- January 16
- In Anaheim, California, Disney premieres the stage show Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular. [650.27]
- January 21
- Disney releases the animated film 101 Dalmatians 2: Patch's London Adventure on DVD and videocassette. [415.26]
- (month unknown)
- Konami releases the Disney Sports Snowboarding video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [624.140]
- Disney Interactive releases the Stanley: Wild for Sharks software for the Apple Macintosh computer in the US. Price is US$20. [869.44]
- Disney Interactive releases the Disney Learning Adventure: Search for the Secret Keys software for the Apple Macintosh computer in the US. Price is US$20. [869.44]
- Disney Interactive releases the Disney Pixar Learning: 2nd & 3rd Grade software for the Apple Macintosh computer in the US. Price is US$20. [869.44]
- Disney Interactive releases the Disney's Phonics Quest software for the Apple Macintosh computer in the US. Price is US$20. [869.44]
- February 2
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A mugger is wearing a Goofy hat. [997]
- February 8
- The Jungle Book Carnival begins at Disneyland Paris, running for a month. [415.22]
- February 9
- In Hollywood, California, Disney premieres the film The Jungle Book 2. [650.27]
- February 14
- Disney releases the animated feature film The Jungle Book 2 to theaters in the US. [414.66] [415.26]
- February 16
- The ABC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled Music Man. [414.67]
- March 2
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
- At a shopping mall, a store is called "Something Wicker This Way Comes", a reference to the Disney film Something Wicked This Way Comes.
- A character refers to the film "Honey, I ScotchGuarded the Kids", a reference to the Disney film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
[998]
- March 8
- The Le Music-Hall de Mickey show opens in Videopolis at Disneyland Paris. [414.25]
- March 9
- The Jungle Book Carnival at Disneyland Paris ends. [415.22]
- March 11
- Disney releases the film Inspector Gadget 2 on DVD and videocassette in the US. [414.25] [415.26]
- March 21
- Disney releases the animated feature film Piglet's Big Movie to theaters in the US. [414.25] [415.26]
- March 23
- In Hollywood, California, the 75th Annual Academy Awards show is held. An animated Mickey Mouse appears on stage to introduce the nominees for Best Animated Short Film. [650.27]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Best Picture) for the film Chicago. [890]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Actress in a Supporting Role) to Catherine Zeta-Jones for the film Chicago. [890]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Art Direction - Set Direction) to John Myhre (art director) and Gordon Sim (set decorator) for the film Chicago. [890]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Costume Design) to Colleen Atwood for the film Chicago. [890]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Sound) to Michael Minkler, Dominick Tavella, and David Lee for the film Chicago. [890]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Editing) to Martin Welsh for the film Chicago. [890]
- The Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland Paris makes its last run. [415.22]
- March 24
- Business Week magazine uses an image of Disney's Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket in an article on lying on applications to business schools. [987.14]
- March 30
- The first Walt Disney World In-Line Marathon is held, through Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Boardwalk Resort, and Epcot. [414.25]
- March 31
- Over the past twelve months, attendance at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea was 25 million visitors. [1223.57]
- IMAX Corporation releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Russia. [890]
- April 7
- The National Association of Broadcasters holds a luncheon honoring the Disney franchise. Company chairman Michael Eisner announces Disney will begin testing a new video-on-demand service called Movie Beam later in the year. A television set-top box will download new film releases over regular television broadcast signal to a local storage device for later playback. [686]
- The Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage show debuts at Disney's California Adventure. [414.25]
- April 11
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction opens in Critter Country at Disneyland. [1300.264]
- April 13
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A child seeks to repress an unwanted memory by saying "I am at Disneyland. Disneyland!". [999]
- April 15
- The Mickey's Gifts of Dreams musical show premieres on the Castle Forecount Stage at Tokyo Disneyland. [414.25]
- April
- The May issue of Mac Addict magazine includes a picture from the film Finding Nemo, as an example of saving a film in QuickTime format. [1044.21]
- The Teddi Barra's Swingin' Arcade in Disneyland closes. [1300.409]
- The Brer Bar in Disneyland closes. [1300.82]
- The Crocodile Mercantile shop in Disneyland closes. [1300.120]
- April 18
- Disney releases the Walt Disney Pictures film Holes to theaters in the US. [414.68]
- April 26
- Disney premieres the film The Lizzie McGuire Movie in Hollywood, California. [483.29] [745.432]
- April 27
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A lawyer tells a character "... don't use A flat or G natural. Those notes are owned by Disney." [1000]
- (month unknown)
- Camphor Tree Publishers releases the Ellenshaw Under Glass book, by Peter Ellenshaw, about his career as a visual effects and matte artist for Disney. Price is US$65-150. [650.75]
- Walt Disney Record releases the music CD O Mickey, Where Art Thou? [650.74]
- Disney Interactive changes its name to Buena Vista Games. [525.21] [625.20]
- May 2
- Buena Vista releases the animated and live-action feature film The Lizzie McGuire Movie to theaters in the US. [414.25] [612.28]
- May 4
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
- The episode title "Old Yeller-Belly" is a reference to the book, dog, and Disney film Old Yeller.
