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Tag Archives: 1980s

October 23

October 23, 1985 – The Nine Dragons Restaurant Opens in Epcot’s China Pavilion

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“Savor contemporary Chinese cuisine amid ornate wood carvings, traditional lanterns, and exquisite glass artwork.”

On October 23, 1985, the Nine Dragons Restaurant opened in the China Pavilion of Epcot’s World Showcase. Opening three years after the Chinese pavilion opened, the restaurant is a sit-down gourmet dining experience. The restaurant spotlights several styles of Chinese cuisine from many provinces, including Cantonese, Mongolian, Szechuan, Hunan, and Kiangche. Popular features on the menu include General Tso’s Dumplings, Sweet and Sour Pork, and Coconut Rice Pudding.

October 9

October 9, 1988 – The Magical World of Disney Premieres on NBC

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“Welcome to the Magical World of Disney.”

On October 9, 1988, the newest iteration of the Disney anthology series, The Magical World of Disney, premiered on NBC. This was the third title of the second era of the series, and ninth overall. NBC had dropped the anthology in 1981, but had renewed interest in the broadcast in 1988 after significant changes within the Disney Company; CEO Michael Eisner continued to present the broadcast after starting hosting duties in 1986 with The Disney Sunday Movie. Unfortunately, the series ran into ratings problems during its run, and ended its run on September 9, 1990. The program block was moved back to the Disney Channel on September 23, 1990.

October 2

October 2, 1981 – The Disney World is Your World Show Begins in Tomorrowland

“A happy ever after land, Disney World is your world.”

On October 2, 1981, the live show Disney World is Your World began its run in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park, located on the Tomorrowland Stage. The show was introduced to help celebrate the park’s tenth anniversary, and featured a group of performers known as the Kids of the Kingdom. The show ended on September 17, 1994.

September 24

September 24, 1985 – The Lotus Blossom Café Opens in Epcot’s China Pavilion

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“Chow down on Chinese favorites – like pot stickers, egg rolls, orange chicken, shrimp fried rice, beef noodle soup, and more.”

On September 24, 1985, the quick service restaurant Lotus Blossom Café opened in World Showcase’s China pavilion within Epcot. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, with appetizers and entrees available. It features quick-to-order Chinese fare, with entrees including Beef Rice Bowl and Hong Kong Style Vegetable Curry over Rice. Desserts include two types of ice cream popular in China: caramel-ginger, and lychee. The restaurant also sits close to the Temple of Heaven, giving guests a view of the centerpiece of the pavilion.

September 7

September 7, 1984 – Ron Miller Resigns as President and CEO of the Walt Disney Company

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“All of this activity in the last six months is not purely attributable to Ron Miller. The directors had a voice in all of this.” – Harold Vogel, analyst with Merrill Lynch, Inc.

On September 7, 1984, after mounting pressure from the board of directors and a dismal series of events for the company, Ron W. Miller announced his resignation as President and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, which was accepted unanimously. The final six months of Miller’s command were bleak at best, with Saul P. Steinberg threatening to takeover the company; the company faced criticism in paying $325 million to Steinberg to keep the company intact. The company also faced problems in terms of the fare that they released; Miller had the idea to release more provocative fare, which was met with mixed criticism within the company. While the creation of Touchstone Films would prove to be a boon for the company, the earlier releases with this new provocative, innovative lens were financially disastrous. It would be shortly after this that Michael Eisner and Frank Wells would be named as CEO and President, respectfully, and the company would start seeing a turnaround in its success.

July 20

July 20, 1982 – Walt Disney’s Great Ice Odyssey Premieres

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“Fairy godmothers do make dreams come true at Walt Disney’s Great Ice Odyssey.”

On July 20, 1982, Disney’s second ice show, entitled Walt Disney’s Great Ice Odyssey premiered. The touring ice show was produced by Irvin and Kenneth Feld, and featured Disney classics The Three Little Pigs, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, along with the classic Disney characters Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. The show also featured skaters Elizabeth and Peter Cain, Almut Lehmann, and Herbert Wiesinger.

July 11

July 11, 1986 – The Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour Attraction Opens in Tokyo Disneyland

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あなたはディズニーの悪役たちに勝てるかな?”

On July 11, 1986, the walkthrough attraction Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour opened in Tokyo Disneyland. The walkthrough featured several classic villains, ranging from Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Stromboli from Pinocchio, and, unusually, The Horned King from The Black Cauldron; the latter has not been used in any other attraction. The attraction was closed on April 5, 2006.

June 18

June 18, 1983 – The Flights of Fantasy Parade begins in Disneyland

FoFP1983

On June 18, 1983, the Flights of Fantasy Parade debuted in Disneyland. The parade was a daytime and nighttime parade, and replaced the Main Street Electrical Parade during its run. The parade was created to help usher in the changes with the newly expanded Fantasyland area within the park, and featured several floats with inflatable characters from such Disney classics as Winnie the Pooh, Sleeping Beauty, and Fantasia. The parade finished its run in the park on September 10, 1983.

June 16

June 16, 1984 – The Film Attraction Magic Journeys Premieres in Disneyland

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“Just an ordinary day, all at once you’re on your way to a place that cannot be no one knows what turns the key.”

On June 16, 1984, the 3-D film attraction Magic Journeys opened in Disneyland, first premiering at the Space Stage outdoor area; the area was then replaced with the indoor Magic Eye Theater. The film, considered an impressionistic view of the world through a child’s imagination, first premiered in Walt Disney World on October 1, 1982, with Disneyland being the second park in which the film played. The film stopped showing in Disneyland in 1986, and was replaced by Captain EO.

February 13

February 13, 2008 – The Video Game Discs of Tron is Released on Xbox Live

Discs of Tron

Discs of Tron is considered an arcade classic as it mesmerized fans who wanted an entertaining and challenging experience derived from the innovative film.”

On February 13, 2008, the video game Discs of Tron was released on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The game, available for the Xbox 360 platform, was based on the classic arcade game released in 1983. The game has players facing off against the villain of the film Tron, Sark; players must “derezz” him in each level of the game using special disks. The game has been upgraded from the original, but allows players to also play the version from 1983.