- February 3
- The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Premiere Film Lots of Luck. [228.129,296]
- February 6
- As of this date, Disneyland is now open every day of the week. [1364.76]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates Jessica Lange for her role in the film Mickey's Christmas Carol for an Oscar Award in the category Actress. [39.643]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Splash for an Oscar Award in the category Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. [39.643] [501.517]
- Disney and Lucasfilm reach an agreement for Lucasfilm to develop new attractions for Disney's theme parks. [174.D4]
- February 13
- Mickey Mouse, accompanied by Disneyland's Ambassador, Melissa Taylor, begins a 30-day flight around the world, celebrating Disneyland's 30th anniversary. [96.87]
- February
- Disney stock reaches US$75 a share. [14]
- February 18
- The NBC TV network airs the three-hour special Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Celebration, starring Drew Barrymore and John Forsythe. [228.138] [380.115] [386.127] [1300.137]
- February 20
- Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck for over 50 years, dies of leukemia. [40.149] [97.62]
- February 24
- The Disney Clothiers shop opens in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [228.130]
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- March 1
- Disney releases the film Country to theaters in the UK. [54.21]
- March 9
- The Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade premieres. [55.38] [228.306]
- March
- At a meeting in the Contemporary Resort with experts in a wide range of fields, Michael Eisner settles on an outline of Disney's hotel strategy. [1] (February [14])
- March 20
- The Alpine Haus restaurant opens in Tokyo Disneyland. [55.38]
- The Candy Wagon shop opens in Tokyo Disneyland. [55.38]
- March 21
- The ABC TV network debuts the Wildside series. [501.613]
- March 22
- Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Baby ... Secret of the Lost Legend to theaters. [23] [54.8] [85.318] [112.443] [1378.52] (Walt Disney Pictures film [85.284])
- March 23
- The live stage show Disneyland is Your Land begins performances at Disneyland. [228.136]
- The Disney Clothiers, Ltd. shop opens on Main Street at Disneyland. [228.130] [1300.131]
- March 29
- The new Frontierland Shootin' Arcade attraction opens in Disneyland. The guns of the Frontierland Shooting Gallery at Disneyland were changed from using lead pellets to infrared beams. [9] [26.27] [228.197] [1300.180]
- Disney releases the film Baby ... Secret of the Lost Legend to theaters in the UK. [54.8]
- April 2
- Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 20-millionth guest. [55.38]
- April 7
- The ABC TV network airs the 14th annual Walt Disney World's Happy Easter Parade. [380.109] [501.595]
- April
- Disney announces the Videopolis, a teen open-air dance club for Disneyland. [14]
- Disney announces its intention to build a new US$300 million Hollywood-style theme park at Walt Disney World. [14]
- April 25
- The ABC TV network airs the last episode of the Wildside series. [501.613]
- (month unknown)
- The Hallmark card shop in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closes. [228.225]
- May 1
- The team of Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker sign a two-year deal with Disney. Within a week, they begin work on the film Ruthless People. [1]
- May 5
- The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Premiere Film The Undergrads. [501.580]
- May 6
- The Disney Channel premieres the Dumbo's Circus series. [228.154]
- May
- Walt Disney Productions announces it would decide by September where to build a European Disneyland park. [474.42]
- Disney stock reaches US$90 a share. [14]
- May 25
- Filming begins on the first film of the Eisner-Wells regime, Jerry Saved from Drowning (later retitled Down and Out in Beverly Hills). [1] (May 20 [14])
- June 6
- The Bearly Asleep shop opens in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [228.45]
- The Bearly Country shop opens in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [1378.63]
- June 14
- The Card Corner shop opens on Main Street at Disneyland, sponsored by Gibson Greetings. [1300.90] [1378.118]
- June
- Disney releases the film Too Smart for Strangers, with Winnie the Pooh for educational use. [501.564]
