The Disney Look.. to the Past! (January 3-9)
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 3 - 9
Jan. 4, 1936 - “Mickey’s Polo Team” (cartoon short) is released
Released in 1936 by United Artists, and produced by Walt Disney Productions, “Mickey’s Polo Team” is an eight minute animated short that features two teams, the Mickey Mousers and the Movie Stars, going horse-to-horse in a high-speed game of polo. The short was directed by David Hand and was inspired by Walt Disney’s own personal love for the sport. Disney also pays homage to some of the great entertainment icons of his time, by including caricatures and depictions of them in various scenes of the cartoon. Shirley Temple can be seen cheering from the stands with the Three Little Pigs, and other stars like Clark Gable, Eddie Cantor and Greta Garbo make appearances amongst the spectatorship.
Jan 8, 2004 - Disneyland Park welcomes its 500 millionth Guest
10 years ago, amidst a burst of confetti, Disney characters and music, Australian native Bill Trow entered into the happiest place on earth as the 500 millionth Guest to walk through the entrance turnstiles. Trow was visiting the resort at the time with his wife and 5-year old daughter, and described the experience as “simply amazing.” Initially thinking he had tripped a security alarm, Trow and his family were presented with an incredible welcome, as well as some additional gifts to commemorate the day including: a lifetime pass to the Disneyland Resort, a stay in the presidential suite at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, a VIP guided tour of the park, a giant gold key inscribed with 500,000,000 and even more! The Disneyland Resort was prepping to honor another milestone, their 50th anniversary, so welcoming Trow as the 500 millionth Guest acted as a lovely start to upcoming celebrations.
Also this week in Disney History:
Jan. 3
1964 - “Disneyland’s 10th Anniversary” TV special airs on “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” (television series)
1984 - The Astuter Computer Revue closes at Epcot
1994 - Kitchen Kabaret closes at Epcot
2001 - The Downtown Disney District soft opens at the Disneyland Resort
Jan. 4
1936 - “Mickey’s Polo Team” (cartoon short) released
1989 - Sunkist Citrus House closes at Disneyland Park
1994 - The Disney Inn closes at the Walt Disney World Resort (to become Shades of Green)
1996 - Disney shareholders approve the acquisition of Capitol Cities/ABC
1999 - Disneyland Paris begins accepting the new euro currency (aka “E-day”) in the form of credit cards, checks and travelers checks
2003 - The final performance of the Polynesian Revue takes place at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
2010 - Honey, I Shrunk the Audience closes at Disneyland Park
2012 - Blue Ribbon Bakery closes at Disneyland Park
Jan. 5
1935 - “The Tortoise and the Hare” (Silly Symphony) is released
1998 - Take Flight (longtime Tomorrowland attraction, originally named If You Had Wings) closes at Magic Kingdom Park
Jan. 6
1950 - Pluto’s Heart Throb (cartoon short) debuts
1997 - Rocket Jets closes at Disneyland Park
Jan. 7
1931 - “The Birthday Party” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts
1933 - “Building a Building” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts
1992 - Voyage of the Little Mermaid opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
2008 - Disney-MGM Studios is officially renamed Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Jan. 8
1936 - Walt Disney is inducted into the French Legion of Honor for his contributions to animation
1999 - Touchstone Pictures releases “A Civil Action”
2004 - Disneyland Park welcomes its 500 millionth Guest
Jan. 9
1937 - “Don Donald” (animated short) debuts, featuring Donald Duck and a character named Donna (who later became Daisy)
1976 - Disneyana Shop opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park
1987 - Star Tours opens at Disneyland Park
1999 - Horizons is open to Guests for the final day at Epcot
2012 - Over a dozen new songs are added to the Main Street, U.S.A. music loop at Disneyland Park
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