The Disney Look... to the Past! (January 24-30)
Hello Orlando Theme Park News Readers, and welcome to the newest edition of the weekly feature known as "The Disney Look... to the Past!"
As always, we hope you will enjoy reading all of the following interesting facts about the Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Movies, and more. If you have any questions about this material, feel free to contact us or leave a message at the end of this post. Thank you!:
As always, we hope you will enjoy reading all of the following interesting facts about the Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Movies, and more. If you have any questions about this material, feel free to contact us or leave a message at the end of this post. Thank you!:
This Week in Disney History: January 24 - 30
Jan. 24, 1993 - Mickey’s Toontown opens at Disneyland Park
The debut of Mickey’s Toontown in 1993 was enjoyed by 700 media groups from 50 different countries, and it marked the opening of the first new Disneyland “land” since Bear (now Critter) Country in 1972, making it the eighth official land to debut at that time. Although only open to the public in 1993, Mickey’s Toontown was actually a thriving suburban area that Mickey and many of his toon pals called home for years. This metropolis full of topsy-turvy architecture moves, breathes and encourages its visitors to interact with everything from buildings, plants and characters. One of the most unique parts about Mickey’s Toontown is the fact there are no straight lines or right angles and everything is comprised of three-dimensional colorful cartoon elements. Visitors can hop into Lenny the Cab in Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin or meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse in their homes in Mickey’s Neighborhood.
Jan. 27, 1996 - The first Indy 200 race is held at the Walt Disney World Speedway
Each year, the Indy Racing League (IRL) kicks off its season with the first race in the competition, the Indy 200, and in 1996 it was hosted at the Walt Disney World Speedway. With a sell-out crowd of 51,000 spectators, this particular event was deemed a great success. The tickets went for around $90 and every hotel on property was booked to capacity. Disney president at the time, Michael Ovtiz, and Vice Chairman Roy Disney flew in from California to enjoy the race, and although the weather had been threatening for most of the morning, the rain had only fallen on the north and south areas of the track. Today, Guests visiting the Walt Disney World Speedway won’t find any more official racing events, but they can try their hand at driving a race car during the Richard Petty Driving Experience and the Indy Racing Experience.
Also this week in Disney History:
Jan. 24
1941 - “Pluto’s Playmate” (short) debuts
1993 - Mickey's Toontown opens at Disneyland Park
2006 - Disney announces its acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios
2007 - “Finding Nemo - The Musical” officially opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
2007 - The Seas with Nemo and Friends officially opens in Future World at Epcot
Jan. 25
1961 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “101 Dalmatians”
2002 - Touchstone Pictures releases “The Count of Monte Cristo”
Jan. 26
1945 - “The Clock Watcher” (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts
1975 - Flight to the Moon closes at Disneyland Park
2003 - “Jimmy Kimmel Live” debuts on ABC
2011 - The Disney Dream cruise ship departs from Port Canaveral, Fla. on its official maiden voyage
Jan. 27
1996 - The first Indy 200 race is held at the Walt Disney World Speedway
2012 - The inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend kicks off at the Disneyland Resort
Jan. 28
1932 - “The Duck Hunt” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts
1944 - “How to Be a Sailor” (Goofy cartoon short) debuts
1982 - Wally Boag gives his final performance in the Golden Horseshoe Revue at Disneyland Park
2010 - The ESPN Wide World of Sports facility is re-launched at the Walt Disney World Resort
2012 - Kellie Nickerson of Albuquerque, N.M. wins the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon at the Disneyland Resort
Jan. 29
1943 - “Donald’s Tire Trouble” (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts
1959 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “Sleeping Beauty”
1959 - Walt Disney Pictures releases “Grand Canyon” (featurette)
1998 - The Southern Seas makes its last cruise on Seven Seas Lagoon at the Walt Disney World Resort
Jan. 30
1998 - “Illuminations” debuts at Epcot
1998 - Hollywood Pictures releases “Deep Rising”
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