The Disney Look... to the past! (June 18-24)

As we do every week, let's take a look at the past of the Walt Disney Company!

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This Week in Disney History: June 18-24

June 23, 1963 - The Enchanted Tiki Room opens at Disneyland Park

"Let's all sing like the birdies sing!" Who can resist the guilty pleasure of singing along with the hosts of the Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room: Jose, Fritz, Pierre and Michael (even if it's quietly so no one can hear you). Walt's celebration of Polynesian culture features a menagerie of approximately 150 singing, talking and dancing birds, flowers, tiki gods, drummers and a beautiful magical fountain. This attraction was the first to feature the now famous technology of Audio-Animatronics figures, bringing the talented entertainers of the attraction to life in a way never before seen. The Enchanted Tiki Room was also a Magic Kingdom Park opening-day attraction in 1971, although Walt Disney World guests knew it better as "Tropical Serenade." Iago from "Aladdin" and Zazu from "The Lion King" took control in 1998, putting their own spin on the Tiki Room "under new management," but later this summer, a show more reminiscent of the original version will grace the Sunshine Pavilion in Adventureland.

June 19, 1998 - DisneyQuest officially opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

The windowless blue-and-purple building in Downtown Disney West Side gives visitors little idea of what to anticipate inside, but anyone thinking this is an average arcade should drop his or her expectations at the front doors. After boarding the Cybrolator and ascending into this five-story interactive theme park with help from the Genie from "Aladdin," guests arrive at the Ventureport, an atrium connecting four unique zones filled with everything from classic video games to wildly immersive high-tech adventures.  Guests can design and then ride their own virtual roller coasters on Cyberspace Mountain, take a Virtual Jungle Cruise, duck dinosaurs while paddling a raft down a prehistoric river and play bumper car dodge ball aboard Buzz Lightyear's Astroblasters. Gamers who prefer old-school video conquests also will find Pac-Man, Asteroids and every edition of Donkey Kong along with new favorites like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero.

Also this week in Disney history:

June 18

1956 - Storybook Land Canal Boats open at Disneyland Park

1983 -"Flights of Fantasy" Parade debuts at Disneyland Park

1988 - Mickey's Birthdayland (later Mickey's Toontown Fair) opens at Magic Kingdom Park

1996 - The first residents move into Celebration, Fla. 

1997 - The Kingdom Queen ferryboat at the Walt Disney World Resort becomes General Joe Potter

1999 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Tarzan"

2010 - Disney-Pixar releases "Toy Story 3"

June 19

1995 - The "Partners" statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse is dedicated at Magic Kingdom Park

1998 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Mulan"

June 20

1976 - River Country opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

1995 - The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter opens at Magic Kingdom Park

1995 - Plans for Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park are announced at the Walt Disney World Resort 

1999 - 20th Century Music Company shop opens at Disneyland Park

June 21

1961 - "The Litterbug" (the last Donald Duck cartoon made) debuts

1961 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Parent Trap"

1991 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Rocketeer"

1996 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"

2002 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Lilo & Stitch"

June 22

1955 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Lady and the Tramp"

1970 - The Walt Disney Archives is established 

1977 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Rescuers"

1985 - Videopolis opens at Disneyland Park

1988 - Touchstone Pictures releases "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"

2005 - Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store open on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles

1996 - Dreamflight officially becomes Take Flight at Magic Kingdom Park

June 23

1944 - "Springtime for Pluto" (Pluto cartoon short) debuts

1956 - The Skyway attraction opens at Disneyland Park

1967 -Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Happiest Millionaire"

1989 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"

1995 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Pocahontas"

1999 - Tarzan's Treehouse opens at Disneyland Park

2005 - The No. 5 Ward Kimballengine is dedicated on the Disneyland Railroad

June 24

1893 - Roy Oliver Disney, Walt Disney's brother, is born 

1994 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Lion King"

1994 - The Electric Umbrella restaurant opens at Epcot

2006 - Disneyland Park plays host to the world premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

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Thanks for reading! See you next week.