This Week in Disney History: April 19-25

April 22, 1964 - The New York World's Fair opens
Held in Flushing Meadows Park in the borough of Queens, the 1964 World's Fair was emblematic of the can-do spirit of the Space Age and the promise of tomorrow. But theme park aficionados know it as the place where Walt Disney perfected ride and show technology that still amazes guests to this day, as evidenced in the four attractions he built for the fair. "it's a small world" was a hopeful salute to the children of the world, while the Carousel of Progress followed a family embracing modern conveniences from the turn of the century through the present. The PeopleMover ride system debuted in the Magic Skyway attraction, where riders took a spin through time in a Ford automobile; while at the Illinois pavilion, guests marveled at Disney's most sophisticated Audio-Animatronic yet in "Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln." Three of the four found their way to Disneyland Park (and two later to Magic Kingdom Park) after the fair closed in 1965.

April 22, 1998 - Disney's Animal Kingdom opens
After wandering through the dense canopy of the Oasis, the enormous Tree of Life welcomes guests to Disney's largest theme park, where seven distinct lands covering more than 500 acres feature animal exhibits, attractions and entertainment underscoring the importance of wildlife conservation. Whether enjoying a rugged African photo trek aboard Kilimanjaro Safaris, thrilling through time while narrowly evading a Carnotaurus aboard DINOSAUR, or laughing with the insects from "A Bug's Life" in It's Tough to be a Bug, visitors can explore the world of creatures real, extinct and imaginary. Disney's Animal Kingdom continues adding to its unique array of experiences, opening the hair-raising roller coaster Expedition Everest in 2006 and the innovative Finding Nemo - The Musical in 2007.

April 19:
1999 - Sales of tobacco products are discontinued at all four Walt Disney World theme parks, and smoking is prohibited except in designated areas

April 20:
1946 - Walt Disney Pictures premieres Make Mine Music in New York City
1991 - The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios
2000 - Walt Disney World announces plans for Mission: Space at Epcot

April 21:
1930 - The animated short "Just Mickey" (aka "Fiddlin' Around") debuts
2009 - Characters in Flight opens in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World

April 22:
2002 - Primeval Whirl opens at Disney's Animal Kingdom
2009 - Disneynature releases Earth

April 23:
1957 - Midget Autopia opens at Disneyland Park
1986 - Leaders host the groundbreaking ceremony for Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
1990 - Mickey's Birthdayland closes at Magic Kingdom Park

April 24:
1989 - "The All New Mickey Mouse Club," taped at the Disney-MGM Studios, debuts on Disney Channel
2009 - Imagineer and Disney Legend Marty Sklar announces his retirement, effective July 17

April 25:
1930 - "Wild Waves" (Mickey Mouse animated short) debuts
1952 - "Let's Stick Together" (Donald Duck animated short) debuts
1997 - Touchstone Pictures releases Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
2003 - The 10th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival begins

This Week in Disney History: April 12-18

April 15, 1983 - Tokyo Disneyland opens
On a site overlooking Tokyo Bay in the suburb of Urayasu, fifteen minutes by subway on the Keiyō Line from the heart of the world's most populous urban area, lies an incredible piece of Disney magic. The massive, glass covered World Bazaar welcomes guests to the eastern hemisphere's most visited theme park, with Cinderella Castle perched at the top of the central plaza leading to seven themed lands, each featuring Disney Parks favorites spanning from the Haunted Mansion to Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters. Tokyo Disneyland operates under a unique partnership between Disney and the Oriental Land Company. Card Walker, the Disney president fundamental in the building of the Walt Disney World Resort and Epcot, gave the opening day dedication, modeling his words after Walt's address at the opening of Disneyland Park. Tokyo Disney Resort continues to thrive, opening the companion park Tokyo DisneySea in 2001 while inaugurating its own monorail line and shopping district.

April 12, 1992 - Disneyland Paris opens
Located just a stone's throw from Paris, a whole new Disney theme park opened its doors in the heart of Europe. Disneyland Park pays tribute to its continental homeland in many ways: the design of Discoveryland is heavily influenced by European visionaries and the way they imagined the future, including Jules Verne and Leonardo da Vinci. The centrepiece of the theme park is the splendid Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, a Sleeping Beauty Castle unlike any other. The magnificent monument displays flourishes inspired by the natural world, fairytales and even medieval literature. With its towers spiralling into the sky, the castle has much in common with France's Mont St. Michel, with further inspiration from the works of Sleeping Beauty artist Eyvind Earle. In 1995, the park took a considerable leap forward by opening a re-imagined Space Mountain, then reloaded the attraction in 2005 as Space Mountain: Mission 2. The 200 millionth guest was welcomed in summer 2008.

