This Week in Disney History: March 11-17, 2019

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:

20 years of Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

These two 18-hole miniature golf courses officially opened to Guests on Mar. 12, 1999, just a few years after the success of Disney's Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf  three years earlier.

March 11

1933 – Birds in the Spring (Silly Symphony) debuts

1938 – Donald’s Better Self (Donald Duck cartoon) debuts

1955 – Contrasts in Rhythm (special cartoon) debuts

1959 – Walt Disney Productions purchases Golden Oak Ranch in Placerita Canyon, California

1960 – This Is Your Life, Donald Duck (television show) airs

1962 – The Prince and the Pauper (three-part television show) airs

1973 –The Little Shepherd Dog of Catalina (television show) airs

1977 – Walt Disney Productions releases The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

1983 – Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (special cartoon featurette) is released

1990 – Sky High (television show) airs

2001 – Princess of Thieves (television movie) debuts on The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC

2003 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Inspector Gadget 2

2005 – Buffalo Dreams (Disney Channel Original Movie) debuts

2010 – Walt Disney Parks and Resorts launch a Disney Premier Passport allowing admission to Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks

2011 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Mars Needs Moms

March 12

1943 – Flying Jalopy (Donald Duck cartoon) debuts

1954 – Stormy, the Thoroughbred with an Inferiority Complex (featurette) debuts

1961 – Daniel Boone [III.] The Wilderness Road (television show) airs

1964 – Walt Disney Productions releases A Tiger Walks

1978 – Trail of Danger (two-part television show) airs

1993 – Walt Disney Pictures releases A Far Off Place

1993 – Trail Mix-Up (Roger Rabbit cartoon short) debuts

1999 – Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

2000 – Model Behavior (television movie) debuts on The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC

2013 – Fantasy Faire opens in Disneyland Park, introducing Maurice’s Treats, Fairytale Treasures, the Royal Theater and Royal Hall

March 13

1937 – Woodland Café (Silly Symphony) debuts

1959 – Highway to Trouble (television show) airs

1966 – Run, Light Buck, Run (television show) airs

1969 – Walt Disney Productions releases The Love Bug

1977 – The Ghost of Cypress Swamp (television movie) airs

1997 – Hiller and Diller (television series) debuts on ABC

2009 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Race to Witch Mountain

2013 – Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (Disney Channel special event) airs

2015 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Cinderella domestically

March 14

1935 – Broken Toys (Silly Symphony) debuts

1976 – The Flight of the Grey Wolf (two-part television show) airs

2004 – Celeste in the City (television movie) airs

2008 – “Block Party Bash” officially debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort

2008 – “Pixar Play Parade” officially debuts at Disney California Adventure Park in Disneyland Resort

March 15

1940 – The Riveter (Donald Duck cartoon) debuts

1987 – Young Harry Houdini (television show) debuts

1991 – Disney Afternoon Avenue and Plane Crazy debut at Disneyland Park

1998 – PB&J Otter (television series) debuts on Disney Channel

1999 – “Disney’s Doug Live” opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort

2001 – The 450 millionth Guest visits Disneyland Park

2005 – Jack-Jack Attack (Pixar animated short) debuts

2007 – October Road (television series) debuts on ABC

March 16

1935 – Mickey’s Service Station (Mickey Mouse cartoon) debuts

1945 – Dog Watch (Pluto cartoon) debuts

1960 – Islands of the Sea (documentary featurette) debuts

1961 – The Saga of Windwagon Smith (special cartoon) debuts

1961 – Walt Disney Productions releases The Absent-Minded Professor

1974 – “Magic Carpet ‘Round the World’” opens at Magic Kingdom Park

1975 – Deacon, the High Noon Dog (television show) debuts

2002 – Walt Disney Studios Park opens at Disneyland Paris

March 17

1931 – Traffic Troubles (Mickey Mouse cartoon) debuts

1939 – Goofy and Wilbur (Goofy cartoon) debuts

1968 – The Ranger of Brownstone (television show) airs

1971 – Walt Disney Productions releases The Barefoot Executive

1982 – Herbie, the Love Bug (limited television series) airs

1991 – World News Center opens in Epcot

1999 – The grand opening of Test Track is held at Epcot

2002 – Snow White: The Fairest of Them All (television movie) debuts on the Wonderful World of Disney on ABC

2005 – “Cinderellabration” opens in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park

2016 – Oasis Bar & Grill opens at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World Resort

2017 – Walt Disney Pictures releases a live-action retelling of Beauty and the Beast

2017 – Marvel’s Iron Fist (Netflix series) is released

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