The wonderful world of Disney is full of history and fun stories that might not be on the docket to most people. In this blog post, you will find some interesting stories about Disneyland’s history and the company’s earliest beginnings.
Walt Disney’s Birthday
Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. He and his brother Roy founded what would become The Walt Disney Company in 1923.
Disney revolutionized the American animation industry with his pioneering use of cel-animation techniques and was also responsible for popularizing the medium of animation with a mass audience through his critically acclaimed films Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941), Bambi (1942), and Cinderella (1950). He also helped develop the theme park Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which opened in 1955.
In 1966, Disney was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Lyndon Johnson for his contributions to American culture. He died of lung cancer on December 15, 1966 at the age of 65.
The Wonderful World of Disney
Disney is a magical place full of happy memories and delightful surprises. But did you know that there’s more to Disney than meets the eye? Here are some fascinating facts and bits of history about the wonderful world of Disney:
– Did you know that the original name for Disneyland was going to be “Mickey Mouse Park”? Thankfully, Walt Disney decided to change it to Disneyland!
– The first animatronic figure ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering was Abraham Lincoln, who made his debut at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
– Walt Disney was once rejected for a job at Universal Studios because they thought he lacked imagination!
– Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first feature-length animated film ever made, and it took over three years to complete.
– When Sleeping Beauty was released in 1959, it was not a financial success. In fact, it was so unsuccessful that it almost bankrupted the studio!
We hope you enjoyed learning some fun facts about Disney! For more interesting tidbits about this beloved company, be sure to check out our other blog posts.
The Disney Animation Process
The Disney animation process is a long and complicated one, but it all starts with a simple idea. From there, the story is developed, and the characters are created. Then comes the animatic, which is a storyboard with sound and dialogue. After that, it’s time for the actual animation to begin.
First, the keyframes are drawn. These are the important scenes that will be used to create the final film. Next, the in-betweens are drawn. These are the frames that fill in the gaps between the keyframes and help to create fluid movement. Finally, the cleaning process begins. This is when all of the rough sketches are cleaned up and polished into the final product.
The whole process can take years to complete, but the end result is always worth it. That’s why Disney has been able to remain one of the most popular animation studios in the world for so many decades.
Disney Parks Around the World
Disney parks around the world are some of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet. And it’s not just because of the Mickey Mouse-shaped balloons and cotton candy. Disney parks are meticulously designed experiences that tell a story and immerse visitors in a world of make-believe.
The first Disney park, Disneyland, opened in Anaheim, California in 1955. The brainchild of Walt Disney, Disneyland was an instant hit with guests, who came from all over to experience its innovative rides and attractions. Today, Disneyland is one of the most visited theme parks in the world, with over 20 million guests each year.
Disneyland wasn’t the only park that Walt Disney had planned. He also envisioned building a similar park in Florida, which eventually became Walt Disney World Resort. Opened in 1971, Walt Disney World quickly became one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. With four theme parks, two water parks, and dozens of hotels and resorts, there’s something for everyone at Walt Disney World.
In 1983, Tokyo Disneyland became the first Disney park outside of the United States. Since then, Disney has continued to expand its international presence with parks in Europe (Paris), Asia (Hong Kong), and South America (Shanghai). There are currently six Disney parks around the world: Disneyland Resort (California), Walt Disney World Resort (Florida), Tokyo Disneyland (Japan), Tokyo DisneySea (Japan), Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Secret Lives of Disney Characters
The Disney characters we know, and love have interesting backstories and secrets that are not widely known. Here are some fun facts about some of our favorite Disney characters:
– Did you know that Mickey Mouse was originally going to be named Mortimer? Walt Disney’s wife Lillian suggested the name Mickey, and it stuck!
– The original design for Minnie Mouse was quite different from what we see today. Her original design was inspired by a popular flapper girl style of the 1920s.
– Have you ever wondered why Donald Duck always wears a sailor shirt and hat? This is because he was originally designed to be part of the navy in the film “The Three Caballeros.”
– Daisy Duck was created as a female counterpart to Donald. Like Donald, she also has a bit of a temper!
– Goofy was originally created as a single character named Dippy Dawg. He later became Goofy after appearing in several Disney shorts with Mickey Mouse.
– Pluto was not originally intended to be Mickey’s dog. In fact, he started out as a cat! It wasn’t until his second appearance in “bone trouble” that he became Mickey’s loyal canine friend.