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1922
- May
- In Missouri, Walt Disney incorporates Laugh-O-gram Films, using the assets of the failed Iwwerks-Disney Commercial Artists venture, and US$15,000 from local investors. Within a year, the company is bankrupt.
1923
- October
- In California, Walt and Roy Disney form the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, with a contract to produce "Alice Comedy" films about a live girl in an animated world. About 55 films in this series are produced over the next four years.
1927
- March
- The Disney studio begins producing "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" films, indirectly for Universal Pictures. 26 films are produced in just over a year.
1928
- March
- The Disney studio loses its contract (and many animators) to produce Oswald the Lucky Rabbit films.
- Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks develop the Mickey Mouse character.
- November
- The first Mickey Mouse film, Steamboat Willie, debuts at the Colony Theater in New York. This is the first cartoon designed for use with a soundtrack.
1929
- May
- Disney releases the first Silly Symphony film, The Skeleton Dance. This series allowed animators to experiment and try new ideas.
- December
- Walt Disney Productions is formed, with divisions handling film production, real estate, and merchandising.
1930
- January
- The New York Mirror newspaper publishes the first Mickey Mouse comic strip.
- September
- The film Chain Gang debuts Pluto.
1932
- May
- The film Mickey's Revue debuts Goofy, as "Dippy Dawg".
- July
- Disney releases the first full-color animated film, the Silly Symphony Flowers and Trees.
- November
- Walt Disney receives the first Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award (Oscar) for a cartoon, for Flowers and Trees. Walt also receives an Honorable Mention Oscar for the creation of Mickey Mouse.
1934
- June
- Donald Duck debuts in the Silly Symphony film The Wise Little Hen. Donald Duck's distinctive voice is supplied by Clarence Nash.
1937
- December
- Disney releases the first feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
1940
- February
- Disney releases the animated feature film Pinocchio.
- November
- Disney releases the animated feature film Fantasia.
1941
- October
- Disney releases the animated feature film Dumbo to theaters.
1942
- August
- Disney releases the animated feature film Bambi.
1946
- November
- Disney releases the live-action and animated feature film Song of the South.
1950
- February
- Disney releases the animated feature film Cinderella.
- July
- Disney releases its first entirely live-action film, Treasure Island.
- December
- Walt Disney makes his television debut in One Hour in Wonderland.
1951
- July
- Disney releases the animated feature film Alice in Wonderland.
1953
- February
- Disney releases the animated feature film Peter Pan.
1954
- October
- The ABC TV network begins airing the weekly Disneyland television show.
1955
- June
- Disney releases the animated feature film Lady and the Tramp.
- July
- Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California.
- October
- The ABC TV network begins airing Disney's second television show, The Mickey Mouse Club.
1959
- January
- Disney releases the animated feature film Sleeping Beauty.
- June
- Additions to Disneyland include the Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Submarine Voyage, and a second Autopia.
1961
- January
- Disney releases the animated feature film One Hundred and One Dalmations.
- September
- Disney's weekly television show moved to the NBC TV network, with the new title Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. A new character, Ludwig von Drake, is introduced.
1963
- June
- The Enchanted Tiki Room attraction opens in Disneyland. This is the first attraction with sophisticated Audio-Animatronics figures.
1964
- April
- The New York World's Fair includes four attractions built by Disney: Magic Skyway, Progressland, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and It's a Small World.
- August
- Disney releases the live-action and animated feature film Mary Poppins. The film is nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, winning five.
1966
- February
- Disney releases the animated film Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.
- December
- Walt Disney dies of lung cancer. His brother Roy becomes new chairman of the company.
1967
- July
- In Disneyland, the Tomorrowland area is updated with new attractions, including: Carousel of Progress, PeopleMover, Rocket Jets, and Adventure Through Inner Space.
1970
- December
- Disney releases the animated feature film The Aristocats.
1971
- June
- Disneyland welcomes its 100-millionth guest.
- October
- Walt Disney World opens in Orlando, Florida. The Magic Kingdom, similar to Disneyland, is the first park to open.
- December
- Roy Oliver Disney dies of a stroke. Don Tatum becomes new chairman of the company.
1973
- November
- Disney releases the animated feature film Robin Hood.
1975
- January
- The Space Mountain enclosed roller coaster attraction opens in Walt Disney World.
1979
- September
- The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction opens in Disneyland.
- October
- Walt Disney World welcomes its 100-millionth guest.
1980
- June
- Card Walker becomes new chairman of Walt Disney Productions.
1981
- January
- Disneyland welcomes its 200-millionth guest.
- July
- Disney releases the animated feature film The Fox and the Hound.
1982
- October
- EPCOT Center opens at Walt Disney World, with pavilions representing eight countries.
1983
- April
- Tokyo Disneyland opens, in Japan.
- The Disney Channel, a cable-television network, begins broadcasting.
- May
- Raymond Watson replaces Card Walker as chairman of Walt Disney Productions.
- October
- Disney releases the animated film Mickey's Christmas Carol, with the first appearance of Mickey Mouse on film since 1953.
1984
- March
- Touchstone Pictures releases its first film, Splash.
