From its humble beginnings in 1923 to becoming the global entertainment powerhouse it is today, Disney has a long history of shaping the imaginations of generations around the world.
What started as a small animation studio founded by brothers Walt and Roy, Disney has grown into a cultural empire, revolutionizing animation, theme parks, and even the media landscape.
Over the decades, Disney has introduced beloved characters, iconic films, and groundbreaking attractions, while continuously expanding into new territories like television, streaming, and global acquisitions. This timeline takes you on a journey through the milestones of Disney history, capturing the pivotal moments that have defined nearly a century of magic.
1920s
In 1923, Walt and Roy Disney founded the Disney Brothers Studio, starting their journey in the animation industry. The initial project focused on the “Alice Comedies,” blending live-action with animation. The company name evolved to Walt Disney Studio in 1926. Later, the introduction of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit occurred in 1927, marking a significant step in Disney history.
However, after losing the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse, who made his debut in the groundbreaking short film Steamboat Willie (1928). This iconic figure would soon become synonymous with the brand.
1930s
The 1930s marked a transformational era for Disney. The studio’s distribution moved first to Columbia Pictures and then to United Artists. The success of the short Three Little Pigs solidified Disney’s reputation. The decade saw the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), which was the first full-length animated feature, pushing the boundaries of animation to new heights.
By the end of the decade, Disney’s distribution transitioned yet again, this time to RKO Radio Pictures, reflecting the increasing scope of The Walt Disney Company in the entertainment landscape.
1940s
The 1940s began with the release of Fantasia (1940), a cinematic milestone and passion project of Walt’s blending animation with classical music. The studio relocated to Burbank, California, during this time and officially became a publicly traded entity.
The Disney animators’ strike of 1941 was a pivotal event in the history of the studio, beginning on May 29 and lasting for five weeks. Tensions had been building over pay disparities, working conditions, and a lack of recognition for the artists’ contributions.
The strike eventually ended with Disney agreeing to better wages and conditions, but it left lasting divisions within the company and changed labor relations in the animation industry.
However, financial struggles plagued the studio due to the impact of World War II. After the war ended, this decade also saw the release of the controversial Song of the South (1946), and Disney began to recover, illustrating the resilience of Disney’s creative spirit.
1950s
The 1950s were momentous for Disney. In 1952, WED Enterprises – now known as Walt Disney Imagineering – was founded by Walt Disney to oversee the design and development of Disneyland and other creative projects. The name “WED” stood for Walter Elias Disney, Walt’s full name.
In the runup to the opening of Disneyland, The Mickey Mouse Club debuted on October 3, 1955, as a children’s variety show produced by Walt Disney Productions. The show featured a cast of young performers, known as the “Mouseketeers,” who sang, danced, and participated in skits and games, captivating young audiences.
That same year, Disneyland Park opened in Anaheim in 1955. As Walt said upon its opening, “To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.”
This innovative theme park concept not only brought Disney characters to life but also established a new industry standard for entertainment.
During this decade, the creation of WED Enterprises focused on developing and managing Disney’s expanding array of theme parks, a crucial step in the company’s evolving identity beyond traditional film production.
1960s
In the 1960s, Disney continued to create magic with the acquisition of rights to the Winnie the Pooh franchise. The debut of audio-animatronics featured in attractions like the Haunted Mansion showcased technological advancements in theme parks.
The release of Mary Poppins (1964) further solidified Disney’s influence in both animation and live-action cinema. Unfortunately, December 1966 brought one of the saddest days in Disney history: just one month after being diagnosed with lung cancer, Walt Disney passed away, leaving a lasting legacy and shaping the future of the company.
Prior to his death, he had announced the construction of Walt Disney World and its first-of-its-kind theme park and city, EPCOT (the Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow), signaling further expansion for the Disney empire
1970s
The 1970s began with the grand launch of Walt Disney World Resort with the opening of Magic Kingdom Park on October 1, 1971. Located near Orlando, Florida, the massive resort was designed to build on the success of Disneyland in California but on a much grander scale.
With its flagship Magic Kingdom park, Walt Disney World introduced a whole new realm of immersive experiences, including themed lands, attractions, and hotels that redefined family vacations.
