- January 29
- Dominica issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters playing soccer. [648.749]
- February 5
- Buena Vista releases the live-action feature film Night Crossing to theaters. [23] [112.482] [228.357] [370.317]
- February 11
- Disney releases the live-action feature film Dragonslayer to theaters in the UK. [51.23]
- February 13
- The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled A Disney Valentine. [228.132]
- February
- Disney releases the music video You Can Always Be #1 with Goofy. [501.627]
- February 20
- The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled Beyond Witch Mountain. It is a pilot for a proposed series, based on the film Escape to Witch Mountain. [1378.75]
- (month unknown)
- The Buena Vista Distribution Company re-releases the film Fantasia to theaters. The film has a new Dolby digital stereo soundtrack conducted by Irwin Kostal, and narration by Hugh Douglas. The debut of the re-release is at the Plitt Theater in Century City, in Los Angeles, California. This release includes the first digitally recorded soundtrack. [11] [23] [25] [35] [37.55] [96.89] [97.161] [228.173] (April [42.612])
- March 17
- The CBS TV network debuts the series Herbie, the Love Bug. [84.364] [85.300] [228.233] [381.346]
- March 26
- The Brass Boutique shop opens in New Orleans Square in Disneyland. Formerly La Boutique d'Or. [1378.95]
- March 29
- Maldives issues two postage stamps marking the 50th anniversary of Pluto. [655.581]
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^^^ advertisement ^^^
- April 10
- The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled The Adventures of Pollyanna. [1378.11]
- April 14
- The CBS TV network airs the last episode of the TV series Herbie, the Love Bug. Only five episodes were produced. [228.233] [381.346] (April 17 [84.364])
- May 1
- The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled A Disney Vacation. [228.132]
- May 3
- Walt Disney Productions files a suit against Williams Electronics for infringing Disney's Tron trademark, by the arcade video game Robotron. [392.D5]
- May
- A signed celluloid of Snow White and some forest animals sells for US$425 at an auction in Los Angeles. A cel of Dopey and Sleepy sells for US$575. [177.66]
- May 23
- The syndicated TV show Computers are People, Too! first airs. It includes footage from the film Tron. [1378.150]
- June 1
- At Walt Disney World, the monorail line is extended from the Ticket and Transportation Center to EPCOT Center. [228.338]
- June
- The videotape souvenir A Day at Disneyland is released. [1300.129] [1378.177]
- Disneyland replaces its ticket books with a "Passport", for single day unlimited use of all attractions. [193.16] [228.155] [450.67] [939.34] [1300.320] (1981 [26.27])
- (month unknown)
- An animation crew of Disney begins work on Musicana, combining ethnic tales with music. [176.154]
- Marriott considers buying Walt Disney Productions. [14]
- Bradley introduces the Cowboy Mickey watch, showing Mickey Mouse with a lasso. [230.68]
- The film Speed Rooms debuts in the If You Had Wings attraction in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [23]
- Ron Miller contacts Michael Eisner about heading Disney's film studio. Eisner indicates he is only interested if he could also oversee the theme parks. Miller declines the offer. [56.98] [238.114]
- Disney re-releases the film Bambi to theaters. [25] [1378.58]
- Disney releases the laserdisc A Disney Christmas Gift for US$25. It includes Once Upon a Wintertime, Pluto's Christmas Tree, Bambi's First Winter, Peter Pan Teaches the Children to Fly, Donald Duck, The Clock Watcher, The Sword in the Stone, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, The Night Before Christmas. [15]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Cartoon Collection Volume 2 on laserdisc for US$25. It includes Canine Caddy, Bumble Bee, Goofy and Wilbur, Dude Duck, Mickey's Trailer, Hawaiian Holiday, Donald's Happy Birthday, Good Scouts, Donald's Fountain of Youth, Soup's On, Lucky Number. [15]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation A Walt Disney Christmas on laserdisc for US$25. It includes Once Upon a Wintertime, Santa's Workshop, The Night Before Christmas, Pluto's Christmas Tree, On Ice, Donald's Snow Fight. [15]
- Disney releases the film Herbie Rides Again on videocassette. [228.233]
- Disney releases the film Babes in Toyland on videocassette. [228.36]
- Disney releases the film Blackbeard's Ghost on videocassette. [228.59]
- Disney releases the film Bongo on videocassette. [228.63]
- Disney releases the film Freaky Friday on videocassette. [228.195]
- Disney releases the film Fun and Fancy Free on videocassette. [228.198]
- Disney releases the film The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on videocassette. [228.285]
- Disney releases the film Snowball Express on videocassette. [483.84] [501.510]
- Disney releases the film Peter and the Wolf on videocassette. [228.385]
- Disney releases the film Pollyanna on videocassette. [228.397]
- Disney re-releases the film Robin Hood to theaters in the US. [501.473]
- Disney releases the film The Sign of Zorro on videocassette. [501.499]
- Disney releases the film Swiss Family Robinson on videocassette. [501.534]
- Disney releases the film A Tale of Two Critters on videocassette. [501.538]
- Disney releases the film The Three Caballeros on videocassette. [501.552]
- Disney releases the film Treasure Island on videocassette. [501.569]
- Disney releases the film Dumbo on videocassette for sale. [501.587]
- Disney releases the film Alice in Wonderland on videocassette for sale. [501.587]
- Disney releases the film Wind in the Willows on videocassette. [501.614]
- Disney purchases the story of The Brave Little Toaster, and begins development of an animated film, with a budget of US$18 million. [1175.23]
- The first Disneyana Convention is held at the Jolly Roger Inn in Anaheim, California. [1230.30]
- Nintendo releases the Mickey and Donald Game & Watch handheld game. [1335.17]
- The Aloha Isle Refreshments stand opens in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The location was formerly the Veranda Juice Bar. [1378.25]
- Disney's Community Service Awards program distributes $175,000. [1378.149]
- July 6
- Disney previews the film Tron for film critics. [256.C8]
- July 9
- Buena Vista releases the live-action and animated feature film Tron to theaters in the US. It cost US$21 million to produce. It is presented in Super Panavision 70mm. Mickey Mouse has a cameo appearance. (Total American theater ticket sales: US$39 million.) [11] [15] [23] [34.272] [52.65] [97.29] [112.503] [245.34] [246.92] [255.D4] [256.C8] [370.317] [436.65] [440.56] [501.572] [602.40]
- Bally debuts the arcade game Tron. [255.D4]
- July 10
- The day after the release of the film Tron, Disney stock falls 2.5 points. [34.272]
- July
- The Disneyland Band gives its 50,000th performance. [228.135] [1300.134]
- July 20
- Disney premieres the ice show Disney's Great Ice Odyssey. [228.140]
- July 30
- Buena Vista makes an initial release of the live-action feature film Tex to theaters in the US. The film is based on the novel by S.E. Hinton. Matt Dillon has his first starring role in the film. Emilio Estevez and Meg Tilly make their first film appearances. (Due to its poor box-office receipts in the US, it is not released in Europe.) [1] [23] [52.76] [14] [112.501] [232.47] [370.316] [501.546]
- July 31
- The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled Pluto and His Friends. [228.392]
- (month unknown)
- The Computer Software division of Disney produces the Tron video game for Mattel Electronics' Intellivision and the Atari VCS. [228.100]
- August 3
- Anguilla issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters playing soccer. [629.355]
- August 29
- The Captain Hook's Galley restaurant in Fantasyland at Disneyland closes. [1300.332] [1378.117]
- September 1
- Bhutan issues eleven postage stamps depicting scenes fom Walt Disney's The Jungle Book film. [629.792]
- September 6
- The Alice in Wonderland ride at Disneyland closes for a major remodelling. [1300.44] [1378.20]
- September 9
- Group W Satellite Communications and Walt Disney Productions dissolve a joint venture to establish a pay-TV system. [258.D4]
- September
- Disney releases the animated 16-mm film Buyer Be Wise for educational use. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy star. [23] [1378.106]
- Disney releases the animated film Get It Right: Following Directions with Goofy for educational use. [23] [228.204]
- Disney releases the animated educational film The Energy Savers. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy appear. [23] [228.165]
- Disney releases the "Fitness For Living" series educational film How To Get Fit. [23] [228.186,245]
- Disney releases the "Fitness For Living" series educational film Measuring Up. [23] [228.186,316]
- Disney releases the film What Is Physical Fitness? for educational use. It is part of the "Fitness For Living" series. [23] [501.605]
- Disney releases the animated and live-action 16-mm film Speaking of Weather for educational use. [23] [501.516]
- Westinghouse abandons its partnership with Walt Disney Productions in the Disney Channel project. [132.34]
