1790 - James K. Polk, the eleventh United States President, is born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Visit him and all the U.S. Chief Executives at Disney World's Hall of Presidents.

1832 - Kepple Disney (Walt's paternal grandfather) is born to Arundel Elias Disney and Maria Swan in Ireland.

1865 - Warren G. Harding, the twenty-ninth United States President, is born in Ohio. Visit him and all the U.S. Chief Executives at Disney World's Hall of Presidents.

1889 - European publisher (of the monthly magazine "Topolino") and Disney Legend Arnoldo Mondadori is born in the village of Poggio Rusco, Italy.

1903 - A production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream opens the New Amsterdam Theater at 214 West 42nd Street in the heart of Times Square in New York City. It is the largest theater at this time in the state. (During the Depression years, the New Amsterdam will be converted to a movie house. New York State will later purchase the theater in 1992 and subsequently lease it to Disney for $29 million in 1993.)

1924 - Bard's Hollywood Theater previews the Alice Comedy film Alice the Piper starring Virginia Davis. (The short will be released the following month.)

1940 - Disney's Goofy cartoon Goofy's Glider is released. Goofy has a hard time getting his homemade glider airborne!

1951 - Disney releases the Donald Duck short Out of Scale.

1954 - LOOK magazine gives readers "Your First View of Disneyland." The article reports that "bulldozers are piling up miniature mountains for a new product of Walt Disney's fertile imagination - a fabulous playground called Disneyland."

1955 - The Mickey Mouse Club airs on ABC-TV. Today is Anything Can Happen Day.

1955 - The Disneyland television series airs episode 29: part 1 of "The Story of Robin Hood," a live-action movie.

1963 - The Dapper Dans sing with Julie Andrews and Wally Boag at a special Disneyland press-only event on the Golden Horseshoe stage to promote next year's release of Mary Poppins.

1966 - Walt Disney checks into St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, complaining of shortness of breath, and pain in his left leg and neck. X-rays detect a walnut-sized cancerous spot on his left lung. Although immediate surgery is advised, Walt leaves the hospital to attend to studio business for a few days.

1986 - In New York City, a 12-by-16-inch celluloid, from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, is purchased for $30,800.

1986 - Popular voice over actor Paul Frees, known for his Haunted Mansion narration, passes away in California. He also voiced several pirates in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. (In TV commercials, Frees voiced the Pillsbury Doughboy and the elf who calls out to the Jolly Green Giant!)

1986 - Disney's TV film Ask Max - about a 12-year-old genius inventor - first airs.

1992 - At Disneyland, the Mission to Mars attraction in Tomorrowland closes.

1997 - The Atlanta Journal Constitution runs an article about the "Save Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" website and its attempt to stop Walt Disney World from replacing the classic attraction. (The site was posted October 23, just one day after the Orlando Sentinel ran an article announcing Disney's plans.)

1997 - The Wonderful World of Disney airs "Rodger & Hammersteins Cinderella" on ABC-TV.

1997 - Disney Channel debuts a new episode of Muppets Tonight with guest star Paula Abdul. This episode was shot as part of the first season - which aired on ABC-TV.

1999 - Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa formally announces that an agreement has been reached with the Walt Disney Company on building a Disneyland park in Hong Kong.

2001 - Disney's animated feature Monsters, Inc. (featuring the voices of John Goodman and Billy Crystal) opens. It is the fourth feature collaboration between The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Studios (but the first film Pixar has released not directed by John Lasseter).

2001 - In a ceremony held at Disney's California Adventure, Disneyland Resort Cast Member Matt Ebeling (a Manager in Catering and Convention services) is selected as the newest Disneyland Resort Ambassador. Matt replaces out-going Ambassadors Eddie Garcia and Doina Roman-Osborn.

2002 - As part of its grand opening weekend, the new Borders in Spokane, Washington, hosts Disney Day.

2004 - Disney releases Around the World in 80 Days and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (a special 3-disc gift set) on DVD. Also released is the audio CD Walt Disney Records Presents Superstar Hits.

2006 - Disney's Division II Tip-Off Classic kicks off for 5 days at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.

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