Tag: Walt Disney
-
Walt Disney | DISNEY THIS DAY | November 1, 1966
On this day in 1966, the American Forestry Association presented their Distinguished Service Award to Walt Disney at a ceremony in Williamsburg, Virginia. The prize honored Disney’s outstanding contributions to conservation, including his support for the National Wildlife Federation. In his unscripted remarks, Disney emphasized the responsible stewardship of natural resources and his vision for…
-
Walt Disney’s EPCOT ’66 | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 27, 1966
On this day in 1966, Walt Disney filmed his final on-camera appearance, “Walt Disney’s EPCOT ’66.” It was a 24-minute presentation outlining his vision for the Florida Project and EPCOT, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Shot in a single day, the film showcased plans for what would become Walt Disney World, with EPCOT as…
-
Tour Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream I Plane This Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum
This Saturday, October 17, you can be among the first to experience a special evening at the Palm Springs Air Museum. This evening will feature a rare opportunity to step inside Walt Disney’s newly restored Grumman Gulfstream I. The Grumman Gulfstream I was seen at the D23 Expo in September 2022, where guests had the…
-
Thank You Walt Disney, Inc. | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 11, 1996
On this day in 1996, the nonprofit Thank You Walt Disney, Inc. purchased the McConahay Building in Kansas City, Missouri, the former home of Laugh-O-Gram Studios. Walt Disney opened his first animation studio in a five-room suite on the second floor. Although the business only lasted about a year, it laid the groundwork for Disney’s…
-
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 24, 1961
On this day in 1961, ‘Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color’ premiered on NBC. The network move allowed Disney to produce the series in full color, since only NBC broadcast in color then. Walt Disney introduced “An Adventure in Color” and “Donald in Mathmagicland” for the first airing. The pompous yet lovable scholar, Professor Ludwig…
-
Disney Animation Strike | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 12, 1941
On this day in 1941, the Disney animation strike reached a turning point as federal mediation concluded and the studio was restructured, changing animation forever. The strike began May 29 when staff grievances about unequal pay, lack of screen credit, and fired union organizers boiled over. After five weeks of nonstop picketing, FDR called in…
-
Walt Disney | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 5, 1911
On this day in 1911, nine-year-old Walt Disney entered Benton Grammar School in Kansas City, Missouri, following his family’s move from Marceline. Walt had a hard time paying attention in school, mostly because he woke up at 3 AM every day to deliver newspapers. Even so, he devoured books and took up cartooning at school,…
-
Milton and Rita Mouse | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 2, 1931
On this day in 1931, Disney reached a settlement in their copyright infringement lawsuit against the Van Beuren Corp. Mickey and Minnie Mouse became popular targets for copycats after their 1928 debut. When Walt Disney saw Van Beuren’s ‘The Office Boy,’ he criticized Milton and Rita Mouse as “jerky,” “amateurish,” and “ugly.” A judge ruled…
-
Disneyland Hotel | DISNEY THIS DAY | August 25, 1956
On this day in 1956, the Disneyland Hotel hosted its official grand opening gala. Although the hotel first welcomed guests in October 1955, there were only eight rooms open at the time, contrasted with the 204 available the following August. The opening ceremony and ribbon cutting were conducted by co-owners Jack Wrather and Helen Alvarez…
-
VIDEO: Walt Disney – 125 Years of Inspiration
There were so many amazing moments, panels, and presentations throughout D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Some of these were at the Anaheim Convention Center, and some were at the Honda Center. One of the highlights was a magical look at the continued legacy of inspiration of Walt Disney. This came 125 years after Walt…
-
Walt & El Grupo | DISNEY THIS DAY | August 11, 1941
On this day in 1941, the Disney team dubbed “El Grupo” set off from California to begin a 10-week goodwill tour of South America. Walt and Lillian Disney were joined by 16 creatives and administrators on visits to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. The U.S. State Department sponsored the tour under President Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor…
-
Robert S. Disney | DISNEY THIS DAY | August 7, 1861
On this day in 1861, Robert S. Disney was born, the uncle of Walt and Roy O. Disney. He played a critical role in shaping Walt Disney’s early life in Missouri and eventual success in the film industry. Uncle Robert found financial prosperity in real estate and mining before retiring to California in the 1920s.…
-
Lt. Robin Crusoe USN | DISNEY THIS DAY | July 29, 1966
On this day in 1966, the live-action comedy ‘Lt. Robin Crusoe USN’ was released. The story is a modernized spoof of Daniel Defoe’s 1719 classic ‘Robinson Crusoe.’ Dick Van Dyke stars as a clumsy Navy pilot who is stranded on a tropical island after crashing. He builds elaborate structures using supplies from an abandoned submarine,…
-
Alice in Wonderland | DISNEY THIS DAY | July 28, 1951
On this day in 1951, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ was released in the United States. Work on the project began in the 1930s with a live actress envisioned for Alice, similar to the ‘Alice Comedies.’ But Walt Disney was not pleased with the early drafts and concept art, which he felt were too dark. It took…
-
New Orleans Square | DISNEY THIS DAY | July 24, 1966
On this day in 1966, New Orleans Square opened at Disneyland. It was the park’s first new land and cost about $18 million to build – more than the Louisiana Purchase in 1803! The design of the three-acre plaza was meant to evoke the French Quarter of the 1850s. Opening day highlights were shopping, dining,…
-
New ‘We Call It Imagineering’ Bonus Clip Shows Original Disneyland Maps
Last week, Disneyland celebrated its 71st birthday. This was done with a cavalcade featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, the Disneyland Band, Dapper Dans, Disney friends, and some other performers. While the day was being celebrated with confetti and balloons in the park, Walt Disney Imagineering offered a different perspective on the day. In a We…
-
Author Bill Cotter to Appear at Walt’s Barn and Garden Grove Historical Society This Weekend
Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn and Combine Exhibit in Griffith Park is open on the third Sunday of the month from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, which allows guests of all ages to enjoy an afternoon of fun with special exhibits and guests. The Carolwood Foundation continues to carry on Walt Disney’s legacy, specifically regarding his…
-
Tom Hanks | DISNEY THIS DAY | July 9, 1956
On this day in 1956, actor, screenwriter, and cultural icon Tom Hanks was born. Known for countless comedic and dramatic roles, his breakout film was ‘Big’ in 1988. For Pixar, Hanks has voiced Woody in the ‘Toy Story’ films and commercials since 1995. For Disney, he portrayed his distant cousin, Walt Disney, in ‘Saving Mr.…
-
D23 Marceline Magic Event to Celebrate 125th Birthday of Walt Disney
December 5, 2026 marks the 125th birthday of Walt Disney, and D23 will help celebrate this birthday milestone and legacy with an event in celebrating “Walt Disney: 125 Years of Inspiration” at Walt’s boyhood home of Marceline, Missouri exclusively for D23 Gold Members. This fan-favorite event filled with Disney history is returning September 18-19, 2026,…
-
The Great Locomotive Chase | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 8, 1956
On this day in 1956, Disney’s live-action adventure film ‘The Great Locomotive Chase’ was released. The story was based on a real mission during the Civil War. Union spy James Andrews leads a band of 22 soldiers to steal a Confederate train in Georgia and drive it to Union territory, destroying the railway system as…
-
A Great Big Beautiful Reimagining for the Carousel of Progress
Change is coming to Tomorrowland, and it is a great big beautiful one. Following a massive announcement from Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom will close on July 6, 2026, for a total reimagining before reopening to guests in 2027. The attraction will be updated with entirely new time periods,…
-
Dr. Sukarno | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 1, 1956
On this day in 1956, the first president of Indonesia, Dr. Sukarno, became the first head of state to visit Disneyland. He was joined by his 12-year-old son, Guntur, and a diplomatic party on an 18-day state visit and goodwill tour of the United States. Walt Disney showed President Sukarno around the park personally. Both…
-
New Refill Station Appears on Main Street, USA
A new refill station has appeared on Main Street, USA. This new station for guests to refill water bottles can be found behind the Market House near the lockers, halfway up Main Street on the right. This is technically on Center Street. The refill station is found on what was a “test wall.” There was…
-
There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for Reimagined Carousel of Progress
The Carousel of Progress is going to get a new great big beautiful tomorrow. Last year, it was announced that the attraction would be receiving a new Walt Disney audio-animatronic after the introduction of the figure in Walt Disney – A Magical Life at Disneyland earlier in the year. Today, it was announced that Walt…