Category: Disney This Day
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Sam McKim | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 17, 2006
On this day in 2006, Imagineer Sam McKim received a tribute window on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. McKim created the inspirational sketches of Disneyland that influenced its formation. His drawings continued to shape new attractions through the 1980s. McKim’s artwork also appeared in souvenir park maps issued between 1958 and 1964. His window is…
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Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 16, 2025
On this day in 2025, the 70th Anniversary Celebration kicked off at the Disneyland Resort. The milestone was marked with the return of some favorite entertainment like the Paint the Night parade, the Wondrous Journeys fireworks show, and the Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! parade. New offerings included World of Color Happiness!, the Walt…
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It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 15, 2020
On this day in 2020, the original series ‘It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer’ was released on Disney+. As the voice actor for Goofy and Pluto for over 30 years, Farmer has a unique connection with dogs. He toured the country to meet working dogs in a variety of fields, from avalanche rescue dogs…
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Disney Dollars | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 14, 2016
On this day in 2016, Disney stopped selling its exclusive currency, Disney Dollars. The bills were equal to U.S. dollars and could be spent at the Disney Parks, Stores, and Cruise Line. The $1 and $5 bills debuted in May 1987 and were followed by the $10 and $50 denominations, each with unique characters. Collectors…
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The Little Matchgirl | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 13, 2006
On this day in 2006, Disney’s animated short ‘The Little Matchgirl’ premiered at the Eugene Film Festival in Oregon. The story was adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s bittersweet 1845 fairy tale about a poor girl who finds comfort in the matches she sells. The short was originally created for the cancelled ‘Fantasia 2006’ project and…
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Walt Disney | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 12, 1993
On this day in 1993, Walt Disney was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians. The award is given to Missouri natives who have made significant contributions to the world. Disney’s impact on film and animation was recognized with a bronze bust displayed in the third-floor rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol. Disney’s formative years…
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Albert Hurter | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 11, 1883
On this day in 1883, Disney’s first inspirational sketch artist, Albert Hurter, was born. He came to Walt Disney Productions in 1931 as an established animator from Europe. Hurter’s drawings were uncommonly imaginative and conveyed authentic movement. Other animators used his ideas as the basis for many projects. Hurter’s realistic style was the basis for…
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In Dutch | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 10, 1946
On this day in 1946, the Pluto cartoon ‘In Dutch’ was released. Pluto is in the Netherlands working as a milk delivery dog when he falls in love with Dinah, the Dachshund. They sneak off for a quiet moment together, but accidentally ring the alarm bell that means the dike is leaking. The mayor is…
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A Good Time for a Dime | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 9, 1941
On this day in 1941, the Donald Duck short ‘A Good Time for a Dime’ debuted in theaters. Donald visits a penny arcade where he starts watching a Mutoscope film of Daisy performing the Dance of the Seven Veils, but the power goes out. He tries his hand at a claw machine, but a mistimed…
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Don Rickles | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 8, 1926
On this day in 1926, comedian and actor Don Rickles was born. Pixar fans remember him best as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in ‘Toy Story’ editions 1 through 4. He continued the role in ‘Toy Story of Terror!’ and ‘Toy Story That Time Forgot’ as well as the Toy Story Midway Mania! attraction…
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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides | May 7, 2011
On this day in 2011, the world premiere of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ was held at Disneyland. The film’s stars and celebrity guests walked the “black carpet” along the length of Main Street, U.S.A. A six-story tall and 90-foot wide screen was built on Tom Sawyer Island for the film screening, with…
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Thor | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 6, 2011
On this day in 2011, the Marvel Studios film ‘Thor’ was released in theaters by Paramount Pictures. The fourth film in Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ‘Thor’, introduces the warrior god of Asgard and future Avenger. After his arrogance and carelessness reignite a war, Thor is banished to Earth, where he must battle…
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Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 5, 2006
