- February 4
- The Backstage Magic show opens in Communicore East in Future World in EPCOT Center. [395.37] [1378.54]
- February 14
- CBS airs the TV special Disney's All-Star Valentine Party. [228.139]
- February 15
- Walt Disney Productions announces it will use the Touchstone Films name on some upcoming Disney releases. [441]
- February 16
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Mickey's Christmas Carol for an Oscar Award in the category Short Film, Animated. [39.637]
- February 17
- Disney re-releases the film Fantasia to theaters. [15] [42.612] [302.S2.13] [441] (1985 [25] [228.173])
- February 20
- Anguilla issues ten postage stamps depicting Mickey Mouse participating in Olympic decathlon events. [629.356]
- February 21
- Turks and Caicos Islands issues ten postage stamps with various Disney characters participating in Olympic sports. [285.34] [617.643]
- March 3
- The Disney Channel begins airing episodes of the TV series The Edison Twins. [228.156]
- March 9
- Buena Vista releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Splash to theaters in the US. This is the first film release from Touchstone Pictures. Television sets in a department store show a brief piece of the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. (Gross revenue is US$69 million, a new Disney record for a live-action film.) [1] [14] [22] [23] [34.273] [53.50] [108.43] [112.496] [232.84] [370.317] [441] [501.517] [745.48] [1074.155] [1117]
- Roy Disney submits his letter of resignation, removing himself from the Disney board of directors. [1] [14] [56.100] [108.43] [468.31] [470.49] [745.48] [1074.155] (March 8 [108.48]) (March 12 [136.D2] [152.D3] [161.33])
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- Roy Disney purchases more shares of Disney, bringing his stake to 4.7%. [56.100]
- Famed corporate raider Saul Steinberg begins purchasing shares of Walt Disney Productions. [108.58] (March 12 [465.48])
- March
- Roy Disney and the "Brain Trust" meet with investment banking firm Lazard Frère & Company. The company presents a financial analysis of Disney, concluding that the Disney company would be worth about US$82 per share in a liquidation. [108.68]
- Film producer Jonathan Taplin proposes to Richard Rainwater that Bass Brothers Enterprises invest in Disney, possibly attempting to buy it. [108.65]
- Disney releases the "Fitness and Me" series educational 16-mm film How To Exercise. [23] [228.186,244]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film What Is Fitness Exercise? for educational use. It is part of the "Fitness and Me" series. [23] [501.604]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film Why Exercise? for educational use. It is part of the "Fitness and Me" series. [23] [501.611]
- March 16
- Disney releases the film Never Cry Wolf to theaters in the UK. [53.38]
- March 27
- Disney increases its line of credit with the Bank of America and other banks from US$300 million to US$1.3 billion. [108.58] (March 28 [137.D6] [152.D3]) (from US$400 million [137.D6])
- March 29
- Saul Steinberg, via his company, Reliance Group Holdings, announces that he has acquired 6.3 percent of outstanding shares of Walt Disney Productions. [1] [14] [56.100] [138.D3] [152.D3] [161.33] [238.118] (March 28 [468.31])
- April 1
- Ron Miller and Ray Watson consult with a law firm for advice on how to deal with the takeover battle. The advice is to accumulate debt. [56.101]
- April 2
- Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 10-millionth guest. [55.38] [61.2]
- April 3
- Reliance Group Holdings announces that it now owns 7.3 percent of Disney shares. [139.D5] [152.D3]
- April 9
- Reliance Group Holdings now owns 8.3 percent of outstanding Disney stock. [14] [108.64] (April 10 [140.D4] [152.D3])
- April 10
- Bhutan issues eleven postage stamps depicting various Disney characters and the history of communications. [629.792]
- The Silhouette Studio shop opens in Tokyo Disneyland. [55.38]
- April 11
- Roy Disney announces that he owns 4.1 percent of Disney stock, following purchases made in mid-March. [141.D5] [152.D3]
- Reliance Group Holdings now owns 9.3 percent of outstanding Disney stock, making it by far the largest single shareholder. [14] [108.64] (April 9 [56.101]) (April 12 [142.D5])
- April 14
- The new Alice in Wonderland ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.27] [914.55] [939.122] [1300.44] [1378.20]
- April 15
- Caicos Islands issues five postage stamps with various Disney characters. [617.652]
- Dominica issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters and Easter bunnies. [648.750]
- The Gambia issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters painting Easter eggs. [653.35]
- April
- Ray Watson contacts Richard Rainwater, of Bass Brothers Enterprises. Rainwater is sympathetic to Watson's concerns about Saul Steinberg, and offers to help save the company. [108.66]
- Ray Watson asks Roger Hall, president of the resort communities division of Arvida Corporation, if he is interested in participating in developing some of Disney's Florida real estate. [108.65]
- Frank Wells and Stanley Gold meet with junk bond creator Mike Milken, to discuss the financing necessary for Roy Disney to buy Walt Disney Productions. Milken says "it's doable", and sets to work on it. [108.70]
- April 24
- Anguilla issues ten postage stamps depicting Mickey Mouse participating in Olympic decathlon events. [629.356]
- April 25
- Saul Steinberg announces his intentions to increase his stake in Walt Disney Productions to 25 percent. In accordance with regulations, he can acquire up to 15 percent immediately, and then must wait 30 days before acquiring the rest, unless he seeks and is granted approval. [14] [56.101] [108.64] [143.D4] [152.D3] [161.33] [465.48] [468.31]
- April 27
- The General Store opens in Tokyo Disneyland. [55.38]
- April
- Raymond Chambers, co-holder of 38 percent of Gibson Greetings company shares, worth about US$38 million, suggests that Disney acquire the company. [108.73]
- Minneapolis financier and raider Irwin Jacobs proposes merging his recently acquired moving and storage company, Minstar, with Walt Disney Productions, allowing him and his associates to straighten out Disney's management. [108.73]
- April 30
- Eastman Kodak ends sponsorship of the Golden Horseshoe Revue show at Disneyland. [228.208]
- The Disney board of directors' compensation committee votes to increase Ron Miller's annual salary from US$375,000 to US$500,000. [108.77]
- May 1
- Grenada Grenadines issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters with Easter hats. [653.454]
- Reliance Group Holdings announces it has increased its holdings of Disney stock to 12.1 percent. [144.D4] [152.D3] [468.31]
- May 5
- The Disney Channel begins airing a DTV series of music videos, using Disney cartoons and popular songs. [228.113]
- May 6
- The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Premiere Film Gone Are the Dayes. [228.129,209]
- May 9
- CBS airs the TV special Disney's All-Star Mother's Day Album. [228.139]
- Richard Rainwater calls Charles Cobb, chief executive of Arvida, suggesting that they sell Arvida to Disney. [108.80]
- May 10
- Charles Cobb meets with Richard Rainwater and Sid Bass. They put together a proposal to sell Arvida to Disney for US$300 million in Disney stock. [108.80]
- Richard Rainwater proposes the Arvida deal to Disney's representatives, who like the idea, but delay decision pending a review of Arvida. [108.81]
- May 11
- Charles Cobb and Sid Bass meet with Ray Watson and others to discuss the Arvida deal. [108.81]
- May 12
- Disney executives spend the weekend viewing Arvida properties in Florida. [108.81]
- May 15
- Ray Watson and Ron Miller have lunch with Sid Bass, who tries to convince the Disney executives that they have nothing to fear from doing business with him. Watson decides to proceed with the Arvida deal. [108.82]
- May
- The Disney board of directors gives Ron Miller a 33 percent raise to US$500,000 per year. [1074.169]
- May 16
- Executives of Disney, Bass Brothers Enterprises, and Arvida negotiate a US$200 million purchase of Arvida for new Disney stock. [1] [14] [108.86] [1378.43]
- May 17
- The Disney board of directors votes its approval of the Arvida deal. [56.101] [108.86] [145.D1] [148.33] [152.D3] [161.33] [465.48]
- May 19
- Roy Disney and the Brain Trust meet to discuss Mike Milken's financing for a hostile takeover of Disney. However, Roy would have to sell off parts of Disney after the takeover to repay the junk bond investors. They decide against buying the company. [108.90]
- May 21
- Donald Duck puts his webbed footprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. [1248.43]
- Disney executives meet with the chairman of Bally Manufacturing Corporation (which perceived itself as a takeover target), to see if they could help each other. [108.92]
- May 22
- After two days of discussions, Disney and Bally Manufacturing executives decide there is nothing they can do to help each other. [108.92]
- The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department give their approval to Saul Steinberg to increase his holdings of Disney stock to 25 percent. [146.D5] [152.D3]
- May 25
- Ray Chambers, of Gibson Greetings, meets with Disney executives to sell them on the idea of buying the company. Watson and Miller are impressed, but decide to first investigate the company. [108.94]
- Reliance Group Holdings files a lawsuit in California Superior Court against Disney in an attempt to block the purchase of Arvida, claiming it "served no proper or valid corporate purpose". [56.102] [108.94]
- Saul Steinberg begins an attempt to buy 49.9 percent of Walt Disney Productions, a deal valued at US$1.2 billion. [1] [56.102] [108.95]
- May 29
