The Disney Look... to the Past! (October 18-24)

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: Oct 18 - 24

October 25, 1971 - The Walt Disney World Resort is officially dedicated in Florida

On October 25, 1971 thousands gathered on Main Street, U.S.A to be a part of the special dedication ceremony held in honor of the great Walt Disney. Roy O. Disney took to the podium, leading this special ceremony with the reading of the dedication he had written for his business partner and beloved younger brother. Roy played a pivotal role in the production and completion of Walt Disney World, which up until its opening had been referred to as The Florida Project. Roy had been preparing to retire but set aside these plans in order to lead Walt Disney Productions, maintaining and upholding the dream his late brother had been working so hard for. Today, Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom can catch a glimpse of Roy in Town Square through Blaine Gibson's statue "Sharing the Magic," a sculpture created in honor of Roy and his desire to complete his brother's last and greatest dream.

Oct. 18, 1967 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Jungle Book"
A young boy named Mowgli has been raised in the jungle by a pack of wolves, but when word spreads that the treacherous tiger Shere Khan has returned, the wolf elders decide that, for his own safety, Mowgli must return to the man village. Along his journey, Mowgli teams up with a carefree bear named Baloo, who proves to be a very loyal friend and protective force against Shere Khan. Adapted from Rudyard Kipling's classic novel, "The Jungle Book" features music from the Sherman Brothers, who provided seven of the eight original scores in the film. A few of the beloved characters were also featured in the 1990 animated TV series "Tale Spin", and in 1994, Walt Disney Pictures produced a live action version of the film. "The Jungle Book" was a labor of love for the animators who worked on it, made all the more special since it was the final collaboration they had with Walt Disney.

Also this week in Disney History:

Oct. 18

1926 - "Alice the Fire Fighter" (Alice cartoon short) debuts

1967 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Jungle Book," the last animated feature Walt supervised

1979 - A stage version of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" premieres at Radio City Music Hall

Oct. 19

1955 - "The Story of the Silly Symphony" debuts on "Disneyland" (television series)

1989 - Wonders of Life pavilion soft-opens at Epcot

Oct. 20

1931 - "The Fox Hunt" (Silly Symphony) debuts

1965 - The identity behind the fake corporations used by Walt Disney to purchase land for his Florida project is leaked to the Orlando Sentinel

1995 - Walt Disney Pictures releases the documentary "Frank and Ollie"

1997 - "Bear in the Big Blue House" (television series) premieres on Disney Channel

2008 - Blue Sky Cellar opens at Disney California Adventure Park

Oct. 21

1951 - "Fathers Are People" (Goofy cartoon short) debuts 

1982 - Epcot leaders dedicate El Rio del Tiempo at the Mexico pavilion

Oct. 22

1979 - The 100 millionth Guest visits Magic Kingdom Park 

1998 - The groundbreaking ceremonies for Tokyo DisneySea and the Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta take place in Japan

Oct. 23

1930 - "The Picnic" (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts 

1941 - Walt Disney's "Dumbo" is released in theatres 

1959 - "The Birth of the Swamp Fox," the first episode of an 8-part mini-series starring Leslie Nielsen, debuts on "Walt Disney Presents"

1982 - "EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration," hosted by Danny Kaye, airs on CBS

1985 - Nine Dragons Restaurant opens in the China pavilion at Epcot

Oct. 24

1929 - "Springtime" (first of four Silly Symphony cartoons based on the seasons) debuts

1964 - The "Ayefour Corporation" purchases the first five acres of land for Walt Disney's Florida project 

1982 - Epcot is officially dedicated at the Walt Disney World Resort 

2001 - Disney completes its acquisition of the Fox Family Channel, now ABC Family

2008 - Pixie Hollow opens at Magic Kingdom Park (meet & greet moved to Tinker Bell's Magical Nook in 2011)

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

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