- June 18
- James P. Jimirro, president of The Disney Channel, resigns. [178.D2]
- June 19
- The Yumz food facility opens at the Videopolis in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [501.628] [1300.447]
- June 21
- Buena Vista releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Return to Oz to theaters in the US. It cost US$25 million to make. The film includes some clay animation produced by Will Vinton Productions. [1] [23] [54.79] [112.490] [370.284,317] [501.468]
- June 22
- The Videopolis attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. It is a 5000 square foot outdoor dance amphitheater with music videos playing on 70 monitors. [9] [14] [20] [26.27] [238.208] [328] [501.587] [939.137] [1300.434]
- June 24
- Disney names John F. Cooke as new president of The Disney Channel. [179.D2] [228.103]
- June 27
- Disney and Metro-Golywyn-Mayer/United Artists sign a 31-page, 20-year agreement, giving Disney the exclusive rights to use most of the MGM/UA film studio's movies, for a yearly US$100,000 licensing fee. [1] [14] [34.278] [56.89] [238.224]
- (month unknown)
- Disney releases the film Candleshoe on videocassette. [228.77]
- The Carefree Corner registration area in Disneyland closes. [1378.118]
- Disney releases the film Charlie the Lonesome Cougar on videocassette. [228.87]
- The National Board of Review awards a Best English-Language Film award to Disney for the film Country. [369.164]
- Disney releases the film The Barefoot Executive on videocassette. [228.41]
- Disney re-releases the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks on videocassette. [228.48]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation How the Best Was Won (1933-1960) - Limited Gold Edition II Cartoon Classics on laserdisc for US$25. It includes Building a Building, Funny Little Bunnies, Three Orphan Kittens, Ferdinand the Bull, Goliath II. [15]
- Disney releases the live-action feature film Anne of Green Gables. [15]
- Michael Eisner sets a goal of a new animated film every 18 months. [1]
- Disney releases the film Mary Poppins on videocassette. [11]
- Walt Disney World welcomes its 200-millionth guest. [210.18]
- Disney re-releases the film The Apple Dumpling Gang on videocassette. [228.27]
- Disney re-releases the film The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again on videocassette. [228.28]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation An Officer and a Duck: Limited Gold Edition II Cartoon Classics on laserdisc in the US for US$25. It includes Donald Gets Drafted, The Vanishing Private, Sky Trooper, Fall Out, Fall In, The Old Army Game, Home Defense. [15]
- Disney releases the film Black Arrow on videocassette. [228.57]
- Disney releases the film Baby ... Secret of the Lost Legend on videocassette. [228.36]
- Disney re-releases the animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians to theaters. [17] [25] [56.239] [85.286] [228.372]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore. [23]
- Disney animator Tony Anselmo takes over as the voice of Donald Duck. [228.26] [395.60]
- Disney releases the film Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore on videocassette. [23]
- Disney releases the laserdisc From Pluto with Love - Limited Gold Edition II Cartoon Classics for US$25. It includes Pluto's Playmate, T-Bone for Two, Rescue Dog, Pluto's Surprise Package, Sheep Dog, Cold Turkey, Plutopia. [15]
- Disney releases the laserdisc Life with Mickey - Limited Gold Edition II Cartoon Classics for US$25. It includes Shanghaied, Mickey's Polo Team, Alpine Climbers, Mickey's Circus, Mickey Down Under, R-Coon Dawg. [15]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation Donald's Bee Pictures: Limited Gold Edition II Cartoon Classics on laserdisc in the US, for US$25. It includes: Inferior Decorator, Honey Harvester, Slide, Donald, Slide, Window Cleaners, Tea for Two Hundred, Bee on Guard, Let's Stick Together. [15]
- Disney re-releases the film Amy on videocassette. [228.23]
- The Heritage Manor Gifts shop opens in The American Adventure in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.233]
- Disney releases the film The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes on videocassette. [228.101]
- Disney releases the film Country on videocassette. [228.106]
- Disney re-releases the film Davy Crockett and the River Pirates on videocassette. [228.118]
