The Disney Look... to the Past! (November 16-29)

Hello, and welcome to this special latest edition of the weekly feature known as "The Disney Look... to the Past!" Enjoy reading the following interesting facts about the Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Movies, and more:
_________________________________________________________________________

This Week in Disney History: November 16-29

Nov. 17, 1989 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Little Mermaid"

Many point to this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's tale about a mermaid princess who longed to be part of the human world as the start of the "Disney Renaissance," when Walt Disney Animation Studios produced a decade-long string of films that were its most celebrated works since the passing of its founder. It was the second pairing of directors Ron Clements and John Musker, who had previously worked on "The Great Mouse Detective" (1986) and would later oversee "Aladdin" (1992) and "The Princess and the Frog" (2009). Lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken, who were collaborating on a Disney film for the first time, won Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("Under the Sea"). Ariel's story has been performed live on stage since 1992 in "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" at Disney's Hollywood Studios and a full theatrical production debuted on Broadway in 2008. At Disney California Adventure Park, Guests can ride under the sea aboard The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure, which also opens next month as part of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.

Nov. 18, 1993 - The Partners statue is dedicated at Disneyland Park

In the middle of Central Plaza on Main Street, U.S.A., the dreamer who envisioned Disneyland Park joins hands with the animated mouse who made him known worldwide. On the 65th anniversary of Mickey Mouse's first short, "Steamboat Willie," this bronze statue was unveiled as a tribute to Walt Disney and his legacy. It was created by Blaine Gibson, a Disney Legend who also sculpted 41 members of the Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom Park, plus the denizens of Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. The inscription quotes Walt's vision for the original Disney theme park: "I think most of all, what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place, where parents and children can have fun, together." Duplications were later installed in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, and in Legends Plaza at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif. Earlier this year at Disney California Adventure Park, a similar statue entitled "Storytellers" was dedicated on Buena Vista Street, depicting Walt and Mickey as they appeared in the 1920s.

Also this week in Disney history:

Nov. 16
1990 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Rescuers Down Under" and the featurette "The Prince and the Pauper"
2004 - Stitch's Great Escape! officially opens at Magic Kingdom Park
2004 - Turtle Talk with Crush officially opens in The Living Seas at Epcot
2006 - Disney Theatrical Productions' "Mary Poppins" opens at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway

Nov. 17
1990 - Resort leaders begin a two-day grand opening for Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort
1993 - An interactive fountain between Future World and World Showcase opens at Epcot
1997 - Leaders dedicate the Disney Cruise Line Terminal at Port Canaveral

Nov. 18
1928 - "Steamboat Willie" (first cartoon with synchronized sound and the debut of Mickey Mouse) premieres
1962 - Swiss Family Robinson Tree House opens at Disneyland Park
1978 - Mickey Mouse becomes the first animated character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
1988 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Oliver & Company"
2001 - Chester & Hester's Dinorama! featuring TriceraTop Spin opens at Disney's Animal Kingdom
2011 - Toy Story Playland opens at Hong Kong Disneyland
2011 - Regis Philbin ends his run as co-host of "Live with Regis and Kelly"

Nov. 19
1932 - "Babes in the Woods" (Silly Symphony) debuts
1971 - Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground officially opens
1993 - President Bill Clinton is added to the Hall of Presidents attraction at Magic Kingdom Park
1999 - "it's a small world" becomes the first Disneyland Park attraction to offer Disney's FASTPASS

Nov. 20
1942 - "Pluto at the Zoo" (Pluto cartoon short) debuts
1963 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Incredible Journey"
1989 - The first $10 bill in Disney Dollars is released, featuring Minnie Mouse
1993 - Splashtacular, a live show centered around the interactive fountain in Future World, debuts at Epcot
1998 - Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios release "A Bug's Life"

Nov. 21
1994 - "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" opens at Epcot
1994 - The Timekeeper, a Circle-Vision 360 film, opens in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park
2007 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Enchanted"
2008 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Bolt"

Nov. 22
1974 - The Lake Buena Vista Club opens at the Walt Disney World Resort
1989 - The Walt Disney World Swan opens to Guests
1991 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Beauty and the Beast"
1991 - "Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage" debuts at Disney's Hollywood Studios
1994 - Disney's All-Star Music Resort opens at Walt Disney World
1995 - Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios release "Toy Story"

Nov. 23
1966 - Walt Disney goes to the Disney Studios in Burbank for the last time
1989 - Star Tours opens at Tokyo Disneyland
1998 - Kona Cafe (formerly Coral Isle Cafe) opens at Disney's Polynesian Resort
2011 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Muppets"

Nov. 24
1995 - The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights debuts at Disney's Hollywood Studios
1999 - Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios release "Toy Story 2"
2010 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Tangled," the Walt Disney Animation Studios' 50th full-length feature

Nov. 25
1938 - "Ferdinand the Bull" (animated short) debuts
1971 - America the Beautiful, a Circle-Vision 360 film, opens at Magic Kingdom Park
1987 - Touchstone Pictures releases "Three Men and a Baby"
1992 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Aladdin"
1996 - The Main Street Electrical Parade runs for the last time at Disneyland Park
2009 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Princess and the Frog"

Nov. 26
1943 - "Home Defense" (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts
1958 - "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" debuts as a theatrical feature (without the Mr. Toad segment from "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad")
1996 - Magic Kingdom Park leaders officially commission the Liberty Belle riverboat in Liberty Square

Nov. 27
1996 - Walt Disney Pictures releases the live-action version of "101 Dalmatians"
1997 - it's a small world at Disneyland Park receives its first holiday overlay
2002 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Treasure Planet"

Nov. 28
1947 - "Chip an' Dale" (short) debuts
1974 - StarJets open at the Magic Kingdom Park

Nov. 29
1971 - The Walt Disney World Resort hosts its first major golf tournament, a $150,000 championship on the Magnolia & Palm courses, won by Jack Nicklaus

_________________________________________________________________________

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

All photos and information subject to the copyright of the Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved.