Century Resort opens
No plates have been produced

137. DLP HISTORY – 2003 Disney sells the Anaheim Angels Baseball franchise
A year after the Angels won the World Series

138. DLP HISTORY – 2004 WDW’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa opens
5th DVC Resort at WDW
Built on the former Disney Institute grounds
No plates have been produced

139. DLP HISTORY – 2004 New York City World of Disney Store opens
Former Disney Gallery location

140. DLP HISTORY – 2005
Disneyland turns 50
July 17, 2005

141. DLP HISTORY – 2005 Hong Kong Disneyland opens 5th Disney Theme Park
No plates have been produced

142. DLP HISTORY – 2005 Hong Kong Disneyland’s Disneyland Hotel opens
No plates have been produced

143. DLP HISTORY – 2005 Hong Kong Disneyland’s Hollywood Hotel opens
No plates have been produced

144. DLP HISTORY – 2005
First Dual-Sided plate appears
FRONT
BACK

145. DLP HISTORY – 2005 Disney sells the Mighty Ducks Hockey franchise
Closing the door on Anaheim Sports, Inc.

146. DLP HISTORY – 2006
Disney purchases Pixar Animation Studios

147. DLP HISTORY – 2006 First Lenticular plate appears
Provides an optical 3-D effect

148. DLP HISTORY – 2006
First 3-D plate appears

149. DLP HISTORY – 2006 “Year Of A Million Dreams” celebration
October 1, 2006 to September 2008
Held at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World

150. DLP HISTORY – 2006 Disney Vacation Club turns 15
DVC has grown to serve more than 350,000 individual members from more than 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states

151. DLP HISTORY – 2007
Disneyland Paris turns 15

152. DLP HISTORY – 2007 Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge open
6th DVC Resort at WDW
No plates have been produced

153. DLP HISTORY – 2007
Epcot turns 25

154. DLP HISTORY – 2008
Walt Disney World’s Disney MGM Studios becomes Hollywood Studios on January 7, 2008
No plates have been produced

155. DLP HISTORY – 2008
As of January 2008 there are 591 catalogued license plates
383 plates were issued at Walt Disney World
65% of total plates
Only 23 plates were issued at Disneyland
.04% of the total plates
177 plates are made of plastic
30% of total plates