- January
- Disney test-screens the film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. [1016.C15]
- January 27
- Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Three Fugitives to theaters in the US. [66.187] [85.319] [105.9] [112.501] [375.398] [501.553]
- February 1
- Disney launches Hollywood Pictures. [250.98] [228.237] (January [238.162])
- February 2
- Photography begins on the film Dick Tracy. [1]
- February 3
- Disney issues new $1 and $5 Disney Dollars at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The $1 bill depicts Mickey Mouse on one side, and Sleeping Beauty Castle on the other. The $5 bill depicts Goofy on one side, with the other side showing EPCOT Center's Spaceship Earth and the Empress Lilly Riverboat. [407]
- February 7
- St. Vincent issues ten postage stamps depicting Disney characters in India-related themes. [656.774]
- The Grenadines of St. Vincent issues ten postage stamps depicting Disney characters in India. [656.807]
- February 10
- Touchstone/Warner releases the live-action feature film The Good Mother to theaters in the United Kingdom. [66.91]
- February 12
- The NBC TV network airs The Magical World of Disney show, entitled Mickey's Happy Valentine Special, with Ludwig Von Drake. [228.326]
- February 15
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Beaches for an Oscar Award in the category Art Direction - Set Decoration. [39.667]
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- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit for an Oscar Award in the category Art Direction - Set Decoration. [39.667]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit for an Oscar Award in the category Cinematography. [39.667]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit for an Oscar Award in the category Sound. [39.667]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit for an Oscar Award in the category Film Editing. [39.667]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit for an Oscar Award in the category Visual Effects. [39.667]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit for an Oscar Award in the category Sound Effects Editing. [39.667]
- February
- The Crossroads shopping area opens at Walt Disney World. [1378.163]
- The Walt Disney Company licences use of Disney intellectual property to Euro Disney SCA, for the theme park in France. [60.2]
- February 26
- The TV special "The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places" airs. [1378.3]
- March 1
- The CBS TV network airs the first episode of the Disney TV show Hard Times on Planet Earth. [228.227] [385.114]
- Buena Vista Pictures premieres the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film New York Stories in New York City. [228.355] [375.395]
- Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film New York Stories to theaters in the US. [66.139] [85.319] [105] [112.481] [228.355]
- March 3
- Disney releases the film D.O.A. to theaters in the United Kingdom. [66.53]
- March 4
- The Disney Channel debuts the TV series Chip 'n' Dale's Rescue Rangers. [1378.134] (August 27, 1988 [383.139])
- March 19
- At Disneyland, the Skyway ride shuts itself off after riders in one car vigorously rocked it. (150 people are stranded for up to 5 hours while firefighters rescued them with ladders. All attractions in Fantasyland and several in Tomorrowland had to be closed during the rescue.) [265.A12]
- March 26
- The NBC TV network airs The Magical World of Disney show, entitled Super Duck Tales. [501.530]
- March 27
- The Walt Disney World Casting Center building opens. [501.595]
- March 29
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Film Editing) to Arthur Schmidt for the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. [38.739] [39.667] [266.C33]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Visual Effects) to Ken Ralston, Richard Williams, Edward Jones, George Gibbs for the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. [38.739] [39.667] [266.C33]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Sound Editing) to Charles Campbell and Louis Edelman for the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. [38.739] [39.667] [266.C33] [369.177]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Special Achievement) to Richard Williams for animation direction and creation of Jessica and Roger Rabbit for the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. [38.739] [39.667] [266.C33]
- March 30
- Disney sues the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for copyright and trademark violations over the use of a Snow White character used during the Oscar awards ceremony on March 29. [266.C33]
