Chronology of the Walt Disney Company

Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
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URL: http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/

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.


1994

January 3
  • The Kitchen Kabaret audio-animatronic show in The Land pavilion in EPCOT Center closes. [228.277]
  • The ABC TV network premieres the Disney TV series The Good Life. [228.209]
January 4
  • The last episode of the TV show Bakersfield P.D. airs. [1378.56]
January 6
  • The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character spray paints "Carpe Diem" on a wall, similar to a scene in the film Dead Poets Society. [835]
January 7
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film The Air Up There to theaters in the USA. [85.324] [372.8] [1378.15]
  • Buena Vista releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Cabin Boy to theaters. (Worldwide theater gross receipts: US$5 million.) [85.324] [372.9] [579.50] [1378.109]
January 9
  • The Circle-Vision 360 film American Journeys closes in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [1378.28,139]
January 11
  • The Fox TV network debuts the Monty show. [228.339]
January 14
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Iron Will to theaters. [15] [85.304] [85.323] [228.257] [372.10]
January
  • The Aladdin Parade begins at Euro Disneyland. [60.7]
  • Sega releases the Deep Duck Trouble starring Donald Duck video game for the Game Gear handheld video game system in the USA. [1286.346]
January 24
  • The NBC TV network airs the two-hour movie To My Daughter, with Love. [501.560]
January 26
  • The Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin attraction opens in Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland. [501.475] [757.41] [1300.361]
January 31
  • The Energy Exchange display in Communicore East in Epcot closes. [228.165]
  • The FutureCom display in Communicore West in Epcot closes. [228.200]
February 1
  • The US government leases the Disney Inn hotel at Walt Disney World and renames it Shades of Green, for use by the US Army. [228.130] [501.493] (January [10])

