The Disney Look... to the Past! (May 17-23)

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: May 17-23

May 20, 1973 - Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Belle debut at Magic Kingdom Park

Who’s ready for adventure? Board a log raft and head for the island in the middle of the Rivers of America, where the young rapscallion from Mark Twain’s novels inspired a fun-filled Frontierland hideaway. Dirt trails and rustic bridges lead to landmarks like the stalagmite-filled caverns of Injun Joe’s Cave, the giant waterwheel of Harper’s Mill, and Fort Langhorn, an early frontier settlement. The original Tom Sawyer Island opened at Disneyland Park in 1955, and has the distinction of being the only Disney Parks attraction personally designed by Walt Disney. Circumnavigating the island is the Liberty Square Riverboat, an authentic recreation of a 19th century sternwheeler like the ones that paddled down the Mississippi River. Originally named for Richard F. Irvine, a Disney designer and executive, the ship stands 47 feet tall and has 4 decks for Guests to explore, plus take in picture-perfect views of Tom Sawyer Island, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. It opened as Magic Kingdom Park’s second riverboat after the “Admiral” Joe Fowler debuted in 1971, and the two ships sailed the Rivers of America simultaneously until 1980. After an extensive 1996 refurbishment, the Richard F. Irvine was renamed the Liberty Belle.

May 19, 1971 - Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes open at Disneyland Park

Grab a paddle and find a buddy, because you’re about to get an up close and personal view of the Rivers of America. Originally opened July 4, 1956 as the Indian War Canoes, this unique experience allows Guests young and old to pitch in and paddle a 35-foot fiberglass canoe around Tom Sawyer Island. It first required a D-ticket for admission, and featured Native American guides pointing out sights along the way, from wild animals to geographic landmarks like Cascade Rock. In 1971, the attraction took a cue from Disney’s king of the wild frontier, becoming Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes with explorer scout guides modeling the hero’s trademark coonskin cap. But prior to the name change in 1963, an Indian War Canoe guide and a Jungle Cruise skipper started a friendly challenge to see which area’s Cast Members were the faster paddlers, the Disneyland Resort Canoe Races were born. The tradition celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this summer on the Rivers of America.

Also this week in Disney history:

May 17

1964 - “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair” debuts on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color

1991 - Disney’s Port Orleans Resort opens at Walt Disney World

1991 - Touchstone Pictures releases “What About Bob?”

2004 - Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa opens at Walt Disney World

May 18

1951 - “Plutopia” (Pluto cartoon short) debuts

1995 - Disney acquires a 25 percent interest in the California Angels baseball club

2003 - Disney?Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” premieres at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles

2009 - Wayne Allwine, Disney Legend and voice of Mickey Mouse, dies at age 62

May 19

1934 - “Gulliver Mickey” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1960 - “Pollyanna,” Hayley Mills’ first film for the Walt Disney Studios, is released

1984 - Pvt. Donald Duck received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army (after being drafted in a 1942 short)

2000 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “Dinosaur”

2007 - The world premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is held at Disneyland Park

May 20

1973 - The Plaza Swan Boats open at Magic Kingdom Park

1996 - Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

2011 - Star Tours - The Adventures Continue opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

May 21

1948 - The animated short “Donald’s Dream Voice” debuts

2001 - The world premiere of Touchstone Pictures’ “Pearl Harbor” is held in Hawaii

May 22

1998 - DisneyQuest soft opens to guests in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World

1998 - Rocket Rods, “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience,” Astro Orbitor and Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port open as part of a renovated Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park

May 23

1922 - Walt Disney incorporates Laugh-O-Gram Films, his first cartoon company in Kansas City

1983 - A renovated Fantasyland opens at Disneyland Park, including the new attraction Pinnochio’s Daring Journey

1997 - Light Magic debuts at Disneyland Park

2001 - The Magic Carpets of Aladdin opens at Magic Kingdom Park

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

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