- March 6
- The CBS TV network airs the special Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary, starring Danny Kaye. [126.C22] [228.278] [386.127] [1300.137]
- March 9
- The two-hour Disney TV show The Kids Who Knew Too Much airs. [228.274]
- March 16
- The first closed captioned television series are broadcast in the US: The ABC Sunday Night Movie (ABC), The Wonderful World of Disney (NBC) and Masterpiece Theatre (PBS). [1357]
- March 24
- Antigua issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters. [629.369]
- April 13
- The TV show Disney's Oscar Winners airs. [228.141]
- April 20
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, featuring Sultan and the Rock Star. [501.529] [652.83]
- April 27
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, featuring The Secret of Lost Valley, part one. [501.491]
- May 4
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, featuring The Secret of Lost Valley, part two. [501.491]
- May 29
- Saint Lucia issues ten postage stamps marking the International Year of the Child, and commemorating the 15th anniversary of the first moon walk, depicting various Disney characters in space. [656.719] (May 28, five stamps [96.89])
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- June 3
- Donn Tatum retires as chairman and chief executive officer of Walt Disney Productions, becoming chairman of the executive committee. [14] [34.272] [108.23] [123.D1] [501.539]
- Card Walker is elected chairman of Walt Disney Productions. [23] [14] [34.272] [108.23] [123.D1] [194.541] [501.591] [914.165]
- Card Walker names Ron Miller as president and chief operating officer of Walt Disney Productions. [23] [14] [34.272] [108.23,36] [123.D1] [751.D2]
- Walt Disney Productions announces the creation of new divisions: Walt Disney Motion Picture and Television Production Division, Walt Disney Outdoor Recreation Division, and Walt Disney Marketing Division. [123.D1]
- June
- The second death on Disneyland's PeopleMover is recorded. Geraldo Gonzales tries to switch cars, slips, falls on the tracks, and is crushed and dragged by the following vehicle. [163] [450.173]
- Steven Lisberger and Donald Kushner visit Tom Wilhite, Disney vice president for motion-picture production, showing the idea for a movie TRON. Wilhite authorizes an investment of US$50,000 for more study of computer technology applied to the movie. [437.89]
- June 25
- Disney releases the animated short film Mickey Mouse Disco to theaters. An album of the music is also released. [23] [85.325] [228.323] (1979 [79.29])
- Buena Vista releases the live-action feature film The Last Flight of Noah's Ark to theaters. It is based on a story by Ernest Gann. [23] [34.272] [102.50] [228.282] [370.316] (July [112.473])
- Buena Vista releases the live-action feature film Herbie Goes Bananas to theaters. The film is the third sequel to the 1969 film The Love Bug. [17] [23] [102.133] [228.232] [370.316]) (July [102.133])
- (month unknown)
- Disney re-releases the film Mary Poppins to theaters. [23] [228.314]
- Wolfgang Reitherman, long-time Disney animator, retires. [97.276] [228.411]
- The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants its first official wish, a trip to Disneyland for seven-year-old Frank Salazar. [914.13]
- The Pony Farm at Disneyland is renamed Circle D Corral. [1378.139]
- Ron Miller, head of film production at Disney, buys the rights to turn the book Who Censored Roger Rabbit into a movie. [1] [14]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film A Symposium on Popular Songs. [23]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film America the Beautiful. [23] [1378.27]
- Production begins on the film The Black Cauldron. [14]
- Disney releases the live-action 16-mm film The Sky Trap. [23]
- Paramount Pictures' Barry Diller and Michael Eisner meet with Disney's Card Walker and Ron Miller. They agree to share costs of making two movies: Popeye and Dragonslayer. In return, Disney would handle international distribution. [238.113]
- Disney creates "Sport Goofy", a buffer and smarter version of Goofy. [191]
- Disney releases the live-action film Call It Courage. [23]
- Disney buys the idea for the movie TRON from Steven Lisberger and Donald Kushner. [23] [437.89]
- Disney re-releases the film Lady and the Tramp to theaters. [25] [228.280]
- Disney re-releases the film The Aristocats to theaters. [25] [86.53] [1378.40]
- The French Olympic team adopts Goofy as its official mascot. [97.50]
- Richard Nunis becomes president of Walt Disney Attractions. [228.363] [409.2] [1123.D4]
- Irving Ludwig retires, after forty years with Disney. [228.298]
- August
- The Walt Disney World Conference Center building opens. [501.595]
- The Club Lake Villas accomodations open at Lake Buena Vista in Walt Disney World. [1378.144]
- September 14
