Welcome to our weekly coverage of Disney History.  This week we are highlighting important events that occurred August 15 – August 21, 1776 through 1999.

• August 15, 1999 – Disney Cruise Line’s new ship the Disney Wonder sets sail for its maiden voyage – a 4 night Bahamian cruise.

Image by Disney

• August 16, 1924 – Actor and Disney Legend, Fess Parker is born in Fort Worth, Texas. Parker is best known for his portrayal of Davy Crockett in the Walt Disney TV mini-series (1955-1956). He starred in other Disney films including Old Yeller, The Great Locomotive Chase, Westward Ho, the Wagons!, and The Light in the Forest. Fess Parker became a Disney Legend in 1991 and the Fess Parker Winery is now part of the “Disney Family of Wines.” Fess Parker passed away on March 18, 2010.

Fess Parker as Davy Crockett

• August 17, 1776 – Frontiersman, David Stern Crockett is born in Greene County, Tennessee. He is known as the “King of the Wild Frontier” and his life is portrayed in the Walt Disney TV mini-series Davy Crockett. 

David Stern Crockett

• August 18, 1986 –  Crockett’s Tavern, part of Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground first opens. This walk-up window is located beside Pioneer Hall and is the place to go to enjoy  pizza, wings, loaded nachos, beer and wine.

Crockett’s Tavern – Image by Disney

• August 19, 2014 – The Marketplace Boat Dock and Saratoga Bridge in Downtown Disney Marketplace (now known as Disney Springs) officially opens to the public. Saratoga bridge offers a pedestrian-friendly connection between Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney Springs.

Marketplace Boat Dock – Image by Disney

• August 20, 1928 – The final Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Hot Dog is produced.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit “Hot Dog”

• August 21, 1920 – Daphne Milne, wife of author A.A. Milne, gives birth to a son in London. The couple names the child Christopher Robin.  The child becomes a key character in his father’s books Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner.

A.A. Milne & Christopher Robin

Join us next Monday morning for more Magical DIScoveries.

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