April 12:
1946 - The cartoon short "Pluto's Kid Brother" debuts
1995 - 'Ohana opens at Disney's Polynesian Resort
1996 - Walt Disney Pictures releases James and the Giant Peach

April 13:
1935 - "Mickey's Kangaroo," the last black-and-white Walt Disney Studios cartoon short, debuts

April 14:
1934 - "The Big Bad Wolf" (Silly Symphony) debuts
1984 - An updated version of the Alice in Wonderland attraction opens at Disneyland Park
2008 - Ollie Johnston, Disney animator and the last of Walt's "Nine Old Men," dies at age 95

April 15:
1932 - The Mickey Mouse animated short "Barnyard Olympics" debuts, coinciding with the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles
1938- The animated short "Donald's Nephews" debuts, featuring the first appearances of Huey, Dewey, and Louie
1962 - The episode "Disneyland After Dark" debuts on "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color"
1973 - The Walt Disney Story opens at Magic Kingdom Park
1975 - Flight to the Moon closes at Magic Kingdom Park

April 16:
2001 - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

April 17:
1958 - The Circarama film America the Beautiful debuts at the World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium; the first Disney attraction ever to open outside a Disney Park

April 18:
1953 - The Mickey Mouse short "The Simple Things," debuts; over 30 years would pass before the release of the next one, "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983)
1983 - Disney Channel goes on the air
1994 - "Beauty and the Beast: A New Musical" premieres at the Palace Theatre in New York

This Week in Disney History: April 5-11

April 6, 1990 - Blue Ribbon Bakery opens at Disneyland Park
On any given morning, you'll spot hundreds of half-asleep families bearing left upon entering Disneyland and trudging into this Main Street, U.S.A. mainstay. And no one could blame them. With the sweet aroma of fresh baked cinnamon rolls wafting out the door, a satisfying breakfast pastry paired with a vanilla latte is a perfect pre-op before conquering Space Mountain or finding Mickey for a photo. But no one says you can't stop back later for a deli sandwich and an iced mocha before staking out an afternoon parade spot, or maybe another espresso with a chocolate chip cookie chaser at park closing for the drive home. The Blue Ribbon originally opened next door to its current spot, which was occupied by the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor; in 1997, the two locations switched places, and the parlor became the Gibson Girl.

April 7, 2006 - Expedition Everest opens at Disney's Animal Kingdom
In the Himalayan village of Serka Zong, brave guests make final preparations for a train ride to the base of the world's tallest peak. Historical artifacts, writings and the tattered gear of those who've climbed it before bear witness to the creature locals fear - the snarling, ferocious Yeti. As the train climbs high into the mountains, the journey stops abruptly as the tracks ahead have been ripped apart. But the only way out isn't exactly the same way you came in… say, what's that snarling sound? Expedition Everest has a distant cousin in the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland Park, but stands over 50 feet higher, and at a top speed of 50 miles per hour, travels nearly twice as fast. The intimidating Yeti audio-animatronic stands 22 feet tall and has its own support structure separate from the track and the mountain; the actuators making it move can simultaneously create more thrust than a 747 jumbo jet.

April 5:
1965 - Mary Poppins wins 5 Oscars at the 37th Academy Awards, including Best Actress honors for Julie Andrews
1998 - The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) opens at Magic Kingdom Park
1999 - The Studio Costuming Company, the new costume issue building for Disney-MGM Studios Cast, opens
2006 - Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opens in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World

April 6:
1991 - "Darkwing Duck" debuts on Disney Channel
1998 - The new Walt Disney Studios Animation Florida building at Disney-MGM Studios opens
2007 - Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros! opens in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot

April 7:
1939 - Disney's final Silly Symphony cartoon, "The Ugly Duckling," debuts
1983 - The 150 millionth guest visits the Walt Disney World Resort
1995 - Walt Disney Pictures releases A Goofy Movie
1997 - The original run of Captain EO ends at Disneyland Park
2001 - "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - Play It!" opens at Disney-MGM Studios

April 8:
1973 - The Walt Disney Story opens at Disneyland Park
1974 - Treasure Island in Bay Lake (later Discovery Island) opens at the Walt Disney World Resort
2006 - Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast opens at Disneyland Paris

April 9:
1961 - Walt Disney dedicates the grotto and wishing well adjacent to Sleeping Beauty Castle, with donations benefitting children's charities worldwide
2005 - Space Mountain: Mission 2 debuts at Disneyland Paris

April 10:
1930 - "The Barnyard Concert" (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts
1988 - America Sings closes at Disneyland Park
1992 - Walt Disney Pictures releases Newsies

April 11:
1997 - Hollywood Pictures releases Grosse Point Blank
2003 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opens at Disneyland Park
2003 - Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage! opens at Disney's California Adventure Park
2009 - Yamabuki, a Japanese restaurant, closes at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel