Alan Young 1919-2016

As many of you know, we had lost the legendary Alan Young. Alan was well known as the voice of Scrooge McDuck in Mickey's Christmas Carol, the Ducktales animated series, and other Disney projects. He was also the voice of Mr. Flaversham the toy maker in the 1986 Disney film The Great Mouse Detective. Alan first started on radio and later in television as Wilbur Post, The owner of a talking horse named Mister Ed. He will be eternally missed. But he will never be forgotten.

Disneyland's 60th Anniversary

Hello Everybody!! As many of you know this week, Disneyland is celebrating it's 60th Anniversary!! Disneyland Park will feature two new nighttime shows at Main Street U.S.A. They are Disneyland Forever and Paint the Night Parade. Plus, updates on Matterhorn Bobsleds, Peter Pan's Flight, Indiana Jones Adventure and other attractions. Don't forget to check back on the return of the Hatbox Ghost in The Haunted Mansion. Happy 60th Anniversary, Disneyland!! Here's to 60 years more!!

Disney By Chris Special Report: Epcot

This is a Disney By Chris Special Report!! We have breaking news coming from Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida. They already announced that The Maelstrom boat ride at the World Showcase's Norway pavilion will be gone. It will be replaced by a new attraction that's based on Disney's Academy Award winning film, "Frozen". Disney Imagineers confirmed that Maelstrom will close it's doors sometime between this fall and next year. The new "Frozen" attraction will open in 2016 during Walt Disney World's 45th Anniversary. Check back for more updates!!

Happy 80th Birthday Donald Duck

80 Years Ago, A Silly Symphony short "The Wise Little Hen" was playing in theaters. This short introduced a character by the name of Donald Duck. Donald was voiced by Clarence Nash from 1934 to 1985 and by Tony Anselmo from 1985 to the present. Happy 80th Birthday, Donald!!

Disney's Hollywood Studios 25th Anniversary

25 Years ago, Disney's Hollywood Studios welcomed their first guests. It was the third park opened at Walt Disney World in Florida. The only two attractions that opened on the opening day were The Great Movie Ride and The Backlot Studio Tour. The park's original name was Disney-MGM Studios. Check back for more information about the other attractions at this park.

What's Coming Up?

We will have more of our history lessons and videos coming up including a special 50th Anniversary tribute to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Also, another new feature will be added on this blog! So check back in a few weeks.

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50 Years of Disney at the New York World's Fair

In 1964, the New York World's Fair opened to the public. Walt Disney created the following four attractions for the fair:

The Carousel of Progress
 A unique show that features an American family living through progress. This show was brought to Disneyland's Tomorrowland in 1967 and remained there until 1972.  Then, it moved to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 1975. This attraction is still open today.

The Ford Magic Skyway
A ride on a Ford Motors vehicle to travel back to prehistoric time. Most of this attraction's scenery is used today as part of the Primeval World Diorama on the Disneyland Railroad.  At the time, it was made of (motorless) Ford cars that were pulled along a track.  The track used for the cars eventually became the WEDWay PeopleMover, which is still open in Tomorrowland at Walt Disney World.

It's A Small World
One of Disneyworld/Land's most popular attractions that features children from around the world. This attraction is still open at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln:  A show that tells the story of the life and the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. It's an audio animatronic show and was one of the first of its kind. This attraction is still open at Disneyland at the Main Street Opera House along with The Disneyland Story.

Here's to another 50 years!!

C.A.T. (Chris's Attraction Trivia): Before Innoventions

Did you know that Innoventions replaced CommuniCORE at Epcot?

CommuniCORE was a pavilion that taught the public about computers. It was known as the Hub of Epcot, which ran everything at the park. It also contained games that featured the touch screen along with a interacting robot by the name of SMRT-1. 

CommuniCORE opened in Future World at Epcot in 1982 and it was replaced by Innoventions in 1994.

Chris’s Tip Time: World of Color Fastpass

Hey everybody!

