The Disney Look... to the Past! (March 7-20)
Hello Orlando Theme Park News Readers, and welcome to the newest edition of the weekly feature known as "The Disney Look... to the Past!"
As always, we hope you will enjoy reading all of the following interesting facts about the Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Movies, and more. If you have any questions about this material, feel free to contact us or leave a message at the end of this post. Thank you!:
As always, we hope you will enjoy reading all of the following interesting facts about the Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Movies, and more. If you have any questions about this material, feel free to contact us or leave a message at the end of this post. Thank you!:
This Week in Disney History: March 7 - 20
March 18, 1999 - Asia opens at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
The world's largest continent continues to leave a big impression at Disney's wildest park. Asia, one of the six enthralling lands at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, opened March 18, 1999, after a year-long, property wide expansion. This exciting land added an entirely new element to the park with its unique attractions, including Flights of Wonder, Kali River Rapids and the Maharajah Jungle Trek. From tigers and deer to giant fruit bats and Komodo dragons, the scenic stroll through Asia's crumbling ruins and beautiful rainforest also added a multitude of exciting animals to visit. It wasn't until April 2006 that the treacherous Expedition Everest attraction was added to the majestic land, giving chills and thrills with high speeds, a frightening monster, and a mysterious dead end with no way to turn around.
March 14, 1955 - Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim
Nearly 60 years ago, a humble groundbreaking ceremony began the transformation of a secluded Los Angeles suburb into a premiere vacation destination. The Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim opened Oct. 5, 1955, three months after the opening of Disneyland Park. Originally with only 100 rooms, each Guest room featured a balcony and an orange tree on every patio, which was simply a taste of the luxury this hotel offered. Since opening day, the hotel has played host to dignitaries and celebrities from across the globe, with some of its frequent early visitors including Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant.
The Disneyland Hotel has made many historical milestones, including creating the country's first ballroom in 1960, building the first high-rise tower in Orange County, and becoming the first solar-energy hotel in the nation with the 13-story Bonita Tower in 1979. It has since grown to be one of the largest hotels in Southern California, with 990 Guest rooms and an inland hotel marina.
Also this week in Disney History:
March 7
1936 — The animated short “Mickey's Grand Opera” is released
2008 — Imagineer and Disney Legend Bob Gurr receives a window on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park
2010 — Disney•Pixar's “Up” wins Best Animated Feature Film at the 82nd Academy Awards
March 8
1983 — President Ronald Reagan makes his first of two visits to Epcot while in office, addressing and greeting international students working at World Showcase
1986 — Pirates of the Caribbean and Alice's Tea Party open at Tokyo Disneyland
1999 — “Disney's Doug Live! ” stage show debuts at Disney's Hollywood Studios (replacing SuperStar Television)
2002 — "Disney's Around the World, ” a new shop featuring items from Disney theme parks around the world, opens at the Main Street Cinema at the Magic Kingdom Park
March 9
1984 — “Splash, ” the first film released under the Touchstone Pictures banner, debuts
1985 — Main Street Electrical Parade debuts at Tokyo Disneyland
1994 — “Ellen” debuts on ABC as "These Friends of Mine"
1999 — “Frank and Ollie, ” a documentary about animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, debuts on video
2012 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “John Carter”
March 10
1978 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “Return from Witch Mountain”
1996 — Fulton's Crab House opens at the Downtown Disney Marketplace at Walt Disney World Resort
2006 — Disney releases a remake of “The Shaggy Dog, ” starring Tim Allen
2009 — Disney launches D23, the official community for Disney fans
March 11
1977 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”
2010 — Disney music composers Richard and Robert Sherman receive a window on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park
March 12
1999 — Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf opens next to Blizzard Beach Water Park at the Walt Disney World Resort
March 13
1969 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “The Love Bug, ” the highest grossing film of the year
2005 — Crush 'n' Gusher opens at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
March 14
1960 — The CircleVision 360 film "Circarama" closes at Disneyland Park
1998 — The stand-alone McDonald's restaurant near Blizzard Beach opens at the Walt Disney World Resort
2008 — Block Party Bash officially debuts at Disney's Hollywood Studios
March 15
1991 — Disney Afternoon Live debuts at Disneyland Park
1995 — Plans unveiled at Carnegie Hall for Disney Institute
March 16
1934 — "The Three Little Pigs" wins the Academy Award for Best Cartoon Short Subject
1961 — Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Absent-Minded Professor"
2002 — The Walt Disney Studios (theme park) opens at Disneyland Resort Paris
March 17
1929 — "Plane Crazy" (Mickey Mouse short with sound) premieres in New York City
1939 — "Goofy and Wilbur" (the first Goofy cartoon short) debuts
1999 — The grand opening of Test Track is held at Epcot
2005 — Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters opens at Disneyland Park
March 18
1955 — Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim
1967 — Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and the Blue Bayou Restaurant open at Disneyland Park
March 19
1959 — Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Shaggy Dog"
2008 — Walt Disney World Boys & Girls Club opens in the Pine Hills area of Orlando, Fla.
March 20
1921 — The first Newman Laugh-O-Grams (animated by Walt Disney) premieres at Newman Theater in Kansas City
1987 — "Captain EO" opens at Tokyo Disneyland Park
1995 — Main Street Book Shop, Penny Arcade, and House of Magic close at Magic Kingdom Park
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