References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.

1983

January 1

• The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled Walt Disney's Mickey and Donald. [501.597]
• Mongolia issues a series of postage stamps commemorating the film Fantasia. [96.63]

January 4

• The CBS TV network moves the Walt Disney TV show from Saturdays at 8:00-9:00 PM to Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00 PM. [381.661] [749.C27]

January 16

• Merlin's Magic Shop at Disneyland closes. [228.318] [1300.277]

January 18

• The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled Ferdinand the Bull and Mickey. [228.182]

(month unknown)

• Walt Disney Productions introduces a line of home computer software featuring Mickey Mouse and friends. [253.29]
• Michael Eisner suggests to Ron Miller that he join Disney as president, with Miller as chairman. Miller is interested in the idea. [238.114]
• Michael Eisner, Ron Miller, and Card Walker meet to discuss Eisner possibly joining Disney as president. They leave the meeting agreeing to the idea, with only the legal terms to be worked out. [238.114]
• Ron Miller calls Michael Eisner, telling him Card Walker decided not to offer Eisner the position of president. Eisner had already decided he didn't want it at this time anyway. [238.115]

February 5

• Columbia Pictures releases the film Blue Thunder to theaters in Germany. A car has a Disneyland parking sticker. [1139]

February 8

• The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled A Valentine from Disney. [501.585]

February

• The CBS TV network temporarily cancels the Walt Disney TV show. [381.244]
• The EPCOT Poll begins, in the Future Choice Theater in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. Participants are asked their opinions on various topics, and make their selection on a five-button console. [466.88]

February 17

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Tron for an Oscar Award in the category Sound. [39.613]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Tron for an Oscar Award in the category Costume Design. [39.613]

February 24

• Card Walker resigns as chief executive officer; Ron Miller is elected as new CEO of Walt Disney Productions. Ray Watson is named vice-chairman, to become full chairman on May 1 when Card Walker retires the position. [1] [108.20,38] [133.D2] [161.33] [751.D2]
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March 3

• The Buena Vista Palace hotel opens at Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World. [1378.103]

March 5

• The Journey into Imagination attraction opens in the Journey into Imagination pavilion in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.266] [395.38]

March 7

• The CBS TV network debuts the Disney TV series Small and Frye. [83.595] [501.506]

March 11

• Disney releases the animated short film Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore to theaters. The entire film had been animated by Rick Reinert Productions. This is the first animated Disney film since 1938 that was completely produced outside the company. [11] [23] [97.129] [370.278,325] [501.615]
• Buena Vista releases the live-action feature film Trenchcoat to theaters in the US. [1] [23] [52.77] [69.28] [112.503] [370.317] [501.570]

March

• Disney releases the 16-mm film Why Be Physically Fit for educational use. The film is part of the "Fun to Be Fit" series. [23] [501.610]
• Disney releases the 16-mm film Getting Physically Fit for educational use. The film is part of the "Fun to Be Fit" series. [23] [228.198,205]
• Disney releases the 16-mm film Physical Fitness for educational use. The film is part of the "Fun to Be Fit" series. [23] [228.198,387]

March 21

• The TV series Small & Frye is temporarily cancelled. [83.595]

March 25

• The Disney TV show Gun Shy debuts. (The show lasts only a month, with six episodes produced.) [228.222]

March

• A ceremony is held at Tokyo Disneyland to celebrate its completion. [55.37]

April 3

• The Yong Feng Shangdian shopping gallery opens in the China pavilion in Worldshowcase at EPCOT Center. [501.626]

April 6

• The Disney-produced TV show Zorro and Son first airs on CBS. [83.736] [84.947] [85.300] [381.346] [501.630]

April 7

• Walt Disney World welcomes its 150-millionth guest, Carrie Stahl. [501.596]

April

• The Disney Channel begins airing EPCOT America! America!. [228.166]

