Category: Disney This Day
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Mulan | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 5, 1998
On this day in 1998, ‘Mulan’ had its premiere at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The movie was produced on special DTS 70mm film, printed lighter to account for ambient light at the Hollywood Bowl. It was projected on an 85-foot screen that rose from the floor. Because the audience’s distance from the screen…
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The Three Lives of Thomasina | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 4, 1964
On this day in 1964, ‘The Three Lives of Thomasina’ had its wide release in theaters. Set in Scotland, Thomasina the cat brings an estranged family together with her death and mystifying reappearance. Added to the mix is a lovely but mysterious woman who seems to be able to heal animals. This would be the…
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Norway Pavilion | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 3, 1988
On this day in 1988, The Norway Pavilion opened at EPCOT, the second and most recent new pavilion to be added after opening day. The pavilion recreated a Norwegian village, complete with four authentic styles of architecture. Then-Crown Prince Harald V of Norway performed the dedication, which was broadcast live back home. Norway partially funded…
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Commando Duck | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 2, 1944
On this day in 1944, the Donald Duck short ‘Commando Duck,’ was released. It was made during World War II and was the only time that a regular character engaged in warfare. Donald parachutes into Japan with orders to destroy an airfield. He loses most of his gear except a rubber raft. It collects so…
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Typhoon Lagoon | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 1, 1989
On this day in 1989, the Typhoon Lagoon water park opened at the Walt Disney World Resort. In the park’s legend, a furious storm jumbled ships and gear across an idyllic paradise. Miss Tilly is the park’s icon–a shrimp boat that was impaled on Mount Mayday. Every half hour, a 50-foot geyser erupts from her…
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Colin Farrell | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 31, 1976
On this day in 1976, actor Colin Farrell was born in Dublin, Ireland. For Disney, Farrell has played Travers Goff, P.L. Travers’s troubled father, in 2013’s ‘Saving Mr. Banks,’ Holt Farrier in the 2019 live-action reimagining of ‘Dumbo,’ and Artemis Fowl Sr. in 2020’s ‘Artemis Fowl.’ His father and uncle were both professional soccer players,…
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Dick Nunis | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 30, 1932
On this day in 1932, Disney Legend and former chairman of Walt Disney Attractions Dick Nunis was born. Nunis played a significant part in transforming Disney Parks into a global enterprise over his 44-year career. He applied for a summer job at Disneyland on a whim. There he helped train the new park’s employees, including…
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Sister Act | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 29, 1992
On this day in 1992, Touchstone Pictures released the musical comedy ‘Sister Act.’ Whoopi Goldberg stars as Deloris, a nightclub singer who is forced to hide from the mob after witnessing a murder. She reluctantly takes refuge in a convent. Although Deloris is a fish out of water, her musical talent and free-spirited nature prevail.…
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Seven Dwarfs Mine Train | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 28, 2014
On this day in 2014, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom! It was part of the multi-year New Fantasyland expansion. The family-friendly coaster recreates scenes from 1937’s ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ inside both the queue and the attraction itself. Most of the Audio-Animatronics from the former Snow White’s…
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Pandora – The World of Avatar | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 27, 2017
On this day in 2017, Pandora – The World of ‘Avatar’ opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The land brings the Valley of Mo’ara from the world of Pandora to life, a generation after the events of the ‘Avatar’ movies. It features two headline attractions, Na’vi River Journey and ‘Avatar’ Flight of…
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Paul Lukas | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 26, 1894
On this day in 1894, Actor Paul Lukas was born in Budapest, Hungary. Disney fans might recognize him as Professor Pierre Aronnax in Disney’s 1954 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He also won the the Academy Award for best actor for his role in Watch on the Rhine in 1943. Sadly, he died in 1971.
