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

July 1
  • The EPCOT Outreach information area in Communicore West in Epcot closes. [228.167]
  • In Epcot, Communicore is renamed Innoventions. [228.255] [1378.149]
  • The Epcot Discovery Center information area opens in Epcot. [228.167]
  • The Lion King Celebration parade begins at Disneyland. [228.290]
July 4
  • The Les Mystères du Nautilus attraction opens in Discoveryland at Euro Disneyland. [60.8] [228.349]
July 6
  • The Captain EO film ceases playing at Journey into Imagination at Epcot. [1378.117]
July 7
  • Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Argentina and Peru. [890]
July 8
  • Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Hong Kong. [890]
  • The Legend of the Lion King attraction opens in Fantasyland in the Magic Kindom of Walt Disney World. [228.285] [235.84]
July 13
  • Michael Eisner and Michael Ovitz discuss the possibility of Ovitz becoming president of Disney. Ovitz indicates he would prefer to be co-CEO with Eisner. [238.6]
July 15
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures / Caravan Pictures live-action feature film Angels in the Outfield to theaters in the USA. [15] [85.304] [85.324] [372.66] [1378.31]
July 16
  • The Lion King soundtrack album hits the top of the Billboard chart. [1357]
July
  • The Storybook Land Canal Boats attraction at Disneyalnd is renovated. [501.526]
July 20
  • The last show of the TV series Dinosaurs airs. [1378.186]
July 22
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction opens on Sunset Boulevard in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [210.18] [238.345] [501.576]
July 23
  • The Country Address fashion shop in the Disney Village Marketplace at Walt Disney World closes. [1378.157]

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  • Buena Vista International releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Japan. [890]
July 24
  • The KCAL TV network in Los Angeles airs the special Lion King Celebration: A Roaring Good Time. [228.290]
July 27
  • Disney releases the film The Incredible Journey on laserdisc. [15]
July 28
  • Ground breaking begins for a new Vacation Club Resort in Vero Beach, Florida. [501.584]
  • The Fox TV network air the last episode of The Sinbad Show. [501.501]
July 31
  • The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Premiere Film The Whipping Boy. [501.607]
(month unknown)
  • The TV series These Friends of Mine is renamed Ellen. [501.550]
August 3
  • Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 150 millionth guest. [61.2]
August 7
  • Jeffrey Katzenberg tells Michael Eisner he plans to leave Disney. [238.311]
August 10
  • The Concourse Steak House restaurant opens in the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. Formerly the Concourse Grill. [1378.150]
August 11
  • The Center Court unit of the All-Star Sports Resort hotel opens at Walt Disney World. [1378.24]
August 12
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film In the Army Now to theaters. [85.324] [228.253] [372.82]
August 15
  • At Disneyland, the Disneyland Railroad engine No. 3, the Fred Gurley, is celebrated for the 100th anniversary as an operating steam locomotive. [328.25]
  • Disney begins publishing Family PC magazine. [228.173]
August
  • Disney opens the Preview Center in Celebration, Florida. [238.409]
  • Construction begins on a new electrical parade for Tokyo Disneyland. [91.43]
August 16
  • Grenada Grenadines issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters and Korean themes. [653.462]
August 18
  • Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Norway. [890]
August 19
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures / Cinergi Pictures live-action feature film Color of Night to theaters. [85.324] [1378.147] (Color of the Night [372.84])
August 24
  • Jeffrey Katzenberg resigns from the Walt Disney Company. Joe Roth is named chairman of Walt Disney Motion Picture Group. Richard Frank is appointed head of Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications. Peter Schneider is appointed head of the animation department. [176.204] [228.195] [501.477] [517.115] [745.183]
  • Walt Disney Home Video releases the film D2: The Mighty Ducks on videocassette for US$19.99, and laserdisc for US$29.99. [15] [228.112] [515.115]
  • Disney releases the film The Island at the Top of the World on laserdisc for US$35. [15]
August 25
  • Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Australia. [890]
August 26
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film It's Pat to theaters. [85.324] [228.259] [372.161]
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Camp Nowhere to theaters. [85.324] [372.160] [1378.113]
August 28
  • The Art of Disney shop opens in the Disney Village Marketplace at Walt Disney World. [1378.43]
August 31
  • Trading in Euro Disney stock is temporarily suspended for 15 minutes on the Paris stock exchange. The stock price had fallen to less than US$2. [12]
  • Ron Dominguez retires from Disneyland, after 39 years, working since opening day. [1235.7]
  • Disney releases the film Blank Check on laserdisc for US$40. [15]
(month unknown)
  • Hollywood Pictures Home Video releases the film Angie on laserdisc for US$49.99. [515.112]
