Fact for the Day
The Partners bronze statue of
Walt and
Mickey appear in Disney theme parks all over the world. The STR symbol on
Walt's tie refers to Smoke Tree Ranch, a development in Palm Springs, California, where he had a vacation home.
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1758 -
James Monroe, the fifth United States President, is born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His administration will be marked by many accomplishments, including the acquisition of Florida in 1819. Visit him and all the U.S. Chief Executives at Disney World's The Hall of Presidents.
1930 - The Silly Symphony short Night, directed by
Walt Disney, is released.
1949 - 
Actor
Bruno Kirby is born in New York City. He will go on to appear in Disney's 1973 live-action comedy Superdad (as well as the classic films The Godfather Part II, City Slickers, and When Harry Met Sally.)
1950 - Disney's animated Trailer Horn, featuring
Donald Duck and
Chip 'n'
Dale, is released.
1983 - Total Abandon opens at the Booth Theatre in New York City. The original stage production, starring Richard Dreyfuss, is funded by
Walt Disney Productions. (Unfortunately it will close after just one performance.)
1989 - The Disney Channel airs the 5th episode of MMC. Today is Hall of Fame Day!
1989 - A Typhoon Lagoon sneak preview takes place for members of the press. (The new Disney World water park will open June 1.)
1991 - The Magical World of Disney airs the film "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids."
1995 - The ABC television sitcom Family Matters debuts part 1 of the episode "We're Going to Disney World." Steve Urkel is a finalist in an Innoventions contest and the Winslow family is invited along for the trip.
1997 - The restaurant in
Walt Disney World's
Cinderella Castle is renamed
Cinderella's Royal Table. Although originally called King Stefan's Banquet Hall - King Stefan was actually Sleeping Beauty's father ... not
Cinderella's!
2000 - Colleagues and fans alike gather at the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theater to pay tribute to Disney Legend & animator Marc Davis, who passed away on January 12th.
2000 - Garden enthusiasts dig into a popular
Walt Disney World spring tradition by celebrating the power of the
flower at the 7th annual Epcot International
Flower & Garden Festival (running through June 11).
2001 - Disney's House of Mouse airs "Not So
Goofy".
2001 - The Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register both report that Disneyland's Rocket Rods will never reopen.
2004 - Comcast announces that it has withdrawn its multi-billion dollar bid to buy
Walt Disney. (Comcast first announced its bid last February.)
2005 - It is announced that a fifth grade class from Tradewinds Elementary School in Coconut Creek, Florida is the winner of the 2005 Jiminy Cricket Environmentality Challenge! The 30 students arrived at Disney World the day before, April 27 - and stayed overnight at Disney's Yacht Club Resort. That evening a private party was held in their honor at Epcot.
2006 - Disney's California Food & Wine Weekends begin for the very first time at the Anaheim park.
2006 - Fall Out Boy performs for the first of a 2-night engagement at Disney World as part of Disney's Grad Nite 2006.
2006 - The 33rd Daytime Emmy Awards (commemorating excellence in daytime programming in 2005) are telecast on ABC. The 2005
Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade wins the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Special.
2006 - "Grandmas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Play Favorites," the 6th episode of Disney Channel's new series Hannah Montana, debuts.
2009 - A new documentary The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story screens for the first time at the Newport Beach Film Festival. The prolific songwriting team of brothers Richard and Robert Sherman are responsible for countless songs heard in Disney theme parks and features. The film, produced and directed by cousins Jeff and Greg Sherman (the sons of Richard & Robert) features interviews with many of the Disney Legends that the songwriting team worked with over the years.