- In Disneyland, the name of the Davy Crockett Arcade shop is changed to Davy Crockett Frontier Arcade. [1300.127] [1378.175]
- Disney re-releases the film Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier on videocassette. [228.119]
- Disney re-releases the film Escape to Witch Mountain on videocassette. [228.169]
- Richard Frank is hired as president of the Walt Disney Studios. [228.195]
- Disney releases the film The Gnome-Mobile on videocassette. [228.206] [483.79]
- Disney re-releases the film Gus on videocassette. [228.223]
- Disney re-releases the film Hot Lead and Cold Feet on videocassette. [228.243]
- The Disney Channel begins airing the animated series The Raccoons. [383.398]
- In France, the FR-3 TV station begins airing Disney's Zorro series from the late 1950s. [384.165]
- Disney releases the film The Legend of Lobo on videocassette. [228.285]
- Disney releases the film Love Leads the Way on videocassette. [228.297]
- The Main Street Electrical Parade returns to operation at Disneyland. [228.306]
- Disney releases the film Midnight Madness on videocassette. [228.330]
- Disney releases the film The Moon-Spinners on videocassette. [228.340]
- Disney releases the film Never a Dull Moment on videocassette. [228.353]
- Disney re-releases the film The North Avenue Irregulars on videocassette. [228.361]
- Disney releases the film Now You See Him, Now You Don't on videocassette. [228.363]
- Disney releases the film The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band on videocassette. [228.370]
- An animation cel from the film The Band Concert sells for US$24,000, a record price. [478.230]
- Disney releases the film Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue on videocassette. [501.472]
- Disney releases the film Secrets of Life on videocassette. [501.491]
- Disney releases the film Shaggy D.A. on videocassette. [501.494]
- Disney releases the film The Small One on videocassette. [501.507]
- Disney releases the film Summer Magic on videocassette. [501.530]
- Disney releases the film Superdad on videocassette. [501.531]
- Disney releases the film The Sword and the Rose on videocassette. [501.535]
- Disney releases the film That Darn Cat! on videocassette. [501.549]
- Disney releases the film Those Calloways on videocassette. [501.552]
- Disney releases the film The Three Lives of Thomasina on videocassette. [501.554]
- Disney re-releases the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea on videocassette. [501.575]
- Disney releases the film The Vanishing Prairie on videocassette. [501.585]
- Disney releases the film White Wilderness on videocassette. [501.609]
- The Adventureland Veranda in the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World closes. [1378.8]
- July
- Disney announces the Captain Eo film project with Michael Jackson, with Francis Ford Coppola directing. [14]
- Disney releases the film Pinocchio on videocassette, for US$79.95. (In two months, only 100,000 copies are sold. The price is dropped to US$29.95 to sell the remaining 300,000 copies.) [1] [37.61] [42.1665] [228.388] [238.187] [501.587] [745.92] (1986 [11])
- In England, Disney releases the documentary featurette Follow Us ... to Walt Disney World. [228.190]
- July 17
- The Disney Channel airs Dateline: Disneyland, documenting the opening of the park thirty years ago. [380.155]
- July 20
- Walt Disney World welcomes its 200-millionth guest, Virgil Waytes, Jr. [501.596]
- July 24
- Buena Vista releases the Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film The Black Cauldron to theaters. It cost over US$40 million to make. It is the first animated feature filmed in Technirama-70mm since Sleeping Beauty. It is the first Disney animated feature film to be given a "PG" rating. It also marks the studio's first use of computer-generated images in a feature film. It is the first film to use Animation Photo Transfer process. The film is based on The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. (North American theater gross receipts: US$21.5 million.) [1] [6] [8] [11] [25] [112.445] [191] [229.114] [242.23] [245.34] [370.286,318] [537.74] (US$25 million to make [14] [23] [97.290] [1378.81])
- (month unknown)
- Sierra On-Line releases The Black Cauldron game for personal computers. [521.77]
- August 4
- The Disney Channel airs Ollie Johnson, a profile of the long-time Disney animator. [380.148]