On this day in 2006, ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ premiered on the Disney Channel. It was the first fully-CGI series from Disney Television Animation and the first Mickey Mouse series designed for preschoolers. The Sensational Six, Toodles, and some special guest stars go on interactive problem-solving adventures each episode. ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ ran for 125 episodes…
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Star Wars Day | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 4, 2011
On this day in 2011, the first known organized celebration of ‘Star Wars’ Day was held at the Toronto Underground Cinema in Ontario, Canada. For the admission price of $8, fans enjoyed a ‘Star Wars’ trivia game show, a cosplay costume contest, tribute and parody films from around the Internet, a screening of a vintage…
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Steve Jobs | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 3, 1991
On this day in 1991, Steve Jobs signed the Feature Film Agreement with The Walt Disney Company, paving the way for Pixar’s first computer-animated feature, ‘Toy Story.’ The deal was originally for three films, with Pixar handling development and production and Disney taking on marketing and distribution. Pixar would receive about 12.5% of the gross…
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Portraits of Canada | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 2, 1986
On this day in 1986, the Disney Circle-Vision 360-degree film ‘Portraits of Canada’ debuted at the Expo ‘86 world exposition in Vancouver, BC. The documentary tour was directed by Jeff Blyth, the filmmaker behind the Disney Parks Circle-Vision films, ‘Wonders of China’ and ‘American Journeys.’ Narrator Christopher Plummer highlighted the people, sites, and sounds of…
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Walt Disney Takes You to Disneyland | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 1, 1956
On this day in 1956, Disneyland Records released its first record album, ‘Walt Disney Takes You to Disneyland.’ It was the first time Disney produced, advertised, and distributed its own recordings, having previously outsourced this process. It was also the only album Walt recorded for his own label. Walt’s narrations set the stage for each…
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British Invasion | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 30, 2011
On this day in 2011, the band British Invasion ended their 15-year run performing at the U.K. Pavilion in EPCOT at Walt Disney World. The group began as a Beatles tribute band, playing sets from each Beatles era while dressed in costumes to match. In later years, they expanded to include songs from other popular…
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Mike Fink Keelboats | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 29, 2001
On this day in 2001, the Mike Fink Keel Boats closed on the Rivers of America at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. They were an opening day attraction for the park in 1971 and were a clone of a Disneyland attraction. The Keel Boats were based on two 1955 episodes of ‘Walt Disney’s Davy Crockett’…
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Fantasmic! | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 28, 2011
On this day in 2011, Fantasmic! debuted at Tokyo DisneySea. It featured some unique elements from its U.S. counterparts. Presented in the Mediterranean Harbor, the show did not have a fixed stage. Instead, it had a central Sorcerer Hat tower and multiple circulating barges. DisneySea’s Fantasmic! included unique segments from ‘Aladdin,’ ‘Finding Nemo,’ and ‘Cinderella.’…
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Rocket Rods | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 27, 2001
On this day in 2001, it was announced that Disneyland’s Rocket Rods were closed forever. The ill-fated high-speed replacement for the PeopleMover went down for refurbishment the previous September, but the damage done to the ride’s infrastructure was too great to overcome. Since 2001, the outdoor track, parts of the queue, and the loading area…
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Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 26, 1981
On this day in 1981, the ‘Disney’s Wonderful World’ television series aired “Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life.” Haley Mills hosted the behind-the-scenes look at the process of animation at Walt Disney Studios. The program mirrored the book of the same name by veteran animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. It included clips from 33…
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Disney Debt | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 25, 1961
On this day in 1961, Disney officially paid off the last of the multimillion-dollar loans the company had accumulated during its formative decades. Starting in the 1930s, Walt Disney appealed to Bank of America for the high-risk financial backing he needed to finish ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’ Again in the 1950s, Walt turned…
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Toy Story: Animated StoryBook | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 24, 1996
On this day in 1996, the ‘Toy Story: Animated StoryBook’ video game was released. Published by Disney Interactive, this series of CD-ROM games brought kids aged 4-8 into the world of their favorite 1990s Disney and Pixar films. For ‘Toy Story,’ a 15-page interactive digital storybook was narrated by Hamm and mirrored the story of…