- January 20
- The Disney Channel airs Juggling. [380.221]
- January 24
- The NBC TV network airs Disney's Living Seas. [228.140] [380.246] [395.41]
- January 25
- Circus Fantasy first appears in Disneyland. [1300.106] [1378.140]
- January 31
- Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Down and Out in Beverly Hills to theaters. This is the first R-rated Disney Studios film. The film cost US$14 million to make. (Gross receipts in the US: US$62 million. This becomes Disney's most successful live-action film to date.) [1] [14] [23] [34.277] [85.318] [112.456] [228.150] [745.80] [1074.187] (December 1985 [108.240])
- February 2
- Disney returns to Sunday night TV on ABC, with Michael Eisner hosting the first The Disney Sunday Night Movie, entitled Help Wanted: Kids. It ranks 41st out of the week's 68 network programs. [1] [14] [57.48] [59.165] [85.300] [228.132,230] [238.152] [380.204]
- February 5
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film The Journey of Natty Gann for an Oscar Award in the category Costume Design. [39.649]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Return to Oz for an Oscar Award in the category Visual Effects. [39.649] [501.468]
- February 6
- Shareholders vote to change the company's name from Walt Disney Productions to The Walt Disney Company. [1] [23] [328.174] [501.593]
- February 9
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled Time Flyer. [380.207]
- February 14
- The NBC TV network airs Disney's DTV Valentine. [228.140] [386.128] (Disney's DTV Valentine's Day Special [380.246])
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- February
- The Country Bear Vacation Hoedown attraction opens in Bear Country at Disneyland. [9] [26.28] [939.128] [1378.157]
- The Country Bear Vacation Hoedown opens at the Country Bear Jamboree attraction in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [228.106]
- February 16
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, two films entitled The Last Electric Knight and Two and Onehalf Dads. [228.282] [380.207] [501.499,576]
- February 19
- Saul Steinberg files a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, seeking to invalidate Disney's buyback of his stock in 1984. [183.D5]
- February 23
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled The Girl Who Spelled Freedom. [228.206] [380.208]
- The Guatemalan Weavers shop in Disneyland closes. [228.220] [1300.366]
- March 1
- The Safari Outpost shop opens in Adventureland at Disneyland. [501.481] [1300.366]
- March 2
- The Disney Channel begins airing Enchanted Musical Playhouse. The first show is entitled The Story of Ferdinand. [380.209]
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled The Undergrads. The film was previously shown on The Disney Channel. [380.209]
- March 8
- The Alice's Tea Party attraction opens in Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland. [55.39] [1378.22]
- March 9
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled The Richest Cat in the World. [380.210] [501.470]
- The Disney Channel airs The Wind in the Willows (a British production). [380.209]
- March
- Just before the four-for-one Disney stock split, the value hits US$143 per share. [14] (US$145 [108.248])
- Disney releases the film Simple Machines: A Moving Experience for educational use. [23] [501.501]
- Disney releases the film Storms for educational use. [501.525]
- March 16
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled Robin Hood (Disney's 1973 animated film). [380.210]
- March 18
- The Disney Channel airs The Mind's Eye: The Experience of Learning. [380.233]
- March 20
- Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 30-millionth guest. [23] [55.39]
- March 21
- Disney releases the animated film The Wuzzles, Bulls of a Feather to theaters in Britain. [23] [97.132] (Birds of a Feather [501.622])
- March 23
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled Disney Goes to the Oscars. [228.130] [380.211] (Disney Goes to the Academy Awards [386.127])
- March 24
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Scientific or Technical) to Disney's David Spencer for the development of an animation photo transfer process. [23] [38.672]
- March 25
- Walt Disney World welcomes the 500 millionth guest to enter a Disney park, Don McGrath. [1334.721]
- March 30
- The CBS TV network airs The CBS Easter Parade, which includes part of the Walt Disney World Easter Parade. [501.595]
- April 5
- The Disney Channel begins airing the nine-part series Return to Treasure Island. [380.202] [501.469]
- April 6
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled I-Man. [228.252] (J-Man [380.211])
- April 10
- Romania issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters in The Band Concert, marking the 50th anniversary of color animated films. [656.467]
- April 11
- Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Off Beat to theatres. [23] [85.318] [112.483] [228.365]
- April 13
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled A Fighting Chance. [380.212]
- April
- The New Century Clock Shop in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closes. [228.354]
