Happy May 20th! Today holds a lot of history for the Walt Disney Company, so let's dive right in with some of the biggest events that occurred on this date!
1973: Tom Sawyer Island first opens at Walt Disney World!
Tom Sawyer Island officially opened on May 20th, 1973 in the Frontierland section of the Magic Kingdom. This still-open attraction is basically a giant playground on an island in the middle of the Rivers of America. It contains caves, buildings, and other structures that reference the characters from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. You will discover old mills, creaking suspension bridges, and a frontier fort!
1996: Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf Opens
Located between the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels (which are technically not Disney-owned resorts), Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf is a super fun course that is themed to, you guessed it, Fantasia. It features two 18-hole courses, one family friendly course (called Fantasia Gardens) and one "challenge" course (called Fantasia Fairway). This course is generally open quite late, making it a perfect choice when you're looking for nighttime entertainment outside of the parks.
2020: Disney Springs Reopens... In a Limited Capacity
When the pandemic hit in early March of 2020, everything closed down for a while. On May 20th, 2020, however, Disney agreed to allow 40 of its third-party vendors at Disney Springs to open back up in a limited capacity. These included: The BOATHOUSE, Earl of Sandwich, Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company, Planet Hollywood, Ron Jon Surf Shop, T-REX, and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, among others. Visitors to Disney Springs would be required to undergo temperature checks, and all staff and guests were required to wear masks except when eating.
And this is just a small sample of the events that have occurred on this day in Disney history! With over a 100 years to their name, you can find an important or interesting Disney event on almost every day of the year. My source for this, and every Today in Disney History article can be found here: This Day in Disney History.com
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