Category: Disney This Day
-
Disneyland | DISNEY THIS DAY | February 6, 1985
On this day in 1985, Disneyland began operating seven days a week throughout the year. Up until that time, Disneyland would often be closed Mondays and Tuesdays in the off season, including early spring, fall, and winter. The closure days were used for park upkeep and attraction maintenance. Interestingly, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT at Walt…
-
Night Crossing | DISNEY THIS DAY | February 5, 1982
On this day in 1982, the Disney live-action film ‘Night Crossing’ was released. Set during the time when Germany was strictly divided into East and West, the film is based on the true story of how two families escaped the hardships of East Germany in a homemade hot air balloon. John Hurt and Beau Bridges…
-
Disney Legend Bob Allen | DISNEY THIS DAY | February 4, 1939
On this day in 1932, Disney Legend Bob Allen was born. Bob started his career with Disney in 1955 where he worked on the Casey Jr. attraction at Disneyland. He advanced to production coordinator at Disneyland and later director of General Services for Walt Disney World. By 1977, he had worked his way up to…
-
Society Dog Show | DISNEY THIS DAY | February 3, 1939
On this day in 1939, the animated short ‘Society Dog Show’ was released. In the cartoon, Mickey enters Pluto in a fancy dog show, but they get kicked out after a run-in with the judge. Not giving up, Mickey enters a nervous Pluto as a roller skating trick dog. A fire breaks out and Pluto…
-
Tony Jay | DISNEY THIS DAY | February 2, 1933
On this day in 1933, British actor Tony Jay was born. Disney fans will recognize his deep, commanding voice from his portrayals of Judge Frollo in ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame,’ the asylum owner Monsieur D’Arque in ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ Shere Khan in ‘TaleSpin’ and ‘The Jungle Book 2,’ and the narrator of ‘Treasure…
-
Shades of Green | DISNEY THIS DAY | February 1, 1994
On this day in 1994, Shades of Green opened at Walt Disney World. Formerly known as The Disney Inn, the property was first leased by the U.S. Department of Defense and then purchased outright. The resort would become an Armed Forces Recreation Center for members of the military and their families. The new name paid…
-
Communicore East & West | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 31, 1994
On this day in 1994, CommuniCore East and West at EPCOT in Walt Disney World closed to make way for Innoventions. Located in two buildings behind Spaceship Earth, CommuniCore served as the heart of EPCOT. It wove together the themes and concepts presented in Future World while showcasing technological advancements. A reimagined CommuniCore Hall will…
-
Alice in Wonderland Days | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 30, 1971
On this day in 1971, the two-day Alice in Wonderland Days event began at Disneyland. The celebration included a parade and meet-and-greet opportunities at Alpine Gardens with Alice, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, and the Walrus. Alice in Wonderland Days would be one of 13 weekends in 1971 dedicated to favorite Disney characters. Other…
-
Grand Canyon | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 29, 1959
On this day in 1959, the live-action documentary, ‘Grand Canyon’ was released in theaters in front of ‘Sleeping Beauty.’ ‘Grand Canyon’ depicts sweeping vistas of the canyon’s south rim and its animal life, stirringly set to Ferde Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite.” It would win an Academy Award for Best Short Subject. A diorama reproducing scenes…
-
Spacehip Earth Hot Air Balloon | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 28, 2009
On this day in 2009, an 80-foot-tall hot air balloon shaped like Spaceship Earth took to the skies above EPCOT. A lucky family won the experience, along with a VIP trip to Walt Disney World. It was as part of the Disney Dreams Giveaway, which came out of Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams celebration…
-
Susanne Blakeslee | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 27, 1956
On this day in 1956, voice actress Susanne Blakeslee was born. Disney fans will recognize her work as the current voice of legendary villains Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Lady Tremaine, and Cruella DeVil. Her talents can also be heard when riding Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland, where she portrays Madame Leota. Blakeslee’s theme park credits…
-
Disney Dream | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 26, 2011
On this day in 2011, the Disney Dream, the third ship to join the Disney Cruise Line, was christened and set sail on her maiden voyage to the Bahamas. Jennifer Hudson, a former entertainer on sister ship the Disney Wonder, christened the Disney Dream and is known as the Godmother of the ship. The Disney…