April 15

• Tokyo Disneyland opens in Urayasu, just outside Tokyo, Japan, operated by the Oriental Land Company under licence from Disney. It includes several themed areas: Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Westernland, and World Bazaar. [1] [14] [18] [22] [23] [34.280] [55.37] [56.81] [61.2] [62] [134.A16] [209.30] [247.34] [321.26] [501.561] [1073.136]
• The Diamond Horseshoe Revue show opens in Westernland in Tokyo Disneyland. [1378.184]
• The World Bazaar Confectionery shop opens in Tokyo Disneyland. [1378.115]
• The Adventureland Bazarr opens in Adventureland in Tokyo Disneyland. [1378.8]
• The #25 locomotive, the Rio Grande, begins operation at Tokyo Disneyland. [328.391]
• The #28 locomotive, the Missouri, begins operation at Tokyo Disneyland. [328.395]
• The #53 locomotive, the Colorado, begins operation at Tokyo Disneyland. [328.396]
• The Adventureland area opens in Tokyo Disneyland. It includes the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, Jungle Cruise attraction, Enchanted Tiki Room attraction, Royal Street Veranda restaurant, Polynesian Terrace Restaurant, Western River Railroad attraction, Blue Bayou Restaurant, and Cafe Orleans restaurant. [228.164,269,389,397] [501.477,602] [1378.85,110]
• The Fantasyland area opens in Tokyo Disneyland. It includes Snow White's Adventures attraction, Pinocchio's Daring Journey attraction, Haunted Mansion attraction, Cinderella's Golden Carrousel attraction, Peter Pan's Flight attraction, Dumbo Flying Elephants attraction, It's a Small World attraction, Mickey Mouse Revue Audio-Animatronics musical attraction, Skyway to Tomorrowland attraction, Tinker Bell Toy Shop, Disneyana Shop, Troubadour Tavern restaurant, Captain Hook's Galley restaurant, and Four Corners Food Faire restaurant. [228.133,154,229,259,323,385,389] [501.504,507,510,559,573] [1378.117,139]
• The Tomorrowland area opens in Tokyo Disneyland. It includes the Starcade video arcade, Star Jets attraction, Skyway to Fantasyland attraction, Grand Circuit Raceway attraction, Meet the World attraction, Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant, 3-D film attraction The Eternal Sea, and Space Place FoodPort restaurant. [228.169,215,316] [501.504,515,521,563]
• The Westernland area opens in Tokyo Disneyland. It includes the Country Bear Theater attraction, Diamond Horseshoe Revue show, Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes attraction, Plaza Pavilion restaurant, Hungry Bear Restaurant, Tom Sawyer Island attraction, Tom Sawyer Island Rafts attraction, Westernland Shootin' Gallery attraction, Mile Long Bar restaurant, Mark Twain Riverboat, Lucky Nugget Cafe restaurant, Pecos Bill Cafe restaurant [228.119,124,247,297,311,331,381,391] [501.562,603] [1378.157,176] (Lucky Nugget opened on July 4, 1987 [55.39])
• The World Bazaar area opens in Tokyo Disneyland. It includes the Camera Center shop, New Century Clock Shop, Emporium store, Storybook Store, Omnibus vehicle, Fire Truck vehicle, Horseless Carriages vehicle, Center Street Coffeehouse restaurant, and Main Street Cinema attraction. Center Street Coffeehouse restaurant [228.164,186,242,306,354,369] [501.526] [1378.112,127]
• The Crystal Palace Restaurant opens in Tokyo Disneyland. [1378.165]
• The Circle-Vision film Magic Carpet 'Round The World opens at Tokyo Disneyland. [23] [228.93,303]
• The Club 33 restaurant opens in Tokyo Disneyland. [1378.144]

