1782 - Martin Van Buren, the eighth United States President, is born in Kinderhook, New York. He is the first president to be born an American citizen, as his predecessors were born before the American Revolution. Visit him and all the U.S. Chief Executives at Disney World's Hall of Presidents.

1901 - Walter Elias Disney is born to Flora and Elias Disney in their two-story cottage at 2156 N. Tripp Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The third Disney son is named to honor the family's pastor and friend Walter Parr, a preacher at St. Paul Congregational Church. The pastor, in turn, will later name his son Elias, after Walt's father. (The Disney family will move to Missouri in 1906 where Walt and his brothers and sister will grow up on a farm in Marceline, but the family will later return to Chicago in 1917.)

1945 - Walt Disney writes his annual birthday letter to his younger sister Ruth (whose birthday is December 6). He writes of family and his next feature Make Mine Music. He also describes the work being done on "Uncle Remus" and other stories that are being prepared for nearly 5 years ahead (like Peter Pan). Enclosed is a gift of a check because he has "no more notion about what I should send you than I had this time last year."

1949 - Walt Disney writes his annual birthday letter to his sister Ruth. He begins with the words "here is your birthday check and I hope you will go out and buy yourself something very special with it." Walt describes his family's recent summer trip to Europe and his upcoming release Treasure Island.

1951 - Walt write his traditional birthday letter to sister Ruth. He describes his Christmas television show, his current feature Robin Hood, and his newest production Peter Pan. Walt also writes of his two daughters Diane and Sharon. He states: "I always tell myself I'm going to buy you something for your birthday, but when I get right down to the matter of color, size, and what, I'm bewildered and stuck. So here it is, the check - now you go out and buy something that you'll like."

1955 - The Mickey Mouse Club airs on ABC-TV. Today is Fun With Music Day.

1956 - Big brother Walt writes his sister Ruth her annual birthday letter. He describes his strenuous work schedule, his daughter Sharon and her modeling career, and his other daughter Diane and her growing family. As usual a check is enclosed for Ruth to spend on "some feminine luxury."

1956 - ABC-TV's Disneyland series airs part 2 of "Treasure Island."

1958 - The TV series Walt Disney Presents airs "El***o Baca: Lawman or Gunman." (It is the 3rd episode of the Baca serial starring Robert Loggia.)

1965 - Singer-songwriter John Rzeznik (of the Goo-Goo Dolls) is born in Buffalo, New York. (He will compose and perform two songs as the voice of Jim Hawkins for the 2002 Disney animated feature Treasure Planet.)

1966 - An ill Walt Disney celebrates his last birthday in a California hospital.

1971 - The NBC-TV series The Wonderful World of Disney airs part 2 of "The Dingaling Lynx Lefty."

1981 - The television series Walt Disney airs "A Magical Disney Christmas."

1985 - The city of Anaheim salutes Disneyland (on the birthday of Walt Disney) with a world-record release of one million balloons over the park. The 70,000 pounds of helium used is enough to lift 190 people into the air.

1986 - "Walt Disney Recognition Day" is officially celebrated in the United States.

1987 - The Disney Channel airs The Christmas Visitor.

1988 - Enginneer, logistical planner and Disney Legend Joe Potter passes away in Orlando, Florida. One time Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, Potter served as vice president for EPCOT Planning and senior vice president of Walt Disney World Company.

1991 - Disney's animated feature Beauty and the Beast is released in Cambodia.

1996 - Walt Disney Animation Canada Inc. officially opens at 650 West Georgia Street, with a grand opening for the arts, entertainment, film and animation communities in Vancouver.

2001 - Disney fans around the world celebrate Walt Disney's 100th birthday.

2001 - Walt Disney's Hometown 100th Birthday Celebration (in Marceline, Missouri) takes place with a variety of activities. The town's Uptown Theatre hosts free showings of the two Disney movies that first premiered in Marceline, "The Great Locomotive Chase" and "The Spirit of Mickey." In the early evening, sparkling fruit juice sales begin on Main Street USA in front of Ripley Park where the city will toast Disney during a special ceremony.

2001 - Disneyland holds a special ceremony commemorating the 100th birthday of Walt at 11:30 a.m. in the Plaza Hub at the end of Main Street. Hosted by Disneyland Resort President Cynthia Harriss, the program pays homage to Mr. Disney in story and song with special appearances by legendary Disney Imagineer John Hench and Academy Award-winning composer Richard M. Sherman.

2001 - At Disneyland Paris, guests are greeted by 100 Disney characters in honor of Walt's birthday. A one-day-only fireworks display over the castle tops off the day of special events.

2001 - The Walt Disney Company inducts the 2001 class of Disney Legends.

2001 - The life and career of Walt Disney is celebrated with a tribute by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Participants for the Academy's CentennialTribute to Walt include his daughter Diane Disney Miller and the three surviving members of Disney's "Nine Old Men."

2003 - Roy Disney and Stanley Gold officially launch their SaveDisney website.

2003 - The 2003 Teddy Bear & Doll Weekend kicks off at Epcot.

2003 - The Disney/Pixar feature Alla Ricerca Di Nemo premiers in Italy.

2003 - New York's Museum of Modern Art hosts a lecture about Disney Legend Mary Blair by animation filmmaker John Canemaker, author of The Art and Flair of Mary Blair. The 2-day presentation also includes a 35mm screening of Disney's Alice in Wonderland and a book signing.

2003 - Disney Channel debuts the That's So Raven episode "Escape Claus" (Raven's first holiday episode). Actor Ernie Sabella (the voice of The Lion King's Pumbaa) guest stars as teacher Mr. Petrachelli.

2004 - Singer-songwriter Elton John and composer-conductor John Williams are among six who receive Kennedy Center Honors for 2004 during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. John's Disney credits include The Lion King and Aida and Williams' music can be heard in the Star Wars park attractions.

2005 - Nominations for the 33rd Annual Annie Awards are announced. They include Chicken Little (for Best Animated Feature), and Kronk's New Groove, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch, and Tarzan II (all for Best Home Entertainment Production). Winners will be announced in February 2006.

2005 - Broadcaster and newsman George Walsh passes away at age 88 in California. Known as the voice of TV's Gunsmoke, Walsh was also an interviewer, sports reporter, newscaster and announcer for a number of shows. Upon retirement, he worked at Disneyland's Candy Palace and lent his voice to two now-retired attractions - Flight to the Moon and Mission to Mars.

2006 - Pirates Of The Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest makes its Disney DVD debut.

2006 - The Advertising Council, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment, announces the launch of new public service advertisements designed to encourage all Americans to wear seat belts. The seat belt education campaign will prominently feature characters from Disney/Pixar's Cars.

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