The Disney Look.. to the Past! (May 31 - June 6)

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 31-June 6

June 1, 1989 - Typhoon Lagoon opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

Created in the wake of a fierce tropical storm that tossed the unfortunate Miss Tilly shrimp boat onto the top of Mount Mayday, Typhoon Lagoon was the second water park to open at Walt Disney World. The runoff waters from the receding storm produced thrilling slides like Mayday Falls and the five-story Humunga Kowabunga, and guests can venture into an abandoned banana processing facility to tackle the gravity-defying Crush ‘n’ Gusher water coaster. But it’s not all slipping and sliding - the Surf Pool cranks out six-foot waves for beginning and avid boardriders, and a sunken tanker offers the chance to snorkel with leopard and bonnethead sharks in Shark Reef. Better yet, pull up a lounge chair and relax on the white sandy beaches, with Miss Tilly’s whistle and the geyser blasts of Mount Mayday marking the time.

June 3, 2011 - The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure opens at Disney California Adventure Park

Generations of kids and grown-ups adore the mermaid who longed to be part of the human world, and 22 years after release, the film that started the “Disney Renaissance” of animation received its first proper Disney Parks attraction. Located in Paradise Pier, this dark ride uses the classic Omnimover system, with Guests boarding “clamshells” to go under the sea and experience the story of the 1989 Disney classic, based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. More than 200 Audio-Animatronic figures are found along the way, including Ariel’s fishy friend Flounder, calypso-crooning crab Sebastian, and of course Ursula the sea witch, leering ominously above her cauldron at more than seven feet tall. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s Oscar-winning score is used, with Jodi Benson (Ariel) and Pat Carroll (Ursula) reprising their singing roles. The attraction also opened in 2012 at Magic Kingdom Park as part of New Fantasyland.

Also this week in Disney history:

May 31

2008 - A Buzz Lightyear action figure joins the crew of space shuttle Discovery mission STS-124, blasting off to the International Space Station

2008 - Toy Story Midway Mania! opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

2012 - Disney’s Art of Animation Resort opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

June 1

1987 - If You Had Wings closes at Magic Kingdom Park

1995 - Space Mountain: From the Earth to the Moon opens at Disneyland Paris

1997 - The final performance of The Lion King Celebration parade takes place at Disneyland Park

June 2

1984 - The Laserphonic Fantasy premieres at the World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot

1989 - Touchstone Pictures releases “Dead Poets Society”

2002 - Epcot leaders dedicate Journey into Imagination with Figment

June 3

1949 - The Donald Duck/Chip ‘n’ Dale short “Winter Storage” debuts 

1983 - Bistro de Paris restaurant opens at the France pavilion at Epcot

2011 - Star Tours - The Adventures Continue opens at Disneyland Park

2011 - Wally Boag, Disney Legend and “Golden Horseshoe Revue” star at Disneyland Park, dies at age 90

June 4

1990 - The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel opens

1990 - Bengal Barbecue opens at Disneyland Park

1991 - Company D opens at the Walt Disney World Team Disney building

1997 - Magic Kingdom I ferryboat at the Walt Disney World Resort is renamed Admiral Joe Fowler

2011 - Betty Taylor, Disney Legend and “Slue Foot Sue” from Disneyland Park’s “Golden Horseshoe Revue,” dies at age 91

June 5

1972 - If You Had Wings opens at Magic Kingdom Park 

1999 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opens at Magic Kingdom Park

2000 - Touchstone Pictures releases “Gone in 60 Seconds”

June 6

1952 - The animated short “Susie, the Little Blue Coupe” debuts

1959 - Fantasyland Autopia opens at Disneyland Park

1959 - Submarine Voyage opens at Disneyland Park

1974 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “Herbie Rides Again”

1987 - If You Could Fly opens at Magic Kingdom Park

1997 - Touchstone Pictures releases “Con Air”

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

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