April 18

• The Disney Channel, a cable-TV network, begins broadcasting, at 7:00 AM, with a show called Good Morning, Mickey. The service runs for 18 hours per day. [1] [22] [83.698] [96.90] [235.53] [238.248] [228.129,209] [367.28] [1390.72] (1972 [232.70])
• The Disney Channel begins airing the EPCOT Magazine show. [228.167]
• The Disney Channel begins airing the series You and Me, Kid. [501.626] [651.79]
• The Disney Channel begins airing the series New! Animal World. [228.354]
• The Disney Channel begins airing the series Welcome to Pooh Corner. [501.601]
• The Disney Channel begins airing the series The Scheme of Things. (In total 65 episodes are produced.) [501.488]
• The Disney Channel begins airing the series Contraption. (Forty episodes are produced in total.) [1378.152]
• The Disney Channel begins airing the Mousercise show. (In total 60 episodes are produced.) [228.344]
• The Disney Channel begins airing the Mouseterpiece Theater show. (In total 60 episodes are produced.) [228.344]
• The Disney Channel begins airing re-runs of the Zorro show. [501.629]
• The Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner opens in World Bazaar at Tokyo Disneyland. [1378.144]

April 19

• The last episode of the Disney TV show Gun Shy airs. [228.222]
• The Disney Channel begins airing the TV show Disney Studio Showcase. [228.132]
• The Disney Channel begins airing the TV show Wish Upon a Star. [501.617]

April 21

• The TV special Believe You Can... and You Can! airs, celebrating the opening of the new Fantasyland at Disneyland. [1378.70]

April 23

• The Fantasy in the Sky event premieres at Tokyo Disneyland. [55.37]

April 29

• Buena Vista releases the live-action feature film Something Wicked This Way Comes to theaters in the US. The film is based on the novel by Ray Bradbury. [1] [23] [52.76] [69.33] [112.496] [370.317] [501.512]

May 1

• Card Walker resigns as chairman of Disney, turning the job over to Ray Watson. [14] [108.29] [501.600] [751.D2] (April [161.33])

May 3

• The TV show Mickey and Donald Kidding Around airs. [228.319]

May 23

• Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its one-millionth guest. [55.37]
• The syndicated TV special The Fairest of Them All airs. [228.171]

May 25

• The newly renovated Fantasyland re-opens at Disneyland. The drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty Castle lowers for the second time. [228.175] [472.64] [757.40] [939.39,81] [1300.44] (May 23 [914.55])
• The Mickey's Christmas Chalet shop opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [228.325] [1300.280]
• The Village Haus Restaurant opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [501.587]
• The Pinocchio's Daring Journey ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. Previous attraction in the location was Fantasyland Theater. [9] [26.27] [228.389] [939.88] [1300.329]
• The Village Inn opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [1300.437]
• The new Snow White's Scary Adventures ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27] [501.510] [1300.380]
• Gepetto's Arts & Crafts shop opens in Fantasyland. [1300.184]

May

• The new Peter Pan's Flight ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27] [228.385]
• The new Mr. Toad's Wild Ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27]
• The new Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27]

May 26

• The EPCOT Outreach information area opens in Communicore West in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.167]

June 1

• The CBS TV network resumes airing Small & Frye. [83.595]
• The CBS TV network airs the last episode of Zorro and Son. Only five episodes were aired. [83.736] [84.947] [381.346] [501.630]

June 11

• The Refreshment Outpost snack bar opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.411]

June 15

• The CBS TV network airs the sixth and last episode of the TV series Small and Frye. [83.595] [501.506]

June

• Disney introduces annual passports for use at Disneyland. [1378.36]
• 18-year old Philip Straughan and a friend take a maintenance boat out for a joyride on the Rivers of America at Disneyland. Near Tom Sawyer's Island, they strike a rock, and Straughan falls out. His drowned body is recovered an hour later. [163] [450.174]

(month unknown)

