This Week in Disney History: May 13-19, 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:

This Week: 15th anniversary of Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

On May 17, 2004, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa opened at the Walt Disney World Resort. The architecture was inspired by the upstate New York country retreats of the late 1800s and designed around the themes of natural springs and Saratoga’s tradition of horse racing.

May 13

1933 – The Mail Pilot (Mickey Mouse cartoon) debuts

1992 – “Fantasmic!” debuts on the Rivers of America at Disneyland Park

1994 – Touchstone film When a Man Loves a Womanis released

1997 – The Magic Kingdom II ferryboat at the Walt Disney World Resort is renamed the Richard F. Irvine

2009 – Disney-Pixar’s Up debuts at the Cannes Film Festival

May 14

1923 – Walt writes Margaret J. Winkler in hopes of her distributing the Alice Comedies film series

1928 – Hungry Hoboes (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon) is released

1972 – The first major auction featuring Disneyana was held at Sotheby’s in Los Angeles

1999 – Endurance film is released by Walt Disney Pictures

May 15

1928 – Walt Disney’s animated short Plane Crazyis first screened

1930 – The Cactus Kid (Mickey Mouse cartoon) is released

1937 – Little Hiawatha (Silly Symphony cartoon) is released

1995 – The California Grill opens at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

1996 – Disney purchases 25 percent interest in the California Angels Major League Baseball club from owner Gene Autry

2016 – The Town Center at Disney Springs opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

2017 – The Market at Ale & Compass, a quick-food location in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort

May 16

1927 – Alice’s Three Bad Eggs (Alice Comedy) is released

1952 – Two Gun Goofy (Goofy cartoon) is released

1991 – Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3-D debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

2008 – The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspianis released by Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media

2014 – Million Dollar Armis released by Walt Disney Studios

May 17

1964 – “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair” debuts on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color

1991 – Disney’s Port Orleans Resort opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

1991 – Touchstone Pictures releases What About Bob?

2004 – Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa opens at the Walt Disney World Resort 

2013 – Garden of Wonders attraction opens in the Mystic Point area of Hong Kong Disneyland

2013 – The Archive Shop opens in the Mystic Point area of Hong Kong Disneyland

May 18

1951 – Plutopia (Pluto cartoon) debuts

1997 – The New Amsterdam Theater reopens in New York City after being restored by The Walt Disney Company

2003 – Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo premieres at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles

2009 – Wayne Allwine, Disney Legend and voice of Mickey Mouse, dies at age 62

May 19 

1934 – Gulliver Mickey (Mickey Mouse cartoon) debuts

1960 – Pollyanna, Hayley Mills’ first film for the Walt Disney Studios, is released

1984 – Donald Duck receives an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army (after being drafted in a 1942 short)

2000 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Dinosaur

2007 – The world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is held at Disneyland Park

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