- Reliance Group Holdings files a suit in federal court against Disney, claiming that the Arvida deal is "a waste of corporate assets". [108.97] [147.D21]
- Saul Steinberg announces plans to hold a proxy fight, to arrange a stockholders' meeting to vote the current Disney management out of office. [108.97] [147.D1] [152.D3] [161.33]
- May 30
- Stanley Gold (representing Roy Disney) meets with Saul Steinberg in New York to discuss teaming up to combine their 17 percent in a takeover bid of Disney. Gold proposes buying Disney's film studio, copyrights, and merchandising rights for US$350 million, if the takeover is successful. Steinberg refuses the offer. [108.98] (May 31 [56.102])
- (month unknown)
- Disney releases the animated film compilation Donald Duck's Birthday Party to theaters in Brazil. [23]
- In a formal ceremony in Torrance, California, Donald Duck is honorably discharged from the US Army. [108.vii]
- The National Coalition on Television Violence ranks Donald Duck films among the most violent on television. [108.25]
- Donald Duck has his webbed duckprints immortalized in cement at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, the site of the opening of the film The Wise Little Hen, with Donald Duck's debut. [108.vii]
- June 1
- Stanley Gold meets with Ray Watson and Ron Miller to discuss what it would take to get Roy Disney back on the board of directors. Gold proposes that Roy and others be allowed to join the board. [108.100]
- A Federal court rules in Disney's favor over Reliance Group Holdings, allowing the Arvida purchase to go through. [149.33]
- June 2
- Ray Watson proposes a small change to the Arvida deal to Sid Bass, in which Disney stock would be valued at US$60 per share, regardless of changes in the stock in the near future. Sid Bass agrees to the terms. [108.101]
- June 3
- The Bistro de Paris restaurant opens in the France Pavillion in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [1378.80]
- June 4
- Gibson Greetings and Walt Disney Productions agree on a two-for-one stock swap, in which Disney would issue about 5 million new shares of common stock. [108.104]
- Ron Miller and Ray Watson offer Roy Disney the opportunity to join them on the management team. [56.102]
- June 5
- The Disney board of directors grants approval of the acquisition of Gibson Greetings. [108.104]
- The Disney board of directors approves the revised Arvida deal, and makes Charles Cobb, Arvida's chief executive, a board member. [108.104]
- June 6
- Disney announces the agreement to buy Gibson Greetings for up to US$337.5 million in new stock. [150.D1] [152.D3] [161.33] [1074.156]
- The Disney purchase of Arvida is completed. [150.D1] [1074.156]
- Ray Watson meets with Jack Wrather, owner of the Wrather Corporation, which owns the Disneyland Hotel. They discuss the possibility of Wrather selling the hotel to Disney. [108.110]
- June 7
- Mike Milken calls Minneapolis financier and raider Irwin Jacobs, to ask if he would buy junk bonds in support of Saul Steinberg's takeover attempt. Later in the day, Irwin calls back to buy US$35 million worth. [108.110]
- June 8
- Donald Duck and Clarence Nash host the opening of a Donald Duck film festival in New York. [108.vii]
- Disney releases the film Tiger Town on theaters in Detroit. [501.557]
- Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Gremlins to theaters in the USA. A short portion of the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is shown in a movie theater. One of the gremlins watching the film has Mickey Mouse ears. [1046]
- Saul Steinberg completes funding investors for a takeover attempt of Disney. He forms the MM Acquisition Corporation (MM for Mickey Mouse). [108.112] [465.48]
- The board of directors of Reliance Group Holdings vote in favor of the proposed takeover of Disney. [108.113]
- Saul Steinberg announces that on June 11, the MM Acquisition company will offer Disney US$67.50 per share for 49 percent of the company's outstanding shares, or US$71.50 per share for 100 percent of the shares if the Gibson Greetings deal is killed. Steinberg intends to acquire 37.9 percent of Disney's outstanding shares, to add to the 11.1 percent already owned by Reliance Group Holdings. [14] [56.102] [108.113] [151.31] [152.D3] [161.33] [238.118]
- June 9
- The TV series The Disney Family Album begins airing on The Disney Channel. [228.130]
- Donald Duck and Clarence Nash lead a ticker-tape parade through Disneyland, celebrating 50 years since Donald Duck's film debut in The Wise Little Hen. [108.120]
- The Laserphonic Fantasy show debuts on World Showcase Lagoon in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. [228.282] [395.38]
- June 10
- Stanley Gold and Frank Wells meet with Ron Miller and Ray Watson to propose a family collaboration in a leveraged buyout of Disney. Watson does not go for the idea. [108.126]