• The Pirate Cove in Fantasyland at Disneyland is removed. [247.20]
• Disney releases the film The Cat from Outer Space on videocassette. [228.83]
• Disney releases an extract from the film Tron as a 16-mm film. [23]
• Disney releases an extract from the film Something Wicked This Way Comes as a 16-mm film. [23] [501.512]
• Disney launches the TV show Mickey and Donald Present Sport Goofy in 36 countries. [97.50]
• Disney releases the animated film compilation Donald Duck's Cartoon Jamboree to theaters in Denmark. [23]
• Disney re-releases the film The Sword in the Stone to theaters. [25] [501.535]
• Ron Miller announces the formation of Touchstone Pictures, a division created to make more adult-oriented movies. [34.273]
• Disney re-releases the film The Black Hole on videocassette. [228.58]
• Disney releases the film Trenchcoat on videocassette. [501.570]
• Disneyland holds the Flights of Fantasy parade. [26.27]
• Tinker Bell's show returns to Disneyland. [20]
• Disney releases the film Kidnapped on videocassette. [228.274]
• Disney releases the laserdisc Cartoon Classics Volume 3: Scary Tales for US$25. It includes Donald Duck and the Gorilla, Duck Pimples, The Skeleton Dance, The Haunted House, Donald's Lucky Day, and Pluto's Judgement Day. [15]
• Walt Disney Pictures is created, lead by Richard Berger. [23] [370.277] (1982 [228.51])
• Disney releases the animated film compilation The Misadventures of Chip an' Dale to theaters in Denmark. [23]
• Disney releases the film The Island at the Top of the World on videocassette. [228.258]
• Disney releases the live-action 16-mm film Futurework. [23]
• Blaine Gibson retires from Disney, after working with the company for 45 years. [228.205]
• Disney releases the film The Great Locomotive Chase on videocassette. [228.217]
• Disney releases the film Johnny Tremain on videocassette. [228.265]
• Disney releases the film The Last Flight of Noah's Ark on videocassette. [228.282]
• Disney releases the film Paul Bunyan on videocassette. [228.381]
• Disney releases the film Pecos Bill on videocassette. [228.381]
• The Disney Channel airs the film The Restless Sea. [501.467]
• The Sword in the Stone Ceremony opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [501.535]
• Disney releases the film Tex on videocassette. [501.546]

July

• The CBS TV network resumes showing the Walt Disney TV show, on Saturdays, 8:00-9:00 PM. [381.661]
• Disney re-releases the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to theaters. [25] [42.1985] [177.73] [501.509]

July 23

• The film Kingdom of Dreams and Magic - Tokyo Disneyland is released in Japan. [23] [228.276]

(month unknown)

• The A New World Fantasy show debuts on World Showcase Lagoon in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [395.38]

August 13

• Attendance at Tokyo Disneyland reaches a high of 94,378 for the day. [134.A16]

August

• The Plaza Swan Boats attraction in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closes. [228.391] [754.84]

September 1

• The Disney Channel begins airing the TV series Donald Duck Presents. [228.145]

September 3

• The Disney Channel debuts the TV series Coming On. (24 episodes are produced in total.) [1378.149]

September 5

• Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 5-millionth guest. [55.37]
• Cinderella Fountain is installed at Tokyo Disneyland. It is a gift from Walt Disney Productions. [55.37]

September

• Disney releases the 16-mm animated film Disney's Wonderful World of Winter for educational use. Goofy appears. [23] [228.141]
• Disney releases the 16-mm film A Visit to EPCOT Center for educational use. [23] [501.588]
• Disney releases the film The Time Travellers' Guide to Energy for educational use. [23] [501.559]
• Disney releases the animated film Jiminy Cricket, P.S. (Problem Solver) for educational use. It stars Jiminy Cricket, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Ludwig Von Drake. [23] [228.263]
• Disney releases the 16-mm film Basic Communication Skills for educational use. The film is part of the "Skills For A New Technology: What A Kid Needs To Know Today" series [23] [1378.61]
• Disney releases the 16-mm film Living with Change for educational use. The film is part of the "Skills for the New Technology: What s Kid Needs to Know Today" series. [23] [228.294]
• Disney releases the 16-mm film Living with Computers for educational use. The film is part of the "Skills For A New Technology: What A Kid Needs To Know Today" series [23] [228.294]
• Disney releases the film Future Work for educational use. [228.200]
• Disney releases the 16-mm animated educational film Disney's Haunted Halloween. [23] [228.140]
• Disney releases the 16-mm animated film A Goofy Look At Valentine's Day for educational use. [23] [228.212]
• Disney releases the 16-mm film Decision Making: Critical Thought in Action. [23] [1378.178]

