September 14: Muppets Tonight Episode 202

Muppets Tonight, a live-action/puppet television series created by Jim Henson Productions, was a continuation of the original series The Muppet Show (which had debuted back in 1976). This new series also featured the classic Muppets (and some new ones) in fresh skits with multiple guest stars.

Originally broadcast on ABC in 1996, after one season Muppets Tonight moved to the Disney Channel and on this day in 1997, episode 202 debuted with guest star Rick Moranis.

Moranis, a comic actor best known for his work on SCTV and such classic features as Ghostbusters and Little Shop of Horrors, had also starred in Disney's 1989 comedy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. (Moranis later starred in the sequel Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, the park attraction Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and finally Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves.)

Episode 202 was directed by Brian Henson, son of Muppet creator Jim Henson. New episodes of Muppets Tonight continued until February 1998.

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September 11: Patriot Day

"To retreat from any of the principles handed down by our forefathers, who shed their blood for the ideals we still embrace, would be a complete victory for those who would destroy liberty and justice for the individual." -Walt Disney 

September 03: Regis & Kathie Lee Go National

On this day in 1988, a live television morning talk show out of New York City featuring Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford debuted nationally on ABC. Originally known as The Morning Show with Philbin and Cyndy Garvey, the show became known in 1988 as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and was syndicated by Buena Vista Television (one of Disney's very first talk show productions) on this day.

Today the show is as popular as ever but is now called Live with Regis and Kelly since 2000 (as it now features actress Kelly Ripa - known to fans of ABC-TV's All My Children). The team of Regis and Kelly have gone on to host many of Disney's Christmas Day television parades from Walt Disney World and Philbin was the original host for the U.S. version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

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September 02: Hang On To Them Hats & Glasses

On this day in 1979, Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction opened. The very first Big Thunder Mountain to open in any Disney park, the attraction is located in Frontierland on the spot once occupied by Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland (which first opened in 1956).

Designed by Imagineer Tony Baxter and ride design engineer Bill Watkins, the idea originated from work Baxter had done years earlier on a Marc Davis concept called Western River Expedition (originally meant to be built in Disney World's Magic Kingdom).

Big Thunder Mountain features runaway mine trains that twist through desert canyons, creaking mine shafts, and pitch-black bat caverns. "The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness" is still a favorite among park guests.

A Big Thunder Mountain later opened at WDW in November 1980, followed by versions in Tokyo Disneyland in 1987 and finally Disneyland Park in Paris in 1992.

Click HERE for much more September 02 Disney history.

September 01: A Playful Spot at WDW

On this day in 2005, Pooh's Playful Spot (a play area for 2-5 year-olds) opened on the site of the former 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea at Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Located across from Fantasyland's The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the Playful Spot featured a large tree which housed Pooh's home for young ones to explore. Themed after the Hundred Acre Wood, it also included spurting fountains of water, crawl-through logs, huge honey pots, and a slide.

Due to the Fantasyland expansion, Pooh's Playful spot closed in April 2010 and the iconic tree from the playground was moved into the queue area of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

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August 28: Test Run For Mickey

On this day in 2003, a test run of Walt Disney World's newest attraction Mickey's PhilharMagic took place in Fantasyland. Located adjacent to Peter Pan's Flight in the Magic Kingdom, it was the 4th attraction to utilize the building. (The theater originally hosted Mickey Mouse Revue back in 1971.)

Mickey's PhilharMagic is a 12-minute long show featuring 3D effects, scents and water as well as Disney film characters. The film is shown on possibly the largest purpose-built seamless 3D screen ever made - with a width of 150 feet and a height of 28 feet! It is unique as it is one of only a few theme park attractions in which Walt Disney Imagineering collaborated with Walt Disney Feature Animation (the two departments had also worked together on Fantasmic!).

At the center of the film is Mickey Mouse performing with his PhilharMagic Orchestra who is interrupted by Donald Duck who has "borrowed" Mickey's sorcerer hat in an attempt to conduct his own magical symphony.

Mickey's PhilharMagic would have a few more runs before its official opening on October 3, 2003.

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August 26: Back Home

On this day in 1948, Walt Disney and one of his trusted animators Ward Kimball returned to the Studio after a 10-day trip to the Chicago Railroad Fair and Henry Ford's Greenfield Village. Both train enthusiasts (especially Kimball) they had originally taken The Superchief out of Los Angeles (complete with staterooms next door to one another) to Chicago, Illinois. It was the only vacation Walt ever took with anyone outside of his immediate family.

The much heralded Chicago Railroad Fair in Illinois (which had opened in mid-July) was an event celebrating 100 years of railroad history west of Chicago. Set on the shore of Lake Michigan, the fair featured historic locomotives and as honored guests, Walt and Ward enjoyed several days of running some of the nation's most valuable trains.

"Running that old equipment was equivalent to shaking hands with Thomas Jefferson." -Ward Kimball

The Railroad Fair was broken up into various lands such as Vacationland, an Indian Village, a New Orleans section, and a Gold Gulch (a frontier section) with a haunted house. The fair also featured live shows and nightly fireworks.

Walt and Ward's second stop was in Dearborn, Michigan to experience Henry Ford's Greenfield Village. Featuring four centuries of historic buildings (which had been moved from their original locations), they were laid out in an old fashion Main Street design. Among the impressive buildings on display ... the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop (the birthplace of aviation) and Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory!

Obviously Walt was greatly influenced by what he had experienced on this 10-day trip.

The Chicago Railroad Fair was a one-time event, but Greenfield Village still exists today!

Click HERE for more August 26 Disney history.