Tag: Walt Disney
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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…
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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.…
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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,…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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it’s a small world | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 28, 1966
On this day in 1966, the ‘it’s a small world’ attraction opened in its new home in Fantasyland at Disneyland after its run at the New York World’s Fair. Walt Disney was joined by over 50 representatives from nations worldwide, officials from its sponsor, Bank of America, and international youth performing groups. Around 15 bottles…
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Walt Disney | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 12, 1993
On this day in 1993, Walt Disney was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians. The award is given to Missouri natives who have made significant contributions to the world. Disney’s impact on film and animation was recognized with a bronze bust displayed in the third-floor rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol. Disney’s formative years…
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Happy National Train Day!
Happy National Train Day! Each year, this day is celebrated on the Saturday that is closest to May 10th. It was founded in 2008 by Amtrak. This is the date that the Golden Spike was pounded into the ground at Promontory, Utah. While Amtrak’s official celebration of National Train Day was canceled in 2015, fans…
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Walt Disney Takes You to Disneyland | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 1, 1956
On this day in 1956, Disneyland Records released its first record album, ‘Walt Disney Takes You to Disneyland.’ It was the first time Disney produced, advertised, and distributed its own recordings, having previously outsourced this process. It was also the only album Walt recorded for his own label. Walt’s narrations set the stage for each…
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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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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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Wally Feignoux | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 26, 1906
On this day in 1906, continental cinema representative and Disney Legend Wally Feignoux was born. Wally was hired in 1936 to represent Disney in Europe. WWII broke out a few years later, putting Disney’s interests and personnel in Europe at great risk. Wally heroically kept the Paris office open from 1936 to 1945 during the…
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Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medal | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 25, 1969
On this day in 1969, U.S. President Richard Nixon presented Lillian Disney with the Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medal. Congress passed Public Law 90-316 to honor Disney’s service to motion pictures, theme parks, goodwill, and philanthropy. The award was sculpted by Blaine Gibson and struck by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. Six thousand bronze replicas…
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Laugh-O-Gram | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 20, 1921
On this day in 1921, the first of six Laugh-O-gram films debuted at the Newman Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. The series of minute-long shorts were some of the first films Walt Disney ever made. They depict a young Walt hand-drawing various subjects onto a single frame. The films were made in the shed behind…
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Vision Becomes Reality as Orlando Honors Walt Disney World Announcement Site
Between April 1964 and September 1965, people in the Central Florida area were wondering who was buying up so much of the land near Kissimmee, 22 miles southwest of Orlando. The land was purchased by Walt Disney Productions using dummy corporations like M.T. Lott Real Estate and Reedy Creek Ranch Corporation. If it were made…
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Walt Disney | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 1, 1941
On this day in 1941, Walt Disney gave the radio address “Our American Culture” as part of the “Our American Way of Living” weekly broadcast series. Organized by the National Council of Women as World War II raged overseas, the talks sought to combat fascism and authoritarianism with American ideals. Disney’s speech reinforced that “the…
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Walt Disney | DISNEY THIS DAY | February 26, 1942
On this day in 1942, Walt Disney was the recipient of the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award during the Academy Awards Ceremony. The honor is a type of lifetime achievement award that is given by the Academy’s Board of Governors to creative producers who make consistently high-quality films. Amazingly, Disney had only released cartoon shorts…
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D23 to Host Walt’s Los Angeles Tour Presented by The Walt Disney Archives
D23 Gold Members are invited to an exciting, exclusive experience presented by the Walt Disney Archives, which will take members on a history-helmed tour of Los Angeles centered around Walt Disney. Members will enjoy another day of sun around Tinseltown with factual friends at the Archives—exploring sites and stories from when Walt was just someone in the…
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Walt’s Storytellers Statue Gets Put Behind Walls in Disney California Adventure
When Disney California Adventure had its grand reopening in 2012, one highlight for many Disney fans was a new statue of Walt Disney that was found on Buena Vista Street. Called Storytellers, this statue shows Walt Disney having just stepped off the train from Kansas City with a “suitcase and a dream.” Of course, a…
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Keller’s Jungle Killers | DISNEY THIS DAY | February 19, 1956
On this day in 1956, the Keller’s Jungle Killers circus act opened at Disneyland. The big cat show was held over after the Mickey Mouse Club Circus closed. College professor George Keller grew up training house cats and eventually upgraded to wild cats like lions, tigers, and leopards. He and the big cats performed their…
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Mickey’s Surprise Party | DISNEY THIS DAY | February 18, 1939
On this day in 1939, the animated short ‘Mickey’s Surprise Party’ was released to the Nabisco snack company to be shown at the New York World’s Fair. Minnie’s batch of cookies is ruined when her dog Fifi gets popcorn into the batter, and they explode. Mickey saves the day by bringing home some Nabisco treats.…