The Disney Look... to the Past! (April 11-17)
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: April 11-17
April 12, 1992 — The opening of Disneyland Paris
The Walt Disney Company is well loved across the globe, which is why it wanted to find a way to share the magic of Disneyland Park with Disney fans across the sea. Plans to build a European version of this beloved theme park began in 1975. Initially Great Britain, Italy, Spain and France were considered as possible locations, but France was the obvious choice with the perfect plot of land near Paris, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Construction began in August 1988 on the nearly 5,000 acres of land.
Disneyland Paris, then called Euro Disney, opened April 12, 1992 to small but excited crowds. Admission was $41 for adults and $27 for children. Different than sunny Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris is not always radiating with sunlight. Fire places can be found throughout the park with wide, covered arcades flanking Main Street U.S.A. to offer shelter from chilly weather. The park originally opened with 26 attractions, including Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World, Space Mountain: Mission 2 and Phantom Manor. Today, Disneyland Paris continues to grow, with a new “Ratatouille” inspired area set to open soon.
April 11, 2003 — The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh grand opening at Disneyland Park
Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood live the furry friends we have grown to know and love. A bear with a rumbly tummy, a tiger with a bouncing problem, a rabbit with a flair for gardening and a timid little pig with a big heart all play in this happy place, with the help of their friend Christopher Robin. Together these friends have many adventures as they learn how to get out of “sticky” situations and help one another be happy even on a rainy day (except Eeyore, as he tends to be a bit gloomy).
The story of these beloved characters came to life on April 11, 2003, when The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction opened at Disneyland Park. Built in the former location of Country Bear Playhouse, this exciting ride takes Guests on a journey through the Hundred Acre Wood with eight colorful scenes that bring this child's world to life. Although the grand opening media event was cancelled due to increased news coverage for the war in Iraq, Guests still lined up by the hundreds to ride this exciting new attraction opening day. Although new, the attraction still kept some of the Country Bear Playhouse’s rustic charm by staying true to the original exterior landscaping and theme. It is the same building, but with a new bear!
Also this week in Disney History:
April 11
1997 — Hollywood Pictures releases “Grosse Point Blank”
2003 — The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opens at Disneyland Park
2003 — “Playhouse Disney — Live on Stage! “ opens at Disney California Adventure Park
2009 — Yamabuki, a Japanese restaurant, closes at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel
April 12
1946 — The cartoon short “Pluto's Kid Brother” debuts
1992 — Disneyland Paris opens
1995 — 'Ohana opens at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
1996 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “James and the Giant Peach”
April 13
1935 — “Mickey’s Kangaroo, ” the last black-and-white Walt Disney Studios cartoon short, debuts
April 14
1934 — “The Big Bad Wolf” (Silly Symphony) debuts
1984 — An updated version of the Alice in Wonderland attraction opens at Disneyland Park
2008 — Ollie Johnston, Disney animator and the last of Walt’s “Nine Old Men, ” dies at age 95
April 15
1932 — The Mickey Mouse animated short “Barnyard Olympics” debuts, coinciding with the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles
1938 — The animated short “Donald's Nephews” debuts, featuring the first appearances of Huey, Dewey, and Louie
1962 — The television special “Disneyland After Dark” debuts on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color
1973 — The Walt Disney Story opens at Magic Kingdom Park
1975 — Flight to the Moon closes at Magic Kingdom Park
1983 — Tokyo Disneyland opens
2012 — The nighttime street celebration ElecTRONica closes at Disney California Adventure Park
April 16
2001 — Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opens at the Walt Disney World Resort
2007 — Disneyland Resort announces the entire Disneyland Railroad fleet has been converted to run on biofuel instead of diesel
April 17
1958 — The Circarama film “America the Beautiful” debuts at the World’s Fair in Brussels, Belgium; the first Disney attraction ever to open outside a Disney Park
_______________________________________________________________________________________All photos and information subject to the copyright of the Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved.
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