- (month unknown)
- On the fourth episode of the Disney-produced television show Hard Times on Planet Earth, some scenes are shot at Disneyland. [385.114]
- April 3
- Newsweek magazine features Mickey Mouse on the cover of its April 3rd issue, for an article on the Disney-MGM Studios park at Walt Disney World. [475]
- April 6
- The Gambia issues ten postage stamps depicting Mickey Mouse through the years. [653.39]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences appologizes to Disney for unauthorized use of the Snow White character on their televised Academy Awards show, and states that it would not re-use the filmed segment again. [281.C30]
- April 9
- The NBC TV network airs The Magical World of Disney show, featuring Parent Trap III, part one. [228.380] [382.457]
- April 14
- Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Disorganized Crime to theaters in the US. [66.56] [85.319] [105.43] [112.455] [228.141] [375.391] [1036.C8]
- April
- Disney releases the film Computers: Where They Come From and How They Work for educational use. [1378.150]
- April 16
- The NBC TV network airs The Magical World of Disney show, featuring Parent Trap III, part two. [228.380]
- April 20
- Disney releases the educational film The Children of Mexico. [1378.132]
- April
- Touchstone Home Video releases the film Cocktail on VHS (US$89.95) and Laser disk (US$29.95) in the USA. [228.97] [1037.S2.32]
- April 24
- The Disney Channel begins airing another new The New Mickey Mouse Club series. [228.322] [1037.S3.1] [1038.C19]
- The Disney Channel begins airing the Teen Angel show. [501.540]
- April 27
- Disney and Eastman Kodak announces a 15-year promotional agreement, including Kodak's use of Disney characters in advertisements, sole supplying of film for Disney's theme parks and commercial use, etc. [261.D1]
- April 29
- The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Premiere Film Danny, the Champion of the World. [382.453] [1378.170]
- April 30
- The NBC TV network airs a two-hour TV special The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening. [228.131] [475.51]
- (month unknown)
- The home video division of the Walt Disney Company pays about US$1 million for video cassette rights to all 156 The Bullwinkle Show programs. [1039.S2.31]
- May 1
- The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World opens to the public. It covers 135 acres. Total construction costs were over US$500 million. Advertising and promotions for the opening cost US$30 million. Entrance prices are US$29 for adults, and US$23 for children aged 3-9. [1] [14] [22] [209.31] [228.131] [238.268] [262.35] [277.D5] [321.26] [370.289] [480.98] [1342.21] [1379.139] (April [28.130]) (1988 [22])
- The Great Movie Ride attraction opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.218]
- The Backstage Studio Tour opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. Included are the short films The Lottery, and Michael and Mickey. [1378.54]
- The Magic of Disney Animation tour opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.304] [1378.35]
- The film Back to Neverland opens at the Animation Tour in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [1378.53]
- The Monster Sound Show attraction opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.339]
- The New York Street area opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.356]
- The 50s Prime Time Cafe restaurant opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.183]
- The Studio Catering Co. food facility opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [501.528]
- The SuperStar Television attraction opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [501.531]
- The Soundstage Restaurant opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [501.514]
- The Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction shop opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [1378.186]
- The Animation Gallery shop opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [1378.35]
- The Residential Street area opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [501.466]
- The Min and Bill's Dockside Diner restaurant opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.332]
- The Disney Classics Theater opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.130]
- The Hollywood & Vine restaurant opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.237]
- The Backlot Express restaurant opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [1378.54]
- The Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.237]
- The Theater of the Stars attraction opens on Hollywood Boulevard in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [501.550]
- The Sid Cahuenga's One-of-a-Kind shop opens on Hollywood Boulevard in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [501.498]
- The Mickey's of Hollywood shop opens on Hollywood Boulevard in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [228.327]
- The Crossroads of the World shop opens in the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. [1378.163]
- The Pleasure Island area opens at the Walt Disney World resort. It includes the Neon Armadillo Music Saloon nightclub, Mannequins nightclub, Adventurers Club nightclub, XZFR Rockin' Rollerdrome nightclub, and the Comedy Warehouse nightclub. [62] [210.18] [228.310,353,391] [232.31] [501.624] [1378.8,148]
- May 6
- NBC airs the 100th episode of Disney's The Golden Girls TV show. [1357]
- The Disney Channel begins airing the show Teen Win, Lose or Draw. [501.541]
- May 9
- Disney releases the film Like Jake and Me for educational use. [228.288]
- May
- It is revealed that Michael Eisner was the highest paid executive in the US for 1988, at over US$40 million. Number two is Frank Wells, at over US$32 million. [56.82]
- General Motors begins an advertising campaign for Lumina cars and mini-vans using Disney characters. [175.D4]
- The Disney Channel begins airing the series Just Like Family. [228.270]
- May 16
- Christie's East auction house in New York City sells a black-and-white celluloid from Disney's film Orphan's Benefit for US$286,000. The cel depicts Donald Duck being punched by an orphan. [1017.C27] [1042.C26]
- May 20
- The Disney Channel airs the final Teen Angel show. [501.540]
- The TV special Disneyland Blast to the Past airs on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles. [228.135] [1300.78]
- June 1
- Typhoon Lagoon water park opens at Walt Disney World, covering 56 acres. [14] [62] [501.578] [1246.33]
- June 2
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Dead Poets Society to select theaters in the USA. [1] [14] [17] [66.54] [85.319] [105.58] [112.454] [375.391] [1008.C17] [1378.178]
- The Walt Disney Company and News Corporation settle their lawsuit. Sky Television will assume all finiancial obligations of the joint venture between the companies for broadcasting the Disney Channel to viewers in Great Britain and Ireland. [1009.37]
- June 3
- The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Premiere Film Looking for Miracles in the USA. [228.129,295] [1009.51]
- June 9
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution generally releases the film Dead Poets Society to theaters in the USA. (Worldwide theater gross receipts: US$240 million.) [579.50] [745.109] [1008.C17] [1010.C13] [1378.178]
- June 11
- The NBC TV network airs The Magical World of Disney show, entitled Davy Crockett: A Letter to Polly. [1378.174]
- June 16
- Columbia Pictures releases the film Ghostbusters II to theaters in the US. A baby is wearing pajamas with a picture of Disney's Winnie the Pooh on the front. [890] [892]
- June 18
- The NBC TV network airs The Magical World of Disney show, entitled Davy Crockett: Warrior's Farewell. [1378.174]
- June 20
- Bhutan issues 24 postage stamps marking the 60th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. [629.794]
- June 21
- Walt Disney World welcomes its 300-millionth guest, Matt Gleason. [501.596]
- June 22
- Disney announces that it has adopted a stockholders' rights plan to protect the company from being acquired in a hostile takeover. The plan would allow shareholders to buy additional shares at half price, set to take effect if anyone acquires more than 25 percent or begins a tender offer. [263.D4]
- June 23
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution releases the Roger Rabbit animated short film Tummy Trouble to theaters. [17] [85.285,325] [263.C15] [300.S2.26] [501.574]
- Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids to theaters. The movie script was entitled Teenie Weenies. (North American theater gross receipts: US$130.7 million.) [14] [1] [66.100] [85.319] [105.65] [112.467] [228.240] [263.C15] [282.B18] [375.393] [552.42] [610.41]
- June 26
- The Delta Dreamflight attraction opens in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It is sponsored by Delta Air Lines, and replaces the If You Could Fly attraction. [1342.33] [1378.180]
- June 28
- Sotheby's auction house in New York City holds its first contemporary animation auction, based on Disney's film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. 600 animation cels from the film are sold. [235.41] [1036.C28]
