Magic in the Mail: November 21, 2021
Volume 1, Issue 5
Happy Thanksgiving
Greetings, Disney fans, and welcome to another edition of Magic in the Mail, our weekly newsletter discussing all things Disney history, heritage and pop culture.
Thanksgiving week is finally here, and the last Thursday in November marks two of my favorite traditions, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Mickey Mouse made his Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debut on Thanksgiving day in November of 1934. The hand-painted Mickey balloon stood 40 feet tall and featured the Macy’s star logo on his chest.
Mickey was led in the parade by a team of 25 handlers who were festively dressed in Mickey and Minnie costumes. A smaller Pluto balloon, a 34-foot-tall Big Bad Wolf, a 31-foot-tall Little Pig, and a 12 ½-foot-tall Horace Horsecollar followed along in the 1934 procession.
This Week in Disney History: November 21st-November 28th
November 21, 1978
The Library of Congress holds an exhibition "Building a Better Mouse", featuring Disney animation, in Washington DC, which includes over 120 Disney items from their collection. The exhibit ran through the end of January 1979.
![Building a Better Mouse" Signed Exhibition Book (Library of | Lot #41427 | Heritage Auctions](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b476766-7008-452f-8d05-f82741e20668_2356x3000.jpeg "Building a Better Mouse" Signed Exhibition Book (Library of | Lot #41427 | Heritage Auctions")
November 21, 2007
Walt Disney Pictures’ Enchanted debuts in theaters.
In honor of the film’s release, Enchanted star, Amy Adams, and Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, Richard Cook, rang the New York Stock Exchange closing bell in New York City.
Later that evening in Los Angeles California, Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre offers a special engagement of Walt Disney Pictures’ magical new musical-fantasy Enchanted, the same day the film is generally released in U.S. theaters.
November 22, 1991
The 30th Disney animated feature film Beauty and the Beast (1991) is generally released to theaters in the United States and in Canada. The film is based on the fairy tale La Belle et la Bête by Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont. The film's music will win two Academy Awards and four Grammy Awards. Beauty and the Beast would later be the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Also debuting on the same day, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage - a Broadway-style musical at the 1,500-seat Theater of the Stars, on Sunset Boulevard at Disney-MGM in Florida.
November 23, 1963
Disneyland closes its gates in honor of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, Friday November 22nd.
November 23, 1972
Disney takes part in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In honor of the first anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort, giant helium-filled balloons of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck soar overhead. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs take part in the festivities below riding atop a majestic Disney World castle float. Peter Pan and Wendy match wits with pirates aboard Captain Hook's ship float.
November 24, 1995
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights brightens Disney-MGM Studios for the very first time. The overwhelmingly positive reaction from Walt Disney World guests will turn the park's Residential Street Christmas display into a yearly tradition.
Initially constructed by Arkansas businessman, Jennings Osborne, as a gift for his six-year-old daughter, Allison, the display will become one of the most popular attractions during the park's holiday season.
November 25, 2007
In 2007, George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, issues a presidential pardon to Thanksgiving turkeys and sent the lucky birds to live out their days at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
President Bush held the annual ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. During the event, he announced the name for both birds, May and Flower. The names were chosen in a White House poll, and during the clemency ceremony, President Bush noted that the monikers were “certainly better than the names suggested by the Vice President—which is ‘Lunch’ and ‘Dinner.’”
May and Flower each weighed about 45 pounds and hailed from Indiana. Disney employees welcomed them to live in the Magic Kingdom. The birds served as honorary grand marshals at Disney’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade.
November 26, 1971
Thanksgiving day traffic to leading the Walt Disney World resort is reported to have a backup of 30 miles on Orlando highway I-4, and the Magic Kingdom park reaches capacity by 12pm. This is the first time the park closes due to capacity since it opened on October 1, 1971.
![[Orlando-Evening-Star-for-we.jpg]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1f84a807-321e-462e-af29-c4b5c2cc813c_1107x1388.jpeg "[Orlando-Evening-Star-for-we.jpg]")
Disney in the News
Today is day two of the Destination D23 event
Several exciting announcements were made, including announcements regarding The Galactic Star Cruiser…
The Gaurdians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction, the return of popular entertainment to the parks and upcoming park expansion projects.
Sunday, November 21, 2021
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET: Morning Presentations, including:
Disney+ Download at Destination D23
The Dawn of the Disney World
[12 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET: Afternoon Break]
Star Wars™: Visions Watch Party Event by Topps!**
2 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET: Afternoon Presentations, including:
Delicious Disney: 50 Years of Walt Disney World
From the Vault: Merchandise Memories of Walt Disney World
Walt ’90s World
Musical Attractions of Walt Disney World
A FAN-Tastic Finale
Dapper Day Fall Outing 2021
If you happen to be at the Walt Disney World Resort, today is day two of the Dapper Club’s 2021 fall outing!
Dapper Day is an organization that celebrates refined style from yesterday and today by organizing outings and social events with various locations including museums, concert halls, Disney parks, and other venues, where participants are encouraged to "step out in style.” Dapper Day is most famous for their popular semi-annual outings to Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, and Paris each spring and fall.
Check out the following information on the Dapper Day Instagram, if you would like to enjoy the event from home.
11/21/2021, 2:30-3:30p PST (5:30-6:30p EST) @DapperDay Instagram: Live streaming from Main Street USA holiday decor appreciation and more from Disney's Magic Kingdom
https://www.instagram.com/dapperday/
Coming later this week…
Our offerings will be abbreviated this week due to the upcoming holiday. Check your inboxes for the following articles: Hidden Mickeys: Part Two and Disney Trivia XIII.
Thank you for spending your Sunday afternoon with us, and reading Magic in the Mail. We are in the process of growing our community and we appreciate your readership.
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Stay optimistic, and see you real soon!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Harper
