This Week in Disney History: June 21-27, 2020

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:

June 23, 1963 – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opens at Disneyland Park

“Let’s all sing like the birdies sing!” Walt Disney’s celebration of Polynesian culture features a menagerie of approximately 150 singing, talking and dancing birds, flowers, drummers and a beautiful magical fountain. This attraction was the first to feature the now-famous technology of Audio-Animatronics, bringing the talented entertainers of the attraction to life in a way never before seen.

The Enchanted Tiki Room was also a Magic Kingdom Park opening day attraction in 1971, although Walt Disney World Resort Guests knew it better as “Tropical Serenade.” Iago from “Aladdin” and Zazu from “The Lion King” took control in 1998, putting their own spin on the Tiki Room “under new management.” In 2011, a show more reminiscent of the original version returned to the Sunshine Pavilion in Adventureland.

Also this week in Disney history:

June 21
1961  -  "The Litterbug" (the last Donald Duck cartoon made) debuts
1961  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases The Parent Trap
1991  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases The Rocketeer
1996  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases The Hunchback of Notre Dame
2002  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases “Lilo & Stitch”
   
June 22
1955  -  Disney's Lady and the Tramp is released
1970  -  The Walt Disney Archives are established
1977  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases The Rescuers
1985  -  Videopolis opens at Disneyland Park
1996  -  Dreamflight officially becomes Take Flight at Magic Kingdom Park
2005  -  Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store open on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles
2012  -  Disney•Pixar releases “Brave”
   
June 23
1944  -  "Springtime for Pluto" (Pluto cartoon short) debuts
1956  -  The Skyway attraction opens at Disneyland Park
1963  -  The Enchanted Tiki Room (first Audio-Animatronics ever created) opens at Disneyland Park
1967  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases The Happiest Millionaire
1989  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases Honey I Shrunk the Kids
1995  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases Pocahontas
1996  -  Dreamflight officially becomes Take Flight at Magic Kingdom Park
1999  -  Tarzan's Treehouse opens at Disneyland Park
2005  -  The No. 5 Ward Kimballengine is dedicated on the Disneyland Railroad
   
June 24
1893  -  Roy Oliver Disney, Walt Disney's brother, is born
1994  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases The Lion King
1994  -  The Electric Umbrella restaurant opens at Epcot
2006  -  Disneyland Park hosts the world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2011  -  Disney•Pixar releases “Cars 2”
   
June 25
1930  -  "The Fire Fighters" (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts
1967  -  "America the Beautiful" (CircleVision 360 film) opens at Disneyland Park
   
June 26
1957  -  The Viewliner train opens at Disneyland Park
1959  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases Darby O'Gill and the Little People and Donald in Mathmagic Land
1989  -  Delta Dreamflight officially opens in Magic Kingdom Park
2006  -  Pirates of the Caribbean officially re-opens at Disneyland Park with Audio-Animatronic figures from the films added to the attraction
   
June 27
1986  -  Big Thunder Ranch opens at Disneyland Park
1997  -  Walt Disney Pictures releases Hercules
2008 - Disney•Pixar releases “WALL•E”

Looking to plan and book an Orlando-area vacation? Contact Destinations with Character Travel Services, LLC., specialists in all things Orlando, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld! Destinations with Characters is a Disney EarMarked agency and the official travel agency of Orlando Theme Park News!

PHOTO: © Disney. All Rights Reserved.