- August 9
- Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film My Science Project to theaters. [1] [23] [85.318] [112.481] [228.348]
- August
- Disney names Bill Mechanic as the head of home video operations. [238.187]
- Disney changes the price of the film Pinocchio on videocassette from US$79.95 to US$29.95, and begins a US$7 million advertising campaign. (A total of 1.7 million copies are sold.) [238.187] [745.92]
- August 25
- Disneyland welcomes three-year old Brooks Arthur Charles Burr as the park's 250-millionth visitor. [14] [26.27] (August 24 [228.134] [1300.142,187]) (Brooks Charles Arthur Burr [228.134])
- August 26
- The Disney Channel airs the last Coming On TV show. [1378.149]
- August 29
- The Disney Channel airs the last Big Bands at Disneyland show. [1378.76]
- August 31
- At 5:00 PM, the Walt Disney World Resort closes, due to the advancing Hurricane Elena. [412.1]
- September 2
- The Adventure Through Inner Space attraction closes in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [1300.41] [1378.8]
- September 7
- The Disney Channel begins airing Too Smart for Strangers, including animation of Winnie-the-Pooh characters, [380.160]
- September 8
- The Disney Channel airs Gulliver's Travels. [380.167]
- September 14
- The CBS TV network begins airing the animated weekly show The Wuzzles. [23] [85.299] [97.132] [380.160] [383.568] (Disney's Wuzzles [228.141])
- The NBC TV network begins airing the animated weekly TV show Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears. [85.299] [97.132] [228.138] [380.161] [383.166]
- The NBC TV network begins airing the Disney show The Golden Girls. [1] [228.208] [380.159] [457]
- September
- Disney releases the film On Your Own for educational use. [23] [228.370]
- Disney releases the live-action 16-mm film Flight! for educational use. [23] [228.187]
- Disney releases the film A Time to Tell: Teen Sexual Abuse. [23] [501.559]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film Expectations - A Story About Stress for educational use. [23] [228.170]
- Disney releases the 16-mm educational film Economics By Choice. [23] [228.156]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film Decimals: What's The Point? for educational use. [23] [1378.178]
- Disney releases the film Breakin' Through on videocassette. [1378.97]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film Before It's Too Late - A Film On Teenage Suicide for educational use. [23] [1378.68]
- Disney releases the film Advice on Lice. [23] [1378.11]
- Sales of shares in Silver Screen Partners ends, raising US$193 million. [1074.184]
- Disney announces that starting in 1986, Disneyland will be open every day of the year. [14]
- September 24
- The Lotus Blossom Cafe restaurant opens in the China pavilion in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.296]
- September 27
- Buena Vista releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film The Journey of Natty Gann to theaters. [23] [112.470] [228.267] [370.318]
- September 30
- Revenues for the year for the Disney company break US$2 billion for the first time. [14]
- Operating income from filmed entertainment for the fiscal year is US$33.6 million. [14]
- Attendance at Disneyland during the fiscal year is 11.3 million. [14]
- (month unknown)
- Disney releases the film Return to Oz on videocassette. [501.468]
- The Brass Boutique in New Orleans Square in Disneyland closes. [1378.95]
- October 4
- Turks and Caicos Islands issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean ride, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Disneyland. [181.B35] [617.643]
- October 7
- The Disney Channel begins airing the TV series Danger Bay. [1378.169]
- October 23
- The Nine Dragons Restaurant opens in the China pavilion in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.90,359] [1378.133]
- October 30
- The Gambia issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in scenes from Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain. [188.32] [653.36]
- Grenada issues six postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in scenes from The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. [653.419]
- Sierra Leone issues five postage stamps depicting Disney characters in Rumpelstiltskin. [188.32] [656.977]
- Sierra Leone issues five postage stamps depicting Disney characters in Mark Twain quotes. [656.977]
