Important Dates for Disney

IMPORTANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY

October 16, 1923	Walt signed a contract with M. J. Winkler to produce a series of "Alice Comedies" — the date used as the start of the Disney company first known as "The Disney Brothers Studio"
March 1, 1924	Release of first Alice Comedy - "Alice's Day at Sea."
January, 1926	The Disneys move to their new studio at 2719 Hyperion. The name of the company is changed from "The Disney Brothers Studio" to "Walt Disney Studios".
September 5, 1927	Release of first "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" cartoon.
November 18, 1928	Steamboat Willie is released at the Colony Theatre in New York — the first Mickey Mouse cartoon released, also the first appearance of Minnie Mouse.
August 22, 1929	The Skeleton Dance, the first Silly Symphony, is released.
December 16, 1929	The Disney brothers' partnership is replaced by four companies: Walt Disney Productions, Ltd.; Walt Disney Enterprises; Liled Realty and Investment Company; and the Disney Film Recording Company.
January 13, 1930	Mickey Mouse comic strip begins.
September 5, 1930	The Chain Gang, first appearance of Pluto, is released. He did not receive the name Pluto until The Moose Hunt (1931).
November, 1930	First Disney book (Mickey Mouse Book).
July 30, 1932	Flowers and Trees, first full-color cartoon and first Academy Award winner, is released.
November 15, 1932	Art School formed at Disney Studio to train animators.
May 27, 1933	Three Little Pigs, Academy Award winner, is released.
June, 1933	First Mickey Mouse watch is sold by Ingersoll.
June 9, 1934	The Wise Little Hen, first appearance of Donald Duck, is released.
February 23, 1935	The Band Concert, first Mickey Mouse cartoon in color, is released.
December 21, 1937	Release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, first feature-length animated film, at the Carthay Circle Theatre.
February 7, 1940	Release of Pinocchio.
April 2, 1940	Walt Disney Productions issues its first stock.
May 6, 1940	Move of the Disney Studio to Burbank completed.
November 13, 1940	Release of Fantasia
August 17, 1941	Walt and artists leave on a goodwill trip to South America.
December 8, 1941	The U.S. Army moves onto the Disney Studio lot.
January 1, 1943	Der Fuehrer's Face, Academy Award winner, is released.
November 12, 1946	Song of the South released.
December 21, 1948	Release of Seal Island, first True-Life Adventure.
October, 1949	Walt Disney Music Company formed.
July 19, 1950	Release of Treasure Island, first completely live- action feature.
December 25, 1950	One Hour in Wonderland first television show.
December 16, 1952	WED Enterprises founded by Walt.
February 5, 1953	Peter Pan is released.
February 18, 1953	Release of first People and Places film — "The Alaskan Eskimo."
November 10, 1953	Release of The Living Desert, first film distributed by the new Buena Vista Distribution Company.
October 27, 1954	First airing of Disneyland television show.
December 15, 1954	Davy Crockett story is told on the Disneyland show.
December 23, 1954	Release of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
uly 17, 1955	Opening of Disneyland.
October 3, 1955	First program of the Mickey Mouse Club television series.
October 10, 1957	First program of the Zorro television series.
March 19, 1959	Release of The Shaggy Dog, first of a series of wacky comedies.
June 14, 1959	Vice-President Nixon dedicates Monorail. Matterhorn and Submarine Voyageopen also at Disneyland.
June 23, 1963	Enchanted Tiki Room opens at Disneyland, first use of Audio-Animatronicsfigures.
April 22, 1964	Four Disney exhibits open at the New York World's Fair.
August 29, 1964	Release of Mary Poppins.
February 3, 1965	WED Enterprises incorporated as a subsidiary of Walt Disney Productions (WED was personally owned by Walt from 1952 to 1965.)
July 23, 1965	MAPO incorporated.
December 15, 1966	Walt Disney dies.
March 13, 1969	Release of The Love Bug.
June 25, 1969	Walt Disney Educational Materials Co. incorporated.
December 25, 1969	"Disney on Parade" debuts in Chicago.
June 22, 1970	Establishment of the Walt Disney Archives.
June 17, 1971	100,000,000th guest welcomed at Disneyland.
October 1, 1971	Opening of Walt Disney World.
December 20, 1971	Roy O. Disney dies.
January 26, 1972	The Mouse Factory debuts on television.
October 16, 1973	50th Anniversary of Walt Disney Productions.
March 22, 1975	Walt Disney World Village opens.
June, 1975	America on Parade debuts for the Bicentennial at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
January 17, 1977	The new Mickey Mouse Club airs.
November 18, 1978	Mickey Mouse celebrates 50th birthday.
July 17, 1980	Disneyland celebrates 25th anniversary.
October, 1980	First Home Video titles released
December 3, 1980	Tokyo Disneyland groundbreaking and site dedication.
October 1, 1982	EPCOT Center opens.
April 15, 1983	Tokyo Disneyland opens.
April 18, 1983	The Disney Channel begins broadcasting.
May 25, 1983	New Fantasyland opens at Disneyland.
