In February, American Film Institute (AFI) Showcase opened at Disney-MGM Studios celebrating 100 years of American filmmaking.

In March, Fulton’s Crab House opened 700-seat seafood restaurant aboard former Empress Lilly Riverboat at Pleasure Island.

In May, Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf opened near Disney’s BoardWalk.

In June, medieval puppets, 19 live performers and elaborate sets developed for “Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame-A Musical Adventure” displayed on-stage at Disney-MGM Studios with music from the latest Disney animated film score by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwarz.

In July, Disney’s BoardWalk — Inn, Villas and entertainment center — major restaurants and nightspots along the Crescent Lake boardwalk. The rousing ESPN Club restaurant, sports bar and multi-media entertainment center was a special feature.

In summer, Rainforest Cafe, an environmentally friendly, 450-seat restaurant/retail emporium, opened at the Marketplace with cascading waterfalls, exploding volcano, jungle animal figures.

On Oct. 1, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Roy E. Disney and Michael D. Eisner, in front of Cinderella Castle transformed into giant pink birthday cake, kicked off a 16-month-long 25th Anniversary celebration. Thepremiere included 2,000-member marching band, 2,500 underprivileged children from Boys and Girls Clubs of America and inaugural of the 25th Anniversary parade with “stop-action” street performances featuring music and stars of some of Disney’s most famous films.

In October, Mickey’s Toontown Fair (replacing Mickey’s Starland) added Minnie’s House, character greeting areas, Goofy’s Wiseacres Farm, and Barnstormer flying-machine roller coaster; Grand Floridian Spa opened with world-class facilities for health and beauty; World of Disney super-storeat Downtown Disney Marketplace, the world’s largest Disney character merchandise store.

In November, the 24th annual Inventor’s Exposition and Conference was held at Epcot by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Patent and Trademark Office, Intellectual Property Owners (IPO).

ANNUAL EVENTS
April 19-June 2, the third annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival featured new topiary characters and gardening experts.

Pleasure Island’s sixth annual Mardi Gras starred The Krewe of Caesar, an authentic New Orleans parade group.

Tim Allen’s “sons” from the hit TV series joined the “Home Improvement Parade” for annual Father’s Day celebration at Disney-MGM Studios. Zachary Ty Bryan and Taran Noah Smith helped judge a “Tim Taylor look-alike” contest.

Aug. 25-Oct. 6, Disney’s Animation Celebration staged at Disney-MGM Studios with special screenings, tours, interactive animation encounters and all-day character dining.

Sept. 3-7, fifth annual Disneyana Convention at Contemporary Resort and Grand Floridian Beach Resort.

Sept. 28-Oct. 27, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival featured food and wine samplings, cooking demonstrations, cultural entertainment.

In October, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ (ATAS) Hall of Fame ceremonies at Disney-MGM Studios honored Edward Asner, Steven Bochco, Charles Kuralt, Angela Lansbury, Aaron Spelling, Lew R. Wasserman and the producing team of Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner. Hall of Fame Plaza at the studios added five new busts — Dick Clark, Phil Donahue, Bob Newhart, David Wolper and Perry Como.

In November, the 21st annual Festival of the Masters held at Downtown Disney Marketplace.

Ninth annual Teddy Bear and Doll Convention at Epcot and Contemporary Resort.

Holiday celebrations included “Lights, Camera, Christmas at Disney-MGM Studios” with famous Osborne Family Light Display of 3 million lights; “Jolly Holidays Dinner Show” at Contemporary Resort; Epcot Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processionals with narrators Buzz Aldrin, Barbara Eden, Ed Asner, Louis Gossett Jr., Miss America Tara Dawn Holland and Sandi Patty; seven “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties” in Magic Kingdom.

SPECIAL EVENTS
In October, ABC Super Soap Weekend at Disney-MGM Studios attracted stars from “All My Children,” “One Life to Live,” “General Hospital” and “The City.”

Magic Kingdom staged “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.”