It’s Tip Time!!

Once you Enter Disney’s California Adventure for the day, go over to Grizzly River Run and get a Fastpass for a special viewing location of World of Color.

Return to Paradise Pier 30-60 Minutes before Showtime and show your fastpass to a cast member. Then, he or she will take you to your viewing area.

Search For The Mickeys: Captain EO # 5

It's time for another episode of:

SEARCH FOR THE MICKEYS!!!

We are looking at the 3-D film, Captain EO!!

• On the back of Captain EO's spaceship, there are three lights shaped like Mickey. One big light for the head and the two smaller lights for the ears.

There you have it. Another Hidden Mickey is found!!

Join us next time for another episode of:

SEARCH FOR THE MICKEYS!!

Special Report: World of Color-Winter Dreams

This is a Disney By Chris Special Report!!

Disney’s California Adventure is planning to make the holiday version of The World of Color.

It’s Called The World of Color- Winter Dreams!!

It’s features Olaf the Snowman from the upcoming Holiday Disney film, Frozen.

We’ll have more updates about this new nighttime Holiday show soon!!

C.A.T. (Chris’s Attraction Trivia): Phantom Manor

In Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris, The narration was done by legendary actor Vincent Price.

His voice was not used in the attraction because Disneyland Paris wanted the French language track. So they used the voice of French actor Gerard Chevalier.

However, they used Vincent Price’s Laughing Voice for the Phantom.

Note: The Phantom only laughs in the attraction!!

C.A.T. (Chris’s Attraction Trivia): Body Wars

Do you remember the old Body Wars attraction at the Future World’s Wonders of Life Pavilion at Epcot?
All film segments for this Extinct Flight Simulator were directed by Leonard Nimoy aka Mr. Spock  from the Star Trek series.

Disney D23 Event at Reagan Library: Part 3

Here’s part three!!

Photos by disneybychris


The Crown from the 1959 film Darby O’ Gill and the Little People 







The Flying Car from the 1961 film The Absent-Minded Professor




Captain Nemo’s Submarine from the 1954 Academy Award winning film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea




Part Four is Coming Soon!!

DBC’s History Lesson: 1993

Note: DBC stands for Disney By Chris

For our history lesson for today, let’s go back to 1993!!

At Disneyland:

• Mickey’s Toontown welcomed their first guests in January.
• Aladdin’s Oasis opened in Adventureland.

At Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom:

• The Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square was closed. The Imagineers were creating and installing the Audio-Animatronics figure of President Bill Clinton.
• Mission to Mars was closed in Tomorrowland. It was later replaced by Alien Encounter in 1994.

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza opened at Disney-MGM Studios

That’s our history lesson for today!!

Disney D23 Event at Reagan Library: Part 2

Here’s Part Two!

Photos by Disney by Chris


An original office at The Disney Studios!!



 
A Costume Design for Mary Poppins!!




Emelius Browne’s Magic Stand from Bedknobs and Broomsticks!!


Part Three is Coming Soon!!

Disney D23 Event at Reagan Library: Part 1

In March of 2013, There was a Disney D23 Event at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

Here’s Part 1!!

Photos by Disney By Chris



Busts of Ronald Reagan and Walt Disney




Early Mickey Mouse dolls and other Disney memorabilia





The Animator's desk from the Walt Disney Studios


Check back for Part 2 this week!!

New Stuff Coming Next Week

Hey Everyone!!

What’s Coming Up?

Photos of the Disney D23 Event at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

Also, More history lessons, tip time, Attraction Trivia, and more!!

Check Back Next Week!

Disney By Chris SPECIAL REPORT: Memorial Day 2013

This is a Disney By Chris Special Report!!

Disney has announced that three of their parks will open for 24 hours from 6 am on May 24th to 6am May 25th!! 
This is during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend to kick off the Summer Season.
The three parks that will open for 24 hours are:

• Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Florida
• Disneyland Park at Anaheim, California
• California Adventure at Anaheim, California