Category: History
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Winnie the Pooh | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 23, 1925
On this day in 1925, the very first Winnie the Pooh story was published in ‘The London Evening News’ on Christmas Eve. It was called “In Which We Are Introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and Some Bees, and the Stories Begin.” Readers met a certain silly old bear, originally known as “Edward Bear,” and followed his search…
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Walt Disney World Railroad | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 23, 2022
On this day in 2022, the Walt Disney World Railroad reopened at the Magic Kingdom after a four-year hiatus. The Railroad was suspended in December 2018 for the construction of the TRON Lightcycle/Run attraction. The project included a new tunnel for the train to pass through. The Walt Disney World Railroad started as an opening…
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O Brother, Where Art Thou? | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 22, 2000
On this day in 2000, ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ was released by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures. It loosely adapted elements of Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ into the Depression Era in the Deep South. Three convicts escape from a chain gang and go through a series of fantastical escapades while searching for hidden treasure and evading a…
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Swiss Family Robinson | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 21, 1960
On this day in 1960, ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ opened in theaters. It was loosely based on the 1812 novel by Swiss author Johann David Wyss. A family en route to New Guinea is attacked by pirates and shipwrecked on a deserted island, filmed in real-world Tobago. The resourceful group builds an elaborate treehouse and learns…
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Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 20, 1968
On this day in 1968, ‘Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day’ was released in theaters. It was Disney’s second ‘Winnie the Pooh’ film and was inspired by seven A. A. Milne stories. In it, the Hundred Acre Wood encounters some wild weather, including high winds, heavy rains, and a flood! ‘The Blustery Day’ was…
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Robert B. Sherman | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 19, 1925
On this day in 1925, acclaimed songwriter, painter, and Disney Legend Robert B. Sherman was born. He and his younger brother Richard formed one of the most prolific and memorable songwriting teams in Disney history. Robert joined the U.S. Army at age 17 and was part of a squad that liberated the Dachau concentration camp…
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Star Wars: The Force Awakens | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 18, 2015
On this day in 2015, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ was released in theaters. It was the first entry in the ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy. Its story picked up about 30 years after the events of ‘The Return of the Jedi.’ All of our favorite core characters returned for this adventure and were joined by…
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Mickey’s Good Deed | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 17, 1932
On this day in 1932, the holiday short ‘Mickey’s Good Deed’ was released widely in theaters. At the height of the Great Depression, Mickey and Pluto are homeless street musicians. Mickey makes the painful decision to sell Pluto to a rich family. He uses the money to provide a Christmas meal and toys to a…
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Disney’s Riviera Resort | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 16, 2019
On this day in 2019, Disney’s Riviera Resort opened at Walt Disney World. Plans for the resort were first announced at the D23 Expo in 2017. The Riviera is a Disney Vacation Club resort located close to EPCOT on the Disney Skyliner gondola system. It is styled after Walt Disney’s trips to the Mediterranean, including…
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The Emperor’s New Groove | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 15, 2000
On this day in 2000, ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ was released in theaters. It starred David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, and Patrick Warburton. Following the Disney Renaissance, the film was praised for its rapid pacing, witty ad-libbed dialogue, and irreverent humor. Originally called ‘Kingdom of the Sun,’ the story was drastically and rapidly overhauled…
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Pixar: 20 Years of Animation | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 14, 2005
On this day in 2005, the exhibit “Pixar: 20 Years of Animation” debuted at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, its first stop of a worldwide tour. The display was the first time Pixar’s artwork had been shown outside the studio. It included over 500 art pieces from all of Pixar’s films…
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Dick Van Dyke | December 13, 1925
On this day in 1925, beloved actor, comedian, and Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke was born. His connection to Disney has been strong across his career, starting with ‘Mary Poppins’ in 1964. Van Dyke also appeared in ‘Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.,’ ‘Never a Dull Moment,’ and ‘Dick Tracy.’ He has hosted Disney specials and narrated…