- A parody of the Disney-ABC TV show Live with Regis and Kelly is shown.
[1001]
- May 9
- Disney announces negotiations for a second Lizzie McGuire movie and extension of the television series had ended unsuccessfully. [745.434]
- May 13
- Disney releases the film Atlantis 2: Milo's Return on DVD and videocassette. [414.25]
- Buena Vista releases the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea on DVD for US$29.99, and videocassette in the US. [414.25] [633.108]
- May 15
- IMAX Corporation releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in the Czech Republic. [890]
- May 18
- Disney premieres the film Finding Nemo in Hollywood, California. [483.29]
- May 27
- Disney releases the animated film Recess: All Growed Down on DVD and videocassette. [414.25]
- May 30
- Disney releases the animated Disney-Pixar feature film Finding Nemo to theaters in the US. (American theater ticket sales: US$340 million. Worldwide theater ticket sales: US$850 million.) [414.25] [612.65] [650.20a] [669.62] [685.29] [708.63] [1323.224]
- June
- Bethesda Softworks releases the Pirates of the Caribbean video game for Windows-based computers and the Xbox video game system. [448.88] [449.110] [660.75]
- (month unknown)
- Buena Vista releases the film Gangs of New York on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.105]
- Buena Vista releases the film The Recruit on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.106]
- Buena Vista releases the film Frida on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.108]
- Buena Vista releases the film 25th Hour on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.110]
- Buena Vista releases the film The Hot Chick on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.111]
- Saint Thomas and Prince Islands issues a 5,000d postage stamp of Walt Disney in its "Famous People" series. [1229.856]
- July 9
- Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl to theaters in the USA. The film includes several references to Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction:
- prisoners in jail try to get a dog with a key to come to them,
- a pirate sits on a barrel drinking from a bottle,
- a parrot says "Dead men tell no tales", and
- the theme song is sung "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me".
(American theater gross receipts: US$305 million; international: US$348 million.) [414.25] [612.68] [633.18] [650.22] [685.29] [705.21] [708.63] [745.439] [966] [990.44]
- July 12
- Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Reign of Fire to theaters in the US. [507.11] [607.81]
- July
- THQ releases the Finding Nemo video game for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and Game Boy Advance video game systems, and Windows and Macintosh computers in the US. [620.22] [625] [650.75]
- Gemstone begins publishing Donald Duck Adventures comic book. [650.55]
- (month unknown)
- ABC television chairman Lloyd Braun presents an idea for a television show called Lost, about a group of people stranded on a desert island. [745.485]
- August 4
- Business Week magazine publishes the Interbrand ranking of the most valuable global brands. Disney is number seven. [988.69]
- In Hollywood, California, Disney premieres the film Freaky Friday. [651.29]
- August 5
- Touchstone Home Video releases the film Bringing Down the House on videocassette, and DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [613.89,94]
- August 6
- Disney releases the live-action feature film Freaky Friday to theaters in the US. (Gross theater receipts in the US: US$109 million.) [612.79] [633.20] [650.22,65] [708.63]
- August 12
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film The Lizzie McGuire Movie on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [613.91] [616.100]
- August 26
- Buena Vista Interactive releases the TRON 2.0 video game for Windows-based personal computers in the US. [449.64] [506.91] [518.70] [660.26] [670.44,65] [691.5] [693.33] [1215.23]
- (month unknown)
- Touchstone releases the film Chicago on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [613.90]
- Touchstone releases the film Shanghai Knights on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [613.94]
- September 2
- Activision releases the Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure video game for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, and Xbox in the US. [483.74] [518.144] [660.38] [670.26,70] [1133.16]
- September 9
- Disney releases the film Sleeping Beauty on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [483.68] [613.105] [616.89]
- September 12
- Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Cold Creek Manor to theaters in the US. [616.14]
- September 26
- Disney releases the live-action feature film Under the Tuscan Sun to theaters in the US. [616.14]
- September 29
- Disney subsidiary Buena Vista Datacasting introduces the video-on-demand service MovieBeam in three cities in the United States: Spokane, Washington, Jacksonville, Florida, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The service lets users download and store films for up to 24 hours on a television set-top device. Rental of the device costs US$6.99 per month, with film costs of US$1.99-3.99 per title. [686]
- (month unknown)
- Touchstone releases the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind on DVD for US$29.99 on the US. [616.89]
- October 7
- Disney releases The Lion King Special Edition on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [483.24] [519.68] [613.105] [614.110]
- October 8
- Mickey's PhilharMagic 3-D film opens in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [415.19] [1248.43]
