Welcome to our weekly coverage of Disney History.  This week we are highlighting important events that occurred July 25 – July 31 from 1951 through 1998.

• July 25, 1959 – The Ernest S. March locomotive (Engine No. 4) makes it’s inaugural run around Disneyland Park with Walt Disney as the Chief Engineer.

Image by Disney Parks

• July 26, 1951 – Disney’s animated Alice in Wonderland has its world premiere at London’s Leicester Square Theatre. The film is released in the United States on July 28, 1951.

Image by Disney

• July 27, 1955 – William “Sully” Sullivan starts his first day of work as a ticket taker at Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise at the age of 19. After several years Sully becomes part of Disney’s management team. He is eventually relocated to Florida to assist with the opening of Walt Disney World. In 1987 he is named the Vice President of the Magic Kingdom. In 2005 he becomes a Disney Legend.

William “Sully” Sullivan’s book

• July 28, 1994 – Construction begins at the Disney Vero Beach Resort, a Disney Vacation Club Resort.

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort Entrance. Photo by Danielle Meyer.

• July 29, 1957 –  Time Magazine runs an article “How to Make a Buck” based on the success of Walt Disney.

July 29, 1957 Time Magazine Cover

• July 30, 1998 –  Disney launches its first cruise ship, the Disney Magic. At the time it was one of the three largest ships in the world.

Photographer Matt Stroshane / Disney Parks

• July 31, 1997 – Bob Penfield, the last of the original Disneyland Cast Members, completes his last day of work as a Disney employee. Bob Penfield started working at Disneyland in 1955 when he was 18 years old. Disney honors Penfield’s career with a window on Main Street U.S.A.

Image by Disney-Pal

Join us next Monday morning for more Magical DIScoveries.

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