-
John Sibley | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 25, 1912
On this day in 1912, animator John Sibley was born. He was known as the “Goof Master” at Disney Studios because he was Goofy’s lead animator on over 40 shorts. He is also known for his animation work on ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ ‘101 Dalmatians,’ ‘Lady and the Tramp,’ ‘The Sword in the Stone,’ ‘The Legend of…
-
Finding Nemo: The Musical | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 24, 2007
On this day in 2007, the stage show ‘Finding Nemo: The Musical’ premiered in Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It was the first time Disney had created a musical show for the parks out of a non-musical movie. As a result, all of its songs had to be written especially for the show.…
-
Neck ‘n’ Neck | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 23, 1928
On this day in 1928, the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit animated short ‘Neck ‘n’ Neck’ was released. In the cartoon, Oswald and Ortensia go for a ride in his jalopy, but soon end up in a race with the police! It was long thought that the film for ‘Neck ‘n’ Neck’ had been lost. Actually,…
-
The Book of Pooh | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 22, 2001
On this day in 2001, the TV series ‘The Book of Pooh’ premiered on Playhouse Disney. It would be the third television series to feature Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. Instead of animation, the show used puppets in the ancient Japanese “bunraku” style. ‘The Book of Pooh’ has the…
-
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 21, 1938
On this day in 1938, Disney animators would begin work on “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” segment for Walt Disney’s masterpiece “Fantasia!” The segment was based on a 1797 poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and was put to the music of Paul Dukas. It would popularize this story and further cement Mickey Mouse as Walt Disney’s…
-
Rainy Disneyland Day | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 20, 1962
On this day in 1962, a record low number of guests visited Disneyland – only 389! Heavy rain and wind would force the park to close after only three hours. That Saturday would be one of the lowest attendance numbers ever recorded at Disneyland, and the lowest during Walt Disney’s lifetime. The rainy weather would…
-
Mr. Holland’s Opus | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 19, 1996
On this day in 1996, ‘Mr. Holland’s Opus’ was released in the United States by Disney’s Hollywood Pictures. The film follows Glenn Holland, a composer who strives to make his mark on the world, but takes a job as a high school music teacher to make ends meet. Over the years, Holland discovers that “life…
-
Star Wars Half Marathon – The Light Side | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 18, 2015
On this day in 2015, the first Star Wars Half Marathon – The Light Side took place at the Disneyland Resort. The half marathon was part of a weekend of RunDisney race events, including a 5K, a 10K, and kids’ races. All were themed around ‘Star Wars, with characters and entertainment lining the race route!…
-
Claude Coats | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 17, 1913
On this day in 1913, Imagineer, artist, designer, and Disney Legend Claude Coats was born. His lush watercolor backgrounds added depth and beauty to films like ‘Pinocchio,’ ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ ‘Fantasia,’ and ‘Cinderella,’ just to name a few! Coats became an Imagineer in 1955, where he was central to the design of…
-
Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 16, 2003
On this day in 2003, the Broadway-style stage show ‘Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular’ held a premiere at the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure. The show would become a fan-favorite for its high production values and the Genie’s ad libbed lines. It had over 14,000 performances before it ended in January 2016. A version…
-
Disneyland Hotel | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 15, 1969
On this day in 1969, the Marina Tower officially opened at the Disneyland Hotel. This second tower would feature 319 rooms on 11 stories and a brand new registration lobby—the largest in the U.S. at the time! The Hotel entrance moved to the north side of the complex, where it remains today. An adjacent 3.5…
-
Iron Will | DISNEY THIS DAY | January 14, 1994
On this day in 1994, the family adventure film ‘Iron Will’ was released in theaters. Inspired by a true story, ‘Iron Will’ follows a young man who embarks on a cross country dogsled race to raise money for his family after the death of his father. The film is based on the 1917 Winnipeg-to-St. Paul…