The Disney Look... to the Past! (December 14-20)

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: December 14-20

Dec. 14, 2003 - Disney’s Pop Century Resort opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

If you’re old enough to remember 45 RPM records, platform shoes, Rubik’s Cubes or (gasp!) floppy disks, then celebrate your nostalgic side at this Value Resort located near ESPN Wide World of Sports. The “Pop” is for pop culture, and outside the 10 Guest buildings housing 2,880 rooms are larger-than-life recreations of some of the most “Remember when?” inducing cultural curios of the 20th century, including Disney characters, a Big Wheel and an enormous foosball table. You can also find food and souvenirs at Everything Pop, or chill out at one of the resort’s three pools. The “classic” pop culture references span from the 1950s through 1990s, and the resort was originally planned to have a second “legendary” phase, highlighting milestones from the first half of the century. This development eventually became Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, opened earlier this year.

Dec. 20, 2002 - Ariel’s Grotto opens at Disney California Adventure Park

Head to Paradise Pier and go under the sea for a character dining experience featuring Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.” Opened as Avalon Cove in 2001, Ariel’s Grotto is nestled into Paradise Bay, with a spiral staircase inside the entrance leading down to the ocean-themed dining room, along with a covered patio that extends onto the waterfront outside. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, many items on the tiered menu are designed for sharing, including the antipasti tower stacked with shrimp and lobster salad, Manchego cheese and fresh fruit. Entrees include Santa Maria-style tri-tip smoked over red oak wood, cioppino with lobster tail and scallops, and sustainable fish selections with pineapple chutney. Have your cameras and autograph books ready, because you’ll also enjoy face time with Ariel and other Disney Princesses, including Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

Also this week in Disney history:

Dec. 14
1935 - “Broken Toys” (Silly Symphony) debuts
1961 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “Babes in Toyland”
1973 - The Golf Resort (now called Shades of Green) opens at the Walt Disney World Resort
1986 - Big Thunder Barbecue opens at Disneyland Park

Dec. 15
1966 - Walt Disney passes away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Los Angeles
1973 - Pirates of the Caribbean opens at Magic Kingdom Park
1989 - Star Tours opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
1991 - The new Frontierland Train Station opens at Magic Kingdom Park
1995 - Pizza Planet opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
1997 - Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop opens at the Downtown Disney Marketplace
2000 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “The Emperor’s New Groove”
2004 - Fess Parker (“Davy Crockett” actor) is honored with a tribute window in Frontierland at Disneyland Park

Dec. 16
1952 - WED Enterprises is founded (later renamed Walt Disney Imagineering)
1977 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “Pete’s Dragon”
1978 - “The Small One,” an animated featurette, debuts
1983 - The first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held at the Walt Disney World Resort
1983 - “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (Mickey’s first theatrical cartoon since 1953) debuts
1997 - Lillian Disney (Walt Disney’s widow) passes away
2009 - Roy E. Disney (son of Roy O. Disney and director emeritus of The Walt Disney Company) dies at age 79

Dec. 17
1931 - “The Ugly Duckling” (Silly Symphony) debuts
1932 - “Mickey’s Good Deed” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts
1990 - Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
1994 - Snow White’s Adventures reopens with new scenes at Magic Kingdom Park
2010 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “TRON: Legacy”

Dec. 18
1985 - Disney and the French government reach an agreement to build a theme park in Marne-la-Vallee

Dec. 19
1999 - Tomorrowland Speedway becomes Tomorrowland Indy Speedway at Magic Kingdom Park

Dec. 20
1971 - Roy O. Disney (Walt’s brother and former president & chairman of The Walt Disney Company) passes away at age 78
1991 - Touchstone Pictures releases “Father of the Bride”

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

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