Tag: DAPs Magic
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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…
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A Table is Waiting | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 23, 2011
On this day in 2011, “A Table is Waiting” became a permanent stage show at Tokyo DisneySea. The food-themed show first ran in 2008 for a limited time, but then returned as part of the 10th anniversary celebration. Lumiere hosted a banquet of musical flavors, featuring the cuisines of Mexico, India, the U.S., Japan, and…
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Earth Day at Walt Disney World | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 22, 1996
On this day in 1996, the ‘Earth Day at Walt Disney World’ TV special aired on the Disney Channel. Dana Delany and Ed Begley, Jr. hosted the one-hour program that promoted ways families could protect the environment. Then-Vice President Al Gore introduced the show, and a variety of celebrities like John Travolta, Ted Danson, Kristie…
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3 Reasons to Participate in the 2026 CHOC Walk in the Park
The CHOC Walk in the Park is on Sunday, August 2, 2026, before the parks open at The Happiest Place on Earth. Thousands of supporters of Rady Children’s Health Orange County (formerly CHOC) will be walking through Disneyland and Disney California Adventure together for this positive cause. Team Daps Magic will be among them (Join…
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Disney Live! Mickey’s Magic Show | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 21, 2006
On this day in 2006, the Disney Live! Mickey’s Magic Show touring production had its opening night in Columbia, South Carolina. Mickey Mouse, the master magician, was joined by a cast of illusionists, including Brad Ross and Zach Williams, as well as a group of favorite Disney characters. Audiences were amazed by mind-blowing illusions that…
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Make Mine Music | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 20, 1946
On this day in 1946, the musical anthology film ‘Make Mine Music’ debuted in New York City. It was Disney’s third package film out of six developed during the 1940s, starting with ‘Saludos Amigos’ and ending with ‘The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.’ ‘Make Mine Music’ followed the “package” format of combining multiple loosely…
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Hayden Christensen | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 19, 2081
On this day in 1981, actor Hayden Christensen was born. ‘Star Wars’ fans know him best for portraying Anakin Skywalker as he transitions into Darth Vader. Christensen reportedly beat over 1,500 other actors for the role and was chosen because he “[had] the presence of the Dark Side.” He originally appeared as Anakin in ‘Star…
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Hayley Mills | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 18, 1946
On this day in 1946, actress, singer, and Disney Legend Hayley Mills was born. Mills started her acting career at age 13 in ‘Tiger Bay,’ leading to her discovery by Walt Disney. He signed her to a six-film contract with Disney. Mills’ American film debut was in ‘Pollyanna,’ a role for which she earned an…
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Cars’ Road Trip ‘06 | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 17, 2006
On this day in 2006, the “‘Cars’ Road Trip ‘06” kicked off a 41-city tour of North America in promotion of the then-upcoming Disney/Pixar film ‘Cars.’ Guests could meet the life-sized Lightning McQueen and Sally Carrera, pick up giveaways, or enter to win collectibles. The cars were brought to life by movie car creator Eddie…
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 16, 2001
On this day in 2001, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opened to guests at the Walt Disney World Resort. Located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, the Deluxe Resort brings the African safari home. Guest room balconies overlook four savannas that house over 200 animals like zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, and impala. The Lodge was designed by Peter…
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Lemonade Mouth | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 15, 2011
On this day in 2011, the Disney Channel Original Movie ‘Lemonade Mouth’ premiered on TV. Based on a book by Mark Peter Hughes, ‘Lemonade Mouth’ follows five high schoolers who meet in detention and form a band to give a voice to those on the sidelines and conquer their own challenges. ‘Lemonade Mouth’ is seen…
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Radio Disney | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 14, 2021
On this day in 2021, Radio Disney shut down permanently after 25 years on the airwaves. Radio Disney launched in November 1996 as a network of stations geared toward kids and teens. It played contemporary pop and R&B music that steadily leaned into more Disney Channel artists like Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez. The present-day…
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United Artists | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 13, 1931
On this day in 1931, Walt Disney Productions officially announced its move to United Artists for film distribution. Disney had previously worked with Columbia to distribute its cartoons, but had a falling out and was seeking a better deal. United Artists, established by A-list filmmakers to support their own projects outside the big studios, was…
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James and the Giant Peach | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 12, 1996
On this day in 1996, ‘James and the Giant Peach’ was released in theaters. James is an orphan plagued by cruel aunts until he escapes inside a magically enlarged peach across the ocean to New York City with a newfound family of charmed insects. The original 1961 story from Roald Dahl was brought to the…
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Winnie the Pooh | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 11, 2006
On this day in 2006, Winnie the Pooh received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his impact on animated films as a symbol of the child in all of us. The star came during Disney’s 18-month celebration of Pooh’s 80th birthday after his creation by A. A. Milne in 1926.…
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Newsies | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 10, 1992
On this day in 1992, the live-action musical ‘Newsies’ was released in theaters. The film dramatizes the real newsboys’ strike during the summer of 1899 in New York City. The youth movement fought against the poor wages offered by the Pulitzer and Hearst newspaper companies. ‘Newsies’ was not a box office success but found a…
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Snow White Wishing Well and Grotto | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 9, 1961
On this day in 1961, Walt Disney dedicated the Snow White Wishing Well and Grotto at Disneyland. This picturesque spot for making wishes, taking photos, or getting engaged started with an anonymous gift of Carrara marble statues. John Hench figured out where to display them and how to use forced perspective and a waterfall to…
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Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 8, 2006
On this day in 2006, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast opened in Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris. The attraction is one of several at Disney Parks across the world that showcase Buzz Lightyear and allow guests to earn points by shooting lasers at targets while riding on Omnimover vehicles. The primary inspirations for the attraction are Buzz’s…
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Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 7, 2006
On this day in 2006, the Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain attraction opened in Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The rollercoaster is set in the Himalayas of northern India within the fictional kingdom of Anandapur. Guests take a railroad expedition through the Forbidden Mountain and meet its guardian, the Yeti,…
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The Castaway | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 6, 1931
On this day in 1931, the Mickey Mouse cartoon ‘The Castaway’ was released. A shipwrecked Mickey finds himself washing ashore on an island that is home to all kinds of animals. He eats bananas, plays a waterlogged piano, fends off some attackers, and escapes on a floating turtle. ‘The Castaway’ reused some animated scenes from…
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Sterling K. Brown | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 5, 1976
On this day in 1976, actor Sterling K. Brown was born. Marvel fans know him as N’Jobu from ‘Black Panther.’ For Disney, Brown can be heard in ‘Frozen II’ as the voice of Lieutenant Mattias. He also narrated the ‘One Day at Disney’ documentary series on Disney+. Hulu subscribers can watch Brown in ‘Paradise’ and…
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Cinderella | DISNEY THIS DAY | April 4, 2011
On this day in 2011, a “Royal Edition” of the animated classic ‘Cinderella’ was issued on DVD in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The limited edition release commemorated the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, held in London’s Westminster Abbey on April 29 that year. Each copy was numbered individually and came with…