This Week in Disney History: Oct. 23-29

Oct. 24, 1982 - Epcot is officially dedicated at the Walt Disney World Resort--When Walt Disney announced his Florida project in 1965, an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow was a cornerstone of the original plans for Walt Disney World. Although this dream was ultimately deferred from the resort's 1971 opening, Walt Disney Productions president Card Walker and a determined army of Imagineers was determined to realize Walt's vision. Card announced plans for Epcot Center on Oct. 1, 1978; groundbreaking took place Oct. 24, 1979 at 9 a.m. 25 million man hours and almost precisely three years to the minute later, as he promised, Card stood in front of Spaceship Earth to lead its dedication ceremony. The 300-acre park is divided into two sections: Future World, which showcases new technology and the promise of tomorrow; and World Showcase, an international festival celebrating the history, culture, cuisine and beauty of nine countries. "Epcot Center is inspired by Walt Disney's creative genius," said Card in dedicating the park. "And, above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man's ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere."

Oct. 29, 1993 - Walt Disney Pictures releases The Nightmare Before Christmas--Jack Skellington is the king of what he does: bringing terror to the world every October 31st. Yet while the denizens of Halloween Town celebrate another successful holiday, Jack realizes he's tired of scaring people. On a walk deep into the forest, he discovers a portal into the world of Christmas Town. Though he doesn't understand everything he sees, the holiday becomes his obsession, and Jack is determined to improve upon it (although his plan includes kidnapping the Sandy Claws). Sally, a rag doll smitten with Jack, has a disturbing vision that compels her to stop him, while the menacing Oogie Boogie has plans of his own. Tim Burton wrote the poem that inspired the story as a Disney animator in the early 1980s; the idea broadened into a musical over several years, with Henry Selick directing the stop-motion animation that took two years to film. The score was the third in a long-standing collaboration between Burton and composer/Oingo Boingo front man Danny Elfman (provider of Jack's singing voice), which continued this year with Walt Disney Pictures' Alice in Wonderland. This is Jack's tenth year of decking the Haunted Mansion Holiday halls at Disneyland Park.