This Day in Disney History: FEB 14

2004:

Sleeping Beauty's Royal Ball takes place at Disneyland.

Filmmaker John Lasseter, the director of Toy Story, A Bug's Life and Toy Story 2, and the executive producer of Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo, is given the Art Directors Guild's coveted honorary Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award.

The Lizzie McGuire episode "Magic Train" debuts on the Disney Channel. (It is considered to be the final episode of the

series starring Hilary Duff.)

Today is Valentine's Day

1903:

Actor Stuart Erwin is born in Squaw Valley, California. His Disney credits include The Misadventures of Merlin Jones,

Son of Flubber, and Moochie of the Little League.

1913:

Disney Legend Roberto de Leonardis is born in Naples, Italy.

Starting in 1947, he will go to work for Disney to translate and dub

films like Bambi and Pinocchio for Italian audiences.

1919:

Alan Alexander Milne (future creator of Winnie-the-Pooh) is discharged from the army. He has served as a signals officer during the world war.

1929

The original Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant opens at 1624 Vine Street in California. The Brown Derby restaurants began as the brainchild of Herb Somborn, Wilson Mizner, and Sid Grauman. Somborn will ask Bob Cobb (later the creator of the famous Cobb Salad) to manage the Vine Street establishment. Eventually Cobb will take over all the restaurants after the deaths of the original owners. (The Hollywood Brown Derby will serve as the inspiration for the Disney-MGM restaurant.)

1973:

Disney's live-action film The World's Greatest Athlete, starring Tim Conway, Jan-

Michael Vincent, and John Amos, is released in theaters. Much of the film was

shot on the campus of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. (It will

be the 10th-top grossing film released in 1973, just ahead of American Graffiti.)

1995:

A couple gets married at Walt Disney World's Tower of Terror attraction in Florida, as part of a Disney promotion featuring Valentine's Day weddings.

1998:

The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop has its grand

opening at the Downtown Disney Marketplace in Florida.

2001:

Dick Cook, chairman of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, announces that its Academy Award-winning animated motion picture Beauty and the Beast will be released in IMAX and other large-format venues around the world in March 2002. Walt Disney Feature Animation has spent a year in production on the film, enhancing the image and refining character faces, backgrounds, and special effects, in order to let the film shine brightly on the giant screen. In addition, the filmmakers have added an extraordinary, never-before-seen musical sequence. (The film will wind up being released in January 2002.)

2002:

The acclaimed Napa Rose restaurant (located in the Disneyland Resort)

offers a tempting special four-course Valentine feast.

2003:

Disney's The Jungle Book 2 (featuring the voices of John Goodman

and Haley Joel Osment) opens.

The Magic Kingdom's Liberty Belle (an old-fashionedpaddle-wheelcruiser) is re-launched. The Belle and Tom Sawyer's Island

(the attraction's main dock) have been refurbished.

2006:

A groundbreaking ceremony for a new hotel in Tokyo Disneyland takes place.

Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Chip & Dale appear in a safety prayer festival

held at the planned construction site in front of the entrance of the park. The

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel is scheduled to open in 2008 and will have about

700 guest rooms.

1957:

Disney re-releases Cinderella in theaters for a second time.

1999:

The first Disney Cruise Line wedding occurs on Castaway Cay.

FEBRUARY 14

Get your Disney tickets at Maple Leaf Tickets!

1923:

Skating star Donna Atwood (known for her performances with the Ice Capades)

is born in Newton, Kansas. She will be the ice skating model for Thumper in

Disney's Bambi.

2007:

Atlanta Brave pitchers and catchers report for spring training at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. It is the Braves 10th season at the Florida facility.

"Well, looks like the robins are getting ready to celebrate Valentine's Day today.

What year is it? Oh, right around the turn of the century. And things couldn't be any

better than they are today." - Father in Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress

The World Showcase Lagoon

(at Disney World's Epcot)

covers 40 acres and is

surrounded by a

1.2 mile promenade.

FEBRUARY 14

FEB

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