2005:
In an historic first, all 10 of the Disney theme parks around the world collectively
kick off the festivities for the "Happiest Celebration on Earth" to mark the 50th
anniversary of Disneyland. (The opening of Hong Kong Disneyland in September will add #11 to the
18-month long global celebration.)
In Anaheim, the opening ceremony for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary
takes place in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Special guests
include singer LeeAnn Rimes (singing "Remember When"), Art Linkletter (who co-hosted the television grand
opening in 1955), and legendary actress-singer Julie Andrews (the Honorary Ambassador of the 50th
anniversary and star of Mary Poppins). A special grand opening ceremony takes place in Tomorrowland for Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. A videogame-inspired attraction based on Toy Story 2, guests can become Space
Rangers and join Star Command on a mission to defeat Evil Emperor Zurg and his evil robots using pistols that
shoot "laser beams." At night, a special anniversary fireworks show called "Remember ... Dreams Come True"
(sponsored by American Honda Motor Co.) debuts to the general public for the first time.
Down in Florida, Epcot's new Soarin' (a simulator attraction)
officially opens as does the Disney-MGM Studios' Lights, Motors,
Action! Extreme Stunt Show. Cinderellabration, a glittering stage show, officially
premieres too - at the Magic Kingdom. Also officially debuting is Disney's Magical Express - a
complimentary round-trip airport transfer for Disney World hotel guests.
1905:
Floyd Gottfredson, the man who gave Mickey Mouse his comic strip personality, is born in Kaysville, Utah. First hired by Disney in 1929 as an apprentice animator and in-betweener, Gottfredson started working on the four-month-old Mickey Mouse comic strip in April 1930. He continued to produce the Mickey Mouse strips for the next 45 1/2 years - having the same impact on the Mickey comics
as cartoonist Carl Barks had on the Donald Duck comics. (Interestingly, Gottfredson and Barks - two giants
in the Disney comic world - didn't meet until 1982!)
“I enjoy being a part of the
great legacy that Walt started. Over the years, it’s been
remarkable to watch Walt’s dream spread across the world.”
-Art Linkletter
(co-host of Disneyland's 1955 opening day live broadcast)
1915:
Ben Wright - the voice of Grimsby in Disney's 1989 classic The Little
Mermaid and the voice of Wolf in the 1967 film The Jungle Book - is born to an
English mother and an American father in London, England. (Wright worked extensively in American radio, supplying crisp, erudite diction as the radio incarnation of Sherlock Holmes.)
1927:
Actress Pat Carroll, the voice of the villainess Ursula in Disney's 1989 classic
The Little Mermaid, is born in Shreveport, Louisiana. She also voiced Ursula's sister
Morgana in The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.
1929:
Singer, voice actress and Disney Legend
Ilene Woods is born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1948, as a favor for songwriter friends Mack David and Jerry Livingston, Woods recorded demos of "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," and "So This is Love." Upon hearing Woods, Walt hired her as the title voice of Cinderella (released in 1950). (Woods later married Ed Shaughnessy, longtime drummer on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show.")
1930:
The first Mickey Mouse comic strip drawn and inked by Floyd Gottfredson is published on Floyd's 25th birthday. (The original Mickey Mouse comic strip had been scripted and drawn by Walt Disney.)
1940:
Actor Lance Henriksen, the voice of Kerchak in Disney's 1999 animated feature
Tarzan, is born in New York City. (He is best known to audiences for his roles in science fiction, action
and horror films such as The Terminator, and the Alien film franchise, and on TV shows such as Millennium.)
1987:
Disneyland introduces Disney Dollars, its exclusive line of currency featuring Mickey Mouse on the $1 bill and Goofy on the $5 bill.
1989:
Episode 10 of MMC airs on Disney Channel. Today is Hall of Fame Day!
1995:
The ABC television sitcom Family Matters debuts part 2 of
the episode "We're Going to Disney World."
2001:
The 4th Annual Disneyana Shop Celebration takes place at the Disneyland Resort. The first 1000 guests who visit the Disneyana Shop on Main Street, receive a free limited-edition mini-lithograph.
The Three Caballeros, Disney's famed trio of songbirds, reunite for a special Cinco de Mayo episode of "Disney's House of Mouse," on ABC-TV.
An area of Disneyland that was closed to the public after a large cork
oak tree fell is reopened.
On her birthday, Disney Legend Ilene Woods - the original voice of Cinderella unites with the voice of Sleeping Beauty, fellow Legend Mary Costa, for a Cinderella Birthday Ball held in Knoxville, Tennessee, benefiting Childhelp U.S.A.
2004:
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has its official grand
opening at Disney's California Adventure. While similar in concept and theme to
the original attraction in Florida, this version has been redesigned in order to conserve space.
The Walt Disney Company announces "The Happiest Celebration on Earth," which will mark the 50th anniversary of Disneyland, with the introduction of new shows and attractions at all of its 10 Disney theme parks. The 18-month-long promotion will start May 5, 2005.
2006:
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the first Mickey Mouse series created specifically for preschoolers, debuts on Disney Channel.
Disney's acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios is completed - Pixar is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
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2007:
The Ninth-annual Fullerton Railroad Days kicks off for a weekend of special exhibits at the corner of Pomona Avenue and Santa Fe Street in Fullerton, California. Featured is the Disneyland Railroad the C. K. Holliday steam locomotive & the Kalamazoo handcar!
1958:
The Globe Theatre (located at 205 West 46th Street in midtown-Manhattan) reopens as the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (in honor of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne). This Broadway theater will be the home to such future musicals as Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid.
2008:
Today is the final day of Disney's California Food and Wine Festival.
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MAY
MAY 5
Today is National Hoagie Day
2009:
Performances begin for Disney's musical The Lion King at the Mandalay Bay Theatre in Las Vegas. (The show will officially open May 15.)
At Disney World, a soft-opening afternoon performance of Stitch's SuperSonic Celebration takes place at the Magic Kingdom. The new Tomorrowland stage show is set to officially debut Wednesday, May 6.
1959:
Actor Gary Dubin, the voice of Toulouse in Disney's 1970 animated feature The
Aristocats, is born. (TV fans of "The Partridge Family" may recall Dubin for his role of Punky Lazaaar.)
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MAY 05
THIS DAY MADE IN THE USA
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At Disney's Hollywood Studios, the dinosaur on Echo Lake (standing since opening day) is a tribute to pioneering animator Winsor McCay and his revolutionary 1914 animated cartoon, Gertie
the Dinosaur.
Although not the first animated film,
as is sometimes reported, it was the
first cartoon to feature a character
with an appealing personality.
2000:
The second annual Star Wars Weekends kicks off for 4 consecutive
weekends at Disney-MGM Studios in Florida. (Although first held in 1997, this is only the second Star Wars Weekends ever at WDW.) It will also take place May 12-14, May 19-21 and May 26-28.
Magical Express debuts 2005
"You are the passengers of a most uncommon elevator, about to take the strangest journey of your lives. Your destination...unknown, but this much is clear, a reservation has been made in your name for an extended stay."
"Working with Walt was the most wonderful part of all, because
he was a true visionary in every word." - Illene Woods
