The Disney Look... to the past! (March 5-11)

As we post every Monday, here you are the usual glimpse at the rich past of the Walt Disney Company!:

_______________________________________________________________________

This Week in Disney History: March 5-11

March 11, 1977 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh"

Bringing to life the classic characters of A.A. Milne, this film compiled three previously released featurettes. "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" (1966) introduces the character Gopher ("I'm not in the book, you know!") while Pooh employs a balloon to get a smackerel of his favorite treat. "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" (1968) finds Pooh dreaming about heffalumps and woozles on a "Winds-day" night, and a flood hitting the Hundred Acre Wood. "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too" (1974) sees Rabbit get lost in the wood and Tigger bounces a little too far up a tree. Sterling Holloway voiced the title character, with music provided by the Sherman Brothers. Christopher Robin's friends will return to theatres this upcoming July 15 in the new animated film "Winnie the Pooh," featuring narration from John Cleese, Pixar veteran Bud Luckey as Eeyore, and comedian Craig Ferguson as Owl.

March 10, 2009 - Disney launches D23

"Are you 23?" was the question that had Disney fans guessing - and circling March 10 on the calendar. Announced on this day by Disney CEO Robert Iger, D23 is the first official community for Disney fans in company history (the "23" refers to 1923, the year Walt Disney founded his studio in Burbank, Calif.) Members receive the quarterly collectible magazine Disney twenty-three, delivering the ultimate insiders' perspective, as well as access to exclusive special events, gifts and merchandise. The inaugural D23 Expo was held at the Anaheim Convention Center in September 2009, featuring new attraction first-looks, world-premiere screenings and celebrity appearances from Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Miley Cyrus and Robin Williams. The expo returns to Anaheim this Aug. 19-21. Cast will be able to purchase discounted tickets beginning in May.

Also this week in Disney history:

March 5

1991 - "Avonlea" debuts on Disney Channel

1983 - Journey into Imagination, the attraction starring Figment and Dreamfinder, opens at Epcot

2010 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Alice in Wonderland," directed by Tim Burton

March 6

1980 - "Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary," featuring Danny Kaye, Annette Funicello and Michael Jackson, airs on television

March 7

2008 - Disney Legend Bob Gurr receives a window on Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Park

2010 - Disney-Pixar's "Up" wins Best Animated Feature Film at the 82nd Academy Awards

March 8

1986 - Pirates of the Caribbean and Alice's Tea Party open at Tokyo Disneyland

1999 - "Disney's Doug Live!" stage show debuts at the Disney-MGM Studios (replacing SuperStar Television)

2002 - "Disney's Around the World," a new shop featuring items from Disney theme parks around the world, opens at the Main Street Cinema at Magic Kingdom Park

March 9

1984 - "Splash," the first film released under the Touchstone Pictures banner, debuts

1999 - "Frank and Ollie," a documentary about animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, debuts on video

March 10

1978 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Return from Witch Mountain"

1996 - Fulton's Crab House opens at the Downtown Disney Marketplace

March 11

2010 - Disney music composers Richard and Robert Sherman receive a window on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park

_______________________________________________________________________

All pictures and info are subject to the copyright of the Walt Disney ® Company. All rights reserved.