This Week in Disney History: April 1-7, 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:

On April 6, 1991, Darkwing Duck the animated television series premiered on The Disney Channel.

When average citizen Drake Mallard dons a mask, hat, and cape, he becomes the swashbuckling crimebuster, Darkwing Duck. With the help of his loyal but often clueless sidekick, Launchpad McQuack, he patrols the city of St. Canard. When he adopts his orphan niece, Gosalyn, who wants to help out with the crimebusting, his life changes drastically.

April 1

1924 – Alice’s Spooky Adventures (Alice Comedy) debuts

1938 – Moth and the Flame (Silly Symphony) debuts

1960 – The Mad Hermit of Chimney Butte (television show) airs

1962 – Spy in the Sky (television show) airs

1973 – Call It Courage (television show) airs

1974 – Pioneer Hall, home of “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue” opens at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground at Walt Disney World Resort

1995 – Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

2000 – Indiana Jones et le Temple duPéril (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril) in Disneyland Paris begins an 8-month period operating the roller coaster backwards

2001 – Two neighboring resorts are combined to become Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside at Walt Disney World Resort

2011 – Box Office Gifts opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park

2014 – The Pirate Fairy (direct-to-video animated film) is released

April 2

1928 – Sagebrush Sadie an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon is released.

1940 – Walt Disney Productions becomes a publically traded company, offering stock for the first time

1943 – Pluto cartoon Private Pluto is released, including the first appearance of the as yet unnamed Chip and Dale.

1954 – Walt Disney announces plans for Disneyland Park and the Disneyland television show

2004 – Disney releases the animated feature Home on the Range

2007 – Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor opens at Magic Kingdom Park

April 3

1976 – America on Parade pageant at Disneyland, aired

1992 – The film Stright Talk was released

April 4

1927 – The Alice comedy, Alice’s Auto Race, is released.

1952 – Man’s Best Friend Goofy cartoon is released

1994 – Michael Eisner assumes the presidency of The Walt Disney Company following Frank Wells’ death

2010 – Television comedy series Good Luck Charlie premieres on Disney Channel

2011 – House of Good Fortune, a shop selling authentic Chinese merchandise at the China pavilion at Epcot, opens

2014 – Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier film is released

April 5

1940 – Donald Duck cartoon Donald’s Dog Laundry, is released

1965 – Mary Poppins wins five Oscars® at the 37th Academy Awards, including Best Actress honors for Julie Andrews

1986 – The 10-hour miniseries Return to Treasure Island premieres on The Disney Channel

2002 – Tru Confessions, a Disney Channel Original Movie, premieres

2006 – Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opens in Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs) at Walt Disney World Resort

2012 – Television drama series Scandal debuts on ABC

April 6

1990 – Blue Ribbon Bakery opens at Disneyland Park

1991 – Darkwing Duck debuts on The Disney Channel

1998 – The new Walt Disney Studios Animation Florida building at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is dedicated

2007 – Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros opens in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot

April 7

1939 – Disney’s final Silly Symphony cartoon, The Ugly Duckling, debuts

1983 – The 150 millionth Guest visits the Walt Disney World Resort

2001 – Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It! opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

2006 – Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountainopens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

2011 – Groundbreaking takes place for the Shanghai Disney Resort in China

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