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February 2
  • Disney announces it will buy and restore the New Amsterdam theater on 42nd Street in New York City. [238.258]
  • Disney previews the Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film The Lion King in New York. [223.13]
February 4
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film My Father, the Hero to theaters. [85.324] [228.348] [372.14]
February 6
  • The Disney Channel first airs the animated TV series Aladdin. [85.300] [1378.16]
February 11
  • Buena Vista releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Blank Check to theaters. [85.323] [372.18] [1378.84] (March [15] [85.304])
February
  • A series of public opinion polls show that 75 percent of Virginians support the proposed Disney's America theme park. [238.327]
February 15
  • The Fox TV network airs the final Monty show. [228.339]
February 16
  • Disney releases the animated film compilation Winnie the Pooh: Playtime Volume 1 - Detective Tigger / Cowboy Pooh on laserdisc for US$30. It includes The Good, The Bad, and The Tigger, Tigger, Private eye, Rabbit Marks the Spot, The Masked Offender, Sham Pooh, Invasion of the Pooh Snatcher, Eeyore's Tail Tale. [15]
February 18
  • Antigua & Barbuda issues ten postage stamps depicting Disney characters in Hong Kong. [629.381]
March 1
  • Ghana issues ten postage stamps marking the 65th anniverary of Mickey Mouse. [653.240]
March 3
  • In France, an agreement in principle is reached between Disney general counsel Sandy Litvack and Euro Disney creditors for restructuring the park's debt. [745.149]
March 4
  • Disney releases the film The Fox and the Hound on videocassette (VHS) for US$25. [15] [228.194]
  • Buena Vista releases the Hollywood Pictures / Caravan Pictures live-action feature film Angie to theaters. [85.324] [372.23] [1378.32]
March 9
  • The TV show Thunder Alley premieres. [501.557]
  • The ABC TV network debuts the series These Friends of Mine. [228.160] [501.550]
  • Buena Vista Pictures makes a limited release of the film The Ref to theaters. [228.411]
March 11
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film The Ref to theaters. [85.324] [228.411] [372.25]
March 14
  • Disney announces a deal had been worked out with the banks co-funding Euro Disney, changing the terms of the debt financing. Banks forgive all interest payments for 16 months, and defer payment of principal for three years. Disney waives payment of annual management fees from the park from 1992 to 1998. Disney forgives US$210 million loan to park, and makes low interest loan to Euro Disney. [238.291] [745.149] [1074.300]
  • The Virginia legislature approves a US$140 million bond issue to pay for highway improvements near the proposed Disney's America theme park site. [238.328]
  • The NBC TV network begins airing Disney's Someone Like Me show. [501.511]
March 15
  • Nevis issues ten postage stamps depicting Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. [655.1060]
March
  • The Explorer's Club restaurant at Euro Disneyland closes. [228.170]
  • Virginia General Assembly approves US$163.3 million in benefits for Disney building a large development in Prince William County. [236.23]
  • The Casey Jr, Le Petit Train du Cirque attraction opens in Fantasyland at Euro Disneyland. [60.7] (April [228.386])
  • The Le Pays des Contes de Fées attraction opens in Fantasyland at Euro Disneyland. [60.7] (April [228.381])
March 21
  • The Disney Village Clubhouse closes. [228.71]
  • The Buena Vista Club golf club at Lake Buena Vista closes. [1378.102]
March 24
  • Frank Wells tells Michael Eisner that he had decided to extend his contract with Disney for seven more years. [238.293]
March 25
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film D2: The Mighty Ducks to theaters. [15] [85.302] [85.323] [228.112] [372.33] [1378.167]
March 26
  • The Food Rocks Audio-Animatronics show opens in the Kitchen Kabaret in The Land pavilion in Epcot. [228.190]
March 27
  • The CBS TV network airs the film The Corpse Had a Familiar Face. [1378.155]
March 30
  • Disney releases the laserdisc Tales from Avonlea Volume 3 for US$30. It includes The Witch of Avonlea and Nothing Endures but Change. [15]
  • Disney releases the laserdisc Tales from Avonlea Volume 4 for US$30. It includes How Kissing was Discovered and Aunt Heddy's Ordeal. [15]
(month unknown)
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film What's Love Got to Do with It on laserdisc for US$39.99 and videocassette. [501.605] [514.142]
  • Hollywood Pictures Home Video releases the film The Joy Luck Club on videocassette, and laserdisc for US$39.99. [228.267] [514.142]
  • Disney releases the film Money for Nothing on videocassette, and laserdisc for US$39.99. [228.337] [514.143]
  • Disney releases the film Father Hood on videocassette, and laserdisc for US$39.99. [228.176] [514.144]
  • Hi Tech Expressions releases the Mickey's Ultimate Challenge video game for the Super NES in the US. [690.28]
April 3
  • Disney President and Chief Operating Officer Frank Wells dies in a helicopter accident. (This results in Jeffrey Katzenberg leaving to form DreamWorks film studio.) [60.7] [95.8] [176.204] [223.32] [238.4,295] [552.34] [501.602] (March 27 [745.155])
April 4
  • Michael Eisner temporarily assumes the titles of president and chief operating officer at Disney. [228.157] [238.296]
April 5
  • Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg meet for lunch, and discuss whether Katzenberg could be president of Disney. Eisner is not convinced. Katzenberg gives Eisner an ultimatum: "Either I get Frank's job as president, or I'm going to leave the company.". [238.5,297]
April 6
  • Tanzania issues fifteen postage stamps depicting various Disney characters. [617.380]
April 8
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Holy Matrimony to theaters. [85.324] [228.238] [372.156]
April 10
  • The Stargate fast-food facility at EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World closes. [501.521]
April 11
