This Week in Disney History: April 16-22

There’s always a great, big, beautiful tomorrow at The Walt Disney Company, because every day is tied to a milestone in the heritage and rich history of a company that has been entertaining millions of people every year. Published every week, this interesting series features highlights from all the divisions of The Walt Disney Company. Let's see what happened this week:

April 21, 2008: Disney Unveils New Disneynature Film Label
Ten years ago, the Disneynature film label with a focus on producing nature documentaries for theatrical release was announced. The unit, headed by Jean-Francois Camilleri, is based in France. With titles featuring bears, monkeys, big cats and more, the studio is committed to conservation. Thanks to donations tied to the opening-week attendance of it films, Disneynature has contributed to various conservation initiatives across the globe through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.

April 16

1931 – “Mother Goose Melodies” (Silly Symphony) is released

1948 – Donald Duck cartoon “Daddy Duck” is released

2001 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

2010 – D Street shop opens at Downtown Disney West Side (now West Side at Disney Springs) at the Walt Disney World Resort

2013 – Disneynature film “Wings of Life” is released

April 17

2009 – Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opens at Disneyland Park

2009 – Fantasia Market, a sundries shop, opens at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort

2015 – Disneynature film “Monkey Kingdom” is released

April 18

1927 – The Alice Comedy “Alice’s Circus Daze” is released

1947 – Donald Duck cartoon “Straight Shooters” is released

1953 – The final classic Mickey Mouse theatrical short, “The Simple Things,” debuts; the next was released three decades later, titled “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” in 1983.

1983 – The Disney Channel begins broadcasting

1994 – “Beauty and the Beast,” a stage version of the motion picture premieres at the Palace Theatre in New York City 1998 – Toon Disney, a 24-hour cable network launches; it becomes DisneyXD in 2009.

2002 – Primeval Whirl attraction at Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama! opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

2014 – Disneynature film “Bears” is released

April 19

1983 – “Disney Studio Showcase” television show on The Disney Channel premieres

1987 – Team Mickey’s Athletic Club shop selling sports fashions at the Downtown Disney Marketplace at the Walt Disney World Resort opens. It closed in January 2014.

1996 – Hollywood Pictures film “Celtic Pride” is released

April 20

1945 – Goofy cartoon “African Diary” is released

1991 – Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

2000 – Plans for Mission: SPACE at Epcot are announced at the Walt Disney World Resort

2012 – Disneynature film “Chimpanzee” is released

April 21

1930 – The animated short “Just Mickey” (aka “Fiddlin’ Around”) directed by Walt Disney debuts

1995 – Hollywood Pictures releases “While You Were Sleeping”

2006 – Disney Live! Mickey’s Magic Show, the second of the touring stage productions produced by Feld Entertainment, premieres in Columbia, S.C.

2008 – Disneynature is announced to produce nature documentaries for theatrical release

2017 – Disneynature film “Born in China” is released

 April 22 

1964 – The New York World’s Fair opens including four Disney shows

1998 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

2004 – “Sacred Planet” film is released in IMAX theaters

2009 – “Earth,” the first film released under the Disneynature label, debuts

2010 – Disneynature film“Oceans” is released

2011 – Disneynature film “African Cats” is released

2011 – “Zokkomon” film produced by Walt Disney Co. India in Hindi is release

IMAGE: © 2018 The Walt Disney Company. All Rights Reserved.