- (month unknown)
- Redonda issues a set of postage stamps featuring Disney character versions of the Brothers Grimm story The Dragon and His Grandmother. [188.32]
- Mongolia issues a set of postage stamps featuring Disney character versions of the Brothers Grimm story The Brave Little Tailor. [188.32]
- November 1
- Belize issues ten postage stamps depicting characters from It's a Small World, marking the 30th anniversary of Disneyland. [629.750]
- November 4
- Antigua & Barbuda issues six postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in Mark Twain's Roughing It. [629.372]
- Grenada issues six postage stamps featuring Disney character versions of the Brothers Grimm story The Fisherman and His Wife. [653.419] (1986 [188.32])
- November 11
- Antigua & Barbuda issues six postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in The Brothers Grimm story Spindle, Shuttle and Needle. [188.32] [629.372]
- Anguilla issues five postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in Hansel and Gretel. [188.32] [629.357]
- Dominica issues six postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in Tom Sawyer. [648.751]
- Dominica issues six postage stamps featuring Disney character versions of the Brothers Grimm story Little Red Cap. [648.751] (1986 [188.32])
- Anguilla issues five postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in Huckleberry Finn. [629.357]
- November 15
- The Chocolate Collection shop opens in New Orleans Square in Disneyland. [1378.134]
- Bhutan issues twelve postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in the Brothers Grimm story Rapunzel. [188.32] [629.793]
- November
- Disney creates a television syndication group. [467.103]
- November 17
- The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Premiere Film The Blue Yonder. [380.173] [1378.86]
- November 22
- Buena Vista releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film One Magic Christmas to theaters. The original title was Father Christmas. [23] [112.484] [228.372] [370.284,318]
- November 26
- The Disney Channel ceases airing the Anka TV show. [1378.35]
- November 27
- Grenada Grenadines issues five postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in Mark Twain's Letters From Hawaii. [653.455]
- Grenada Grenadines issues five postage stamps featuring Disney character versions of the Brothers Grimm story The Elves and the Shoemaker. [653.455] (1986 [188.32])
- November 28
- Romania issues eleven postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in classic fairy fales. [188.32] [656.467]
- (month unknown)
- The Fantasy on Parade Christmas parade begins its last run at Disneyland. [228.174]
- December 2
- Lesotho issues ten postage stamps depicting Disney characters in Mark Twain quotes or characters from the Brothers Grimm story The Wishing Table. [655.333] (1986 [188.32])
- December 5
- The Skyfest celebration salute to Disneyland is held in Anaheim, California. A world record one million helium balloons is released over Disneyland. [501.504] [939.43] [1073.142]
- Caicos issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer, Detective, and The Brothers Grimm story Six Soldiers of Fortune. [188.32] [629.353]
- December 15
- Michael Eisner and French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius sign a letter of intent to build a Disney theme park on 4400 acres at Marne-la-Vallée, twenty miles east of Paris, France. [1] [14] [23] [60.10] [464.64] [1074.282] (December 17 [238.266]) (December 18 [180.D4] [756.88])
- December
- Quote by Ignacio Fuejo, Spain's Deputy Secretary for Tourism: "[Disney] made a mistake choosing France. The weather is dreadful in Paris.". [464.64]
- Joe Shapiro, lawyer for Disney, begins negotiations in Paris, France for Euro Disneyland. [1]
- Disney releases the film One Hundred and One Dalmatians on videocassette. [14]
- December 21
- Maldives issues seven postage stamps depicting Disney characters and Mark Twain quotes. [655.583]
- Maldives issues seven postage stamps depicting Disney character versions of the Brothers Grimm story Doctor Knowall. [188.32] [655.583]
- December 25
- The Disney Channel airs Walt Disney World's Very Merry Christmas Parade. [380.192]
- Year
- Total new Disney animation created for television for the year: 13 hours. [260.D8]
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