As each and every Monday, here you are a new look... to the Disney Past!:
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This Week in Disney History: Jan. 15 - 21
Jan. 17, 1996 - Grand opening ceremony held at Disney's Vero Beach Resort
Although it welcomed home its first Disney Vacation Club members Oct. 1, 1995, opening ceremonies were held on this day for the first resort to open outside of the Walt Disney World Resort. A two-hour drive southeast of Orlando, Fla., Disney's Vero Beach Resort is located on 71 acres of Florida's "Treasure Coast" along the Atlantic Ocean. The resort features a central inn and a collection of villas and standalone cottages, with an expanse of white, sandy beach and just outside the doors. Members can pamper themselves at The Spa at Vero Beach, or enjoy the romantic dining atmosphere of Sonya's, which Florida Trend magazine named among "Florida's 500 Best Places to Dine" with its collection of steaks, chops and seafood.
Jan. 21, 1998 - The original Disneyland parking lot closes
The asphalt expanse that handled parking needs at Disneyland Park for nearly 43 years welcomed its last car Jan. 21, 1998, as nearly the whole area was closed to begin construction on Disney's California Adventure Park, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and the Downtown Disney District. The Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, providing convenient access directly from Interstate 5, opened in 2000. Earlier in the decade, the Eeyore section of the lot was closed for construction of the Indiana Jones Adventure and sharp observers can spot a remnant in the queue's film room. In 2009, Timon Lot - the final sliver of the original lot - was razed to begin construction of Cars Land, opening at Disney California Adventure Park in 2012.
Also this week in Disney history:
Jan. 15
1969 - The Marina Tower officially opens at the Disneyland Hotel
1975 - Space Mountain opens at Magic Kingdom Park
1975 - Carousel of Progress opens at Magic Kingdom Park
1986 - The Living Seas opens at Epcot
1999 - Disney's All-Star Movies Resort opens at the Walt Disney World Resort
Jan. 16
1930 - "Summer" (Silly Symphony) debuts
1970 - The Walt Disney World Preview Center opens to the public
1994 - The inaugural Walt Disney World Resort Marathon begins at 6 a.m. at the Epcot parking lot
1998 - Touchstone Pictures releases "Kundun"
Jan. 17
2003 - Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular officially debuts at Disney California Adventure Park
Jan. 18
1952 - "Donald Applecore" (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts
1963 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Son of Flubber"
1992 - "Beauty and the Beast" becomes the first animated film to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
Jan. 19
1951 - "Chicken in the Rough" (Chip and Dale cartoon short) debuts
1996 - Hollywood Pictures releases "Mr. Holland's Opus"
1997 - The first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race is held at the Walt Disney World Speedway
Jan. 20
1950 - "Lion Around" (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts
2006 - The made-for-TV film "High School Musical" premieres on Disney Channel
Jan. 21
1933 - "The Mad Doctor" (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts
1955 - Wrather-Alvarez Hotels, Inc. announces the construction of the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, Calif.
1960 - "Gala Day at Disneyland" (documentary featurette) debuts
1977 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Freaky Friday"
1995 - "Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable" debuts at The Land at Epcot
1998 - Disney acquires the Wrather Corporation, owners of the Disneyland Hotel
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