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Frank Oz | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 25, 1944
On this day in 1944, puppeteer, actor, and director Frank Oz was born. Oz was recruited away from journalism school for a six-month tryout with the Muppets in 1963 and stuck with it ever since. You might know him as the human behind such iconic Muppets as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, Animal, Bert,…
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John C. Reilly | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 24, 1965
On this day in 1965, actor, comedian, and musician John C. Reilly was born. He is known for voicing Ralph in ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ and the sequel, ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet.’ In addition, Reilly contributed to the story for ‘Wreck-It Ralph.’ He lent his voice to Disneynature’s ‘Bears’ and appeared as Corpsman Rhomann Dey in the…
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X-Men Days of Future Past | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 23, 2014
On this day in 2014, ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ was released by 20th Century Fox. It was the seventh X-Men film in the franchise. The story jumped between 1973 and 2023, making it the second film in chronological order. The X-Men send Wolverine back in time to change history and prevent an apocalyptic future…
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The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 22, 2009
On this day in 2009, ‘The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story,’ also known as simply ‘The Boys,’ began a limited run in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Palm Desert, California. The documentary chronicled the complex backstories and family lives of brothers Richard and Robert Sherman, the composers known for some of Disney’s…
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New Tomorrowland | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 21, 1998
On this day in 1998, New Tomorrowland was dedicated in Disneyland. Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Wally Schirra were among the honored guests. New Tomorrowland was a retro-futurist retheme loosely inspired by Jules Verne and similar to Discoveryland in Disneyland Paris. The buildings, including Space Mountain, were repainted in bronzes, golds, and dark browns. The changes…
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Plaza Swan Boats | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 20, 1973
On this day in 1973, the Plaza Swan Boats first set sail on scenic journeys around the central waterway in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The Swan Boats were a ‘D’ ticket attraction. Round-trip tours included views of Cinderella Castle, the Swiss Family Treehouse in Adventureland, and Tomorrowland. There were 12 boats at…
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Donald’s Cousin Gus | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 19, 1939
On this day in 1939, the Donald Duck short ‘Donald’s Cousin Gus’ was released. Gus Goose, Donald’s cousin, surprises him at home. Gus has a generous appetite and decides to take advantage of Donald’s hospitality! This debut was both the first cartoon and the first pre recorded program to be broadcast in the U.S. on…
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EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 18, 2014
On this day in 2014, the 21st EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival would come to an end. Perhaps the most beautiful festival of the year at EPCOT, there are lots of flowers, topiaries, food, beverages, presentations, and performances! This festival also led to the arrival of the garden railway next to the Germany pavilion…
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Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 17, 2004
On this day in 2004, the first phase of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa opened at Walt Disney World. It would be the seventh and largest Disney Vacation Club property to debut. The initial phase was called Congress Park, a reference to the city of Saratoga Springs, New York and its famed thoroughbred horse…
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Million Dollar Arm | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 16, 2014
On this day in 2014, the biographical sports drama ‘Million Dollar Arm’ was released by Walt Disney Pictures. Starring Jon Hamm, the film adapts the true story of two Indian cricket athletes who were discovered by a sports agent after winning a reality show competition. The agent’s goal is to train the players to become…
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Donald and Donna | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 15, 1937
On this day in 1937, “Donald and Donna,” the first Donald Duck comic book serial, was published in ‘Mickey Mouse Weekly’ #67 in the United Kingdom. The story was 15 pages long and was released in weekly episodes. Donald was joined on an adventure by Donna Duck, a predecessor to Daisy. After the first story,…
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Robert Zemeckis | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 14, 1954
On this day in 1952, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis was born. He is known for using visual effects in new and innovative ways. For Disney, Zemeckis directed 1988’s ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit,’ where he combined hand-drawn animation with live-action footage. He integrated groundbreaking performance capture techniques in his direction of 2009’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’…
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Up | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 13, 2009
On this day in 2009, the 62nd Cannes Film Festival opened with Disney-Pixar’s newest feature, ‘Up’ shown in 3D. It was the first time that either an animated or a 3D movie took the keynote position at the opening ceremonies. ‘Up’ was one of eight Out-of-Competition films to be screened that year. It was Disney-Pixar…