1957:
Emmy Award-winning voice actress Nancy Cartwright is born in Dayton, Ohio.
Known for her long-running role as Bart Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons, her Disney television credits include Kim Possible (as Rufus), Goof Troop, Timon and Pumbaa, Aladdin and The Replacements. She can also be heard in such feature films and direct-to-video releases as The Little Mermaid, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story, and Leroy & Stitch.
1965:
In Miami, Florida Governor Haydon Burns confirms the rumors that Disney
"will build the greatest attraction yet known in the history of Florida."
"Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney ... and to the talents, the dedication and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring joy and inspiration and new knowledge to all who come to this happy place ... a magic kingdom where the young heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn ... together." -Roy O. Disney's dedication
Magic Kingdom Town Square - This Day in Disney History 1971
2005:
Herbie: Fully Loaded is released to DVD.
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1904:
Disney animator & director Vladimir "Bill" Tytla (considered by many to be the best character animator working during the Golden Age) is born in Yonkers, New York.
Among his most famed masterpieces is Grumpy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (one of the first animators
assigned to Disney's first feature-length animated film), the giant in the short The Brave Little Tailor, Stromboli the
evil puppeteer in Pinocchio, and the old magician in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" - a Fantasia segment.
Tytla also served as animation director for Dumbo before leaving during the Disney Studio employee strike.
He returned for a short while and worked on Saludos Amigos and Victory Through Air Power. He officially
resigned from Disney in February 1943 ... an action he regretted for the remaining twenty-five years of his life.
1924:
Billy Barty, the original voice of Journey into Imagination's Figment, is
born William John Bertanzetti in Millsboro, Pennsylvania. Founder of Little
People of America, Barty sustained a Hollywood career for almost 70 years! He was also the
voice of Baitmouse in the 1990 animated feature The Rescuers Down Under.
1941:
Singer-actress Helen Reddy, whose credits include Disney's 1977 Pete's Dragon (as Nora), is born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She sang the film's Academy Award-nominated "Candle on the Water" love song.
Gordon Tootoosis, a Canadian actor of Cree and Stoney descent, is born in Saskatchewan,
Canada. He supplied the speaking voice for Kekata, the shaman of the Powhatan, in Disney's 1995 Pocahontas.
1948:
TIME magazine runs an article about Disney titled
"The Mighty Mouse" in this week's issue.
1955:
Mickey Mouse Club airs on ABC-TV. Today is Guest Star Day.
1970:
Actor/singer/dancer Adam Pascal is born in the Bronx, New York. He will go
on to star in such Broadway shows as RENT and Disney's musical hit Aida.
1971:
The formal dedication of Walt Disney World in
Florida, takes place with Walt's brother
Roy O. Disney officiating.
Standing alongside Roy O. Disney during the dedication in Town
Square is Mickey Mouse (portrayed by Cast Member Doug Parks).
A grand opening parade down Main Street USA, featuring a
1,076-piece band and led by Music Man Meredith Wilson (the
composer of "76 Trombones") kicks off at 2 p.m.
(A 90-minute TV special will air 4 days later.)
Among the 1,076 musicians marching down Main Street is
Michael Hamlin, a high school trumpeter from Venice, Florida.
"It was a long day of practicing the music and marching.
I remember it being a bit hot that day. When it was all over and
most of the band participants had left, we were still waiting for our
bus. Then Roy Disney came by to thank us and to shake our hand.
He was a very nice man for taking the time out to do that. I will
remember this forever. We were all awarded a certificate and 10
ticket books ... I still have one of them! I also received a thank
you letter from Meredith Wilson." -Mike Hamlin
1973:
The TV special Walt Disney - A Golden Anniversary Salute airs.
Hosted by Dean Jones, the special features such guests as Julie Andrews, Annette Funicello, Buddy Ebsen, Fred MacMurray and animators Wolfgang Reitherman and Ward Kimball.
1988:
Animator & Disney Legend Eric Larson passes away at a Pasadena, California,
hospital at age 83. One of Walt's original "Nine Old Men," his vast credits include Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, The Three Caballeros, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter
Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and The Great Mouse
Detective. The prince in The Little Mermaid will be named Eric in his memory. Read more HERE.
1990:
Stay Awake: Interpretations of Vintage Disney Films is released on CD for the first
time. A 1988 tribute record album recorded by various artists performing songs from Disney films, it was
produced by Hal Willner (best known for assembling tribute albums and events featuring a wide variety of
artists and musical styles).
1993:
Actor Vincent Price, best remembered for his many horror films, passes away at age 82 in California. Price was the voice of Ratigan in Disney's 1986 animated feature The Great
Mouse Detective, and was the inspiration for Tim Burton's 1982 stop motion short horror film Vincent.
The Broccoli & Co. shop in EPCOT's The Land closes.
1998:
The Famous Jett Jackson premieres on Disney Channel with the episode "Going Up!"
The 3rd EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival begins.
