Grand Opening of Walt Disney World, The (television)

Grand Opening of Walt Disney World, The (television) Television special; aired on October 29, 1971. Directed by Robert Scheerer. Stars Julie Andrews, Glen Campbell, Buddy Hackett, Jonathan Winters, Bob Hope. For the opening parade, Meredith Willson leads a marching band of 1,076 musicians.

Grand Prix Raceway

Grand Prix Raceway Tomorrowland attraction in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World; opened October 1, 1971. Patterned after Autopia at Disneyland, this attraction enables drivers young and old to race (at about seven miles per hour) around a 2, 260 foot long track. The track was moved slightly and shortened somewhat to accommodate construction …

Grand Californian Hotel

Grand Californian Hotel The first Disney resort to be located inside a theme park, Disney California Adventure, the Grand Californian celebrates the turn-of-the-century romantic Craftsman movement of California. The design captures the artistic exploration of California’s coastline, with its Monterey pines and redwood forests, layered with the memories of the Arroyo craftsmen, the mission pioneers, …

Grand Canyon (film)

Grand Canyon (film) CinemaScope featurette; released initially on December 17, 1958; general release on January 29, 1959 with Sleeping Beauty. Directed by James Algar. The ever-changing moods of the canyon and its wildlife are portrayed with the background music of the “Grand Canyon Suite” by Ferde Grofé. Academy Award winner for Best Live-Action Short Subject. …

Grand Canyon Diorama

Grand Canyon Diorama Dimensional views of the Grand Canyon, added to the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad on March 31, 1958. To the sounds of Ferde Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite, ” guests view scenery from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in a realistic diorama, as they slowly ride by in the train. The …

Grand Canyonscope (film)

Grand Canyonscope (film) Donald Duck cartoon; released on December 23, 1954. Directed by Charles Nichols. Filmed in CinemaScope. Donald proves to be a meddlesome tourist to Ranger J. Audubon Woodlore, getting the two of them involved with an angry mountain lion who chases them all about the canyon, ultimately destroying the national monument.

Grand Circuit Raceway

Grand Circuit Raceway Attraction in Tomorrowland at Tokyo Disneyland; opened Apr. 15, 1983 and closed Jan. 11, 2017.

Grand Floridian Cafe

Grand Floridian Cafe Restaurant in the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World, opened on June 28, 1988.

Grain That Built a Hemisphere, The (film)

Grain That Built a Hemisphere, The (film) Educational film telling the story of corn, including its genealogy and discovery by the Indians, how it has been developed in modern usage, and how its culture has spread over the earth and influenced the economic structure of the world. Produced under the auspices of the Coordinator of …

Gramatky, Hardie

Gramatky, Hardie (1907-1979) Artist and storyman; he joined Disney in 1930 and worked in animation for six years. He wrote the story, Little Toot, which was made into a Disney cartoon.