The Disney Look... to the Past! (06/28 - 07/04)

Here you are this week's look at the DISNEY past! Have fun!

This Week in Disney History: June 28 - July 4

July 4, 1956 -- Indian War Canoes (now Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes) open at Disneyland Park

Originally opened as part of Indian Country, this D-ticket attraction allowed guests to get an up-close and personal view of the Rivers of America, with everyone pitching in to paddle a 35-foot fiberglass canoe around Tom Sawyer Island, as real Native American guides pointed out sights from wild animals to geographic landmarks like Cascade Rock. When Indian Country became Bear Country in 1971, the attraction took a cue from Disney’s king of the wild frontier, becoming Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes with explorer scout guides modeling the hero’s trademark coonskin cap. It gained a unique distinction in 1989, as Bear Country became Critter Country with the opening of Splash Mountain: it is the only Disneyland attraction to have been in three separate lands without ever actually changing locations.

June 28, 1988 - Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa opens

With its trademark red roofs instantly recognizable from anywhere along the white sandy beaches of Seven Seas Lagoon, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the flagship hotel of the Walt Disney World Resort. Originally named the Grand Floridian Beach Resort, this Victorian-themed hotel reflects Key West and Caribbean influences, drawing design inspiration from the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Guests stay in one of 867 elegantly furnished rooms spread among six buildings named for islands in the Florida Keys. When not enjoying the unique zero depth entry pool, monorail service to Epcot or water taxis to nearby Magic Kingdom Park, guests can indulge in six restaurants, spanning from the luxurious seven-course signature dining experience of Victoria & Albert’s to the light-hearted, British-themed character dining of 1900 Park Fare.

Also this week in Disney history:

June 28  

1985 - Street Athletic Club opens at Magic Kingdom Park

2003 - Disneyland Park hosts the world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

   

June 29  

1974 - America Sings opens at Disneyland Park

1996 - Mickey's Toontown Fair opens at Magic Kingdom Park

2007 - Disney/Pixar releases Ratatouille

   

June 30  

1950 - “Motor Mania” (Goofy cartoon short) debuts 

1976 - The Kingdom Queen ferryboat joins the Walt Disney World Resort fleet

2008 - The Innoventions Dream Home opens at Disneyland Park

   

July 1  

1933 - The animated short “Mickey’s Gala Premiere” debuts

1966 - Primeval World opens at Disneyland Park 

1975 - WEDway PeopleMover (later called the Tomorrowland Transit Autorithy) opens at Magic Kingdom Park 

1994 - The Lion King Celebration parade debuts at Disneyland Park

1994 - Innoventions (formerly Communicore) opens at Epcot

1996 - Disney’s BoardWalk Resort opens at Walt Disney World

1998 - Touchstone Pictures releases Armageddon

1998 - Disney Magic cruise ship departs from Italy, bound for America

   

July 2  

1956 - Rainbow Caverns Mine Train debuts at Disneyland Park 

1967 - Carousel of Progress, Peoplemover, Rocket Jets and Tomorrowland Terrace open at Disneyland Park

1972 - Magic Kingdom I and II ferryboats debut at the Walt Disney World Resort

1986 - Walt Disney Pictures releases The Great Mouse Detective

1993 - Aladdin’s Oasis Dinner Show opens at Disneyland Park

   

July 3  

1985 - Tinker Bell makes her first flight at the Walt Disney World Resort 

2008 - The Mark VII Monorail Red opens to Guests at the Disneyland Resort

   

July 4  

1975 - Walt Disney Pictures releases The Apple Dumpling Gang

1984 - American Journeys" (Circle-Vision 360 film) debuts at Disneyland Park

1987 - Big Thunder Mountain opens at Tokyo Disneyland Park 

1996 - The town of Celebration, Florida officially opens

2001 - Disney’s Electrical Parade debuts at Disney’s California Adventure Park

2009 - The Hall of Presidents reopens at Magic Kingdom Park featuring a new Audio-Animatronic of President Barack Obama