Fact for the Day
Disney's Tron was the first film in motion picture history to make extensive use of computer imagery. On July 24, 2008 Disney surprised San Diego Comic Con attendees with test footage from a sequel to Tron.
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1905 -
Floyd Gottfredson, the man who gave
Mickey Mouse his comic strip personality, is born in Kaysville, Utah.
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.
1927 - 
Actress
Pat Carroll, the voice of
Ursula in Disney's 1989 classic The Little Mermaid, is born in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1929 - 
Singer, voice actress and Disney Legend
Ilene Woods is born in New Hampshire. In 1948, as a favor for songwriter friends Mack David and Jerry Livingston, Woods will record "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," and "So This is Love." Upon hearing Woods,
Walt will hire her as the title voice of
Cinderella.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
2001 - 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.
2001 - An area of Disneyland that was closed to the public after a large cork oak tree fell is reopened.
2001 - 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.
2004 - 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.
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 global celebration.)
2005 - 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 anniversary fireworks show called "Remember ... Dreams Come True" (sponsored by American Honda Motor Co.) debuts.
2005 - 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 officially debuts too - at the Magic Kingdom. Also officially debuting is Disney's Magical Express - a complimentary round-trip airport transfer for Disney World hotel guests.
2006 - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the first
Mickey Mouse series created specifically for preschoolers, debuts on Disney Channel.
2006 - Disney's acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios is completed - Pixar is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of The
Walt Disney Company.
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!
2008 - Today is the final day of Disney's California Food and Wine Festival.
2009 - Performances begin for Disney's musical The Lion King at the Mandalay Bay Theatre in Las Vegas.