This Week in Disney History: January 20-26, 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:

Jan. 23, 2006 - Monsters Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! opens at Disney's California Adventure Park

Located in the Hollywood Land section of Disney California Adventure, Monsters Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! follows the storyline of the Disney-Pixar comedy, putting Guests in famous Monstropolis locales like Harryhausen’s Restaurant and the amazing door network at Monsters, Inc. You’ll even meet no-nonsense scare floor manager Roz, and she’s watching you, so be sure to file your paperwork. The attraction replaced Superstar Limo, repurposing its ride vehicles and transforming its southern California-themed facade into a collage of closet doors.

Jan. 20

1950 – “Lion Around” (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts

1971 – Walt Disney Productions releases “The Wild Country”

2006 – “High School Musical” premieres on Disney Channel

2014 – “Sheriff Callie’s Wild West” (television series) debuts on Disney Junior

Jan. 21

1933 – “The Mad Doctor” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts
1955 – Wrather-Alvarez Hotels, Inc. announces the construction of the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, Calif.

1956 – Dairy Bar opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park

1960 – “Gala Day at Disneyland” (documentary featurette) debuts

1960 – Walt Disney Productions releases “Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus””

1977 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Freaky Friday”

1995 – “Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable” opens in The Land at Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort
1998 – Disney acquires the Wrather Corporation, owners of the Disneyland Hotel
1998 – The original Disneyland parking lot closes

2003 – “101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure” (direct-to-video film) debuts

2005 – “American Dragon: Jake Long” debuts on Disney Channel

Jan. 22

1964 – Walt Disney Productions releases “The Misadventures of Merlin Jones”

2000 – “Up, Up and Away” (Disney Channel original movie) debuts

2001 – “The Book of Pooh” (television series) debuts on Disney Channel

Jan. 23

1928 – “Neck ‘n’ Neck” (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon short) debuts

1942 – “The New Spirit” (film made for the U.S. Treasury Department) is delivered

1948 – “They’re Off” (Goofy cartoon short) debuts

1957 – “Our Friend the Atom” (television show) airs

1982 – “Donald and Jose, Olè!” (television show) airs
1987 – The Mark V trains debut on the Disneyland Monorail System
1999 – Cirque du Soleil opens in Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort

1999 – “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century” (Disney Channel Original Movie) debuts

2004 – “Dave the Barbarian” (television show) debuts on Disney Channel

2006 – A grand opening is held for Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue! at Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort

2015 – Touchstone Pictures releases the Lucasfilm, Ltd. animated film “Strange Magic”

Jan. 24

1927 – “Alice Foils the Pirates” (Alice Comedy) debuts

1941 – “Pluto’s Playmate” (Pluto cartoon short) debuts

1987 – “Double Switch” (television movie) airs

1993 – Mickey’s Toontown opens at Disneyland Park

2006 – Disney announces its acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios
2007 – “Finding Nemo - The Musical” officially opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
2007 – The Seas with Nemo and Friends officially opens in Future World at Epcot

2011 – Mickey’s PhilharMagic opened at Tokyo Disneyland

Jan. 25

1961 – Walt Disney Productions releases “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”
2002 – Touchstone Pictures releases “The Count of Monte Cristo”

2003 – “Cinderellabration” opens as a new stage show at Tokyo Disneyland

2007 – The first family is selected to stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite in Magic Kingdom Park as part of the Year of a Million Dreams campaign

2008 – “Minutemen” (Disney Channel Original Movie) debuts

Jan. 26

1945 – “The Clock Watcher” (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts

1955 – “Davy Crockett Goes to Congress” (television show) debuts

1972 – “The Mouse Factory” (television series) debuts
1975 – Flight to the Moon closes at Disneyland Park 

1990 – “The Bones and Muscles Get Rhythm” (Wonders of Life educational film) debuts

1990 – “The Brain and the Nervous System Think Science” (Wonders of Life educational film) debuts

1990 – “The Heart and Lungs Play Ball” (Wonders of Life educational film) debuts

1996 – The Ford Formula 200 takes place at the Walt Disney World Speedway

2003 – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” debuts on ABC

2011 – The Disney Dream sets sail on its official maiden voyage

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