The Disney Look... to the Past! (July 20-26)

Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of the weekly feature known as "The Disney Look... to the Past!"
Enjoy reading all of the following interesting facts about the Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Movies, and more:
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This Week in Disney History: July 20-26

July 22, 1994 – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

On a stormy night in 1939, five guests at the Hollywood Tower Hotel stepped through the doors of an elevator and into a nightmare. As lightning struck the hotel, the elevator car plunged from the top of the tower, and its passengers were never seen again. Now, you are stepping aboard a maintenance service elevator to trace their steps as the star of your very own episode of the classic CBS series “The Twilight Zone.” You’ll enter the fifth dimension and have an encounter with the disappeared hotel guests, leading up to a 13-story plunge that’s faster than the force of gravity. At 199 feet, the Hollywood Tower Hotel is the second tallest structure at the Walt Disney World Resort, behind Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The attraction drop sequence has been modified several times since opening, and now features a random series of drops and special effects that results in “never the same fear twice” on any ride. Tower of Terror can also be found at Disney California Adventure Park, Tokyo DisneySea and Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris.

July 24, 1985 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “The Black Cauldron”

Taran lives a quiet life keeping pigs on a farm, but he longs to become a great hero and gain his father’s approval. One of Taran’s pigs, Hen Wen, has special powers that allows people to see oracular visions, a talent that gets it kidnapped by the Horned King. This skeletal evildoer wants to use Hen Wen to find the Black Cauldron, which he can use to form an undead army and take over the world. Entering his castle in pursuit, Taran succeeds in freeing Hen Wen, but gets captured and thrown in a dungeon with the young Princess Eilonwy. They soon escape and discover much more magic and mystery hidden in and around the castle, including a legendary sword that could help Taran defeat the Horned King. But a strange creature who makes their acquaintance, the diminutive and mischievous Gurgi, will play a crucial role in negating the evil power of the Black Cauldron. The story draws inspiration from “The Chronicles of Prydain,” a fantasy novel series by Welsh author Lloyd Alexander. At Magic Kingdom Park, Guests got their fast food fill at Gurgi’s Munchies and Crunchies in Fantasyland from 1986 to 1993.

Also this week in Disney history:

July 20

1951 – The Donald Duck animated short “Lucky Number” debuts 

1985 – The 200 millionth Guest visits the Walt Disney World Resort

July 21

1939 – The Mickey Mouse animated short “The Pointer” debuts

1950 – The Pluto animated short “Pests of the West” debuts 

1986 – Disney leaders announce plans for Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World

1999 – The first Disney’s FASTPASS is given out at Kilimanjaro Safaris, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

2005 – The roller coaster Raging Spirits opens at Tokyo DisneySea

July 22

1955 – Rocket to the Moon opens at Disneyland Park

1955 – Candy Palace opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park

July 23

1956 – Junior Autopia opens at Disneyland Park

1965 – MAPO, a division of Walt Disney Imagineering named after Mary Poppins, is incorporated 

1999 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Inspector Gadget”

July 24

1942 – The Donald Duck animated short “Donald’s Gold Mine” debuts

1966 – New Orleans Square is dedicated at Disneyland Park

2000 – The Disneyland Resort Mickey and Friends parking garage opens

July 25

1936 – The Mickey Mouse animated short “Alpine Climbers” debuts

1996 – Rainforest Cafe soft-opens for Guests at the Downtown Disney Marketplace at the Walt Disney World Resort

July 26

1951 – Walt Disney Pictures world premieres “Alice in Wonderland” in England 

1999 – Goofy’s Kitchen reopens in a new location at the Disneyland Hotel

2007 – Disney’s stage musical “The Little Mermaid” premieres in Denver, Col.

2010 – The original version of Star Tours closes at Disneyland Park

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Thank you for reading, and have a great rest of your week!

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