This Week in Disney History: July 18-24

July 22, 1994 — The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
In tonight’s episode, you are the star in an episode of “The Twilight Zone. ” In 1939 Hollywood, five guests boarded an elevator at the Hollywood Tower Hotel and were never seen again. Although dust and cobwebs cover the lobby, which has remnants of the glamorous days when the Hollywood elite walked its halls, the Hollywood Tower Hotel’s maintenance elevator is still in use. You’re invited, if you dare, to take a trip into the fifth dimension and beyond, culminating in a 13-story drop sequence that guarantees a frightfully different experience each time you check in. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror can also be experienced in Disney California Adventure Park, Tokyo DisneySea and the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris.

July 17, 1989 — Splash Mountain opens at Disneyland Park.
Take a trip downstream in a hollowed-out log to join Brer Rabbit on his search for a “Laughin’ Place.” Peaking at 87 feet tall, Splash Mountain features characters from the animated sequences of Walt Disney’s classic film, “Song of the South. ” After encountering a cast of critters serenading with songs from the film and bumping into trouble with Brer Bear and Brer Fox, the five-story drop down Chick-A-Pin Hill plunges you into the Briar Patch. The attraction features more than 100 Audio-Animatronics figures, many of which were repurposed from the America Sings attraction, which closed in 1988. For 25 years, Splash Mountain has guaranteed a “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” day for Guests to make a splash in Critter Country.

July 18
1932 — The animated short “Mickey in Arabia” debuts
1955 — Disneyland Park opens to the general public for the first time
1965 — Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opens at Disneyland Park
1978 — The Lake Buena Vista Office Plaza (now SunTrust Building and home to Disney offices) opens across from the Downtown Disney Marketplace
1997 — Disney’s Grand Floridian Beach Resort becomes Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

July 19
1940 — The Donald Duck animated short “Put-Put Troubles” debuts
1946 — The Pluto animated short “The Purloined Pup” debuts
1950 — Walt Disney Pictures releases “Treasure Island, ” the first all-live-action Disney film, and the first Disney film produced in England

July 20
1951 —The Donald Duck animated short “Lucky Number” debuts
1985 —The 200 millionth Guest visits the Walt Disney World Resort

July 21
1939 — The Mickey Mouse animated short “The Pointer” debuts
1950 — The Pluto animated short “Pests of the West” debuts
1986 —Disney leaders announce plans for Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World
1999 —The first Disney’s FASTPASS is given out at Kilimanjaro Safaris, Disney’s Animal Kingdom
2005 —The roller coaster Raging Spirits opens at Tokyo DisneySea

July 22
1955 —Rocket to the Moon opens at Disneyland Park
1955 —Candy Palace opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park

July 23
1956 —Junior Autopia opens at Disneyland Park
1965 —Mapo, a division of Walt Disney Imagineering, is incorporated
1999 —Walt Disney Pictures releases “Inspector Gadget”

July 24
1942 —The Donald Duck animated short “Donald’s Gold Mine” debuts
1966 —New Orleans Square is dedicated at Disneyland Park
1985 —Walt Disney Pictures releases “The Black Cauldron”
2000 —The Disneyland Resort parking garage opens