The Disney Look... to the Past! (07/05 - 07/11)

Here's this week's look to the DISNEY past!:

This Week in Disney History: July 5-11

July 9, 1982 - Walt Disney Pictures releases Tron
As wonderful as modern, sophisticated computer animation and three-dimensional platform games are, there's just something incredible and awe-inspiring about Tron. Jeff Bridges stars as young, down and out computer programmer Kevin Flynn, reduced to running an arcade after his video game projects are stolen by coworker Ed Dillinger, who presents the work as his own and rises to CEO of the company. Flynn attempts hacking into the company mainframe to find evidence of the theft, but is caught and digitized into a computer world by the Master Control Program. Inside, Flynn discovers the MCP is far more powerful than anyone realizes - and that an electronic resistance is determined to shut it down. This modest box office success evolved into a cult classic, spawning a series of comic books and video games; the long-awaited sequel, Tron: Legacy, hits theatres in December. For a time, the Tron Tunnel was a part of the PeopleMover at Disneyland Park, pitting guests in the middle of a high-speed light cycle race.

July 6, 1994 - The original run of Captain EO closes at Epcot
At the height of his career, Michael Jackson collaborated with Star Wars producer George Lucas and The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola on a 3D space epic for Disney Parks. Opening in September 1986 at both Epcot and Disneyland Park, Jackson stars as the leader of an intergalactic brigade, who is captured after crash landing on a strange planet and forced to confront an evil spider-like queen (played by Anjelica Huston.) EO uses the power of music to subdue her subjects and change their world for the better; Jackson contributed two songs for the feature, "We Are Here to Change the World" and "Another Part of Me," along with a score by Avatar composer James Horner. The film enjoyed an 8-year run in Future World, closing to make way for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. On July 2, Captain EO returned again  to the Imagination! pavilion, giving Disney fans one more chance to watch the "King of Pop" light up the screen.

Also this week in Disney history:

July 5  

1988 - Maelstrom opens at the Norway pavilion at Epcot

1991 - The Rocketeer begins making flights during the "Sorcery in the Sky" show at the Disney-MGM Studios

   

July 6  

1925 - Walt and Roy O. Disney make a $400 deposit on a lot at Hyperion Avenue to build a new animation studio

1994 - Groundbreaking held for the Disney Institute at the Walt Disney World Resort

   

July 7  

1931 - The animated short "Mickey Steps Out" debuts

1963 - Walt Disney Pictures releases Summer Magic

2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest opens in theatres; Pirates of the Caribbean re-opens at Magic Kingdom Park with Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbosa characters added to the attraction

   

July 8  

1938 - The Donald Duck cartoon short "Good Scouts" debuts

1956 - The Donald Duck cartoon short "How to Have an Accident in the Home" debuts 

1985 - Michael Eisner and Florida Governor Bob Graham announce plans for the Disney-MGM Studios

1994 - "Legend of the Lion King" opens at the Magic Kingdom Park 

1996 - American Journeys closes at Disneyland Park

1997 - "The Lion King" stage production debuts at Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis

   

July 9  

1932 - The Silly Symphony short "The Bears and the Bees" debuts 

1999 - Discovery Island, the 11-acre island in Bay Lake, officially closes at Walt Disney World 

   

July 10  

1981 - Walt Disney Pictures releases The Fox and the Hound

1987 - Walt Disney Pictures releases The Brave Little Toaster

   

July 11  

1953 - The Goofy cartoon short "How to Dance" debuts

1986 - Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour opens at Tokyo Disneyland Park

1987 - The Disney Gallery debuts at Disneyland Park

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