However, the period also brought significant changes as Walt’s brother, Roy Disney, passed away not long after the park’s opening. Several years later, Roy E. Disney’s resignation – performed in protest of the studio’s decline in quality and creativity since Walt’s death – marked a pivotal moment in the company’s leadership and direction.
1980s
A new chapter unfolded in the 1980s with the opening of EPCOT Center. While this was a unique Disney park – focusing more on science, history, and culture than existing parks – it was still markedly different from the city utopia Walt Disney originally envisioned.
Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, expanding Disney’s reach internationally. Unlike its theme parks in Anaheim and Orlando, this wasn’t technically owned by Disney, but the Oriental Land Company.
Meanwhile, beyond theme parks, Disney faced a takeover bid from the Coca-Cola Company that was ultimately unsuccessful, but the decade also saw the commencement of several pivotal projects. The Disney Channel began productions and Michael Eisner joined as CEO, leading to the formation of Touchstone Television.
The rebranding of Walt Disney Productions to The Walt Disney Company reflected a larger, more encompassing entertainment empire. Iconic films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988) and The Little Mermaid (1989) emerged, showcasing Disney’s broadening creative capacity and hinting at a fresh new era for the then-struggling studio.
Disney’s final theme park development of the year came with the opening of Disney-MGM Studios in 1989. This featured several key attractions that offered guests a behind-the-scenes look at film and television production, including a working animation studio. The park preceded the opening of its biggest rival, Universal Studios Florida, by just over a year.
1990s
During the 1990s, Disney continued its expansion with the launch of the first Disney Vacation Club resorts and a string of blockbuster animated features, including Beauty and the Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994). Thus marked the “Disney Decade,” an era whose films are often acknowledged as being part of the Disney Renaissance.
Euro Disney, later renamed Disneyland Paris, opened its gates in 1992, marking Disney’s first venture into Europe. A new strategic partnership with Pixar led to groundbreaking films, starting with Toy Story (1995), a game-changer in computer animation technology.
In January 1994, a powerful earthquake struck Northridge, California, causing significant damage to the region, including Disneyland Resort. The magnitude 6.7 quake led to the temporary closure of the park as safety inspections and repairs were conducted. Fortunately, Disneyland itself sustained minimal structural damage.
The 1990s version of The Mickey Mouse Club premiered on May 22, 1996, reviving the beloved franchise with a fresh format and a new generation of Mouseketeers. This revival, produced by Disney Channel, featured a diverse cast of talented young performers, launching the careers of future stars like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, and Justin Timberlake.
The decade also saw the Disney Cruise Line set sail for the first time in 1998 with the launch of the Disney Magic, marking the company’s entry into the cruise industry.
The ship featured a unique blend of Disney’s storytelling and family-friendly experiences, including character interactions and themed dining. The inaugural voyage set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, offering guests a magical experience at sea.
Back at Walt Disney World, Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened on April 22, 1998, celebrating Earth Day. Dedicated to the conservation of nature, this featured a blend of live animals, immersive attractions, and natural environments.
2000s
At its original location in Southern California, Disneyland Resort opened its second theme park, Disney California Adventure, in 2001. Inspired by California itself, the park opened to 5 million visitors and was widely criticized for its lack of attractions and low budget.
Tokyo DisneySea opened in September 2001 as a unique theme park adjacent to Tokyo Disneyland, offering a distinct experience inspired by the myths and legends of the sea. With its richly themed ports of call, Tokyo DisneySea was celebrated for its stunning design and attention to detail, quickly becoming a favorite destination for Disney fans.
A year later, it opened Walt Disney Studios Park, the second park at Disneyland Paris. Inspired by the best of cinema, animation and television, it was also poorly received by guests, with Disney Imagineers later also reflecting poorly on its lack of immersive theming.
On September 30, 2005, Michael Eisner resigned as CEO. Bob Iger was soon named CEO, with his era defined by huge acquisition milestones, including both Pixar Animation and Marvel Studios, further consolidating Disney’s dominance in entertainment.
The company kickstarted the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean franchise with Johnny Depp and expanded its global footprint with the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland.
In 2007, Disney announced that Disney-MGM Studios would be rebranded as Disney’s Hollywood Studios, effective January 7, 2008.
2010s
The 2010s welcomed significant projects such as the acquisition of Lucasfilm, propelling the Star Wars franchise into the Disney universe.
