The Disney Look... to the Past! (May 24-30)

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 24-30

May 27, 1948 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “Melody Time”

The fifth of the “package” films produced by Disney during and following World War II, “Melody Time” is a compilation of seven animated shorts set to music, all reflecting a wide range of styles and influences. The intro “Once Upon a Wintertime” follows two 19th century couples falling in love while enjoying the snow, to a vocal by Frances Langford. “Bumble Boogie” sets the nightmares of a bee against a swinging, jazzy score, and “Trees” is a unique meditation upon a poem by Alfred Joyce Kilmer. “Blame It on the Samba” features Donald Duck, Jose Carioca and the notorious Aracuan Bird grooving to the famous Brazilian dance, with music provided by famed organist Ethel Smith. The final short is the Texas folk tale “Pecos Bill,” as told by Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers. The segment is mixed with live action scenes of Rogers and company telling the story to young actors Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten in front of the campfire. Driscoll and Patten also costarred in “Song of the South” (1946) and “So Dear to My Heart” (1949), and Driscoll later provided the iconic voice of “Peter Pan” (1953).

May 28, 1966 - “it’s a small world” opens at Disneyland Park

Walt Disney’s vision of brotherhood and friendship that reached around the world was brought to life by the warm and childlike illustrations of Disney Legend, Mary Blair for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Mary envisioned the attraction as a “pop-up book” that looked like the children within the story designed their worlds themselves. When the attraction was moved to Disneyland Park in 1966, Mary also designed the fanciful external façade. The perfect soundtrack for “it’s a small world” is the title song, penned by Richard and Robert Sherman. Walt had clear instructions — that the song represent children as the light of the future, and able to be sung by everyone the world over, in any language. The Sherman Brothers succeeded, creating arguably the catchiest Disney attraction theme song of all time, which is now also enjoyed by visitors to Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland. In 2009, even more Disney magic was added to the classic attraction, in the form of children dressed in Mary Blair style as their favorite characters, including Pinocchio in Europe, Mulan in China and Nemo in Australia.

Also this week in Disney history:

May 24

1968 - President Lyndon B. Johnson presents a Congressional Gold Medal to Lillian Disney, commemorating Walt Disney’s “distinguished public service and outstanding contributions to the United States and to the world”

2004 - Toontown Online, a new internet multiplayer game from Disney Interactive, debuts

May 25

1983 - Pinocchio’s Daring Journey opens at Disneyland Park

2007 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”

2007 - Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island opens at Disneyland Park

2011 - Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar and Tangaroa Terrace open at the Disneyland Hotel

2012 - The nighttime street celebration Mad T Party debuts at Disney California Adventure Park

May 26

1986 - Spaceship Earth reopens at Epcot featuring a new narration by Walter Cronkite

1990 - Mickey’s Starland (formerly Mickey’s Birthdayland) opens at Magic Kingdom Park

2006 - Disney·Pixar’s “Cars” premieres at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

May 27

1933 - The Silly Symphony short “Three Little Pigs” debuts

1977 - Space Mountain opens at Disneyland Park

1985 - Epcot hosts the Presidential Inaugural Parade for Ronald Reagan

1995 - Casey’s Corner opens at Magic Kingdom Park

2011 - Mickey’s Soundsational Parade debuts at Disneyland Park

May 28

1960 - Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland opens in Frontierland at Disneyland Park

1966 - “it’s a small world” opens at Disneyland Park

1994 - Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

1999 - The Main Street Electrical Parade returns to Magic Kingdom Park

May 29

1990 - The Sorcery in the Sky fireworks show debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

1991 - Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 100 millionth guest

1992 - Touchstone Pictures releases “Sister Act”

2009 - Disney·Pixar releases “Up”

2011 - A new pool area featuring Monorail-themed water slides opens at the Disneyland Hotel

May 30

1936 - “Thru the Mirror” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1953 - “Don’s Fountain of Youth” (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts

1967 - Groundbreaking is held for the construction of the Walt Disney World Resort

2003 - Disney·Pixar releases “Finding Nemo”

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

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