2000:
Thirty lucky Haunted Mansion fans dine in the popular Disneyland
attraction as part of a $2000 a plate Fantasy Dinner offered by the park.
1968:
This day's issue of LIFE magazine features Mickey Mouse's 40th birthday, with illustrations of Mickey watches from the 1930s along with new Timex watches
retailing for $12.95. (The total production - meant to last a year - will sell out in less than a month!)
1985:
Mickey's Character Shop opens at Disney's Village Marketplace in Florida.
Roy O. Disney raised $400-
million and spent the next five
years after the death of his
brother Walt, building Walt
Disney World. He pulled it off
with a series of convertible and
common stock issues that left
the company debt-free when the
Florida theme park opened in
1971!
1997:
The Disney Channel Original Movie Under Wraps - about a trio of
12-year-old kids who discover a mummy in the basement of a
dead man's house - debuts.
The sixth episode of Disney's Recess, "I Will Kick No More Forever/
The Kid Came Back" premieres on ABC-TV.
The 2nd Epcot International Food and Wine Festival begins.
1989:
NBC-TV airs what will be the last episode of The Nutt House, a new comedy series
developed by Mel Brooks for Touchstone/Disney.
Actress Mia Wasikowska is born in Canberra, Australia. She gained worldwide recognition
in 2010 after starring as Alice in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and later the 2016 follow-up
Alice Through the Looking Glass.
1991:
CBS-TV airs The Dream is Alive: 20th Anniversary Celebration at
Walt Disney World. The special is hosted by Michael Eisner and Regis Philbin.
2007:
Walt Disney World Resort unveils the new
official logo for Disney's Hollywood Studios (currently known as Disney-MGM Studios).
The theme park is scheduled to officially
change its name January 7, 2008.
2008:
The second annual Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K race
takes place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.
OCTOBER 25
In Memory of Eric Larson (1905-1988)
THIS DAY MADE IN THE USA
OCTOBER 25
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WDW Formal Dedication
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2009:
Disney Channel premieres Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Choo Choo Express.
1910:
Artist Tyrus Wong is born in Toishan, China. Seeking better opportunities, he and his father
came to the U.S. to live in Los Angeles. Wong started at the Walt Disney Studios in 1938 as an entry-level in-
betweener. Later, his beautiful landscapes and forest renditions helped him become a lead inspirational artist on
the production of Bambi. (Wong later worked for Warner Bros. Studios, Columbia, RKO and 20th Century Fox.)
Day 3 of WDW's three-day grand opening celebration.
2011:
Pop legend Brian Wilson releases his newest CD, In the Key of Disney.
The album features the former Beach Boy taking on tunes made famous in films such as The Little
Mermaid, Toy Story, Dumbo, The Lion King and Wilson’s favorite Disney movie, Pinocchio.
Disney Universe, a co-operative action-adventure video game published by
Disney Interactive Studios, is released in the U.S.
2010:
A high-tech, talking Mickey Mouse character (with a moving mouth and blinking
eyes) begins making regular appearances at Disney California Adventure as part
of a new show.
October Preview Month
2001:
Recess: School's Out is released on DVD and video in Germany. The film is
known as Disney's Große Pause: Die geheime Mission (or Disney's Big Recess: The Secret Mission).
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R.I.P.
Will Knott Rest
R.I.P.
Emma
Ghost
October 25
2014:
Disney Ambassador Sachiko White and Donald Duck take part in Anaheim's
90th annual Halloween Parade.
1996:
Hollywood Pictures releases the comedy The Associate, starring Whoopi Goldberg,
Dianne Wiest, Eli Wallach, Tim Daly, and Bebe Neuwirth. Prejudices are hard to break and
Laurel Ayres (Goldberg) quickly learns that in order for Wall Street to take her seriously she has to work for an older white man or be one.
Actor, comedian and musician Craig Robinson is born in Chicago, Illinois. He played Mr. Jenkins on the 2020 Disney+ film Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. He is probably best known for his role as Darryl Philbin on The Office (2005–2013).
1950:
Actor Mark L. Taylor is born Mark Lawrence Taylor in Houston, Texas. His Disney film credits include Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), Arachnophobia (1990), Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off (2003), and High School Musical 2(2007). Taylor's television voice credits include W.I.T.C.H. and The Rocketeer.
(2007). Taylor's television voice credits include W.I.T.C.H. and The Rocketeer.1964:
Voice actor & singer Kevin Michael Richardson is born in The Bronx, New York. His
long list of Disney/ABC television credits include such shows as Recess, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Clerks: The Animated Series, Lloyd in Space, The Proud Family, Kim Possible, Disney's House of Mouse, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Dave the Barbarian, Higglytown Heroes, The Buzz on Maggie, The Emperor's New School, Phineas and Ferb, and The Lion Guard. He has also voiced characters for such feature films as Lilo & Stitch, The Country Bears, The Princess and the Frog, and Planes: Fire & Rescue.
