Timeline of The Walt Disney Company

This is a timeline of The Walt Disney Company, listing notable business events for the organization.

1923–1966

The Walt Disney Company was founded in 1923, and found much success under Walt Disney's leadership through his death in 1966.

Year	Notable Business Events	Notable Theatrical Releases (See List of Disney feature films for complete film listing)	Notable Theme Park Openings
1923	Walt Disney signed a contract with M.J. Winkler to produce a series of Alice Comedies, beginning the Disney company under its original name Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, with brothers Walt and Roy Disney, as equal partners.	First Alice comedy, Alice's Day at Sea, released.
1926	Company changed name to The Walt Disney Studio shortly after moving into the new studio on Hyperion Avenue in the Silver Lake district.
1927		Oswald the Lucky Rabbit debuts
1928	Walt loses the Oswald series contract Walt and Roy come up with mickey and minnie mouse	Mickey Mouse debuts in Plane Crazy Steamboat Willie (the first synchronized sound cartoon)
1929	On December 16, the original partnership formed in 1923 is replaced by Walt Disney Productions, Ltd. Three other companies, Walt Disney Enterprises, Disney Film Recording Company, and Liled Realty and Investment Company, are also formed.	The Skeleton Dance (the first Silly Symphonies cartoon)
1930	Distribution moved to Columbia Pictures
1932	Distribution moved from Columbia Pictures to United Artists	Flowers and Trees (the first Technicolor cartoon) Mickey's Revue (which features the premiere of Goofy, originally called "Dippy Dawg")
1933		Three Little Pigs
1934		The Wise Little Hen (which features the premiere of Donald Duck)
1936	Distribution moved from United Artists to RKO Radio Pictures.
1937	Walt Disney's first animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released	Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1938	On September 29, Walt Disney Enterprises, Disney Film Recording Company, and Liled Realty and Investment Company and Walt Disney Productions, Ltd. are merged to formed Walt Disney Productions.
1940	Studio moves to Burbank, California Company goes public	Pinocchio Fantasia
1941	A bitter animators' strike occurs The studio begins making morale-boosting propaganda films for the United States during World War II	Dumbo
1942		Bambi
1943		Saludos Amigos
1944	The company is short on money; a theatrical re-release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs generates much-needed revenue and begins a reissue pattern for the animated feature films.
1945		The Three Caballeros
1946		Make Mine Music Song of the South
1947		Fun and Fancy Free
1948	The True-Life Adventures nature film series begins; it lasts until 1960.	Melody Time Seal Island
1949	The studio begins production on its first all-live action feature, Treasure Island	The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
1950		Cinderella Treasure Island (Disney's first live-action film)
1951		Alice in Wonderland
1952	WED Enterprises is formed to design what would become Disneyland.
1953	Retlaw Enterprises is formed to control the rights to "Disney". It will later own and operate several attractions inside Disneyland, including the Disneyland Monorail System and the Disneyland Railroad.	Peter Pan
1954	October 27: Beginning of the Disneyland TV program on ABC. The studio ends its distribution deal with RKO Radio Pictures and founds Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc to distribute its feature films.	20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
1955		Lady and the Tramp	Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California
1957		Old Yeller
1959		Sleeping Beauty The Shaggy Dog
1960		Pollyanna Swiss Family Robinson
1961	The studio purchases the film rights to A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh books, which are a huge source of revenue (as well as litigation issues) to this day.	One Hundred and One Dalmatians The Absent-Minded Professor The Parent Trap
1963		The Sword in the Stone
1964		Mary Poppins (the first Disney film to receive a Best Picture Academy Award nomination)
1965	Disney News Begins Publication
1966	September: Walt Disney is diagnosed with lung cancer; he dies on December 15.	Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree

1967–1983

After Walt's death in 1966, the company began a slow decline as it floundered under directionless leadership, which culminated in an unsuccessful greenmail attempt to buy the company from current shareholders.

