What Disney Looked Like the Year You Were Born

Walt Disney started out as an animator and founded Laugh-O-Gram Studio in Kansas City with his friend Ub Iwerks. However, the company failed to survive and they filed for bankruptcy within a year.

Walt had a turn of success with his Alice in Cartoonland shorts, which propelled him into moving to California. His brother, Roy O. Disney, helped him establish Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in Hollywood, where he and his team worked tirelessly on Alice sketches.

Based off of one of Walt's former characters, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Mickey Mouse was the animator's first character to really take off. The company produced three films featuring Mickey that year, including Steamboat Willie.

With the success of Mickey—and let's not forget, his friends, Goofy, Pluto, and Minnie, of course—the Disney brothers saw an opportunity. In 1930, they signed their first contract to merchandise their characters. AKA you can thank Walt and Roy for that Winnie the Pooh backpack from third grade.

Look closely at Walt Disney's desk, and you'll spot a Donald Duck figurine. The first time the character was ever shown to the public was in 1934's The Wise Little Hen.

In the '30s, Walt was mostly focused on Mickey Mouse movies, but by the end of the decade and into the '40s, it was time to imagine some new characters. Walt decided to create cartoon films based off fables and fairytales.

After Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs earned the studio an Academy Award for Best Original Music Score, Disney followed the win with the release of Pinocchio and Fantasia in 1940, Dumbo in 1941, and Bambi in 1942.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, troops were stationed in California and took over half of Disney’s studios. Walt Disney offered them help in the best way he knew how: artwork. He had animators create cartoon shorts to boost morale, and approved the use of trademarked characters free of charge in things like books and training videos.

Walt's imagination came to life when his fantasy world theme park, Disneyland, opened up in Anaheim, California. The park was built on 16 acres of farmland and cost $17 million to complete.

The early '70s were a huge milestone for the company in more ways than one. In 1973, Walt Disney Productions celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Walt Disney World opened its latest expansion project in 1982, the Epcot Center. The newest park contained two attractions: Future World and World Showcase.

After being in the works since 1979, Disneyland Tokyo became the company's first international theme park to open.

It's been a tradition, which seems as old as time, that the Super Bowl MVP announces "I'm going to Disney World" during their post-game press conference. New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms was the first to say it in 1987, and almost every MVP since has followed suit.

An endorsement from Mickey Mouse is as good as any! In 1988, Presidential nominee Vice President George H. W. Bush visited the happiest place on earth with his wife, Barbara.

One of Julie Andrew's most well-known roles was in Disney's Mary Poppins in 1964. The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Andrews. In 1991, the actress was honored by the studio with Disney's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Disney opened its second international theme park in 1992. At the time of its completion, Euro Disneyland (now known as Disneyland Paris) had 29 rides and attractions, six themed hotels, a "Davy Crockett" campground, a full golf course, as well as other restaurants, shops, and entertainment centers.