The Disney Look... to the Past! (April 26-May 2)

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: April 26-May 2

April 29, 1994 - Astro Orbiter opens at Magic Kingdom Park

Ride the elevator up to the launch platform and get ready to blast off into the solar system. For an out-of-this-world view, pilot one of twelve spaceships that can climb up to 60 feet into the skies above Tomorrowland, establishing an orbit of 11 revolutions per minute around the central tower. Use the control lever to set a lower cruising altitude at any time during your 90-second flight. Astro Orbiter originally opened Nov. 28, 1974 as the Star Jets, which replicated the awe-inspiring Apollo-Saturn rockets launched from nearby Cape Canaveral. The 1994 refurbishment gave the Astro Orbiter a classic science fiction look, with redesigned rockets featuring glowing nose cones, plus a solar system of planets to whiz past during each flight. This Jules Verne-influenced design first appeared in the Orbitron at Disneyland Resort Paris in 1992, and Disneyland Park opened its Astro Orbitor (spelled with an “o,” do you copy?) as part of New Tomorrowland in 1998. The classic StarJets have flown high above Tokyo Disneyland since the park’s opening in 1983.

April 26, 2008 - “Walt & El Grupo” premieres at the San Francisco Film Festival

In 1941, as "Pinnochio" and "Fantasia" failed to deliver the box office success of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Walt Disney dealt with financial hardships at his fledgling studio and a fractured animation department that had struck against him. Meanwhile, President Franklin Roosevelt was increasingly concerned about the rise of Nazi and Fascist influences in South America, and he called upon Walt to take a cultural "goodwill tour" of the continent. Using it as a research opportunity for possible story projects, Walt brought a group of 16 all-star studio staffers and artists - El Grupo, as they were constantly referred to on travel itineraries. "Walt & El Grupo" tells the story of their ten-week trip through vivid historical footage and photography, correspondence, artwork created during the staff's travels, and anecdotes from the people they interacted with. Upon returning, Walt set to work on "Saludos Amigos" and "The Three Caballeros," the first two of the six “package” films produced by Disney during the 1940s while it supported the World War II effort.

Also this week in Disney history:

April 26

1940 - The animated short “Tugboat Mickey” debuts

1991 - “Dinosaurs,” a television series from Disney and Jim Henson, debuts on ABC

April 27

1951 - The Goofy cartoon short “Cold War” debuts

2001 - Rocket Rods permanently closes at Disneyland Park

April 28

1997 - King Stefan’s Banquet Hall at Magic Kingdom Park becomes Cinderella’s Royal Table

2006 - The very first Food & Wine Weekends are held at Disney California Adventure Park (later became Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival)

April 29

1994 - Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

2009 - Imagineers Rolly Crump and Don Edgren honored with windows on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park

April 30

1969 - Walt Disney World hosts its first official press event, showcasing plans for a theme park and resort hotel

May 1

1940 - Walt Disney receives a United States patent on his multi-plane animation camera

1977 - The Empress Lily Riverboat (now Fulton’s Crab House) opens at Downtown Disney Marketplace

1989 - Disney’s Hollywood Studios opens

1989 - Pleasure Island officially opens in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World

2009 - Kidani Village, the Disney Vacation Club wing of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, opens

May 2

1964 - “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” debuts at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York

2006 - Disneyland Park welcomes the two billionth Guest to a Disney Park worldwide

2012 - Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlour, Candy Palace and Penny Arcade reopen at Disneyland Park after an extensive refurbishment

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

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