Year	Notable Business Events	Notable Theatrical Releases (See List of Disney feature films for complete film listing)	Notable Theme Park Openings	Other Premieres
1967	Construction begins on Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida; the underlying governmental structure, called the Reedy Creek Improvement District, is signed into law.	The Jungle Book
1969		The Love Bug
1970		The Aristocats
1971	Roy Oliver Disney dies; Donn Tatum becomes chairman and Card Walker becomes president	Bedknobs and Broomsticks	The Walt Disney World Resort opens
1973		Robin Hood
1975		Esacpe to Witch Mountain
1976		Freaky Friday
1977	Walt's nephew Roy E. Disney, resigns from the company citing a decline in overall product quality and issues with manager.	The Rescuers Pete's Dragon The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
1979	Don Bluth and 12 fellow animators leave Disney to found their own studio.	The Black Hole (the first PG-rated Disney film, reversing a G-only policy that began with the 1968 introduction of the MPAA ratings system)
1980	Walt Disney Home Entertainment releases its first videotapes. Disney's first co-production, with Paramount Pictures, is Popeye
1981	Plans for a cable network are announced.	The Fox and the Hound		Dumbo is the first animated Disney home video release
1982	The Coca-Cola Company has an unsuccessful buyout attempt for Disney. Walt's son-in-law Ron W. Miller succeeds Card Walker as CEO.	Tron (Would belatedly be hailed as a bold pioneering work with Computer Generated Imagery)	Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow (EPCOT) Center opens at Walt Disney World Resort
1983	Disney Channel begins, while the anthology series ends. The company's live action studio is renamed Walt Disney Pictures.	Mickey's Christmas Carol is released, accompanying a reissue of The Rescuers.	Tokyo Disneyland opens in Japan

1984–2004

Michael Eisner is hired from ABC to be the new CEO, along with Frank Wells as president. They bring leadership vision and place an emphasis on theme park expansion and improving the quality of the theatrical releases.

Year	Notable Business Events	Notable Theatrical Releases (See List of Disney feature films for complete listing)	Notable Theme Park Openings	Other Premieres
1984	The Touchstone Films label is created to produce films aimed towards more mature audiences and releases its first film Splash. The studio narrowly escapes a buyout attempt by Saul Steinberg. In its aftermath, Roy Edward Disney and his business partner, Stanley Gold, remove Ron W. Miller as CEO and president, replacing him with Michael Eisner and Frank Wells. The Walt Disney Classics video collection starts up.
1985	In a reversal of a three-decade studio policy, the studio begins making cartoons for television beginning with Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears and The Wuzzles. The home video release of Pinocchio becomes a best-seller. Richard Rich leaves Disney to found his own studio.	The Black Cauldron Return to Oz The Journey of Natty Gann
1986	February 2: The anthology series is revived on ABC. February 6: The company's name is changed from Walt Disney Productions to The Walt Disney Company.	Flight of the Navigator The Great Mouse Detective
1987	First Disney Store opens in Glendale, California. The company and the French government sign an agreement for the creation of the first Disney Resort in Europe: the Euro Disney project starts. The company opens up a Hall of Fame called Disney Legends with Fred MacMurray as the first induction. Touchstone Films is renamed Touchstone Pictures.	The Brave Little Toaster Benji the Hunted
1988		Who Framed Roger Rabbit Oliver & Company
1989	Disney offers a deal to buy Jim Henson's Muppets and have the famed puppeteer work with Disney resources.	The Little Mermaid Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and accompanying animated Roger Rabbit short film Tummy Trouble	Disney-MGM Studios opens at Walt Disney World.
1990	Jim Henson's death sours the deal to buy his holdings. The anthology series is canceled for the second time. The Disney Afternoon television syndication block debuts. Hollywood Pictures is created to produce films aimed towards more mature adult audiences. Disney Adventures magazine begins publication.	The Rescuers Down Under Dick Tracy and accompanying animated Roger Rabbit short film Roller Coaster Rabbit DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, first full-length film produced by the Walt Disney Television Animation studio
1991		Beauty and the Beast, the first animated Disney film to ever be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture
1992	The company is granted permission for a National Hockey League expansion franchise. The team is named the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to coincide with the release of The Mighty Ducks. Disney Family Fun Magazine Begins Publication.	Aladdin	Euro Disney Resort opens outside Paris.
1993	Disney acquires independent film distributor Miramax Films. Winnie-the-Pooh merchandise outsells Mickey Mouse merchandise for the first time. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks play their first game at the Anaheim Arena, a brand-new arena located just three miles (5 km) east of Disneyland.	A Far Off Place and accompanying animated Roger Rabbit short film Trail Mix-Up The Nightmare Before Christmas
1994	Frank Wells is killed in a helicopter crash. Beauty and the Beast opens on Broadway. Jeffrey Katzenberg resigns to co-found his own studio, DreamWorks SKG. Plans for Disney's America, a historical theme park in Haymarket, Virginia, are abruptly dropped. Euro Disneyland is renamed Disneyland Paris. The Classics video line is unofficially cancelled and replaced with the Masterpiece Collection. Disney News changes its name to Disney Magazine.	The Lion King Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book
1995	In October, the company hires Hollywood super agent Michael Ovitz to be president. Disney purchases DIC Entertainment, and acquires the rights to its shows, including Inspector Gadget (which eventually would be made into a live action film in 1999).	Pocahontas Toy Story
1996	The company takes on the name of "Disney Enterprises, Inc." and acquires the Capital Cities/ABC group, renaming it ABC, Inc. Disney acquires Jumbo Pictures, producer of the Nickelodeon animated series Doug. To celebrate the pairing, ABC's first Super Soap Weekend is held at Walt Disney World. Disney makes deal with Tokuma Shoten for dubbing and releasing of Studio Ghibli films in the U.S. In December, Michael Ovitz, president of the company, leaves "by mutual consent".	The Hunchback of Notre Dame James and the Giant Peach 101 Dalmatians
1997	September 28: The anthology series is revived for a third time. The home video division releases its first DVDs. Disney takes control of the Major League Baseball franchise the California Angels of the American League, renaming the team the Anaheim Angels in order to coincide with Disney's hockey team the Mighty Ducks and to draw more tourism to Anaheim and nearby Disneyland. The Lion King (musical) opens on Broadway.	Hercules George of the Jungle
1998	Disney and the Hong Kong Government announced a new resort in Hong Kong. Disney Cruise Line sets sail with its first ship, the Disney Magic. Toon Disney begins.	Mulan A Bug's Life	Disney's Animal Kingdom opens.	Kiki's Delivery Service is released on video.
1999	Disney Cruise Line ship Disney Wonder sets sail.	Tarzan Toy Story 2
2000	Robert Iger becomes president. Disney-owned TV channels including, owned-and-operated ABC stations, are pulled from Time Warner Cable briefly during a dispute over carriage fees. Disney begins its Gold Classic Collection DVD line. Disney shuts down Jumbo Pictures, forcing Jim Jinkins and David Campbell to found Cartoon Pizza in 2001. Andy Heyward repurchases DIC Entertainment (DIC would later be merged into Cookie Jar Entertainment in 2008). Disney no longer owns the rights to the Inspector Gadget cartoon series, but keeps the rights to the live-action film, a direct-to-video sequel to which is made in 2003.	Fantasia 2000 Dinosaur The Emperor's New Groove		Even Stevens
2001	Disney buys Fox Family Network for $3 billion in July, giving Disney programming and cable network reaching 81 million homes. Disney changes Fox Family Network to ABC Family. Disney acquires Saban Entertainment, owner of children's entertainment juggernaut Power Rangers. Fort Worth billionaire Sid Bass is forced to sell his Disney holdings due to a margin call caused partially by the stock market fall that followed the 9/11 attacks. Disney begins its Platinum Edition DVD line with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as well as the Walt Disney Treasures DVD box set line for the collector's market.	Monsters, Inc.	Disney California Adventure Park opens on February 8. Tokyo DisneySea opens on September 4.	Lizzie McGuire House of Mouse
2002	Miramax acquires the USA rights to the Pokémon movies starting with the fourth movie. Disney teams up with famous video game company Square (later known as Square Enix) to release their first ever role-playing game with various Disney characters, Kingdom Hearts. Disney releases Spirited Away in the United States, which goes on to be the first anime film to win an Oscar for Best Animated Film. Disney begins joint venture business with Sanrio for Sanrio's greeting cards.	Lilo & Stitch	Walt Disney Studios Park opens.	Kingdom Hearts
2003	Roy E. Disney resigns as the chairman of Feature Animation and from the board of directors, citing similar reasons to those that drove him off 26 years earlier. Fellow director Stanley Gold resigns with him. They establish a group called "Save Disney" to apply public pressure to oust Michael Eisner. Talks to extend distribution agreement with Pixar break down, and Pixar announces plans to seek a new distribution partner. Disney sells the Angels to billboard magnate Arturo Moreno.	Finding Nemo Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Brother Bear		That's So Raven The Even Stevens Movie The Cheetah Girls
2004	Comcast makes an unsuccessful and hostile $54.1-billion bid in stock for the company, plus the assumption of $11.9 billion in Disney debt, $66 billion in total. Eisner is replaced by George J. Mitchell as chairman of the board after a 43% vote of no confidence. Disney turns down distributing controversial documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11. On February 17, Disney buys The Muppets, excluding the Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock characters. Disney creates Jetix the children's block that mainly consists of Fox Kids shows and original programming on ABC Family and Toon Disney. Disney Store chain licensed to The Children's Place.	The Incredibles National Treasure

2005–Present

After becoming CEO, Robert Iger begins to rebuild the Disney brand by redirecting focus on core assets, such as feature animation and the theme parks. One early accomplishment was repairing the Disney-Pixar relationship, resulting in Disney's purchase of Pixar for $7 billion.