- Disney negotiates an agreement to pay US$325.5 million (US$77.50 per share) for Steinberg's stock in the company - US$31.7 million over the stock's current worth - plus US$28 million for Steinberg's expenses. [1] [14] [34.275] [56.102] [108.128] [152.D3] (June 9 [238.118]
- June 11
- The Disney board of directors votes to approve the buyback of Saul Steinberg's stock. [108.133] [152.D1] [161.33]
- June 12
- Roy Disney reports that he now owns 5 percent of Disney stock. [14] [108.145]
- June 15
- The Securities and Exchange Commission begins an investigation of trading in Disney stock on June 11. [153.D3]
- June
- Irwin Jacobs buys a 6 percent stake of Walt Disney Productions, and contemplates a takeover bid. [1]
- The Magic Journeys attraction opens at Disneyland. [9]
- June 17
- Roy Disney and the Brain Trust meet to discuss recent events, and decide on a course of action. They decide to sue Disney to halt the Gibson Greetings deal, and to demand that the acquisition be put to a vote of the shareholders. [108.145]
- June 20
- Disney stock drops to US$46 per share. [56.103]
- June 21
- Stanley Gold and Mark Siegel meet with Ray Watson and Ron Miller at Disney's Burbank studio, to discuss getting Roy Disney and others onto the board of directors. No decision is reached. [108.147]
- June 22
- Roy Disney makes a deal with Disney, in which he, Stanley Gold, and Peter Dailey would join the board of directors. As part of the deal, Donn Tatum and Card Walker would have to resign from the executive committee. Roy would also be made vice-chairman. [14] [108.152] [154.35] [161.33] [228.126] (June 20 [56.103])
- A California state court temporarily bars Saul Steinberg from spending his US$325.5 million from Disney until a hearing on July 5. [154.35]
- June 28
- The Disney Channel premieres the series Big Bands at Disneyland. [1300.137] [1378.76]
- June 29
- Roy Disney informs the Securities and Exchange Commission that he now owns 5.2 percent of Disney stock. [154.46]
- Disney releases the film Splash to theaters in the UK. [53.50]
- June 30
- The South Seas Traders shop opens in Adventureland at Disneyland. [501.515] [1300.382]
- (month unknown)
- The film Country is chosen to open the New York Film Festival. [108.142]
- The film The Mappiest Millionaire is shown in its original length at the Los Angeles Filmex festival. [85.258]
- Disney releases the film Tron on videocassette, for US$39.95. [1]
- Disney re-releases the film Dumbo on videocassette, for US$39.95. [1]
- Disney releases an extract from the film Never Cry Wolf as a 16-mm film. [23]
- Disney releases the film Never Cry Wolf on videocassette. [228.353]
- Disney releases the film compilation Donald Duck The Movie to theaters in Britain. [23]
- Disney releases the films Ben and Me and Bongo on laserdisc, for US$30. [15]
- Disney releases the film Gone are the Dayes on videocassette. [228.209]
- Disney releases the live-action feature film Tiger Town on videocassette in Europe. [23] [501.557]
- Disney releases the film The Happiest Millionaire on videocassette. [228.227]
- Disney re-releases the film Pete's Dragon to theaters, in a shortened version. [85.315] [228.386]
- The animation department moves from its Burbank Studio lot to a new address across the street from WED Enterprises. [23]
- Animation work begins on the film The Great Mouse Detective. [23]
- Disney releases the film Big Red on videocassette. [228.54]
- Disney releases the film The Castaway Cowboy on videocassette. [228.83]
- Disney re-releases the film The Jungle Book to theaters. [25] [228.268]
- Disney releases the film Herbie Goes Bananas on videocassette. [228.233]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation Winnie the Pooh and Friends on laserdisc for US$25. It includes Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore, Hooked Bear, In the Bag, Hold that Pose. [15] [501.615] [755.82]
- Disneyland's Sailing Ship Columbia is rerigged and redecked. [26.27]
- Disney releases the film The Boatniks on videocassette. [228.62]
- Sharon Disney is elected to the board of directors of Walt Disney Productions. [228.127]
- The Disney Family Gift Catalog mail-order catalog is begun. [228.129]
- Disney releases the film Follow Me, Boys! on videocassette. [228.190]
- The Audio-Animatronic Mr. Lincoln at Disneyland is reprogrammed, using new technologies for limbs. [228.218]
- Disney releases the film In Search of the Castaways on videocassette. [228.253]
- Disney releases the film The Incredible Journey on videocassette. [228.254]
- Disney releases the film Mickey's Christmas Carol on videocassette. [228.325]
- Disney releases the film The Parent Trap on videocassette. [228.379]
- Disney releases the film Robin Hood on videocassette. [501.473]
- Sierra On-Line releases the Mickey's Space Adventure game for personal computers. [521.77]
- Disney releases the film Son of Flubber on videocassette. [501.513]
- Disney releases the film Splash on videocassette. [501.518]
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