Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are not owned by The Walt Disney Company. They are owned by The Oriental Land Company - a Japanese leisure and tourism corporation. The Oriental Land Company pays a very large sum of money each month to Disney in character and likeness licenses, and Disney in turn has leased their Imagineers to the company to build the parks.
1983:
Tokyo Disneyland opens in Japan. It is Disney's fourth theme park
but the first outside the United States. A light rain moves the opening ceremony under the cover of World
Bazaar (the park's equivalent to Main Street USA). Among the attractions featured is Space Mountain - a virtual duplicate
of the Anaheim, California version. Sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company of Japan, it is the first Space Mountain to
open with its park. Located in Urayasu (just outside Tokyo) the park is operated by the Oriental Land Company under
licence from Disney and consists of:
"To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Here you will discover enchanted lands of Fantasy and Adventure, Yesterday and Tomorrow. May Tokyo Disneyland be an eternal source of joy, laughter, inspiration, and imagination to the peoples of the world. And may this magical kingdom be an enduring symbol of the spirit of cooperation and friendship between the great nations of Japan and the United States of America."
-E. Cardon Walker's dedication This Day in Disney History 1983
1973:
"The Walt Disney Story" - a film narrated by Walt about the history of Walt Disney - debuts on Disney World's Main Street. It is a free attraction (at a time when
ride coupons are still in use) sponsored by Gulf Oil.
2005:
"Disney's Rock Around The Mouse" - a live musical tribute to the decade in which Walt Disney's original Anaheim theme park opened - officially debuts at Tokyo Disneyland.
Epcot's 12th Annual International Flower & Garden Festival bursts
into action (through June 5).
Disney's Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast celebrated its 11th
year on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Today's cast includes
Brooke Tansley, Steve Blanchard and Grand Norman.
Ariel's Greeting Grotto, a character meet-and-greet attraction, opens in Tokyo DisneySea.
1917:
Comic character actor Hans Conried, the voices of both Mr. George Darling
and Captain Hook in Disney's Peter Pan, is born in Baltimore, Maryland. His
Disney credits include the live-action films The Cat From Outer Space, The Shaggy D.A.,and Davy
Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier and the animated shorts The Story of Anyburg U.S.A. and Ben
and Me. Although he was replaced by Taylor Holmes for the voice role of King Stefan in Sleeping
Beauty, he remained the live-action performance model for Stefan. (Conried was a cast member of
The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, voicing the character of Snidely Whiplash in the Dudley Do-Right shorts!)
1930:
The first issue of the "Official Bulletin of the Mickey Mouse Club" (a twice-monthly
newsletter) is published. It contains stories on different Clubs around the country, contest ideas, and advertisements for merchandise featuring Mickey.
1938:
Disney's Donald Duck cartoon Donald's Nephews, written by Carl Barks and Jack Hannah, is released. It is the very first film appearance of Huey, Dewey and Louie (all voiced by Clarence Nash).
Walt Disney is awarded his very first honorary degree, a Master of Science
degree from the University of Southern California.
1959:
Actress-comedienne-screenwriter Emma Thompson, the voice of Captain Amelia in Disney's 2002 animated Treasure Planet and Elinor in the 2012 Brave, is born in London, England. She also portrayed P.L. Travers in the 2013 release Saving Mr. Banks and Mrs. Potts in the 2017 live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. (Harry Potter fans know Thompson as Professor Sybill Trelawney!)
1962:
The Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color TV series features episode 208 -
"Disneyland After Dark." Hosted by Walt himself, the show marks the network TV debut of the Osmond
Brothers (Alan, Jay, Merrill & Wayne) and includes jazz great Louis Armstrong (performing in Frontierland), 1950s
Mouseketeers Annette Funicello & Bobby Burgess singing a duet, and teen idol Bobby Rydell. In a running gag, Walt
introduces but is unable to attend the highlighted attractions and performances, being pinned down by an endless
supply of autograph seekers (including a repeat customer) throughout the program. The Dapper Dans are also featured
singing "Carry Me Back To Old Virginny" on Main Street. (This episode will be released theatrically overseas as a short
subject and in 2001 be included on the 2-disc DVD Walt Disney Treasures - Disneyland USA.)