- The fireworks show Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams premieres at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. [652.28]
- October 9
- Hewlett-Packard announces a ten-year extension to its business and technology partnership with Disney. [686]
- The Mission: Space attraction opens in Epcot at Walt Disney World. The attraction cost US$150 million to build. [366.22] [483.24] [650.14] [652.28] [745.431]
- October
- Matt Ouimet is the new president of the Disneyland Resort. [757.31]
- October 10
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. When a basketball team wins the championships, the TV announcer asks them "What are you gonna do next?" They reply "We're not going to Alaska!". This is a reference to Disney promotional advertisements of the 1970s in which a sports star would answer "I'm going to Disneyland!". [903]
- October 14
- TDK Mediactive releases The Haunted Mansion video game for the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 in the US. Price is US$39.99. [677.88] [1134.18]
- The Travel Channel airs the TV special "Disneyland Resort: Behind the Scenes". [1300.137]
- October 20
- Disney premieres the animated feature film Brother Bear at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York. [483.24] [652.28]
- October 24
- Disney releases the animated feature film Brother Bear to theaters in the USA. [614.18]
- October 26
- The American Space Experience exhibit closes at Disneyland. [1300.48]
- (month unknown)
- Touchstone releases the film Holes on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [614.100]
- Disney Editions releases The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies book, by Jason Surrell. Price is US$19.95. [651.75]
- The Intrepid Traveler releases the Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets book, by Steven Barrett. Price is US$11.95. [651.77]
- Bowman Books releases The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World book by Cara Goldsbury. Price is US$19.95. [651.77]
- Disney Interactive releases the Lizzie McGuire: One the Go! video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. Price is US$29.99. [651.77]
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the Lilo & Stitch's Island of Adventures board game with DVD. Price is US$29.99. [651.77]
- November 4
- ABC resumes airing the TV show Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter after the death of main star John Ritter on September 11. [745.458]
- Touchstone releases the film Finding Nemo on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. A first-day sales record is set: 8 million copies. [520.82] [614.102] [1323.224]
- November 9
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
- A photograph shows a couple on the drop of a log flume ride, a reference to the photos taken on the drop of Disney's Splash Mountain.
- A character driving with a fugitive from the law says: "I'm gonna hide you where there's no one around for miles: Disney's California Adventure!".
[1019]
- November 18
- Seventy-five plaster Mickey Mouse statues go on display in Walt Disney World. The art show is entitled Celebrate Mickey: 75 Inspearations. The statues were created by celebrity artists, to honor the 75th anniversary of the film debut of Mickey Mouse. (The statues will later go on a tour across America, to be auctioned off for charity at Sotheby's in New York.) [651.18] [652.29]
- November 20
- John Bryson tells Roy Disney that Roy would not be re-nominated to the board of directors. [745.465]
- November 22
- The ABC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled Eloise at Christmastime. [651.67]
- November 23
- Disney premieres the live-action feature film The Haunted Mansion at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California. [652.29]
- November 30
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A hallucination of various commercial bears includes Disney's Winnie-the-Pooh. [1020]
- Roy Disney resigns from the Disney board of directors, including his positions as Chairman of Feature Animation, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. [694.B5] [745.467]
- December 1
- Disney re-releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in New Zealand. [890]
- Stanley Gold issues a letter of resignation from the Disney board of directors, seconding Roy Disney's call for the removal of Michael Eisner as Chairmain and CEO. [745.471]
- December 2
- Touchstone releases the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl on DVD for US$29.98 in the US. [615.120] [651.26]
- December 4
- At the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California, the Motion Picture Association presents the Pioneer of the Year award to Michael Eisner. [745.473]
- December 7
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
- A fat man has a teacup from Disneyland's Mad Tea Party attraction stuck on his bottom.
- He comments that one should never go on the ride "after eating at Beauty and the Beast's Fried Dough Chateau".
- A character hosting a live show says "Thank you, cast of The Lion King".
[1021]
- December 15
- The Mary Poppins stage show opens in London, England. [652.20] (December 2004 [745.334i])
- December 17
- Comcast begins making discrete discussions with Disney board member George Mitchell about merging the two companies. Mitchell agrees that "this makes a lot of sense". [745.478]
- December 19
- Touchstone releases the live-action feature film Calendar Girls in theaters in the US. [708.21]
- Year
- Worldwide theater gross receipts for the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl: US$654 million. DVD sales: US$360 million. [1098.73]
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