March 9, 1984	Release of first Touchstone film, Splash.
June 9, 1984	Donald Duck celebrates 50th birthday.
September 23, 1984	Michael Eisner and Frank Wells become Chairman and President of Walt Disney Productions.
September 14, 1985	First Saturday morning animated TV shows air; "Golden Girls" debuts.
February 2, 1986	The Disney Sunday Movie debuts on television.
February 6, 1986	Walt Disney Productions name changed to The Walt Disney Company.
March 25, 1986	500,000,000th guest to a Disney park welcomed.
September 4, 1986	Airing of syndicated Disney features and TV shows begins.
January 9, 1987	Star Tours, built in collaboration with George Lucas, opens at Disneyland.
February 11, 1987	The Walt Disney Company re-incorporated in Delaware.
March 24, 1987	Euro Disneyland agreement signed in France.
March 28, 1987	First Disney Store opens, in Glendale Galleria.
May 5, 1987	First Disney Dollars sold at Disneyland.
September 21, 1987	DuckTales released in syndication.
January 21, 1988	The Wrather Corp. (including the Disneyland Hotel) is acquired.
February 2, 1988	First filming done at The Disney/MGM Studios.
May 26, 1988	Childcraft is acquired.
June 21, 1988	Who Framed Roger Rabbit released.
June 24, 1988	Grand Floridian Beach Resort dedicated at Walt Disney World.
October 1, 1988	Caribbean Beach Resort opens.
October 16, 1988	First Disney/Soviet Film Festival opens.
December 2, 1988	TV station KHJ acquired.
February 1, 1989	Hollywood Pictures begins operations.
May 1, 1989	Opening of Disney/MGM Studio Theme Park and Pleasure Island.
June 1, 1989	Opening of Typhoon Lagoon.
July 17, 1989	Splash Mountain opens at Disneyland.
September 1, 1989	Disneyland welcomes 300,000,000th guest.
December 1, 1989	KHJ-TV changes its call letters to KCAL-TV.
January 1, 1990	Hollywood Records begins operation
July 18, 1990	Release of Hollywood Pictures' first film, "Arachnophobia."
August 26, 1990	Disneyland begins a 5-year sponsorship of the Pigskin Classic football game at Anaheim Stadium.
September 10, 1990	Premiere of The Disney Afternoon syndicated TV programming.
November, 1990	Yacht and Beach Club Resorts open at Walt Disney World.
May 6, 1991	The Walt Disney Company joins the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
May 29, 1991	100,000,000th guest welcomed at Tokyo Disneyland.
September 26, 1991	Hyperion Books publishes its first book.
April 12, 1992	Euro Disney opens.
October 10, 1992	Approval of The Mighty Ducks hockey franchise by the NHL Board of Governors.
December 31, 1992	Stopped operating the Queen Mary in Long Beach
June 30, 1993	The Walt Disney Company acquires Miramax Film Corp.
October 8, 1993	Inaugural Game of The Mighty Ducks vs. The Detroit Red Wings at The Anaheim Pond.
April 18, 1994	Beauty and the Beast stage show opens on Broadway.
June 15, 1994	Release of The Lion King
November 4, 1994	The first Walt Disney Gallery opens at the MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana, California.
December 5, 1994	Disney Interactive formed.
April 1, 1995	Blizzard Beach opens at Walt Disney World
May 18, 1995	Agreement to purchase 25% of the California Angels baseball team from Gene Autry
July 31, 1995	Agreement to purchase Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion
September, 1995	Disney Online, a business unit of Disney Interactive, is founded.
October 1, 1995	The Disney Channel begins operation in the UK.
October 2, 1995	Michael Ovitz becomes President of the Walt Disney Company.
January 4, 1996	Stockholders approve Disney merger with Capital Cities/ABC
January 27, 1996	Inaugural race of the Indy Racing League Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway
February 22, 1996	Disney Online launches Disney.com on the World Wide Web
February 9, 1996	Final FCC approval of and filing of merger documents for completion of the acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC.
February 9, 1996	The Disney Institute opens at Walt Disney World.
April 18, 1996	Disney announced the purchase of Dream Quest Images, a visual-effects studio in Simi Valley, California
June 18, 1996	The Haber family is the first to move into their new home in Celebration.
July 17, 1996	Disney announced plans for Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim.
November 18, 1996	Debut of Radio Disney on the ABC Radio Networks.
November 25, 1996	The Main Street Electrical Parade makes its final appearance at Disneyland.
March 28, 1997	Disney's Wide World of Sports baseball stadium opened to the public for the first time (Atlanta Braves/Cincinnati Reds exhibition game).
March 31, 1997	Disney Online introduces Disney's Daily Blast website.
April 2, 1997	Inauguration ceremony officially opened the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City.
June 1, 1997	Lyric Street Records founded as a country music label.
September 15, 1997	Downtown Disney West Side opens at Walt Disney World.
November 13, 1997	The Lion King stage production opens on Broadway.
March 23, 1998	ESPN Magazine debuts.
April 22, 1998	Opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
June 19, 1998	Release of Mulan.
