May 12, 1932 - Goofy was First Introduced to the World

Did you know that the world was first introduced to the lovable Disney character, Goofy, on this day, May 12, back in 1932?

This silly Disney character made his film debut in the animated short, “Mickey’s Revue,” in which he played an audience member with a distinguished laugh. He later appeared in newspaper comic strips under the name “Dippy Dawg.” His name officially became “Goofy” in 1939, with the release of the film, “Goofy & Wilbur.” 

Since the opening of our first park, Disneyland park in 1955, Goofy has welcomed millions of guests in a myriad of ways.

For example, Walt Disney World Resort guests can currently enjoy Goofy-themed attractions Barnstormer Starring the Great Goofini at Magic Kingdom Park and Goofy’s Sky School at Disney California Adventure park. Families can enjoy a meet-and-greet with him, dine at Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel, make a sweet treat at Goofy’s Candy Company at Downtown Disney, or get a photo taken with Santa Goofy during the holidays!

Leave your “Goofiest” memory in the Comments section below, and enjoy this photo gallery of Goofy at Disney Parks!

Disney Animated Films Fun Facts

What does Scuttle call a fork in The Little Mermaid?
Scuttle also tells Ariel that a fork is used to straighten hair out- advice that makes for a hilarious scene when Ariel combs her hair using a fork while at dinner with Prince Eric! 




In the original Fantasia, what is the name of the ballerina hippo?
In the original Fantasia, the gentle ballet dancing Hyacinth Hippo is pursued by the equally graceful and nimble-footed Ben Ali Gator. 




In 101 Dalmatians, how many spots does Pongo have?
Disney animators drew Pongo with 72 spots, Perdita with 68 spots, and each of the 99 puppies with exactly 32 spots. 




hich two animators from Disney's Nine Old Men appeared in The Incredibles?
"Frank and Ollie" were the inseparable Disney duo who were part of the Nine Old Men. In the film, Frank says, "That's the way to do it. That's old school." Ollie nods agreeably, noting there's "No school like the old school."




Which Disney Princess declared, "Then maybe I don't want to be a princess anymore!"
Jasmine is the sixteen year old daughter of the wealthy Sultan of Agrabah. Unwilling to marry any of the snobbish and self-centered princes her father suggests, she runs away from home.




What does the shiny badge that the Blue Fairy gives Jiminy Crickett say on it?
The name of Disney's beloved character is a play on the exclamation "Jiminy Cricket!"– which itself was uttered in Pinocchio's immediate Disney film predecessor, 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The Disney’s Horse History

The children’s area in the Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort lobby is decorated with artwork of famous Disney horse characters, which caught me off guard at first.

Sure Disney has tons of popular animal characters – mice, ducks, bears and so on – but Disney horses? 

After a bit more research, it turns out we have a whole stable of horses in the Disney family. In fact, horse characters have been really important to some of Disney’s most popular animated films. Who didn’t smile when Woody reunited with his trusty sidekick, Bullseye, in “Toy Story 2”? Other horse characters have bravely ridden into battle with princes, helped princesses flee from danger or simply hung around to provide comic relief (like the horse featured above with Goofy in the 1950 short “How to Ride A Horse”).

I just L-O-V-E Maximus, the horse from Tangled!!! How not to love him???

In honor of the resort’s special day, let’s have some fun and name as many Disney horses as we can – especially those that can be seen around the Walt Disney World Resort. See if you can add to the list below.

1. Horace Horsecollar (Disney shorts) – What may be Disney’s first horse character, Horace (pictured above/left in the 1931 short, “Barnyard Broadcast”), made his debut in the 1929 animated short, “The Plow Boy.” Guests currently can catch him “hoofing it” in the Frontierland Hoedown Happening that takes place at Magic Kingdom Park.

2. Horse Major, mice Gus and Jaq (“Cinderella”) – Cinderella’s mice friends, Gus and Jaq, are temporarily transformed into horses to pull her pumpkin coach to the ball while the existing horse, Major, is changed into the driver of the coach. Gus and Jaq currently can be spotted giving an illuminating performance in the Main Street Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom Park.

3. Samson (“Sleeping Beauty”) – Prince Phillip’s trusty steed accompanies him on all sorts of adventures in this 1959-flick, including meeting Briar Rose in the woods and joining him in the final battle against Maleficent. Guests can spot Prince Phillip, Samson and Maleficent in a new LEGO sculpture that decorates the LEGO Imagination Center at Downtown Disney Marketplace at the Walt Disney World Resort.

4. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (Magic Kingdom Park) – This carrousel, originally built by the Philadelphia Tobaggan Company in 1917, was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in the late 1960s. The carrousel and it’s 90 horses debuted at Magic Kingdom Park on opening day in 1971.

5. Bullseye (“Toy Story 2” and “Toy Story 3”) – Bullseye arrived on the scene in “Toy Story 2,” when Woody ventures into Al’s collectible toy showroom. Guests can play games with Bullseye (and other “Toy Story” characters) at Toy Story Mania! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or spot him in the park’s Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade.

