The Disney Look... to the Past! (December 9-15)

Here you are this week's edition of "The Disney Look... to the Past!" We hope you will enjoy it:

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This Week in Disney History: December 9-15

Dec. 15, 2004 — Fess Parker honored with a tribute window at Disneyland Park

What better way to recognize the “king of the wild frontier” than with a window, the highest honor at Disneyland Park? On this day in 1955, “Davy Crockett Indian Fighter,” first in a five-part miniseries on the 19th-century Tennessee lawman and tragic hero of the Alamo, debuted on the “Disneyland” television series on ABC. Fess Parker, above, right, who was working primarily as a contract actor in B-movies, caught Walt Disney’s attention and was selected by him for the title role. Besides singlehandedly bringing the coonskin cap to national popularity, Fess appeared in other Disney films including “The Great Locomotive Chase” and “Old Yeller.” He also was instrumental in promoting Disneyland Park and appeared in the opening day television special, and was named a Disney Legend in 1991. Fess’ window can be found in Frontierland above Pioneer Mercantile.

Also this week in Disney history:

Dec. 9
1931 — “Mickey’s Orphans” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts
1973 — Pack Mules Thru Nature’s Wonderland closes at Disneyland Park
1992 — The National Hockey League grants Disney an expansion franchise that would become the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
2002 – “Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular” debuts at Disney California Adventure Park
2010 — The Disney Dream officially is turned over to Disney Cruise Line from its builder, Meyer Werft, at a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany

Dec. 10
1937 — “Donald’s Ostrich” (cartoon short) debuts
1993 — Living with the Land opens at Epcot
2000 — Safari Village within Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, is renamed Discovery Island

Dec. 11
2009 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “The Princess and the Frog”

Dec. 12
1952 — “How to Be a Detective” (Goofy cartoon short) debuts
2000 — The Disneyland Pacific Hotel is renamed Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel

Dec. 13
1940 — “Fire Chief” (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts
1971 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “Bedknobs and Broomsticks”

Dec. 14
1935 — “Broken Toys” (Silly Symphony) debuts
1961 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “Babes in Toyland”
1973 — The Golf Resort (now Shades of Green) opens at the Walt Disney World Resort
1986 — Big Thunder Barbecue opens at Disneyland Park
2003 — Disney’s Pop Century Resort opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

Dec. 15
1966 — Walt Disney dies at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif.
1973 — Pirates of the Caribbean opens at Magic Kingdom Park
1989 — Star Tours opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
1995 — Pizza Planet opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
1997 — Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop opens at Downtown Disney Marketplace
2000 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “The Emperor’s New Groove”

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It is always interesting to take a look at the past of the Walt Disney Company, isn't it?
See you next week, with another edition of "The Disney Look... to the Past!"!