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Mayim Bialik | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 12, 1975
On this day in 1975, actress and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik was born. Her most notable early appearance was in Touchstone’s ‘Beaches’ in 1988 where she played a young Bette Midler. Bialik went on to star in the ‘Blossom’ sitcom, also from Touchstone. Her voice can be heard in multiple Disney shows, including on ‘Kim Possible’…
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TRON: LEGACY | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 11, 2010
On this day in 2010, ‘Tron: Legacy’ held its world premiere at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. The entire city block around the theater was transformed into a piece of the computerized “Grid” from the film, complete with projections, neon, fog, lasers, a full-size Light Cycle, and a blue carpet. Siren programs in white…
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Raven-Symoné | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 10, 1985
On this day in 1985, actress and singer-songwriter Raven-Symoné was born. Fans of the Disney Channel know her best as the star of ‘That’s So Raven’ and ‘Raven’s Home,’ as well as Galleria Garibaldi in the ‘Cheetah Girls’ franchise. She is also the voice of Iridessa in the ‘Disney Fairies’ series. Raven first appeared in…
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The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 9, 2005
On this day in 2005, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ was released in the United States. It was based on the children’s book of the same name by C. S. Lewis. Four siblings, Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund, discover that a magical wardrobe is a portal into the world…
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Father of the Bride Part II | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 8, 1995
On this day in 1995, Disney’s Touchstone Pictures released ‘Father of the Bride Part II.’ Four years after his daughter’s wedding, George Banks faces an impending midlife crisis as he learns he is about to become not only a new grandfather, but also a father again himself. The original cast, including Steve Martin, Diane Keaton,…
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Prep and Landing – Operation: Secret Santa | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 7, 2010
On this day in 2010, the holiday short ‘Operation: Secret Santa — A Prep & Landing Stocking Stuffer’ debuted on ABC. It was a sequel to 2009’s ‘Prep & Landing.’ We catch up with Wayne and Lanny on a secret mission from Mrs. Claus, voiced by Betty White. The elves have been tasked to break…
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Dave Brubeck | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 6, 1920
On this day in 1920, legendary jazz pianist Dave Brubeck was born in Concord, California. While he is perhaps most well-known for composing “Take Five,” he also recorded the jazz album “Dave Digs Disney” in 1957. This album has 8 Disney tunes that are performed by Brubeck and his jazz quartet from ‘Alice in Wonderland,’…
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Skyfest | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 5, 1985
On this day in 1985, Skyfest was held in Anaheim, California, to mark Walt Disney’s 84th birthday and the 30th anniversary of Disneyland. The event set a world record for the number of balloons released simultaneously – over 1.2 million! Around 3,000 volunteers came to the Disneyland parking lot before dawn to fill the balloons…
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Disney Holiday Magic Quest | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 4, 2020
On this day in 2020, the first ‘Disney Holiday Magic Quest’ aired on the Disney Channel. The celebrity competition show was hosted by Raven-Symoné. Stars from ‘Zombies 2’ competed in a series of challenges overnight in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The actors were tasked to restore the holiday magic stolen by Maleficent…
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Following In Giant Footsteps…
by Brock Powell Of the countless characters in the Disney lexicon, no one holds a larger place in my heart quite like Willie the Giant. And I do mean that literally. Since his original appearance in the animated anthology film Fun & Fancy Free in 1947 (or “Mickey and the Beanstalk” as my 90’s vhs…
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Andrew Stanton | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 3, 1965
On this day in 1965, Pixar filmmaker and voice actor Andrew Stanton was born. He joined Pixar in 1990 as only the second animator and ninth employee of the studio. Ever since, he has contributed to most of Pixar’s landmark films. Stanton earned Best Animated Feature Oscars for both ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘WALL-E.’ His talents…
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That Darn Cat | DISNEY THIS DAY | December 2, 1965
On this day in 1965, the Disney live-action comedy ‘That Darn Cat!’ was released in theaters. Hayley Mills and Dean Jones starred in the adaptation of ‘Undercover Cat,’ a book by Gordon and Mildred Gordon. Siamese cat “D.C.” assists the FBI in solving a kidnapping and catching bank robbers using some zany methods. ‘That Darn…