- Roy Edward Disney resigns from the board of directors, and begins work on changing Disney's executives.
- Saul Steinberg attempts a takeover of Disney, acquiring about 12% of outstanding stock, before being bought out by Disney for US$325 million.
- September
- Disney's board of directors vote unanimously for Michael Eisner as chairman and chief executive officer, and Frank Wells as president and chief operating officer. Roy Edward Disney becomes head of the animation division.
1985
- (month unknown)
- Walt Disney World welcomes its 200-millionth guest.
1986
- September
- The 3-D film Captain EO, starring Michael Jackson, opens in the Magic Eye Theater in EPCOT Center.
1987
- November
- Touchstone Pictures releases the film Three Men and a Baby, which becomes Disney's first film to earn over US$100 million.
1988
- June
- Touchstone Pictures releases the live-action and animated feature film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The film cost over US$80 million to make and market. Donald Duck and Daffy Duck meet on-screen for the first time. The film receives four Academy Awards.
- (month unknown)
- Disney releases the film Cinderella on videocassette, selling 6 million copies for US$100 million.
- December
- Disney becomes Hollywood's top money-making film studio for the first time in its history.
1989
- May
- The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park opens in Walt Disney World.
- July
- The Splash Mountain log ride attraction opens in Disneyland, with 105 Audio-Animatronic characters based on the 1946 film Song of the South.
- September
- Disneyland welcomes its 300-millionth guest.
- November
- Disney releases the animated feature film The Little Mermaid.
1991
- May
- Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 100-millionth guest.
- November
- Disney releases the film Fantasia on video cassette. Over 14 million copies are sold, making it the biggest selling video to date.
- Disney releases the animated feature film Beauty and the Beast. The film is nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, the first for an animated film.
1992
- April
- The Euro Disney Resort, featuring the Euro Disneyland park, opens in Marne-la-Vallée, France.
- November
- Disney releases the animated feature film Aladdin.
1994
- June
- Disney releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters.
- July
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction opens at Disney-MGM Studios.
1995
- April
- Disney releases the animated feature film A Goofy Movie to theaters in the USA.
- July
- Disney buys the ABC TV network for US$19 billion.
- October
- Walt Disney World welcomes its 500-millionth guest.
- November
- Disney releases the Pixar computer-animated feature film Toy Story.
1996
- (month unknown)
- Disney's Celebration city in Florida opens.
1998
- April
- Disney's Animal Kingdom opens in Walt Disney World.
- June
- Disney releases the animated feature film Mulan to theaters in the USA.
- July
- Disney launches its first cruise ship, the Disney Magic.
- November
- Disney releases the Pixar computer-animated feature film A Bug's Life to theaters in the USA.
1999
- June
- Disney releases the animated feature film Tarzan to theaters in the USA.
- November
- Disney releases the Pixar computer-animated feature film Toy Story 2 to theaters in the USA.
- December
- Disney releases the animated feature film Fantasia/2000.
2000
- December
- Disney releases the film The Emperor's New Groove to theaters in the USA.
2001
- January
- Downtown Disney opens in the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
- February
- Disney's California Adventure theme park opens, next to Disneyland.
- June
- Disney releases the animated feature film Atlantis: The Lost Empire to theaters in the USA.
- September
- In Japan, Tokyo DisneySea opens, featuring seven themed areas with 23 attractions.
- November
- Disney releases the Pixar computer-animated feature film Monsters, Inc. to theaters in the USA.
2002
- March
- The Walt Disney Studios Park theme park opens next to Disneyland Paris in France.
- June
- The Disney Channel debuts the animated Kim Possible TV show.
- Disney releases the animated feature film Lilo & Stitch to theaters in the USA.
- November
- Disney releases the animated feature film Treasure Planet to theaters in the USA.
2003
- March
- Disney releases the animated feature film Piglet's Big Movie to theaters in the USA.
- May
- Disney releases the Disney-Pixar computer-animated feature film Finding Nemo to theaters in the USA.
- July
- Disney releases the live-action feature film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl to theaters in the USA.
- August
- Disney releases the live-action feature film Freaky Friday to theaters in the USA.
- October
- Disney releases the animated feature film Brother Bear to theaters in the USA.
2004
- April
- Disney releases the animated feature film Home on the Range to theaters in the USA.
- November
- Disney releases the Disney-Pixar computer-animated feature film The Incredibles to theaters in the USA.
2005
- June
- Disney releases the live-action feature film Herbie: Fully Loaded to theaters in the USA.
- July
- Disneyland celebrates its 50th anniversary, with a re-dedication ceremony.
- September
- Hong Kong Disneyland opens.
- Michael Eisner resigns as CEO of the Walt Disney Company; Robert Iger becomes new CEO.
- November
- Disney releases the computer-animated feature film Chicken Little to theaters in the USA.
2006
- March
- Disney releases the live-action feature film The Shaggy Dog to theaters in the USA.
- April
- Disney releases the computer-animated feature film The Wild in theaters.
- June
- Disney releases the Disney-Pixar computer-animated feature film Cars to theaters in the USA.
2007
- May
- Disney releases the film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End to theaters.
- June
- Disney releases the animated film Ratatouille to theaters.
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