- (month unknown)
- The name of the Club Lake Villas accomodations at Walt Disney World is changed to Club Suites. [1378.144]
- Disney releases the laserdisc Duck Tales: Daredevil Ducks / High-Flying Hero for US$30. It includes The Money Vanishes, Home Sweet Homer, Hero for Hire, Launchpad's Civil War. [15]
- Disney releases the laserdisc Duck Tales: Lost World Wanderers / Duck to the Future for US$30. It includes Dinosaur Ducks, The Curse of Castle McDuck, Duck to the Future, Sir Gyro de Gearloose. [15]
- The Disney Channel begins airing the series The Disney Channel Salutes the American Teacher. [228.22]
- The Disney Channel begins airing the series A Conversation With .... [1378.153]
- Disney releases the film Tron on laserdisc in Japan. [15]
- Disney acquires the Brizzi Films company, based in Paris, France. [229.157]
- Disney releases the laserdisc Duck Tales: Masked Marauders / Fearless Fortune Hunter for US$37. It includes Earth-Quack!, Masters of the Djinni, Send in the Clones, The Time Teasers. [15]
- Disney establishes its own home-video distribution network. [238.189]
- Disney releases the film The Good Mother on videocassette. [228.210]
- Disney releases the laserdisc Cartoon Classics: Mickey and the Gang / Nuts About Chip and Dale for US$25. It includes Boat Builders, Canine Caddy, Moose Hunters, Two Chips and a Miss, Food for Feudin', and Trailer Horn. [15]
- Disney releases the film Heartbreak Hotel on videocassette. [228.230]
- Disney releases the film Peter Pan on videocassette and laserdisc. [11]
- Disney releases the film Ben and Me on videocassette. [1378.71]
- Disney releases the film Bambi on videocassette. [1] [1378.58] (1988 [11])
- Disney releases the film Big Business on videocassette. [228.53]
- Production begins on the film Aladdin. [229.133]
- Disney re-releases the film The Rescuers to theaters. [25] [228.413]
- The Disney Channel airs The Parent Trap III. [85.190] [225.96]
- The Disney Channel airs Parent Trap Hawaiian Honeymoon. [85.190]
- Ub Iwerks is named a Disney Legend. [228.131]
- Les Clark is named a Disney Legend. He worked at the studio from 1927 to 1975. [228.94,131]
- Marc Davis is named a Disney Legend. He worked at the studio from 1935 to 1978, developing animated characters and story and character concepts for park attractions. [1378.174]
- Ollie Johnson is named a Disney Legend. [228.131]
- Mily Kahl is named a Disney Legend. [228.131]
- Ward Kimball is named a Disney Legend. [228.131]
- Eric Larson is named a Disney Legend. [228.131,282]
- John Lounsbery is posthumously named a Disney Legend. He began work at the studio as an animator on the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. [228.131,296]
- Wolfgang Reitherman is named a Disney Legend. [228.131]
- Frank Thomas is named a Disney Legend. He joined the Disney company in 1934, working until 1978. He worked on 19 feature films, and was considered one of the Nine Old Men. [501.551]
- The Walt Disney World Village is renamed the Disney Village Marketplace. [228.132]
- The Disney/Pixar CAPS animation system is used in an animated feature film for the first time, for one scene in the film The Little Mermaid. [94.62]
- Disney releases the film Ernest Saves Christmas on videocassette. [228.168]
- Disney re-releases the film Baby... Secret of the Lost Legend on videocassette. [228.36]
- Lorus introduces the Mickey and Donald watch. [230.68]
- Disney re-releases the film Bongo on videocassette. [228.63]
- Disney re-releases the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks on videocassette. [228.48]
- Disney re-releases the film Country on videocassette. [228.106]
- The track for the Casey Jr. Circus Train at Disneyland is completely replaced. [328.286]
- Judson Green is named senior vice-president and chief financial officer for The Walt Disney Company. [228.218]
- The Disney Channel begins airing the animated series Paddington Bear. [383.368]
- Disney re-releases the film Off Beat on videocassette. [228.365]
- Disney releases the film Three Fugitives on videocassette. [501.553]
- The name of Disneyland / Vista Records is changed to Walt Disney Records. [501.594]
- Disney releases the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit on videocassette. [501.609]
- Capcom releases the Duck Tales video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [799.93]
- Les Clark is named a Disney Legend. Clark worked in Disney animation from 1927 to 1975. [1378.141]
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