The Disney Look... to the Past! (June 22-28)

Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of the weekly feature known as "The Disney Look... to the Past!"

Enjoy reading all of the following interesting facts about the Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Movies, and more:

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This Week in Disney History: June 22-28

June 23, 1963 – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opens at Disneyland Park
“Let’s all sing like the birdies sing!” Walt Disney’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, 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 Resort 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.” In 2011, a show more reminiscent of the original version returned to the Sunshine Pavilion in Adventureland.


June 22, 1977 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “The Rescuers”
Hidden within the cracks of the United Nations, the mice of the Rescue Aid Society work tirelessly to help those in need of assistance. When they receive a message in a bottle from Penny, an orphan who has been kidnapped by a vindictive pawn shop owner in search of a rare diamond, Hungarian representative Miss Bianca is assigned to the case. Rather than take another society member, she appoints the clumsy janitor Bernard as her assistant, and the two follow the trail of clues into a dark bayou teeming with adventure, alligators and a touch of romance. Based on the novels by Margery Sharp, “The Rescuers” marked the final collaborative work between “Nine Old Men” animators Milt Kahl, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, and featured Eva Gabor and Bob Newhart as the voices of Miss Bianca and Bernard. In 1990, the pint-sized heroes went back on the case in the Australian-flared sequel “The Rescuers Down Under.”

Also this week in Disney history:

June 22

1955 – Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp” is released

1970 – The Walt Disney Archives are established

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

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”

1996 – Dreamflight officially becomes Take Flight at Magic Kingdom Park

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 hosts the world premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”

2011 – Disney•Pixar releases “Cars 2”

June 25

1930 – “The Fire Fighters” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1967 – “America the Beautiful” (CircleVision 360 film) opens at Disneyland Park

June 26

1957 – The Viewliner train opens at Disneyland Park

1959 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Darby O’Gill and the Little People”and “Donald in Mathmagic Land”

1989 – Delta Dreamflight officially opens at Magic Kingdom Park

2006 – Pirates of the Caribbean officially reopens at Disneyland Park with Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa Audio-Animatronics figures added to the attraction

June 27

1986 – Big Thunder Ranch opens at Disneyland Park

1997 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Hercules”

2008 – Disney•Pixar releases “WALL•E”

June 28

1988 – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa opens

1995 – Main 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”

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Thank you for reading, and have a great rest of your weekend!

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