June 19, 1998	First Disney Quest opens at Downtown Disney West Side at Walt Disney World.
June 24, 1998	600,000,000th guest welcomed at Walt Disney World
July 12, 1998	First ESPN Zone opens in Baltimore, MD.
July 30, 1998	Disney Magic cruise ship departs on its inaugural cruise.
January 12, 1999	Launch of "GO" Network
January 15, 1999	All-Star Movies Resort opens at Walt Disney World
March 1, 1999	Asia opens at Disney's Animal Kingdom
March 31, 1999	Disney completes the purchase of the Anaheim Angels
May 1, 1999	Mickey MouseWorks debuts on television
June 18, 1999	Tarzan released
August 6,1999	The Sixth Sense released, and becomes the Company's highest-grossing live-action film
August 15, 1999	Maiden voyage of the Disney Wonder
September 29, 1999	Euro Disney announces plans for its second gate, The Disney Studios, to open in the Spring of 2002.
October 1, 1999	Millennium Celebration begins at Epcot
November 18, 1999	GO.com stock begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange
November 24, 1999	Toy Story 2 opens with Disney's highest weekend gross
January 1, 2000	Fantasia 2000 is released in IMAX theaters
March 23, 2000	Aida opens on Broadway
February 8, 2001	Disney's California Adventure opens
April 16, 2001	Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge opens
May 25, 2001	Pearl Harbor is released
June 15, 2001	Atlantis: The Lost Empire is released
September 4, 2001	Tokyo DisneySea opens
October 24, 2001	Fox Family Channel acquired and renamed ABC Family Channel
November 2, 2001	Monsters Inc. released
November, 2001	The Baby Einstein Company acquired
December 5, 2001	100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth
March 16, 2002	Walt Disney Studios, Paris, opens
June 21, 2002	Lilo & Stitch is released
August 2, 2002	Signs is released
November 27, 2002	Treasure Planet is released
May 22, 2003	Disney sells the Anaheim Angels.
May 30, 2003	Finding Nemo is released, becoming Disney's highest grossing animated film.
July 9, 2003	Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl is released, and became Disney's highest-grossing live action film.
November 18, 2003	Mickey Mouse celebrates his 75th anniversary with the unveiling of 75 Mickey statues at Walt Disney World.
December 14, 2003	Pop Century Resort opens at Walt Disney World.
March 3, 2004	Senator George J. Mitchell becomes Chairman of the Board of The Walt Disney Company.
April 2004	Disney acquires the Muppet properties and Bear in the Big Blue House.
September 22, 2004	Lost debuts on ABC.
October 3, 2004	Desperate Housewives debuts on ABC.
November 5, 2004	The Incredibles is released.
February 25, 2005	Disney sells The Mighty Ducks hockey team.
March 27, 2005	Grey's Anatomy debuts on ABC.
May 5, 2005	Happiest Celebration on Earth begins at all Disney theme parks to honor 50 years of Disneyland.
June 15, 2005	Adventures by Disney runs their first trip with paying guests.
September 12, 2005	Hong Kong Disneyland opens.
October 1, 2005	Robert A. Iger becomes Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company.
October 12, 2005	Disney is first to license TV episodes, from ABC and Disney Channel series, for download on Apple's iTunes Music Store.
November 4, 2005	Chicken Little is released.
December 9, 2005	The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is released.
January 20, 2006	High School Musical airs and breaks all Disney Channel records, with its soundtrack going platinum.
March 14, 2006	High School Musical is the first full-length movie to be sold via digital download, on Apple's iTunes Music Store, followed by theatrical features in September.
March 24, 2006	Hannah Montana debuts on Disney Channel.
May 5, 2006	Disney purchases Pixar Animation Studios.
July 7, 2006	Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is released, and soon becomes the company's highest-grossing release.
September 28, 2006	Ugly Betty debuts on ABC.
October 1, 2006	The Year of a Million Dreams begins at the Disney parks with special prizes for guests.
January 1, 2007	John E. Pepper, Jr., becomes chairman of the board.
June 11, 2007	Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opens at Disneyland.
June 29, 2007	The Secret of the Magic Gourd, first Disney co-production in China, is released.
June 29, 2007	Ratatouille, from Pixar, is released.
August 1, 2007	Club Penguin acquired.
August 17, 2007	High School Musical 2 set cable records on its premiere on Disney Channel.
October 16, 2007	Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert begins sold-out tour to 69 cities.
November 3, 2007	The Little Mermaid begins previews as a stage show on Broadway.
November 21, 2007	Enchanted is released.
December 21, 2007	National Treasure: Book of Secrets is released.
January 7, 2008	Disney-MGM Studios is renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios.
May 31, 2008	Toy Story Mania opens at Walt Disney World.
June 17, 2008	Toy Story Mania opens at Disneyland.
June 20, 2008	Camp Rock debuts as a Disney Channel Original Movie.
June 20, 2008	WALL·E, from Pixar, is released.
February 13, 2009	Disney XD channel is launched.
February 22, 2009	WALL·E wins Academy Award for Best Animated Film.