- The Cristal Arts shop opens in Adventureland in Tokyo Disneyland, [1378.165]
- April 20
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled Mr. Boogedy. [228.93,335] [380.213]
- April 21
- The PBS TV network airs The Television Academy Hall of Fame. Inductees include Walt Disney. [380.225]
- April 27
- The Disney Channel airs the International Circus Stars of Tomorrow. [380.214]
- May 2
- Disney's Circle-Vision film Portraits of Canada debuts in Vancouver, BC, Canada, for the Expo '86 world exposition. [23] [228.398]
- May 4
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled Love Leads the Way. [380.214]
- May
- Merlin's Magic Shop in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closes. [228.318]
- The Good Turn Restaurant in The Land in EPCOT Center closes. [228.211]
- May 11
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, entitled Young Again. [380.215] [501.627]
- May 14
- The Land Grille Room restaurant opens in The Land pavilion in EPCOT Center. [228.281]
- May
- The Walt Disney Company changes its no-alcohol policy in Disneyland, allowing beer, wine, or champagne at corporate parties of 500 or more, after dark, in rented sections of the park. [184.A13]
- The Magic Eye Theater opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. First film shown is Magic Journeys. [9] [228.303] [1300.251]
- May 16
- The film Magic Carpet 'Round the World is last shown in Tokyo Disneyland. [228.303]
- May 17
- The Circle-Vision film American Journeys opens in Tomorrowland at Tokyo Disneyland. [55.39] [1378.28]
- May 18
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, two films entitled Fuzzbucket and The Deacon Street Deer. [380.215] [1378.177]
- May 22
- Dominica issues five postage stamps featuring Disney characters and stamp collecting. [648.752]
- Grenada issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters playing baseball. [653.420]
- Lesotho issues five postage stamps depicting various Disney characters. [655.333]
- Maldives issues ten postage stamps depicting US stamps and Disney portrayals of American legends. [655.583]
- May 23
- NBC TV airs the special Disneyland's Summer Vacation Party featuring Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld. [228.138] [386.127] [1300.137]
- May 25
- The ABC TV network airs The Disney Sunday Movie, two films entitled Casebusters and My Town. [228.349] [380.216] [1378.122]
- May 29
- The Spaceship Earth attraction in EPCOT Center is updated with new narration by Walter Cronkite. [501.516]
- May 30
- The Disneyana shop on Main Street in Disneyland switches location with the Jewelry Shop. [1230.30] [1300.130]
- May 31
- The Disney Channel airs the last episode of Return to Treasure Island. [380.202]
- June 27
- Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Ruthless People to theaters in the US. (Gross theater receipts in the USA: US$72 million.) [14] [23] [34.277] [64.124] [68.48] [85.318] [112.492] [501.480] [1074.187]
- The Big Thunder Ranch attraction opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. [9] [14] [26.28] [1300.75] [1378.78]
- June 30
- The Disney Channel airs Theodore Roosevelt. [380.257]
- (month unknown)
- Disney releases the film Charley and the Angel on videocassette. [228.87]
- Construction begins on the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, at Walt Disney World. [6]
- Disney re-releases the film Dumbo on videocassette. [11]
- Disney releases the film The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin on videocassette. [228.8]
- Disney releases the film The Blue Yonder on videocassette. [228.61]
- The name of the Golf Resort hotel at Walt Disney World is changed to The Disney Inn. [228.130,209]
- Disney releases the film Almost Angels on videocassette. [228.19]
- Disney releases the film The Journey of Natty Gann on videocassette. [228.267]
- Disney releases the film The Absent Minded Professor on videocassette in a colorized version. [228.1]
- Disney re-releases the film Song of the South to theaters. [17] [370.78] [501.513]
- Disney releases the film Robin Hood on videocassette. [11]
- Former Mickey Mouse comic strip artist Floyd Gottfredson dies. [82]
- Disney re-releases the film Lady and the Tramp to theaters. [25] [37.102] [85.287] [228.280]
- Bruce Hamilton and Russ Cochran begin publishing Disney comics under the Gladstone label, taking over from Western Publishing. [75] [228.99]
- Disney releases the film Sleeping Beauty to theaters. [25] [501.505]
- Disney releases the laserdisc Jiminy Cricket's Christmas for US$25. It includes Nutcracker Suite Scene, Toy Tinkers, The Art of Skiing, You Can Fly, I've Got No Strings, The Mice Make Cinderella a Dress, Mickey's Good Deed, When You Wish Upon a Star. [15]