- Disney releases the film Computers: The Friendly Invasion for educational use. [23] [1378.150]
- Disney releases the live-action 16-mm film America Works ... America Sings. [23] [1378.27]
- Disney releases the animated and live-action 16-mm film Close Up on the Planets. [23] [1378.143]
- September 24
- Buena Vista generally releases the film Tex to theaters in the US. [370.317] [501.546]
- September 28
- Disney introduces annual passports for use at Walt Disney World. [1378.36]
- September 30
- The Tencennial Parade gives its last performance in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [501.545]
- Pepsi-Cola ends sponsorship of the Golden Horseshoe Revue show at Disneyland. [228.208]
- (month unknown)
- The Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland temporarily ceases operation. (It returns in 1985.) [228.306]
- October 1
- EPCOT Center opens, at Walt Disney World in Florida. It has two main sections, Future World, and World Showcase. It cost more than US$1.2 billion to build. Disney Chairman and CEO E. Cardon Walker performs the dedication. The song "The World Showcase March" is performed and danced to. [1] [5] [6] [14] [22] [23] [36.28] [34.272] [92.121] [108.34] [132.33] [192.104] [225.41] [234.121] [228.165] [471.90] [1073.133] [1342.20] [1379.134]
- The Future World area of EPCOT Center opens in Walt Disney World. It includes Journey into Imagination, and The Land. [228.165]
- The Journey into Imagination pavilion opens in Future World in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the Image Works area, and the Magic Eye Theater showing the 3-D film Magic Journeys. [23] [228.251,266,304]
- The Land pavilion, sponsored by Kraft, opens in Future World in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the Listen to the Land attraction, Tomorrow's Harvest tour, the Farmers Market food court, the Kitchen Kabaret audio-animatronic show, the Harvest Theatre showing the film Symbiosis, and the Good Turn Restaurant. [23] [228.175,211,229,277,281,290] [501.536,563]
- The World Showcase area of EPCOT Center opens in Walt Disney World. It includes pavilions for countries Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, United Kingdom, and USA (The American Adventure). [1378.27,133]
- The Canada pavilion opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the Circle-Vision 360 film O Canada!, the Northwest Mercantile Trading Post shop and Le Cellier restaurant. [23] [228.283,361,364] [1378.114]
- The China pavilion opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the Circle-Vision 360 film Wonders of China. [23] [228.89,93] [501.618]
- The France pavilion opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the film Impressions de France, the Plume et Palette shop, the Boulangerie Patisserie pastry shop, La Maison du Vin shop, Les Chefs de France restaurant, and the Au Petit Café restaurant. [23] [228.87,194,252,279,391] [1378.47,92,130]
- The Germany pavilion opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes Glas und Porzellan shop, Biergarten restaurant, Süssigkeiten shop, Der Bücherwurm shop, Weinkeller shop, and the Der Teddybär shop. [228.204,206] [501.532,601] [1378.76,181]
- The Italy pavilion opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center. It includes the Arcata d'Antigian shop, the Il Bel Cristallo shop, and the L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante restaurant. [228.28,250,258,295] [1378.39]
- The Japan pavilion opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center. It includes Mitsukoshi Department Store, Teppanyaki Dining Rooms restaurant, Yakitori House restaurant, and the Mitsukoshi Restaurant. [228.262,336] [501.625]
- The Mexico pavilion opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the El Rio del Tiempo attraction, the Artesanias Mexicanas shop, and the Cantina de San Angel restaurant. [228.158,318] [1378.43,116]
- The United Kingdom pavilion opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room restaurant, Pringle of Scotland shop, His Lordship shop, Toy Soldier shop, and Biscuit Barrel shop. [228.56,235,401] [501.581,477,567] [1378.80]
- The FriendShips ferries begin operation on World Showcase Lagoon in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.197]
- The American Adventure attraction opens in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. The Audio-Animatronics character of Ben Franklin walks during the show for the first time. [210.151] [228.21]
- The Liberty Inn restaurant opens in The American Adventure in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.287]
- The America Gardens amphitheater opens in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [1378.27]