Year	Notable Business Events	Notable Theatrical Releases (See List of Disney feature films for complete listing)	Notable Theme Park Openings	Other Premieres
2005	Disney signs the Cheetah Girls on as a recording act. Disney sells the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to Henry Samueli of Broadcom, who changes the team name to Anaheim Ducks. On July 8, Roy E. Disney rejoins the company as a consultant with the title of Director Emeritus. Disneyland celebrates its 50th anniversary on July 17. Bob Iger replaces Michael Eisner as CEO. Disney Magazine ceases publication.	The Pacifier Chicken Little The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe	Hong Kong Disneyland opens.
2006	Disney's most successful tour The Party's Just Begun tour by The Cheetah Girls brings in USD $43 million. Disney acquires Pixar Animation Studios. Disney re-acquires the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit from NBC Universal, in exchange for ABC letting commentator Al Michaels work on NBC Sunday Night Football. Wondertime magazine begins publication.	Cars Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest		The Cheetah Girls 2 Hannah Montana High School Musical Kingdom Hearts 2 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
2007	Acquires New Horizon Interactive along with Club Penguin. ABC Radio Networks along with 22 non-Radio Disney and ESPN Radio affiliates are sold to Citadel Broadcasting. Disney Adventures magazine ceases publication.	Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Ratatouille The Game Plan Enchanted National Treasure: Book of Secrets		High School Musical 2 Wizards of Waverly Place My Friends Tigger & Pooh
2008	Disney Store chain is reacquired from The Children's Place. The Little Mermaid opens on Broadway. The subscription Disney Family Movies service launches, which uniquely returns uncut classic Disney films and shorts to television viewers among other offerings. December 23 - Disney declines the option on the next film in The Chronicles of Narnia series with Walden Media.	The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian WALL-E High School Musical 3: Senior Year Bolt Bedtime Stories		Camp Rock The Cheetah Girls: One World
2009	Disney XD and DisneyXD.com are launched, replacing Toon Disney and Jetix. Disney announces the formation of D23, an official fan community. Disney twenty-three magazine begins publication. Wondertime magazine ceases publication. December 16 - Director Emeritus Roy E. Disney dies of stomach cancer. December 31 - Disney acquires Marvel Entertainment.	Race to Witch Mountain Hannah Montana: The Movie Up A Christmas Carol The Princess and the Frog		Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
2010	March 12, 2010 - Disney announces that ImageMovers Digital will cease operations by January 2011. Disney sells the Power Rangers franchise to Saban Brands for USD $100 million. Disney sells Miramax to Filmyard Holdings, LLC for $660 million. Disney Channel ends one of it's most successful television series, Hannah Montana.	Alice in Wonderland Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Toy Story 3 Tangled Tron: Legacy		Good Luck Charlie Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam Shake It Up Epic Mickey
2011	Disney Cruise Line ship the Disney Dream sets sail. Disney Wonder repositioned to the West Coast. Disney earns global theme park rights to James Cameron's Avatar franchise, and announces the first Avatar-themed project at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom.	Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Cars 2 Winnie the Pooh The Muppets		Jake and the Never Land Pirates Lemonade Mouth A.N.T. Farm Austin & Ally
2012	Disney Channel ends Wizards of Waverly Place, now beating That's So Raven as the longest running DIsney Channel Original Series to date.

Footnotes

• Notable Theatrical Releases are films that were the first to use a particular technology (sound, color, etc.), received major award nominations (Academy Award, Golden Globe, etc.), or are otherwise historically significant to The Walt Disney Company. Not all films released by Disney appear in this list; please see List of Disney feature films for the complete listing.

• Theme Park Openings indicate when Disney theme parks open. The opening of attractions and park name changes will not appear in this list.

• Other Premieres are the premiere dates for other notable Disney products, such as TV franchises (The Cheetah Girls, Hannah Montana, The Jonas Brothers), video games (Kingdom Hearts), or home media premieres that were the first to use a particular technology. Other notability requirements include major award nominations (Emmy Award, Grammy Award), or are otherwise historically significant to The Walt Disney Company. Not all Disney products, TV programs, video games, or home media releases appear in this list.