Backstage Pass to 101 Dalmatians celebrated Disney’s latest live-action film at Disney-MGM Studios.

notable
Spectacular new production for Universe of Energy opened in Future World with narration by TV’s Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye The Science Guy.

25th Anniversary Welcome Center opened in Magic Kingdom’s Town Square as part of a salute to 100 million past Walt Disney World visitors.

Epcot introduced nightly “IllumiNations 25”fountain/fireworks spectacle.

Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, Grand Floridian Beach Resort and its Victoria & Albert’s restaurant received 1996 Four Diamond Awards from the American Automobile Association of Florida.

Disney Vacation Club changed name of Walt Disney World location to Disney’s Old Key West Resort to distinguish it from other clubs at Vero Beach, Hilton Head Island and Disney’s BoardWalk.

Villas at Disney Institute selected by Conde Nast Traveler magazine readers to 1996 gold list of best places to stay in the world.

Readers of Travel & Leisure magazine ranked Grand Floridian Beach Resort as the third best hotel in North America.

Golf Magazine rated Walt Disney World among 15 best resorts in America for third straight year.

Disney Cruise Line announced its first ship, Disney Magic, would sail in 1998.

FILM & TV PRODUCTION AT DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS AND RESORT LOCATIONS
“Tarzan-The Epic” began tapings of TV series.

April 7, 12th annual “Happy Easter Parade” telecast with hosts Regis Philbin and Joan Lunden, Joey Lawrence and brothers from TV hit “Blossom.”

Other TV shows included “Big Bag”; “Ordinary/Extraordinary”; “Melinda, Disney’s First Lady of Magic”; Scott Hamilton Special; “World’s Funniest Home Videos”; “Step by Step”; “Boy Meets World”; Mel Torme Special, ATAS Hall of Fame Show; Children’s Miracle Network Telethon; WCW Wrestling; “Roseanne” episodes; Siskel and Ebert Oscar Show; NFL Quarterback Challenge.

SPORTS
Jan. 7, third Walt Disney World Marathon presented by HealthSouth ran with 7,500 celebrities and amateur runners on a 26.2-mile course through three theme parks, Blizzard Beach and resorts. Included public FamilyFun Run for the first time. Miguel Upegui of Colombia won the men’s overall and Lyubou Klochko of the Ukraine won women’s overall.

Second annual HealthSouth Inaugural — first full-field event of theLPGA tournament season — was won by young sensation Karrie Webb on Lake Buena Vista course.

Jan. 27, inaugural Indy Racing League event, the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway tri-oval race track near Magic Kingdom, telecast live on ABC Sports, with rookie Buzz Calkins taking the checkered flag.

In April, NFL’s top signal callers competed in annual Quarterback Challenge on Disney’s Palm golf course range, won by Neil O’Donnell. Competitors included Dan Marino, Steve Young, Jim Harbaugh, Drew Bledsoe and Brett Favre.

Celebrity golfers played in Bryant Gumbel Tournament to benefit United Negro College Fund — all-star list included Oscar Robertson, Joe DiMaggio, Pierre Larouche, Lynn Swann, Alan Thicke and Ed Marinaro.

In July, USA Olympics Basketball men’s and women’s national teams — including Dream Team stars Shaquille O’Neil, Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill — trained at new Disney Institute gymnasium.

Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Golf Classic was won by young phenom Tiger Woods. Top prize $216,000.

CELEBRATED GUESTS
Waylon Jennings; Finnish techno-dance; pop singer Miisa; Bryan Adams; Disney Institute performers and guests: President Bill Clinton, James Earl Jones, Martin Scorsese, Mel Torme, Bill Walton, Gov. Mario Cuomo, Paul Harvey, Brett Favre, Pilobus Dance Theater, Arturo Sandoval, Martha Stewart, Amy Grant, Savion Glover, Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, Nikki Giovanni, architect Robert A.M. Stern, Andy Garcia, Jack Jones, Bill Taylor, John Gray; “What’s Next” guest Emmitt Smith.