Voice actor Tom Kane is born Thomas Roberts in Overland Park, Kansas. Best known as the
voices of Yoda and Admiral Yularen in the TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as of 2012 Kane is the new narrator
aboard Walt Disney World's monorail system. His Disney credits also include epsiodes of Kim Possible.
1972:
Lou Romano, the voice of Bernie Kropp in the 2004 The Incredibles, Snotrod in the
2006 Cars, and Linguini in the 2007 Ratatouille, is born in San Diego, California. Also an
animation production design artist, he worked on Monsters, Inc. and The Incredibles (for which he won an Annie
Award in 2005).
1975:
Disney World's Flight to the Moon (opened since December 1971) closes forever. It will be replaced with Mission to Mars.
Pixar employee and voice actress Elissa Knight is born in California.
As an assistant at Pixar, she occasionally recorded scratch tracks for use until big-name actors
could record their dialogue. This led to her voicing Tia in Cars (2006), EVE (Extraterrestrial
Vegetation Evaluator) in WALL-E (2008), and various characters in Monsters University
(2013) and Inside Out (2015).
1999:
Tax payers put the "fun" in refund by filing their taxes at Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island. A certified U.S. Postal Service drop box
postmarks tax returns right up until the midnight deadline, and a team of
Internal Revenue Service representatives offer last-minute tax tips.
Guests dropping off their tax forms at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island
receive a special admission price of $10.40.
2000:
At Disney World, Mickey's Main Street Easter Parade begins its daily run at 3 p.m.
(The special holiday parade will run through April 23.)
The 13th Annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards are held at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. Among the winners:
- Rosie O'Donnell (Terk) – Tarzan: Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie
- Ben Savage (Cory Matthews) and Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter) – Boy Meets World: Favorite TV Friends
- Salem – Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Favorite Animal Star
2002:
Tokyo Disneyland celebrates its 19th anniversary. All park guests receive a commemorative gift.
Production begins on the Disney/Pixar film The Incredibles.
The Disney Channel Original Movie Tru Confessions debuts.
2003:
Tokyo Disneyland officially presents Mickey's Gift of Dreams, a show featuring Mickey
and his friends on the Castle Forecourt Stage. The show is in celebration of the 20th
anniversary of Disney's first theme park outside of the U.S.
Disney's Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast welcomes its newest Belle to the cast, Megan McGinnis.
1964:
Lawyer Robert Foster leaves New York bound for Florida. Representing Disney, he is to begin land purchases in the Orlando area for a new
theme park. He uses the name Robert Price to keep his identity secret.
2007:
Disney’s first international production of Tarzan opens at the Circustheatre near Amsterdam (the capital city of the Netherlands).
A special event to celebrate Roger Broggie’s Window on Disneyland's Main
Street (which took place March 30) occurs at Walt's Barn in Griffith Park,
California. Roger's son Michael (a nationally-recognized authority on the life and legacy of Walt
Disney) attends with a copy of his father's window.
APRIL 15
APRIL 15
THIS DAY MADE IN THE USA
1967:
An "Angels-Disneyland Double Header" takes place in Anaheim. For $5 guests first
see today's ball game at 3:00 PM between the California Angels and the Cleveland Indians,
and then head over to Disneyland between 8:00 PM -1:00 AM! (Private parties
and special ticketed events on weekend evenings are now common at Disneyland.)
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Tokyo Disneyland debuts
1932:
Disney's Mickey Mouse short Barnyard Olympics is released. Released to coincide with the opening of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Mickey competes with Pete at running, vaulting, rowing, and a delightfully wacky bicycle race.
Actor Albert Sharpe is born in Belfast, Ireland. His most famous role may be that of Darby O'Gill in Disney's Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959). (He also portrayed Finian McLonergan in the Original Broadway production of the musical Finian's Rainbow.)
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Created in 1995 for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, the Garden Railway at
the Germany pavilion has become one of the most popular garden attractions at WDW. The
50' x 130' miniature garden is a wonder to behold. "Residents" of the tiny Bavarian village can
be found celebrating holidays, holding festivals and attending to their day-to-day lives.
