Walt Disney and his older brother Roy O. Disney are credited for creating the giant that is the Walt Disney Company. Though they are lesser known, Walt’s other siblings, Herbert, Raymond, and sister Ruth Disney, played major roles in the beginnings and creation of the company as well. Learn more about each of Walt Disney’s siblings and the role they played.
Read MoreThe Firehouse Five Plus Two was a successful jazz band made up of Disney animators, writers, and more. Learn more about how they came to be, their leader Ward Kimball, and their successes in the music industry.
Read MoreThe story of Cinderella has lasted over centuries, with her evil stepsisters continuing to be a central part of the plot as villains. Through each version of Cinderella, their names have changed, appearances have changed, and even fates have changed. Learn more about each version of the evil stepsisters throughout history here.
Read MoreAriel from The Little Mermaid and Belle from Beauty and the Beast not only share a longing for adventure and an infectious curious personality, but they also share a live action reference model. Learn more about the life of Sherri Stoner and her time as Disney’s Ariel and Belle.
Read MorePinocchio’s Daring Journey made its debut in Tokyo Disneyland in 1983. It was an idea that was taken off of the shelf after the abandoned Dumbo’s Circus Land idea. It was one of the few dark rides that has remained very close to its opening day format. Learn more about this beloved Disney dark ride.
Read MoreThroughout the Disney parks, there are some incredible animatronics that Imagineers dreamed up. Learn more about some of the most iconic animatronics in Disneyland California, including the Jack Sparrow animatronic, Indiana Jones animatronic, Spider-Man animatronic, and more.
Read MoreThe evolution of Walt Disney’s opening credits has gone from 3-minute static images to fully animated sequences . Learn more about the history of opening title cards and why the film industry transitioned to closing credits.
Read MoreDid you ever wonder if you could get your hands on any of the toys in Toy Story (1995) as a child? Many of Andy’s toys did exist before the 1995 Pixar film, including Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, the Green Army Men, the Barrel of Monkeys, Etch A Sketch, the Magic 8 Ball, the Troll Dolls, and many more. Read on to learn more about all of the REAL toys of Toy Story!
Read MoreLilo and Stitch premiered in June 2002 with 5 Elvis Presley songs on its soundtrack. The film was released on the 25th anniversary of the King of Rock and Roll’s passing, and was a major contributor to the resurgence of his music. Learn more about how Disney got the permissions for the film, and Priscilla Presley’s appearance at the premiere.
Read MoreThe first five Disney films, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi had major influence on all animated films we see today. The world premieres of these films were extremely important nights for Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Company. Learn more about the premieres of these films and their venues.
Read MoreWith the live action of Snow White being filmed currently, let’s take a look back at the original voice actors that played our beloved seven dwarfs from the 1937 film: Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Happy, and Bashful.
Read MoreEach Pixar film has a group of dedicated writers, animators, directors, and actors behind it. Many of the Pixar films have production dedications, honoring someone who passed away who impacted the company greatly. Learn more about who each film is dedicated to
Read MoreDisneyToon Studios opened when Disney decided to make direct-to-video sequels of their classic movies. Films like The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, and Cinderella III: A Twist in Time were all produced by this new animation division. Learn more about the full history of DisneyToon Studios.
Read MoreWith the great success of Dumbo in the 1940s, Imagineer Tony Baxter designed Dumbo’s Circus Land to be an extension of Fantasyland in Disneyland California in the 1970s. It was feature Circus Disney, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the Casey Jr Circus Train, Mickey’s MadHouse, and a Pinocchio attraction.
Read MoreWhen the Golden Horseshoe officially opened with Disneyland in July 1955, Wally Boag made his mark in the Golden Horseshoe Revue and performed for over 30 years. Betty Taylor joined just a year after in 1956 as Slue-Foot-Sue. Learn more about the history of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon and Disney Legends Wally Boag and Betty Taylor.
Read MoreThough sequels don’t always have the best reputation, there are a few Pixar sequels that have really broken that stereotype. Learn more about the top 3 most successful Pixar sequels of all time.
Read MoreTinker Bell quickly became one of Disney’s main mascots ever since the release of Peter Pan in 1953. She originally appeared in the 1904 play Peter Pan by J.M Barrie, and has since starred in her own movies, and flown over castles in Disney parks. Learn more about the complete history of Tinker Bell.
Read MoreDisney’s Afternoon Avenue was a temporary land in Disneyland California to celebrate the syndicated Disney TV cartoons. DuckTales, TaleSpin, Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers, and Adventures of the Gummi Bears were featured during this 1991 overlay. Learn more about it here.
Read MoreOne of Disneyland California’s first boat rides was the Motor Boat Cruise, which lasted until 1993. Since then, the remnants of the ride have become Fantasia Gardens, and has become a place of a lost, abandoned boat ride. Learn more about the history of the Motor Boat Cruise here.
Read MoreThe Disneyland attraction posters have become a staple vintage collectors item, and the artwork for them evolved over decades as different artists were hired by Disney to create them. Learn more about which posters were there at the opening day of Disneyland, and the various artists who contributed to them after the 1950s.
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