This Day in Disney History: APR 07

2005:

A themed airplane adorned with the image of Tinker Bell on the

fuselage and golden Mickey Mouse ears on the tail from Alaska Airlines soars into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The bright blue Boeing 737-400 named the "Magic of Disneyland" celebrates the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney's Anaheim park.

It is reported that thirty-five nonprofit organizations from five Central Florida counties received a collective $600,000 in awards from the Walt Disney World Resort as part of Disney's Helping Kids Shine program.

1928:

Actor James Garner, the voice of Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke in Disney's 2001 animated release Atlantis: The Lost Empire,

is born in Norman, Oklahoma.

1939:

Disney's Silly Symphony cartoon The Ugly Ducking is released. A color

remake of the 1931 short, it will win an Academy Award for Best Cartoon.

Sound recording for Disney's newest feature Fantasia begins. (The project will consume a half million feet of sound film during 42 days of recording!)

1964:

Actor Russell Crowe, who starred as John Biebe in Disney's 1999 comedy "Mystery, Alaska" (also known as Disney's "Hockey Project") is born in Wellington, New Zealand.

1970:

At the 42nd Academy Awards (held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles), Disney's It's Tough To Be A Bird wins an Oscar (Short Subjects, Cartoon).

1990:

At Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney, Cage replaces Videopolis East (one of the original Pleasure Island clubs for the under-21).

1995:

Walt Disney's sister Ruth (the youngest of the family) passes away.

The Disney film A Goofy Movie is released. This film was animated primarily at a new Disney studio in France, after character design, art direction, and storyboarding had been completed in Burbank, California. It features the voices of Bill Farmer (as Goofy), Jim Cummings, Jo Anne Worley, and Joey Lawrence.

1996:

Walt Disney World's Happy Easter Parade, hosted by

Regis Philben and Joan Lunden, airs on television.

2001:

Disney's House of Mouse debuts the episode "Thanks to Minnie."

2003:

The National Association of Broadcasters inducts the Disney anthology television series into the NAB Hall of Fame at the NAB2003 Television All-Industry Luncheon in Las Vegas. CEO Michael Eisner accepts the award on behalf of The Walt Disney Company. The Disney anthology includes "Disneyland," "Walt Disney Presents," "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," "Disney's Wonderful World," "Walt Disney," "The Disney Sunday Movie," "The Magical World of Disney" and, as it is currently known, "The Wonderful World of Disney." Michael Eisner also speaks at the Television All-Industry Luncheon (at the Las Vegas Hilton). He talks about Disney's Movie Beam, a new video on demand service.

2004:

Roy E. Disney and his wife Patty tour the new $22.5 million

"Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts" at the National Hispanic Cultural Center & Foundation in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Disney's have contributed $1 million to help fund the construction of the 700-seat theater.

2006:

Disney World's biggest ride yet, Expedition Everest, a 20-story,

white-knuckle roller coaster spin officially opens in Animal Kingdom. The attraction is currently Florida's tallest peak, sculpted from 1,800 tons of steel, and covering more than six acres!

The third Hannah Montana episode "She's A Super Sneak"

debuts on Disney Channel.