September 22

• Disney releases the film Something Wicked This Way Comes to theaters in the UK. [53.50]

September 24

• The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney TV show for the last time, entitled Walt Disney's Mickey and Donald. [1] [6] [34.278] [59.165] [83.696] [84.897] [381.661] [501.592,597]

September 30

• The American Egg House restaurant closes at Disneyland. [1300.47] [1378.28]

October 1

• The Town Square Café opens in Town Square at Disneyland. [1300.430]
• The Horizons pavilion opens in Future World in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the film Choose Your Tomorrow, and the film Omnisphere. [23] [228.241] [395.39]

October 6

• Disney premieres the live-action feature film Never Cry Wolf in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [228.353]

October 9

• The Disney Channel airs The Disney Channel Premiere Film Tiger Town. [501.557]

October

• Profits for Walt Disney Productions for the fiscal year drop to a low of US$93 million. [1] [108.39]
• Disney releases the film Computers: The Truth of the Matter for educational use. [23] [1378.150]

October 20

• Disney premieres the animated short film Mickey's Christmas Carol in England. The film includes the first appearance of Mickey Mouse on film since 1953. The film cost over US$3 million to make. [7] [11] [23] [15] [85.325] [108.vii] [228.325] [911.152]

October 21

• Buena Vista releases the live-action feature film Never Cry Wolf to theaters in the US. The film is based on the book by Farley Mowat. [23] [53.38] [112.481] (October 7 [228.353]) (September [370.317]) (December [108.31])

October 27

• The Disney TV show in Canada airs the show The Whale's Tooth. [501.604]

November 4

• The Disney Channel debuts the series Five Mile Creek. [228.187]

November 7

• Grenada Grenadines issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Disney's Jingle Bells. [653.454]

November 14

• Anguilla issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters. [629.356]

November

• The real estate accounting firm of Kenneth Leventhal & Company completes an analysis of Walt Disney Productions. Their conclusion is that a buyer could easily borrow more than US$2 billion, leveraged by the company's assets, to buy a controlling interest in the company's outstanding shares. [108.41]
• Buena Vista releases the Ira Englander live-action feature film Running Brave in theaters in the US. [23] [69] [112.492] [501.479] (September [370.317])
• Sierra Leone issues nine postage stamps depicting scenes from Space Ark Fantasy. [656.975]
• Grenada issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. [653.417]
• Turks and Caicos Islands issues ten postage stamps with scenes from Disney's film Oh Christmas Tree. [617.642]

November 18

• The Hilton Hotel opens on Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World. [228.235]

November 27

• The TV show Krag, the Kootenay Ram airs in Canada. [228.278]

December 4

• In Canada, the Disney TV show airs the film Strange Companions. [501.527]

December

• Lesotho issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Disney's film Old Christmas. [655.333]

December 16

• Disney releases the animated short film Mickey's Christmas Carol in the US. [7] [11] [23] [15] [85.325] [108.vii] [228.325] [370.278] [911.152]
• Disney re-releases the film The Rescuers to theaters. [25] [85.278] [228.413] [370.278]

December 19

• Grenada issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters participating in Olympic sports. [653.418]

December 20

• The TV special A Disney Christmas Gift airs on CBS. [228.129]

December 25

• The ABC TV network airs Walt Disney World's Very Merry Christmas Parade for the first time. Walt Disney World buys TV time for the first time to air the show. [501.597] [1357]

December 31

• The Disney TV show in Canada airs the film The Wise One. [501.617]

Year

• Total profits from Disney theme parks during the year: about US$183 million. [1074.170]

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