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POSTED Sat, 01/23/2016 - 17:00 | POSTED BY Traci C.
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The Walt Disney Birthplace Hopes to Open to the Public on December 5

Two Disney fans have purchased the home where Walt Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois and are in the process of restoring the property with the hopes of creating a museum to honor Walt. Dina Benadon and Brent Young hope to open The Walt Disney Birthplace on December 5, 2016.

POSTED Mon, 01/27/2014 - 06:00 | POSTED BY Traci C.
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Destination D: Attraction Rewind is Just One of D23’s Special Events for 2014

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club has announced its slate of special events for 2014 and perhaps one of the biggest events for this year is Destination D: Attraction Rewind Presented by H2O Plus.

This event is scheduled for July 26-27 at the Walt Disney World Resort and will bring together Disney archivists, Imagineers, and Legends to celebrate favorite Disney attractions of yesteryear.

Fans will have a chance to see concept art and images from the attractions, vintage video, and more.

POSTED Thu, 11/28/2013 - 06:00 | POSTED BY Traci C.
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See a Door Tagged by Walt Disney at Shadows-on-the-Teche Mansion in Louisiana

It's not often that one finds an inscription from Walt Disney that isn't in his famous script, but if you visit the Shadows-on-the-Teche, an antebellum historic home in New Iberia, Louisiana, you'll see his graffiti on a door in the home.

The home is the property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the door has been signed by many people over the years, including Walt Disney, author Henry Miller, and Elia Kazan, the director of A Streetcar Named Desire.

POSTED Mon, 06/24/2013 - 05:05 | POSTED BY Guest Author
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Former Disney Carolwood Estate Up for Sale for $90 Million

Nearly six decades after Walt and Lillian Disney built their dream house on Carolwood Drive in Los Angeles' Holmby Hills neighborhood, the 3.7 acre estate is on the market. Asking price: $90 million.

POSTED Sun, 02/06/2011 - 12:00 | POSTED BY Melinda Gregory
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Jack Lindquist Provides Insider's History of Disneyland in His Book

If you're a Disney or theme park buff and like your history straight up and not watered down, you may want to check out Jack Lindquist's "In Service to the Mouse." In it, Lindquist (with Melinda J. Combs) gives a first-hand, no-holds-barred account of the history of Disneyland.

Forum Posts

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Disney history & nostalgia on D23 site
Favorite Disney Related Books
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Articles

POSTED Wed, 01/07/2015 - 06:00 | POSTED BY Guest Author
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Disney History: Main Street U.S.A. Then & Now

Walt Disney once said that his parks were not intended to be museums, but that they should be constantly changing and evolving, so it should come as no surprise that the Main Street, U.S.A. that we enjoy at Magic Kingdom today is substantially different than the Main Street, U.S.A. that debuted on October 1, 1971. Although the Main Street skyline has remained largely consistent, the composition of the shops inside has varied over time. The overall look and feel of the area has changed as well.

POSTED Thu, 11/06/2014 - 05:00 | POSTED BY Guest Author
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Disney History: The Creation of Mickey Mouse

I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing, that it was all started by a mouse.
~ Walt Disney

No other character connects generations quite the way that Mickey Mouse does. On November 18, we will celebrate the 86th anniversary of the premier of Steamboat Willie, but the real story of the creation of this iconic figure probably isn't the one that you think you know.

POSTED Tue, 08/26/2014 - 16:38 | POSTED BY Traci C.
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Disney Imagineers Reveal the Story Behind Disney Springs

Disney Springs isn't just a lengthy expansion project that is transforming Downtown Disney into something new.

As with all great Disney attractions, Disney Imagineers have developed a storyline for Disney Springs and it begins back in the mid-1800s.

The story is that a small settlement started near the natural springs and eventually that settlement grew into a small town. The Imagineers see the storyline as way to tell about the history of Florida in addition to Disney history.

POSTED Wed, 08/13/2014 - 05:00 | POSTED BY Guest Author
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A Brief Look At Walt Disney World's Reedy Creek Improvement District

If you've ridden on a Walt Disney World bus and found yourself staring out the window to pass the time, it's no doubt that you've noticed the brightly colored public services buildings - one of which is labeled in bold, red LCD letters "RCFD". You probably guessed from the yellow trucks with flashing lights that the "FD" stands for Fire Department. But would you have guessed that "RC" stands for Reedy Creek?

POSTED Tue, 06/17/2014 - 05:00 | POSTED BY Guest Author
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Disney History: Remembering Mickey's Birthdayland, Starland, and Toontown Fair

Minnie and Mickey have been victims of Eminent Domain! This was my first thought upon hearing the announcement that Mickey's Toontown Fair was closing its doors and being leveled to make way for New Fantasyland. On my first visit to Walt Disney World, I was fortunate to visit Mickey's Birthdayland, which opened on June 18, 1988 to celebrate Mickey's 60th birthday.

POSTED Wed, 02/12/2014 - 06:00 | POSTED BY Melissa W.
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9 Vintage Disney Valentine's Day Cards

They just don't make Valentine's Day cards like they used to, do they? Thanks to sites like Pinterest, {Psst, are you following WDW for Grownups on Pinterest yet?!} we are finding so many cool things!

My latest obsession is Vintage Disney and there's plenty of it out there!

With Valentine's Day in just a few days, check out nine of our favorite Vintage Disney Valentine's Day Cards that we wish we would receive!

1. Vintage Snow White Valentine's Day Card

POSTED Thu, 02/06/2014 - 06:00 | POSTED BY Guest Author
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Rides That Never Were: Walt Disney World - Western River Expedition

As Walt Disney World park guests pass hurriedly through Frontierland to join the queue lines for Splash Mountain and Big Thunder, many will be blissfully unaware of the history attached to this corner of the park. A conceived but unrealized attraction, Disney's Western River Expedition & Thunder Mesa have now become something of a legend amongst Disney Imagineers and officiandos.

POSTED Thu, 01/23/2014 - 06:00 | POSTED BY Guest Author
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Looking Back: A Brief History Of Walt Disney World Ticket Media

Today we will explore the evolution of Walt Disney World admission media over the past four and a half decades. To help us better understand how ticket media had changed; let's experiment with our own little "Carousel" of ticket "Progress". We'll follow a family of four (mom, dad, sister aged 14, brother aged 7) on their quest to go to the Magic Kingdom for one day to visit some of their favorite attractions at various points in Disney history.

POSTED Wed, 11/20/2013 - 02:02 | POSTED BY Kristen Kirk
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Diane Disney Miller, Walt Disney's Daughter, Passes Away At Age 79

It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we must report the death of Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney. She passed away in her Napa, California home on Tuesday, November 19th due to complications from a sudden fall she took in September. Diane Disney Miller was 79 years old.

POSTED Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:05 | POSTED BY Kristen Kirk
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Adventure on the Jungle Cruise

Over the years I have enjoyed many attractions and several have been my "favorite", but if there's one that always keeps me coming back for more, it's a relaxing cruise down the major rivers of Asia, Africa and South America. Just climb aboard one of the 15 ride vehicles like the Amazon Annie and you'll embark on one of Disney's most classic journeys. The magic of the Jungle Cruise.