  • The Gambia issues fifteen postage stamps depicting various Disney dog characters for the Lunar calendar Year of the Dog. [653.46]
  • The Gambia issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters celebrating Easter. [653.46]
  • The TV Show Mike & Maty debuts. [228.330]
April 12
  • The ABC TV network airs the last episode of the Disney TV series The Good Life. [228.209]
April 15
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf to theaters. [85.304,323] [372.156] [501.608]
April
  • The Colonel Hathi's Pizza Outpost restaurant opens in Adventureland at Euro Disneyland. Formerly Explorer's Club. [1378.146]
April 17
  • The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Premiere Film On Promised Land. [228.129,369]
April 18
  • The Beauty and the Beast stage play opens at the Palace Theater in New York. [238.259] [321.26] [652.24] [745.164] [1378.65]
April 19
  • In New York, the Palace Theater sets a Broadway record by selling US$700,000 of tickets for the Beauty and the Beast stage play. [745.165]
April 22
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film The Inkwell to theaters. [85.324] [228.255] [372.37]
April 25
  • The NBC TV network airs the last episode of Disney's Someone Like Me show. [501.511]
April 29
  • The Surf's Up unit of the All-Star Sports Resort hotel opens at Walt Disney World. [10] [232.84] [1378.24]
  • Buena Vista Pictures makes a limited release of the film When a Man Loves a Woman to theaters. [85.324] [372.42] [501.606]
(month unknown)
  • The Sports End-Zone Food Court opens at the All-Star Resort at Walt Disney World. [501.518]
  • Disney announces it will build a residential community just outside Orlando, FLorida. [245.62]
  • The magazine Disney News is renamed The Disney Magazine. [91.30]
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film Another Stakeout on videocassette, and laserdisc for US$39.99. [228.26] [536.113]
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film Into the West on laserdisc for US$39.99. [536.113]
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film All the Mornings of the World on laserdisc for US$39.99. [536.116]
May 3
  • The Walt Disney Company announces plans to start the Disney cruise venture. [1232]
May 4
  • Disney releases the animated film compilation Winnie the Pooh: Learning Volume 1 - Making Friends / Sharing and Caring on laserdisc for US$30. It includes Cloud, Cloud Go Away, Tigger's House Guest, The Bug Stops Here, Tigger is the Mother of Invention, Lights Out, The Rats Who Came to Dinner, No Rabbit's a Fortress. [15]
May 5
  • St. Vincent issues twenty postage stamps depicting various Disney characters. [656.783]
  • The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A doctor refers to "the evil gene", saying "Walt Disney had it". [836]
May 11
  • Walt Disney Home Video releases the film The Three Musketeers on laserdisc for US$39.99, and videocassette. [15] [501.555] [536.114]
  • The Protect Historic America group holds a press conference, at which a few well-known authors and historians claim Disney's America theme park would be a bad thing to happen. [238.328]
May 13
  • Buena Vista Pictures generally releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film When a Man Loves a Woman to theaters. [501.606]
May
  • The Cub's Den play area opens in Wilderness Lodge Resort at Walt Disney World. [1378.165]
  • Disney's Wilderness Lodge opens in Walt Disney World, on the southwest shore of Bay Lake. [10]
  • The Wilderness Lodge Mercantile shop opens at the Wilderness Lodge Resort at Walt Disney World. [501.612]
  • The name of the Sunrise Terrace Restaurant at EPCOT Center is changed to Pasta Piazza Ristorante. [501.530]
  • The Artist Point restaurant in the Wilderness Lodge in Walt Disney World opens. [1378.43]
  • The Sub's Den activity center opens in the Wilderness Lodge Resort at Walt Disney World. [228.111]
  • The Pasta Piazza Ristorante restaurant opens in Communicore West at Epcot at Walt Disney World. [228.381]
  • The Whispering Canyon Cafe opens in the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World. [394.28]
  • A High-Speed Train (Train a Grande Vitesse) station opens at the entrance of Euro Disney, in France. [226.74]
May 20
  • Buena Vista Home Video releases the Walt Disney Television Animation animated feature film The Return of Jafar on videocassette and laserdisc in the USA.
    • The Genie says "It's a small world after all", a reference to Disneyland's It's a Small World attraction.
    • The Genie appears as Pinocchio's Jiminy Cricket and says "just let your conscience be your guide".
    • The Genie appears as an exterminator from the film Arachnophobia trying to exterminate spiders.
    • The Genie says "Bibidy bobidy boo", a reference to Disney's Cinderella film.
    [15] [501.467] [967] [967]
May 25
  • Paramount Pictures releases the film Beverly Hills Cop 3 to theaters in the USA. An amusement park in the film has several similarities to Disney parks.
    • An amusement theme park near Los Angeles is called Wonderworld.
    • The head of Wonderworld is Uncle Dave.
    • The park has a skyway ride.
    • The park uses Wonderworld dollars.
    [1212]
June 3
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Renaissance Man to theaters. [85.324] [228.412] [372.52]
June 4
  • The Surprise Celebration Parade makes its last performance in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [501.531]
June 7
  • The Disney Channel begins airing the series Walt Disney World Inside Out. [501.595]
June
  • Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies restaurant opens in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [1378.48]
  • The Aladdin's Royal Caravan parade at Disneyland ends. [1378.16]
  • Virgin Interactive releases the Walt Disney's The Jungle Book video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [704.115]
  • A financial package is worked out to rescue the ailing Euro Disneyland. [12]
  • Walt Disney Home Video releases the film Cool Runnings on laserdisc for US$39.99. [15] [228.104] [536.112]
June 14
  • The ABC TV network airs The Lion King: A Musical Journey. [228.290]