ADVENTURELAND:
Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Enchanted Tiki Room, Western River Railroad, Royal Street Veranda restaurant, Polynesian Terrace Restaurant, Blue Bayou Restaurant, and Cafe Orleans restaurant
FANTASYLAND:
Snow White's Adventures, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Haunted
Mansion, Cinderella's Golden Carrousel, Peter Pan's Flight, Dumbo
Flying Elephants, It's a Small World, Mickey Mouse Revue, Skyway to
Tomorrowland, Tinker Bell Toy Shop, Disneyana Shop, Troubadour
Tavern, Captain Hook's Galley, and Four Corners Food Faire
TOMORROWLAND:
Starcade video arcade, Star Jets, Skyway to Fantasyland, Grand Circuit Raceway, Meet the World, Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant, Space Place FoodPort, and Space Mountain
WESTERNLAND:
Country Bear Jamboree, Diamond Horseshoe Revue, Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes, Plaza Pavilion restaurant, Hungry Bear Restaurant, Tom Sawyer
Island, Tom Sawyer Island Rafts, Westernland Shootin' Gallery, Mile Long Bar
restaurant, Mark Twain Riverboat, Lucky Nugget Cafe, and Pecos Bill Cafe
WORLD BAZAAR:
Camera Center shop, New Century Clock Shop, Emporium store, Storybook Store, Omnibus vehicle, Fire Truck vehicle, Horseless Carriages, and Main Street Cinema
1993:
On its 10th anniversary, Tokyo Disneyland premieres The Visionarium, The Disney
Gallery, Mickey's Moderne Memories shop, and The Sweetheart Cafe.
1994:
Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film
White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf. The film stars Scott Bairstow, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Lewis, and
Ethan Hawke. In this sequel, the hero of the first film, Jack Conroy (Hawke), passes the torch to adventure-seeker
Henry Casey (Bairstow) along with his trustworthy wolfhound, White Fang.
1996:
Mickey's House and Meet Mickey, a walk through and Meet & Greet attraction in the new Toontown at Tokyo Disneyland opens on the park's 13th anniversary. Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin (a dark ride attraction) and Gadget's Go Coaster (a junior roller coaster) also both debut in Toontown.
At Walt Disney World both Donald's Boat and Minnie's Country House open.
-Donald's Boat is an interactive playground themed as an over-sized, cartoon-style tugboat.
-Minnie's Country House offers a self-guided tour through the rooms and backyard of Mickey's main squeeze. Similar to Mickey's Country House, only predictably more feminine, Minnie's house also showcases fun Disney memorabilia.
(Both attraction will close in February 2011).
2011:
Tokyo Disneyland Resort partly reopens (coincidentally on its 28th anniversary)
after being closed since the devastating earthquakes that hit Japan March 11.
The Disney Channel Original Movie Lemonade Mouth premieres. A comedy-drama, the film tells
the story of five high school teens who meet in detention and ultimately form a band to overcome the struggles of high
school. The film stars stars Bridgit Mendler, Adam Hicks, Naomi Scott, Hayley Kiyoko and Blake Michael.
2004:
Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters opens in Tokyo Disneyland. A close version of Buzz Lightyear's
Space Ranger Spin (which first opened in Florida in 1998), Astro Blasters is a video-game-inspired attraction based
on the Disney/Pixar film Toy Story 2. Also debuting in the park's Adventureland is the show Minnie Oh! Minnie.
1971:
On this day, the last of 337 concrete beams completes the 6-mile long monorail
transportation system for Walt Disney World (which will open in October). The first
Martin Marietta Mark IV monorail is also lowered onto the beam. (Since 1969, 10 monorails have been built by
Martin Marietta for WDW with a design developed by Imagineer Bob Gurr.)
2012:
Peter and the Starcatchers opens on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
Originally a best-selling children's novel published by Hyperion Books (a subsidiary of Disney) in 2004, it was
written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. A play with music adaptation of the book debuted in winter 2009
at La Jolla Playhouse, as part of an arrangement with Disney Theatrical.
2013:
Tokyo Disney Resort celebrates its 30th anniversary, under the theme "The Happiness Year." In honor of the event, Disney debuts Happiness is Here Parade featuring Disney characters, cheerful music,
and themed parade floats. (Although the anniversary celebration will end in March 2014, the parade will run through
April 2018.)
April is 1964/65 New York World's Fair Month
2016:
The Jungle Book, a fantasy adventure film
directed by Jon Favreau, produced by
Walt Disney Pictures, and written by Justin
Marks, is released in U.S. theaters.
Based on Rudyard Kipling's eponymous collective works,
the film is a live-action/CGI reimagining of Walt Disney's
1967 animated film of the same name. Set in the jungles
of India, the film tells the story of Mowgli, an orphaned
human boy who, guided by his animal guardians, sets
out on a journey of self-discovery while evading the
threatening Shere Khan. The Jungle Book stars and
introduces Neel Sethi as Mowgli and features the voices
of Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Walken
and Garry Shandling (his final film credit). The film has required extensive use of computer-generated imagery to portray the animals and settings. (It will win accolades for achievements in visual effects at the 89th Academy Awards, 22nd Critics' Choice Awards and 70th British Academy Film Awards.)
1990:
Actress Emma Watson is born in Paris, France, to English lawyers Jacqueline Luesby and Chris Watson. First rising to prominence for her role in all 8 Harry Potter films, she
portrayed Belle in Disney's live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.
2018:
Tokyo Disney Resort begins its 35th anniversary celebration.
Ronald Lee Ermey, an actor, voice actor and Marine corps drill instructor, passes at age
74 in Santa Monica, California. First achieving fame as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in the 1987 film Full Metal
Jacket (which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor), he was the voice of Sarge
in the 1995 Toy Story and the sequels Toy Story 2, and Toy Story 3. Ermey also voiced General Sims in 2 episodes of
Disney Channel's Kim Possible and appeared in the 1997 biographical film Prefontaine (a Hollywood Pictures presentation). In 1961, at age 17, Ermey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and later served
in South Vietnam.
1988:
Walt Disney Pictures releases the feature Return to Snowy River. The sequel to the 1982
film The Man from Snowy River, Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton reprise their roles. Cattleman Jim Craig
(Burlinson) returns to his hometown of Snowy River only to find that things have drastically changed.
Tokyo Disneyland celebrates its 5th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, the park
expands its entertainment programs. Among them is the debut of a new daytime parade.
1979:
Actor Luke Evans is born in Wales. He played Gaston in the 2017 live-action feature film Beauty and the Beast.
1998:
Tokyo Disneyland turns 15!
2009:
Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek, an interactive dark ride, opens in Tokyo Disneyland.
It is based on the 2001 Disney·Pixar film Monsters, Inc.
1997:
MicroAdventure! opens in Tokyo Disneyland. A version of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (as it
is known in the U.S. Disney parks), it is a 4D film spin-off of the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids film series.
2008:
Disneyland Tokyo turns 25!
1981:
Actress and singer Caissie Levy, known for her performances in musical theatre on Broadway and in the West End, is born in Ontario, Canada. She originated the role of Elsa in the stage adaptation of Frozen, which opened in Denver in 2017 and moved to Broadway in February 2018.
2020:
Actor Brian Dennehy passes of natural causes at his home in New Haven, Connecticut. He is 81. A winner of one Golden Globe, two Tony Awards and a recipient of six Primetime Emmy Award nominations, his Disney film credits include Never Cry Wolf (1983), The Man from Snowy River II (1988), and
Ratatouille (2007) as the voice of Django.
Cinematographer Allen Daviau passes away at the age of 77 in California, as a result of complications from COVID-19. Best known for his collaborations with Steven Spielberg, Daviau worked on the Disney animated The Tigger Movie (2000).
1953:
Larry Latham, an animator, storyboard artist, producer, and director is born Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Best known as a producer and director on 15 episodes of Disney's animated series
TaleSpin (which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for the pilot episode), his Disney credits also included Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears, Bonkers, Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers, and DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp. Latham also directed storyboards on numerous Hanna-Barbera cartoons ("Super Friends," "Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo," and "The Smurfs") and features for Universal Cartoon Studios ("An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island" and "An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster"). In 2008, Latham began writing, drawing and publishing a web-comic called "Lovecraft is Missing" a project inspired by the works of fiction writer H. P. Lovecraft. Sadly Latham passed in November 2014.
1963:
Comedy writer, producer, and actress Paula Pell is born in Joliet, Illinois. Best known for her work writing for the sketch series Saturday Night Live, she voiced the dream producer and Mom's Anger in the 2015 Pixar film Inside Out.