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film The Ref on laserdisc for US$39.99. [515.114]
September 2
  • The last syndicated episode of Tale Spin airs on TV. [501.538]
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film A Simple Twist of Fate to theaters in the US. [85.324] [372.87] [501.501]
September 4
  • The Fox TV network airs the first episode of the Disney TV show Hardball. [228.227]
September 5
  • The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closes. [501.576]
  • Disney puts the Aladdin TV series into syndication. [1378.16]
September 12
  • Disney's syndicated TV show Judge for Yourself first airs. [228.267]
September 14
  • Buena Vista Pictures makes a limited release of the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Quiz Show in theaters in New York. [228.405]
  • General Electric offers to sell 49% of NBC TV to Disney. Michael Eisner initially agrees, but later in the day decides it is not a good deal to take. [238.316] [745.190]
September 15
  • Michael Eisner meets with Peter Rummell to discuss the Disney's America project. Projections of revenues and expenses show that the park would operate at a loss. Disney decides to abandon the idea to build the historical theme park in Virginia, for financial reasons and due to negative press. [238.337] [745.190]
September
  • John Cooke is named head of the Disney's America project. [228.103]
September 16
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Quiz Show to theaters. The film is based on the book Remembering America: A Voice from the Sixties by Richard Goodwin. [85.324] [228.405] [372.90]
September 17
  • The Aladdin TV series makes its CBS debut. [228.12]
September 21
  • Disney releases the film Aladdin on laserdisc in the US, for US$30-50. [15]
  • Disney releases the film Aladdin on laserdisc in Japan, for 5974 Yen. [15]
September 22
  • Grenada issues twelve postage stamps depicting scenes from Disney's Society Dog Show. [653.430]
September 23
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Terminal Velocity to theaters. [85.324] [372.98] [501.546]
September 25
  • The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character says "Romance is dead. It was acquired in a hostile takeover by Hallmark and Disney...". [837]
September 26
  • The Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant in Disneyland closes. [327.81]
September 28
  • Disney announces that a different site would be sought for the Disney's America project. [228.139]
  • Buena Vista Pictures premieres the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Ed Wood in New York City and Los Angeles. [228.156] [372.100]
September 30
  • Uganda issues 32 postage stamps depicting characters from the film The Lion King. [617.682]
  • Disney fiscal year revenue: US$10.06 billion, a new record. Operating income: US$1.97 billion, also a new record. [1074.336]
(month unknown)
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film The Inkwell on videocassette, and laserdisc for US$39.99. [228.255] [516.130]
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film Golden Gate on laserdisc for US$39.99. [516.131]
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film The Snapper on laserdisc for US$39.99. [516.135]
October 1
  • The name of Euro Disneyland is officially changed to Disneyland Paris. [12] [62] [225.74] [228.136] [328.355]
October 2
  • The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. This episode contains dozens of Disney theme park and film references:
    • the episode title "Itchy & Scratchy Land" (Disneyland),
    • the theme park tag line "The Violentest Place on Earth" (The Happiest Place on Earth),
    • "Parents Island" (Pleasure Island),
    • parking lot sections named after animated characters,
    • inside main gate is a train ride through the park,
    • the ticket booth shows a list of "rides not operating today",
    • "Itchy & Scratchy Money" (Disney Dollars),
    • monorail ride through the park,
    • park map showing four themed "lands",
    • Itchy & Scratchy Cinema is showing "Steamboat Itchy" (Steamboat Willie),
    • the park features "state of the art animatronic robots" (Audio-Animatronics),
    • a log ride through fake scenic area includes gentle banjo music and an extreme drop (Splash Mountain),
    • workers in character costumes interacting with guests,
    • "Parents Island" includes a place where it is "constantly New Year's Eve",
    • "The Roger Meyers Story" attraction shows a film of the creator (The Walt Disney Story),
    • an old film shows kids wearing mouse-ear hats (Mouseketeers),
    • a film notes criticism for a Nazi cartoon (Der Fuehrer's Face),
    • mentions and shows "full-length musical Scratchtasia" (Fantasia),
    • the park has a similar-looking Penny Arcade,
    • musical parade through the park street (Main Street Electrical Parade),
    • shows part of film "Pin-Itchy-o" (Pinocchio),
    • park control facilities are underground,
    • park has a similar fire department,
    • a statue of founder and main characters (Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statue),
    • park shows a mountain (Matterhorn),
    • park has a castle (Sleeping Beauty Castle),
    • references made to "Euro Itchy & Scratchy Land" not doing well (Euro Disneyland).