June 15
  • Buena Vista Pictures pre-releases the Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film The Lion King to selected theatres in new York and Los Angeles. [11] [228.289] [745.168] [890] (June 17 [15])
June
  • Virgin Games releases The Jungle Book video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Genesis, Game Gear, and Game Boy video game systems in the US. [690.90] [801.114b] [802.68]
June 16
  • The Fox TV network airs the last episode of the Herman's Head show. [228.233]
June 18
  • The NBC TV network airs the last show of Nurses. [228.363]
June 22
  • Disney releases the film Heidi on laserdisc for US$40. [15]
  • Disney releases the film Iron Will on laserdisc for US$40. [15] [228.257]
June 24
  • Buena Vista Pictures generally releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in the USA. A character sings "It's a Small World after all" to which another character says "No no, anything but that!", a reference to the Disneyland attraction It's a Small World. (On its first weekend, it grosses US$41 million, a record for an animated film. North American theater gross receipts: US$312.8 million; world: US$770 million.) [11] [25] [85.323] [87] [191] [228.289] [372.58] [552.42] [579.50] [610.46] [685.29] [890] [891] [1073.167]
  • The Electric Umbrella fast-food facility opens in Communicore East in Epcot. [228.158]
June 29
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures / Caravan Pictures live-action feature film I Love Trouble to theaters. [85.324] [228.249] [372.62]
(month unknown)
  • Adriana Caselotti is named a Disney Legend. [228.82,131]
  • Walt Disney Computer Software releases the Follow the Reader software for DOS 3.3 personal computers. The software promotes age 5-8 early reading skills with Mickey Mouse and friends. Price is US$49.95. [584.71]
  • Bill Cottrell is named a Disney Legend. Cottrell joined Disney in 1929 as a camerman, and was president of Retlaw enterprises from 1964 to 1982. [1378.156]
  • Marvin Davis is named a Disney Legend. He worked at the studio from 1953 to 1975, as art director on films and project designer on Walt Disney World. [1378.174]
  • Van France is named a Disney Legend. [228.131]
  • David Hand is named a Disney Legend. [228.131]
  • Jack Lindquist is named a Disney Legend. [228.131,289]
  • Bill Martin named a Disney Legend. He helped design Disneyland. [228.131,313]
  • Paul Smith is named a Disney Legend. [501.507]
  • Frank Wells is named a Disney Legend. [228.131]
  • The Hollywood Foreign Press Association awards a Golden Globe Award (Actress, Comedy or Musical) to Angela Bassett for the film What's Love Got to Do with It?. [369.192]
  • Sotheby's auctioneers holds Disney's animation art auction of The Art of The Nightmare Before Christmas. [235.42]
  • The name of Epcot at Walt Disney World is changed to Epcot '94. [228.165]
  • Disney releases the film The Air Up There on videocassette. [228.11]
  • Disney releases the film Holy Matrimony on videocassette. [228.238]
  • Disney releases the film Blank Check on videocassette. [228.59]
  • The Lion King Celebration street show debuts in Disneyland. [26.29]
  • Disney re-releases the film One Hundred and One Dalmatians to theaters in Europe. [25]
  • The Carousel of Progress at Walt Disney World is renamed Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. [228.203]
  • Disney previews the animated film Gargoyles: The Movie: The Heroes Awaken in some theaters. [25]
  • Disney releases the film Blood In, Blood Out: Bound by Honor on videocassette. It was previously released to theaters as Bound by Honor. [1378.92]
  • Disney releases the film Hocus Pocus on videcassette. [228.236]
  • Disney releases the film Cabin Boy on videocassette. [228.74]
  • Disney re-releases the film Davy Crockett and the River Pirates on videocassette. [228.118]
  • Disney hosts the third Disneyana Convention, in Walt Disney World. [228.133]
  • The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awards an Emmy Award (Writing) to the Disney Channel TV series Disney's Adventures in Wonderland. [228.138]
  • The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awards an Emmy Award (Makeup) to the Disney Channel TV series Disney's Adventures in Wonderland. [228.138]
  • David Hoberman is named president of Motion Pictures for Walt Disney Studios. [228.235]
  • Disney re-releases the film The Incredible Journey on videocassette. [228.254]
  • Disney re-releases the film The Island at the Top of the World on videocassette. [228.258]
  • Disney releases the film My Boyfriend's Back on videocassette. [228.347]
  • Disney releases the film The Program on videocassette. [228.402]
  • Disney releases the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit on videocassette. [501.503]
  • Disney releases the film Son-in-Law on videocassette. [501.513]
  • The Star Jets attraction in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closes. [501.521]
  • The name of the WEDway PeopleMover in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is changed to Tomorrowland Transit Authority. [651.83]
  • The Sword in the Stone Ceremony opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [501.535]
  • Disney releases the film Tombstone on videocassette. [501.562]
  • Walt Disney World welcomes the one billionth guest to enter a Disney park, Mary Pat Smith. [501.597]
  • Disney releases the film White Fang 2 on videocassette. [501.608]
  • Cost of a single-day ticket to Disneyland passes $30. [1300.320]
  • Adriana Caselotti is named a Disney Legend. Caselotti provided the voice of Snow White. [1378.123]

End of 1994 January-June. Next: 1994 July.

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1919-1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943
1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953
1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973
1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007-2008 2009 2010-2011 2012-end


A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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