2003:
Disneyland's 6-million gallon Rivers of America is drained, putting a stop to the boat cruises and cutting off access to Tom Sawyer Island. Although a 2,000-foot long, 8-foot tall blue fence surrounds the dried up area, park guests still peek through cracks to view the boats' underwater tracks. To entertain guests until the Rivers of America are refilled, Disney employees dressed as Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher re-enact the fence-painting scene from Mark Twain's classic novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."
1939:
Disney publishes the first issue of The Bulletin - a studio employee newsletter.
1955:
Actor, writer & funnyman Rowan Atkinson, the voice of Zazu the hornbill in
Disney's animated feature The Lion King (and the star of the Mr. Bean
British TV series) is born in Consett, County Durham, England.
1963:
The TV series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs "Three Tall Tales."
1985:
The Hallmark Card Shop on Disneyland's Main Street closes.
1997:
At Disneyland's New Orleans Square, the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction closes for its 30th Anniversary renovation. (It will reopen and be rededicated March 7, 1997.)
2002:
The 9th annual Walt Disney World Marathon kicks off. A record
field of 13,500 entrants take off for the Walt Disney World Marathon, while
another 5,000 entrants take part for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon.
(Since 1994 the Disney World Marathon has been the quest of approximately
70,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes from as near as Orlando,
Florida, and as far as Osaka, Japan!)
2007:
The Walt Disney World Half Marathon is held. Jarrod Shoemaker and
Melissa White win the men's and women's divisions, respectively.
Bidding ends on the $250,000 Chicago house in which Walt Disney was
born in. The house located at 2156 N. Tripp fails to sell on ebay
(although one bid is reported) after 30 days.
Disney World's Country Bear Jamboree was originally designed for Mineral King, an alpine area resort in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Mineral King was never built, so the bears found a
home in Florida.
2008:
Today is the last day of existence for Disney-MGM
Studios in Florida. As of tomorrow, the Disney World
park will be called Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Today is also the closing date for Block Party Bash,
a hybrid stage show and parade running at Disney's California Adventure (since May 2005). It will be transferred to Disney's Hollywood Studios - replacing the Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade.