This Week in Disney History: March 15-21

March 18, 1967 - Pirates of the Caribbean opens at Disneyland Park
The centerpiece of New Orleans Square and the final attraction supervised by Walt Disney, Pirates of the Caribbean plunges guests over a waterfall into a mysterious grotto housing cursed treasures, then surrounds them in a full-fledged pirate battle as a host of rascals and scoundrels ransack a city to find it. This beloved Disney Parks classic inspired a film series which has grossed over $2.6 billion worldwide and garnered 11 Academy Award nominations, continuing next year with a fourth installment, On Stranger Tides. In 2006, the inimitable Captain Jack Sparrow climbed aboard the original Disneyland attraction as well as its Magic Kingdom Park counterpart at the Walt Disney World Resort.

March 16, 2002 - Walt Disney Studios Park opens at Disneyland Paris
Ten years after the inauguration of Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park opened to give guests a behind-the-scenes look at cinema, animation and television. Created as a true working studio, the park offers a number of shows and attractions, the majority of which were created especially for Disneyland Paris. The CinéMagique attraction pays tribute to some of the most magical moments in cinema - both European and American. Tricks from the action movie world also come to life in a brand new show, Moteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular, later adapted for Walt Disney World in 2005. Walt Disney Studios Park continues to grow, enhanced by new attractions including Tower of Terror (2008) and the upcoming Toy Story Playland (summer 2010).

March 15:
1991 - Disney Afternoon Live debuts at Disneyland Park, featuring Baloo's Dressing Room (a character meet-and-greet area) and "Plane Crazy" (a new stage show)
1995 - Plans unveiled at Carnegie Hall for Disney Institute

March 16:
1934 - "The Three Little Pigs" wins the Academy Award for Best Cartoon Short Subject of 1933
1961 - Walt Disney Pictures releases The Absent-Minded Professor

March 17:
1929 - "Plane Crazy" (Mickey Mouse short with sound) premieres in New York City
1939 - "Goofy and Wilbur" (the first Goofy cartoon short) debuts
1999 - The official grand opening of Test Track takes place at Epcot
2005 - Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters officially opens at Disneyland Park

March 18:
1955 - Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim
1967 - The Blue Bayou restaurant opens at Disneyland Park

March 19:
1959 - Walt Disney Pictures releases The Shaggy Dog
1966- Primeval World (part of the Disneyland Railroad) opens at Disneyland Park
2008 - Walt Disney World Boys & Girls Club opens in Pine Hills area of Orlando, Fla.

March 20:
1921 - The first Newman Laugh-O-Grams (animated by Walt Disney) premieres at Newman Theater in Kansas City
1987 - Captain EO opens at Tokyo Disneyland Park
1995 - Main Street Book Shop, Penny Arcade, and House of Magic close at Magic Kingdom Park

March 21:
1975 - Pictures releases Escape to Witch Mountain
1975 - Mission to Mars (updated Flight to the Moon attraction) opens in Disneyland Park
1997 - The new Carnation Cafe, the Blue Ribbon Bakery, and the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor open on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park

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