- The Odyssey restaurant opens in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.365]
- Communicore East opens in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the Stargate fast-food facility, Centorium shop, TravelPort attraction, Energy Exchange display, EPCOT Computer Central display of computers, and Astuter Computer Revue show in EPCOT Computer Central. [228.31,85,165,166] [501.521,568] [1378.45,127]
- Communicore West opens in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the FutureCom display, sponsored by Bell. [228.200]
- The Spaceship Earth attraction opens in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. The giant ball has a diameter of 164 feet. [501.516]
- The Earth Station information and guest services area opens under Spaceship Earth in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.155]
- The film The EPCOT Earth Station Film debuts in the Earth Station centre in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [23]
- The Universe of Energy pavilion opens in the Future World area of EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes Universe of Energy film, Mirrored Theater film, Energy Creation Story film, and Energy, You Make the World Go 'Round film. [23] [228.165] [501.581]
- The World of Motion pavilion opens in the Future World area of EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. It includes the General Motors Transcenter auto display, and the animated film The Water Engine. [23] [501.568,620]
- Card Walker announces to the board of directors that he intends to retire from Walt Disney Productions, with Ron Miller to replace him as CEO. [108.35]
- The Casa Mexicana restaurant opens in Frontierland at Disneyland. Former name was Casa de Fritos. [1300.95] [1378.121]
- Eastman Kodak begins sponsorship of the Golden Horseshoe Revue show at Disneyland. [228.208]
- Disney releases the stop-motion animated film Vincent to theaters in New York. The film was made for US$60,000. [23] [85.325] [501.588]
- October 21
- Disney releases the film Tron to theaters in the UK. [52.65]
- Disney releases the film The Watcher in the Woods to theaters in the UK. [52.67]
- October 22
- The official grand opening ceremony is held for EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World, over three days. [23] [395.36]
- October 23
- The Le Carnival de Lumière nighttime show debuts on World Showcase Lagoon. [395.38]
- The Sunrise Terrace Restaurant opens in Communicore West at EPCOT Center. [501.530]
- The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled EPCOT Center: The Opening Ceremonies. [228.166] (Opening Celebration [395.36])
- October 27
- Disney releases the animated short film Fun with Mr. Future to theaters in Los Angeles, California. [23] [85.325] [228.198]
- October 30
- The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled Disney's Halloween Treat. [228.140]
- (month unknown)
- Disney releases the film Tron on videocassette in the US. [501.572]
- November
- The opening date of Tokyo Disneyland is announced. [55.37]
- November 25
- In New York City, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held. Included is a large balloon of Mickey Mouse. [747.4] [748.A1]
- November 29
- Anguilla issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Walt Disney's Winnie the Pooh films. [629.356]
- December 1
- Lesotho issues nine postage stamps depicting scenes from Disney's film The Twelve Days of Christmas. [655.331]
- Turks and Caicos Islands issues ten postage stamps with scenes from Disney's film Mickey's Christmas Carol. [617.642]
- December 4
- The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled A Disney Christmas Gift. [228.129]
- December 7
- Grenada issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Robin Hood. [653.417]
- December 11
- The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled Winnie the Pooh and Friends. [501.615]
- December
- The Broccoli & Co. shop opens in The Land area in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [1378.100]
- December 22
- (4:34 PM) All electrical power to Disneyland and Anaheim is cut due to winds knocking over a northern California powerline. The park is evacuated, but power returns in under two hours. [450.189]
- December 23
- The Electronic Forum opens in Communicore East in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. Guests watch short films, then press buttons to indicate their opinions. [228.158]
- December 25
- Disney re-releases the film Peter Pan to theaters in the US. [25] [228.385] [750.C12]
- December 28
- Attendance at Walt Disney World reaches a high of 123,000 for the day. [134.A16]
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