This Day In Disney
Disney has over 100 years of history!. This Day in Disney takes you on a journey through the moments that helped shape the magic we know and love. From park openings and attraction debuts to behind-the-scenes milestones and unforgettable firsts, each post highlights a meaningful piece of Disney history that happened on this very day. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering the stories behind the magic, this series is a celebration of Disney’s past—and how it continues to inspire us today.
This Day in Disney: Vice President Richard Nixon visits Disneyland
August 11, 1955
Before Richard Nixon became president, he was one of Disneyland’s earliest high-profile guests.
On August 11, 1955—just 25 days after Disneyland’s opening-day celebration—Vice President Nixon visited the brand-new park with his wife, Pat, and their daughters, Tricia and Julie.
At City Hall, the family was welcomed by Disneyland general manager C.V. Wood and actor Fess Parker, whom millions of television viewers knew as Davy Crockett. With both men on hand, Nixon received a ceremonial key to Disneyland.
Then it was time to experience Walt Disney’s new park!
The family explored attractions including Peter Pan’s Flight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Autopia, the Mark Twain Riverboat and TWA Rocket to the Moon. While Nixon was soaring above London on Peter Pan’s Flight, Pat reportedly joked, “Dick’s getting a bigger kick out of this than the kids.”
The visit began a long connection between the Nixon family and Disneyland. They returned several times, including in 1959, when they joined Walt Disney for the dedication of the Disneyland Monorail and other major new attractions.
If you could travel back to Disneyland in 1955, which original attraction would you ride first?
This Day in Disney: Disney and ABC Announce a Historic Merger.
July 31, 1995
On July 31, 1995, The Walt Disney Company and Capital Cities/ABC announced a historic $19 billion merger—one that would dramatically expand Disney’s presence in television, radio, sports, and publishing.
When the merger was completed on February 9, 1996, Disney acquired the ABC television network, numerous television and radio stations, a major interest in ESPN, and stakes in networks including A&E, The History Channel, and Lifetime.
But Disney and ABC already shared a much longer history. In 1954, ABC invested $500,000 in Walt Disney’s ambitious plan to build Disneyland and guaranteed millions more in loans. In return, Walt created a weekly television series for the network, using it to introduce audiences to Disneyland before the park opened. ABC later televised Disneyland’s grand opening on July 17, 1955.
More than 40 years after that original partnership helped make Disneyland possible, Disney and ABC became part of the same company.
Did you know ABC played such an important role in the creation of Disneyland?
“American Broadcasting Company.” D23, Walt Disney Archives, https://d23.com/a-to-z/american-broadcasting-company
Beginning of Move from Hyperion Studio to Burbank Studio.
December 26, 1939
Disney was growing—fast. After 14 creative and groundbreaking years at the Hyperion Avenue studio in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake district, it became clear that the company needed room to dream even bigger. That dream led Walt Disney and his team to a brand-new home in Burbank.
Hyperion Avenue is where Disney magic truly began. It’s where Mickey Mouse made his debut in 1928, soon followed by Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and the beloved characters of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. With the enormous success of animated shorts and the arrival of an entirely new form of entertainment—the animated feature film—Disney had officially outgrown its original studio.
On this day in 1939, the move to the new Walt Disney Studios in Burbank began (with the transition generally considered complete by January 5, 1940). This new campus would become the foundation for Disney’s future, paving the way for live-action films and even serving as the birthplace for ideas and elements that would one day appear in Disneyland.
Today, the Burbank studio remains the heart of The Walt Disney Company. While it has expanded over the years with new buildings—including the Feature Animation and ABC Television facilities just across the street—much of the original studio charm remains. The iconic water tower still rises above the lot, the campus retains its classic feel, and the whimsical intersection of Mickey Avenue and Dopey Drive continues to remind visitors that this is where imagination comes to life.
“Beginning of Move from Hyperion Studio to Burbank Studio.” D23, Walt Disney Archives, https://d23.com/this-day/beginning-of-move-from-hyperion-studio-to-burbank-studio/. Accessed 26 Dec 2025.