    [838]
October 3
  • Dominica issues ten postage stamps marking the 65th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. [648.760]
October 7
  • Buena Vista Pictures generally releases the film Ed Wood to theaters. (Worldwide theater gross receipts: US$14 million.) [85.324] [228.156]
  • Buena Vista International releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in the United Kingdom. [890]
October 14
  • Palau issues twelve postage stamps depicting Disney characters visiting Palau. [656.36]
October
  • Virgin Interactive releases The Lion King video game for the Super NES in the US. (Total sales: 1.27 million copies.) [1163.96] (December [689.104])
  • Capcom releases The Great Circus Mystery Starring Mickey & Minnie video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [801.103] [802.163]
October 19
  • Walt Disney Home Video releases the film White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf on laserdisc for US$39.99. [15] [516.131]
October 21
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Robert A. Heinlein's The Puppet Masters to theaters. [85.324] [228.403] [372.117]
October 23
  • The Fox TV network airs the last episode of the Disney TV show Hardball. [228.228]
October 24
  • The animated TV series Gargoyles first airs. [85.300] [228.202]
October 26
  • Walt Disney Home Video releases the animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on videocassette for US$26.99, and laserdisc for US$29.99-100. (10 million copies are sold in the first week, with a total of 50 million sold worldwide.) [15] [21] [85.299] [501.509] [517.45,126] [745.192] (early November [238.341])
October 28
  • Disney releases The Making of Snow White on laserdisc. [15]
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Squanto: A Warrior's Tale to theaters. [15] [85.304] [85.324] [372.165] [501.519]
(month unknown)
  • Disney begins work on a feature film with computer-generated dinosaurs. (The film Dinosaur will be released in 2000.) [326.70]
November 4
  • The first Walt Disney Gallery opens in the Disney Store at the Main Place Santa Ana mall in California. [21] [238.343] [501.593]
November
  • Sony Imagesoft releases the Mickey Mania video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. Price is US$59.95. [801.103]
November 7
  • Paul Pressler is named president of Disneyland Resort. [228.399]
November 8
  • Laurenfilm S.A. releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Spain. [890]
November 9
  • Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in France. [890]
  • The Skyway to Tomorrowland attraction in Disneyland closes. [913.19] [1300.375] (November 10 [501.504])
  • The Skyway to Fantasyland attraction in Disneyland closes. [1300.375] (November 10 [501.504])
November 11
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film The Santa Clause to theaters. (North American theater gross receipts: US$144.8 million.) [85.304] [85.324] [15] [238.341] [372.124] [501.484] [552.42] [610.46]
November 12
  • The ABC TV network airs the Disney movie The Shaggy Dog. This is a remake of the 1959 film. [501.494]
November 13
  • The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A hockey team has the name "Mighty Pigs", with pig logo in style similar to Disney's The Mighty Ducks hockey team. [840]
November
  • Disney opens the first of its second-generation Disney Stores, in the Del Amo shopping center in Torrance, California. [238.248]
  • Disney's Calypso unit of the All-Star Music Resort hotel opens at Walt Disney World. [10] [228.18]
  • The Tennisland Racquet Club at Disney's Vacationland Campground closes. [501.545]
  • Disney releases the animated film compilation Mickey Mouse: A Star is Born on laserdisc in Japan for 15450 Yen. It includes Steamboat Willie, Plane Crazy, Haunted House, The Fire Fighters, The Delivery Boy, The Klondike Kid, Building a Building, Mickey's Steamroller, Orphans' Benefit, Two-Gun Mickey, Mickey's Service Station, Pluto's Judgment Day, Mickey's Grand Opera, Thru the Mirror, Magician Mickey, Clock Cleaners, Lonesome Ghosts, Mickey's Trailer, Brave Little Tailor, The Nifty Nineties. [15]
November 17
  • Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Germany. [890]
November 18
  • Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Denmark and Sweden. [890]
  • Disney re-releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in the USA. [890]
  • Disney re-releases the film The Lion King to theaters in the US. [87] [228.290]
November 19
  • On Main Street at Disneyland, the Camera Center shop moves to the former Carefree Corner site, and changes its name to Main Street Photo Supply. [1300.90,235,259] [1378.118]
November 21
  • The 3D film Honey, I Shrunk the Audience premieres in Journey into Imagination in Future World in Epcot at Walt Disney World. [228.239]