- Disney releases the laserdisc Mickey and the Beanstalk / The Reluctant Dragon for US$30. It includes Mickey and the Beanstalk, The Reluctant Dragon, Morris the Midget Moose. [15]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation A Tale of Two Chipmunks / The Unsinkable Donald Duck on laserdisc for US$25. It includes Chicken in the Rough, The Lone Chipmunks, Lion Around, Chips Ahoy, Donald's Day Off, Sea Scouts. [15]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation Cartoon Classics Volume 14: Silly Symphonies - Animal Tales on laserdisc in the US, for US$25. It includes: Monkey Melodies, The Spider and the Fly, Pecular Penguins, Cock O'the Walk, More Kittens, Elmber Elephant. [15]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation Mickey Knows Best / The Importance of Being Donald on laserdisc in the US, for US$25. It includes: Moving Day, Mickey's Amateurs, Mickey's Elephant, Donald's Better Self, Polar Trappers, Timber. [15]
- The Seiko Watch Company (a subsidiary of Lorus) begins producing Disney character watches. [230.68]
- Disney releases the film Down and Out in Beverly Hills on video. [228.150]
- Disney releases the film Dad, Can I Borrow the Car? on videocassette. [228.113]
- Disney releases the film The Fighting Prince of Donegal on videotape. [228.184]
- Disney releases the film Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow on videocassette. [228.142]
- Disney releases the film Geronimo's Revenge on videocassette. [228.204]
- Disney releases the film Greyfriars Bobby on videocassette. [228.220]
- Disney releases the film The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit on videocassette. [228.241]
- Disney releases the film It's Tough to Be a Bird on videocassette. [228.259]
- Disney releases the film Jungle Cat on videcassette. [228.269]
- The Kennel Club pet boarding facility at Disneyland is renamed Pet Care Kennel, sponsored by Gaines. [228.273] [1300.232]
- Disney releases the film King of the Grizzlies on videocassette. [228.276]
- Disney releases the film The Legend of the Boy and the Eagle on videocassette. [228.285]
- Disney releases the film Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. on videocassette. [228.288]
- Disney releases the film The Light in the Forest on videocassette. [228.288]
- Disney releases the film The Littlest Horse Thieves on videocassette. [228.293]
- Disney releases the film The Living Desert on videocassette. [228.294]
- Disney releases the film Lots of Luck on videocassette. [228.296]
- Disney releases the film Million Dollar Duck on videocassette. [228.332]
- Disney releases the film The Misdaventures of Merlin Jones on videocassette. [228.335]
- Disney releases the film The Monkey's Uncle on videocassette. [228.338]
- Disney releases the film Moon Pilot on videocassette. [228.340]
- Disney releases the film My Science Project on videocassette. [228.349]
- Disney releases the film Napoleon and Samantha on videocassette. [228.351]
- Disney releases the film Nikki, Wild Dog of the North on videocassette. [228.359]
- Disney releases the film The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca on videocassette. [228.359]
- Disney releases the film No Deposit, No Return on videocassette. [228.360]
- Disney releases the film Off Beat on videocassette. [228.365]
- Disney releases the film One Little Indian on videocassette. [228.372]
- Disney releases the film One Magic Christmas on videocassette. [228.373]
- Disney releases the film One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing on videocassette. [228.374]
- Disney releases the film Return to Witch Mountain on videocassette. [501.467]
- Disney releases the film Run, Appaloosa, Run on videocassette. [501.478]
- Disney releases the film Savage Sam on videocassette. [501.486]
- Disney releases the film Scandalous John on videocassette. [501.486]
- Disney releases the film Six Gun Law on videocassette. [501.503]
- Disney releases the film So Dear to My Heart on videocassette. [501.511]
- Disney releases the film Stampede at Bitter Creek on videocassette. [501.520]
- Disney releases the film The Sword in the Stone on videocassette. [501.535]
- Disney releases the film Ten Who Dared on videocassette. [501.545]
- Disney releases the film Third Man on the Mountain on videocassette. [501.551]
- Disney releases the film A Tiger Walks on videocassette. [501.558]
- Disney releases the film Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus on videocassette. [501.560]
- Disney releases the film Tonka on videocassette. [501.563]
- Disney releases the film Treasure of Matecumbe on videocassette. [501.570]
- Disney releases the film The Ugly Dachshund on videocassette. [501.579]
- Disney releases the film Unidentified Flying Oddball on videocassette. [501.581]
- Disney releases the film The Waltz King on videocassette. [501.598]
- Disney releases the film Westward Ho the Wagons! on videocassette. [501.603]
- Disney releases the film The Wild Country on videocassette. [501.612]
- Disney releases the film The World's Greatest Athlete on videocassette. [501.622]
- Disney releases the film Yellowstone Cubs on videocassette. [501.626]
- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers name Disneyland's Monorail a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. [757.55]
- Capcom signs an agreement with The Walt Disney Company to produce Disney games for the Nintendo Entertainment System video game system. [799.92]
- American astronaut Sally Ride aboard the space shuttle says "That's a real 'E'-Ticket ride!". [939.35]
- The syndicated TV show Come Fly with Disney premieres. [1378.148]
|