July 29: Ride This Way

On this day in 1999, rock legends Aerosmith attended the grand opening of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at the Disney-MGM Studios. The invitation-only party gave guests an opportunity to ride the enclosed steel coaster with a member of Aerosmith. The attraction opened to the general public the following day.


A year later on this same day, Disney World marked the anniversary of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster by forming the attraction's signature guitar in the Disney-MGM Studios' parking lot using 80 corvettes!

Click HERE for much more Coaster and July 29 Disney history.

July 28: Vero Beach Vacation Club

On this day in 1994 a ground breaking took place for a new Disney Vacation Club in Vero Beach, Florida.

Disney's Vero Beach (which opened in October 1995) is the first Disney Vacation Club to be built outside of the Walt Disney World area.

Consisting of a main building (known as The Inn) and various Villas and Cottages, the resort sits along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, thus creating a "private beach" for guests.

Among the resort's offerings ... a Mickey Mouse-shaped swimming pool, a Peter Pan-themed miniature golf course, 3 restaurants and a quick-service food & beverage counter.

 

A volleyball court, soccer field, fishing pier, lighted tennis courts, and a basketball hoop are located across the street from the resort. Guests can safely cross the busy A1A highway via an 

underground passage.

Click HERE for much more July 28 Disney history.

July 22: The Tower Is In Control

On this day in 1994 The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror officially opened at Walt Disney World. A drop tower thrill ride located in Disney's Hollywood Studios (back in 1994 called Disney-MGM Studios), it is based upon the television series The Twilight Zone.

Learn more about the Tower of Terror and July 22 Disney history by clicking HERE.

July 15: Disney's Wedding Pavilion

On this day in 1995 Disney's Wedding Pavilion at Walt Disney World opened. Located south of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, the pavilion is located on a private island surrounded by the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Learn more about Disney's Wedding Pavilion and July 15 history by clicking HERE.

June 27: Born Today

Character actor John McIntire was born on this day in 1907 in Spokane, Washington. Raised in Montana, he grew up around ranchers and cowboys - an experience that later influenced his performances in dozens of westerns.
First acting in radio and on the stage, McIntire didn't make his film debut until 1947 (at the age of 40) in a feature called The Hucksters. He went on to appear in about 65 more films (often playing western characters) and in the mid-1950s, began working in television on such series as Wagon Train and The Virginian.
He married actress Jeanette Nolan (who he would later work with) in 1935 and they had two children.
What is McIntire's connection to Disney?
Click HERE to find out.

June 14: Hoop-De-Doo!

On this day in 1974, Walt Disney World's "Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue" debuted in Pioneer Hall at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
A dinner show that still runs today, the revue started life as part of the Walt Disney World College Fine Arts Workshop. A special summer program that allowed talented college kids from all over the country to perform at WDW, the workshop also included the All American Marching Band and the Kids of the Kingdom.
A Disney cast member named Bob Jani (at the time Vice President for Live Entertainment) wanted to put together something at a large restaurant that sat in Fort Wilderness. Used to serve meals to campers, Pioneer Hall (opened since April 1974) had a huge stage and Jani felt the facility was being under-utilized.
A western musical was put together, with the help of director Larry Billman and veteran songwriter Tom Adair, called Hoop-De-Doo. (Adair had helped write music for Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue.) The original college workshop company of enthusiastic performers included Marilyn Magness, Ted King, John Windsor, Jude Kothman, Kate Richards, Gary Kortemier, Leslie Norris, and Brad Gooding. The show's concept was simple - a group of performers would provide an evening's worth of song, dance and entertainment while the audience enjoyed an all-you-care-to-eat family style meal. The show was a smash hit.
But as the summer of 1974 came to an end, Disney management realized the cast would be returning to their respective colleges. Disney wanted to hire the performers full-time ... but wasn't in a position to persuade students to drop out of college to work at a campground. An all-pro cast was assembled and the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue continued.
Today it is one of the longest running shows in WDW history with over 35,000 performances!

Discover more June 14 Disney history HERE.

June 9: Acting Like A Dog

On this day in 1961, the actor who supplied the voice for this dog (pictured left) in Disney's 1993 live-action Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, was born. Considered to be a sequel to the early 1960s film Homeward Bound, the film tells the story of 3 lost pets. Chance, a rambunctious bulldog pup, along with Shadow (an aging, wise dog); and Sassy (a snobby cat) are left behind when their family goes on vacation.
This Canadian-born actor who supplied the voice for Chance, also shares a birthday with a swash-buckling American actor and a certain famous duck.

Read all about it HERE.