  • The Circle-Vision film From Time to Time opens in the Transportarium in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [228.197]
  • The Timekeeper attraction opens in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [501.559]
November 23
  • The Spaceship Earth attraction in EPCOT Center reopens after a renovation, with narration by Jeremy Irons. [501.516]
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures / Caravan Pictures live-action feature film A Low Down Dirty Shame to theaters in the US. [85.324] [228.297] [372.130]
November 24
  • Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in the Netherlands. [890]
November 25
  • CBS airs the TV special Disney's Greatest Hits on Ice. [228.140]
November 27
  • The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A fantasy underwater scene and music parody Disney's The Little Mermaid and song "Under the Sea". [841]
(month unknown)
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film When a Man Loves a Woman on laserdisc for US$39.99. [501.606] [527.136]
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film I Love Trouble on laserdisc for US$39.99. [527.136]
  • Disney Software releases The Lion King Print Studio software for Windows 3.1-based computers. Price is US$24.95. [527.140]
December 1
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas on videocassette for US$19.99 and laserdisc for US$29.99. [15] [228.359] [516.129]
December 2
  • Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Finland and Portugal. [890]
December 5
  • The Walt Disney Company creates the Disney Interactive division by merging the Disney Software division with the Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications division. The division will develop and license interactive multimedia products on CD-ROM for computers, and cartridges for Sega and Nintendo video game systems. The products will be distributed by Buena Vista Home Video. [88.A8] [228.101,130] [397.D5] [631.26] [729.42]
December 9
  • The Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe opens in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World. The location was formerly the Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant. [327.81] [1378.155]
December 10
  • The ABC TV network airs the two-hour special Wonderful World of Disney: 40 Years of Television Magic. [501.618]
December 14
  • Disney releases the Disney Sing Along Songs film compilation The Lion King - Circle of Life on laserdisc in the US, for US$25. [15]
  • Touchstone Home Video releases the film Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas as a Deluxe CAV laserdisc Edition, for US$100. It also includes The Making of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Vincent, and Frankenweenie. [15] [85.303]
December
  • Disney releases the DiscoverQuest laserdisc Explorations in Earth Science. [1378.186]
  • Disney releases the DiscoverQuest laserdisc Explorations in Life Science. [1378.186]
  • Disney releases the DiscoverQuest laserdisc Explorations in Physical Science. [1378.186]
  • Disney Interactive ships Disney's Animated Storybook: The Lion King v1.0 software. (The game crashes on thousands of new Compaq Presarios due to a flaw in the Windows operating system.) [239.38] [630.51] [635.73] [857.13]
December 16
  • The Snow White's Adventures attraction re-opens in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, after a renovation. [501.510]
December 17
  • The Planet Hollywood restaurant opens in Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World. [93.47] (December 18 [228.390])
December 18
  • The Golden Horseshoe Jamboree closes at Disneyland. [228.208]
  • The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. Characters watch film Alive! about surviving a plane crash and cannibalizing the co-pilot, with Spanish accents, similar to Disney's film Alive. [842]
December 25
  • Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book to theaters. [15] [85.324] [228.268] [372.144]
December 26
  • Tanzania issues fifteen postage stamps depicting various Disney characters. [617.382]
December 31
  • The Walt Disney Company signs a preliminary agreement to commit up to US$34 million to renovate and lease the New Amsterdam Theater in New York. [743.B3] [1005.96]
Year
  • The Disney film studio earns over US$1 billion in revenue for the year, the first film studio to reach that mark. [745.192]
  • North American theater market share by ticket revenue: Disney is #1 with 19.3%. [460.60]

End of 1994. Next: 1995.

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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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