- The Mickey Mouse Revue attraction in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closes. [228.323] [235.84]
- September 15
- Togo issues eleven postage stamps depicting various Disney characters, for the 50th anniversary of Pluto. [617.461]
- September
- Disney releases the live-action 16-mm film Rick, You're In: A Story About Mainstreaming for educational use. [23] [501.470]
- Disney releases the "Fit To Be You" series 16-mm educational film Flexibility and Body Composition. [23] [228.186]
- Disney releases the "Fit To Be You" series 16-mm educational film Heart and Lungs. [23] (Heart - Lungs [228.186])
- Disney releases the "Fit To Be You" series 16-mm educational film Muscles. [23] [228.186]
- Disney releases the 16-mm educational film Foods and Fun: A Nutritional Adventure. The animated film stars Orange Bird. [228.190] (Nutrition [23])
- Disney releases the 16-mm film The Adventures of J. Thaddeus Toad. Previously released as The Madcap Adventures of Mr. Toad and Wind in the Willows. Originally part of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. [23] [1378.10]
- Disney releases the animated and live-action 16-mm film The Atom: A Closer Look. It is an updated version of the film Our Friend the Atom. [23] [1378.46]
- September 23
- The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction opens in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [1378.78]
- September 25
- Grenada issues ten postage stamps featuring scenes from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. [177.76] [653.416]
- Turks and Caicos Islands issues ten postage stamps with scenes from Disney's film Pinocchio. [617.640]
- October 1
- Dominica issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Peter Pan. [648.749]
- October 7
- Grenada Grenadines issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Bambi. [653.452]
- October 10
- Disney re-releases the film Song of the South to theaters. Also shown in the animated short film Mickey Mouse Disco. [501.513] [940.C14]
- October
- Disney first releases some minor live-action films on videocassette for sale and rental, in Beta and VHS format. [1] [501.586] [911.151] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends on videocassette. [911.151] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film The Apple Dumpling Gang on videocassette. [501.586]
- Disney releases the film The Black Hole on videocassette. [501.586] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film The Love Bug on videocassette. [501.586] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film Escape to Witch Mountain on videocassette. [501.586]
- Disney releases the film Hot Lead and Cold Feet on videocassette. [228.243]
- Disney releases the film Mary Poppins on videocassette. [1] [228.314]
- Disney releases the film Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier on videocassette. [228.119] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film The North Avenue Irregulars on videocassette. [228.361]
- Disney releases the film Pete's Dragon on videocassette. [228.386] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea on videocassette. [501.575] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks on videocassette. [1378.67]
- October 22
- The TV special Lefty airs. [228.284]
- October 28
- Thirty former Mouseketeers take part in filming a TV special for the 25th anniversary of The Mickey Mouse Club show, including appearing on a parade float down Disneyland's Main Street. [1336.176] [1357]
- (month unknown)
- The Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat is retired from operation in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [1378.7]
- November 8
- The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride officially opens in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It cost US$17 million to build. [5] [125.s10.9]
- November 23
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, entitled Mouseketeer Reunion, celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Mickey Mouse Club TV show. [228.344] [941.D25] [1336.177]
- (month unknown)
- The Fantasy on Parade Christmas parade begins running again at Disneyland. [228.174]
- December
- Paramount Pictures releases the Disney/Paramount live-action feature film Popeye to theaters in the US. [23] [15] [228.397]
- The stage show Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs airs on pay-TV. The show was performed in New York in 1979. [501.509]
- In Tokyo, Japan, a ground-breaking ceremony is held at the site for Tokyo Disneyland. [55.37]
- December 21
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, featuring The Ghosts of Buxley Hall, part one. [228.205]
- December 22
- Maldives issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Alice in Wonderland. [655.580]
- Year
- Total attendance at Disneyland during the year: 11.5 million. [1074.166]
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