6. Khan (“Mulan”) – This horse appeared in “Mulan,” which was the first of three feature films produced inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios, in the same building that currently houses The Magic of Disney Animation attraction.

Some Ears from the 35th Festival of the Masters fine arts 2010

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Each year a collection of award winning artists come together to create one of the most prestigious art shows in the country. What makesit  different? These artists have won a primary award in a juried art show within the past four years. So, be sure to stroll the West Side at Downtown Disney Area this year and talk with some of these outstanding artists.

The 35th Festival of the Masters fine arts was in November 12th-14, 2010.

The Art of Marie Osmond [Doll Designer]

Marie Osmond is an Entertainer and Doll Designer who made the Disney-inspired Princess and the Frog doll.

Michelle: This year the Resort is celebrating the memories that guests make on trips to the Resort, and we’re asking guests to share these memories in the form of photos and videos. We have truly enjoyed having your family visit the resort on many occasions. Can you share with us one of your favorite experiences or memories?

Marie: “I was realizing the other day, while looking through scrapbooks that so many of my favorite family photos were taken at Disney, because everyone in the family is smiling from ear to ear. I think one of my personal favorite memories, which I’ve experienced eight times individually, is being on ‘it’s a small world’ with each of my kids for their first time and watching their eyes discover a whole new world. Then, they would almost always spend the rest of the day singing ‘it’s a small world.’ Even my now grown children still want to go to Disney for family vacation days.”

Michelle: You’ve been considered one of the top doll designers in the industry for almost 20 years. When did you first start to design for Disney? And while we’re on the subject, what has been your favorite doll, and why?

Marie: “I’m a founder of Children’s Miracle Network, since 1982, which helps more than 17 million sick and injured children every year. In the early 1990s, when I had just started out as a doll designer, we created a series of dolls called “Miracle Children.” One of the first sets, a boy and girl, wore Mickey Mouse ears and were on an adventure at Disneyland Resort. Soon after, Disney and I partnered to make my personal signature sculpt doll, Adorabelle, into the signature tour guides for various attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. I can’t pick a favorite doll from all of these years, but I can tell you that my collectors continuously seek after the Tour Guide Adorabelles. It makes me so happy that they love them.”

Michelle: Not only do you create exquisite dolls for collectors worldwide, but you have also collaborated with Disney on Disney Theme Park exclusive dolls such as your newest release inspired by Princess and the Frog. Where do you draw inspiration to create your Disney-themed dolls and what can you tell us about this newest doll that makes it so special?

Marie: “For Disney’s 50th Anniversary year, I had the best time designing dolls of the three favorite Princesses from the stories which I had grown up loving: Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and, of course, Cinderella. They were gorgeous, very limited edition, dolls and are now a hard-to-find collectible because so many of us adored these Disney princesses. They are still favorites, but now I see kids, including my own little girls, who want to hear the stories of the more modern princesses, like my newest Disney exclusive doll: ‘Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.’”

“Her gorgeous gown was inspired by the story and her delicate features and raven colored hair are breathtaking. Wait until you see her in person!! I love every aspect of this porcelain doll. She’s a stunning addition to any collection. I’ve got a place set aside on my own shelf for this one!”

Michelle: I’m sure our Disney Parks Blog fans look forward to seeing what’s next on the horizon from you. Without giving too much away, can you give us a glimpse into what we can expect to see in the future?

Marie: “I’m heading into my 20th anniversary of doll design in 2011. I think my collectors appreciate that I have always taken the chance to bring them the types of doll designs that I feel are collection stand-outs, both traditional and also trend-setting. I know my doll team has a great year planned, so…let me just say ‘Happy New Year!’ because it will be one for all of us who love to collect dolls.”

Renaissance-inspired Disney character portraits by former Walt Disney Imagineer Maggie Parr

The collection is a beautiful art series that honors characters in iconic paintings from a few of the world’s most famous and historic artists. 

Michelle: Maggie, your work continues to provide a sense of enchantment to our guests. Your ability to capture some of our most notable Disney characters in many film-related scenes and scenarios is just part of the charm and magic that makes them so special. Some of your most recognized pieces have actually had a type of “Renaissance” inspiration. What made you choose to depict the characters in that style?

Maggie: I originally got the idea when Imagineering hired me to paint Disney characters in famous artworks for Tokyo DisneySea. I really enjoyed imitating classic paintings, but it was also an interesting challenge to figure out subtleties of the characters: how they’d look in costumes, what expressions they’d have, how they’d look rendered in different mediums and techniques. I realized that Goofy, and all of the characters, have their own psychology. In fact, when I painted them they came alive on the canvas and I began to appreciate and understand the Disney characters in a whole new way while inserting lighthearted American humor into serious European history. Mickey and Minnie are beloved to the American imagination – so it made sense to paint them as “Queen Minnie” and “King Mickey” after famous royal portraits. It feels fun and irreverent to frame Goofy and Donald as English noblemen in the 1700s. And of course, portraying Minnie as the Mona Lisa is the ultimate parody.