Disney Parks Rewind – June 1994 – Innoventions TV special, Westcot
Twenty-five years ago, Mickey took one small step towards running the Kennedy Space Centre, topiary trimmers were sick from sphagnum, the company dragged its feet on creating a second park in California, and toupees and eyeliner were finally okayed.
Here’s what happened at the Disney Parks in Florida, California, and Paris in June 1994.
June 2: Saudi prince to help bail out Euro Disneyland
A nephew of the King of Saudi Arabia will buy 13 to 24% of Euro Disney, Walt Disney Company announces. As part of a larger stock rights offering, 37-year-old Prince Walid bin Talal would pay $400 to $500 million for his part of the deal. Under the agreement, the prince couldn’t own more than half of the 49% owned by Disney. Details of the $1.05 billion stock offering were announced June 9.
June 3: Dolphin swaps Italian restaurant for Mexican
The Walt Disney World Dolphin’s upscale Italian restaurant, Ristorante Carnevale, is closing within the next two weeks, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Plans were to reopen a month later as “Juan’s & Only Cantina and Bar”, an upscale Mexican restaurant.
June 4: “Gay Day”
The fourth annual Gay and Lesbian Day is held at Walt Disney World, by an independent group. Various Christian groups were vocal about the event, fear mongering that about “illegal activities on children.” It was estimated that 20,000 of the attendees were participating in the Pride event.
June 9: Not ready to commit to a second Anaheim park
We won’t be deciding until 1995, Disney announced, on whether we’re building a second theme park in Anaheim. Disney and city officials had expected Michael Eisner to decide “as early as September,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
Ever since it was first proposed in 1990, “government officials at all levels have scrambled to offer millions of dollars in freeway and public works improvements,” according to the Times. Westcot would have been a $2-billion copy of Epcot’s World Showcase, and include a shopping district, an amphitheater, and more than 5000 hotel rooms.
June 21: Topiary workers infected by rare fungus
When ten topiary workers at Walt Disney World developed rashes, the company called in Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate. It turns out the sphagnum moss — used to create the sculptures — was carrying a rare fungus (Sporopthrix schenckii). Employees had come down with sporotrichosis, a rash that could linger for up to three years if untreated. The CDC suspected the wire frames of the topiaries to blame, as the fungus typically would enter through an open cut. Pricks from rose thorns made home rose gardeners easily susceptible.
June 22: New appearance rules at Disney
The “appearance code” for Disney cast members was loosened, the most significant changes since the standards were created, more than 35 years prior. Men could now wear toupees, but mustaches were still strictly prohibited. “It’s been discussed so often, there was really no need” to consider repealing the choice, commented Disney World vice president of support services, Bill Turner. Women could choose colored nail polish, eyeliner, eye shadow, and flat shoes. Earrings could now be the size of a quarter, which a human resources exec dubbed “pretty significant”, in an Orlando Sentinel article.
June 23: “The Making of Innoventions” on Disney Channel
The as-yet-unopened pavilion at Epcot ’94 got its own half-hour television special, on Disney Channel.
June 23: Disney considers running Kennedy Space Centre
What if Disney’s magic touch was applied to the US space program? A company spokesperson confirmed that they were intrigued by the government’s open contract to run the tours, museum, and buses, as well as sell food and souvenirs. A briefing about the contract attracted 24 companies including hotelier Host Marriott and Paramount Parks.
June 29: David Cassidy at Disney-MGM Studios
In its earliest years, Disney-MGM Studios would routinely have celebrity guests appear in their “Star Today” program. From Wednesday, June 29 to Sunday, July 3, 44-year-old singer and actor David Cassidy took centre stage in the 2 pm motorcade parade. He left his handprints outside the Chinese Theatre and participated in an open mic Q & A session at Theatre of the Stars on day one, and was scheduled to sign his new book “C’mon Get Happy” at Sid Cahuenga’s on the Saturday.