In 2011, Tokyo Disney Resort was impacted by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11. Although the park itself did not suffer major structural damage, it was temporarily closed for safety inspections and repairs. The resort’s parking lot experienced liquefaction, causing flooding and damage to the ground. Tokyo Disney remained closed for over a month, reopening on April 15, 2011.
Emboldened by the hype around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort, Disney also purchased the theme park rights to James Cameron’s Avatar franchise in 2011, ultimately leading to the debut of Avatar Land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and a whole new IP-driven era for Walt Disney Imagineering.
Over on the big screen, Disney had massive success with Frozen (2013), kickstarting a worldwide phenomenon that later led to a sequel, Frozen 2 (2019). Disney’s first take on a galaxy far, far away – Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) – also garners significant box office success with director JJ Abrams.
Shanghai Disneyland opened on June 16, 2016, as the first Disney resort in mainland China. Blending classic Disney magic with Chinese culture, the park featured unique attractions and lands, including Treasure Cove, the first pirate-themed land in any Disney park, and the Enchanted Storybook Castle, the largest Disney castle ever built.
In 2017, John Lasseter – Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios – was accused of workplace sexual misconduct, which he later described as “missteps” to employees in a company memo. Lasseter later departed the company for good at the end of 2018.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) became a massive global success, breaking box office records and concluding the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Infinity Saga. It grossed over $2.79 billion worldwide, briefly becoming the highest-grossing film of all time. The film was praised for its emotional depth, epic scale, and satisfying resolution to over a decade of interconnected stories.
As the decade came to a close, Disney launched its streaming platform, Disney+, marking a substantial entry into the streaming market. The streaming service accumulated 10 million subscribers by the end of its first day of operation.
One of its final theatrical releases of the year came in the form of Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker(2019). The final entry in the Skywalker Saga, the film was widely panned by both critics and fans and marked the beginning of an ongoing hiatus of cinematicStar Wars projects.
2020s
As the clock turned to the 2020s, Disney faced unique challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to temporary park closures at its resorts worldwide.
Bob Chapek briefly took the reins as CEO, overseeing the company as Disney+ subscriber numbers plummeted and the parks were criticized for a number of cost-cutting measures, such as the end of FastPass and the introduction of Genie+.
In the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, Disney revealed plans to close Splash Mountain – the ride based on its controversialSong of the South– and replace it with a ride inspired byPrincess and the Frog (2009). While both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Park were affected, Tokyo Disney Resort was not.
After criticizing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Disney found itself at odds with the state of Florida, eventually losing its governing jurisdiction and special taxing district known as Reedy Creek. This was replaced by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, with Disney ultimately losing a lawsuit filed against DeSantis.
Amid the chaos, Chapek was fired in November 2022, and – to the surprise of many – Bob Iger came out of retirement and returned as leader amidst industry challenges and plummeting stock prices. The following year, Disney announced the abrupt closure of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
The one-of-a-kind immersive roleplaying hotel debuted with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios but had long been criticized for its high prices and low bookings.
In 2023, The Walt Disney Company launched its Disney100 celebration for its centennial, reflecting on its extensive history, resilience, and impact on global entertainment.
Once Disney’s prized franchise, the Marvel Cinematic Universe began to struggle at the box office. Its biggest disappointment came fromThe Marvels(2023), which underperformed in both domestic and international markets, raising concerns about superhero fatigue and audience interest in the MCU’s newer characters.
In turn, Disney pledged to cut down on the number of Marvel projects and in turn focus on quality over quantity. This included its Disney+ output, with the number of superhero TV shows slashed.
Meanwhile, the Writers Strike and SAG-AFTRA Strikes brought Disney productions to a halt for many months in 2023. Bob Iger attracted criticism after noting that “there’s a level of expectation that they have that is just not realistic, and they are adding to a set of challenges that this business is already facing that is quite frankly very disruptive and dangerous.”
Off-screen, plans were announced to invest $60 billion into Disney’s theme parks over the next decade, with major changes including the closure of Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom Park and the renaming of Walt Disney Studios Park – the much-derided second park at Disneyland Paris – as Disney Adventure World.
As money was pledged to the parks, cast members went on strike. Disneyland Resort saw over 14,000 cast members threaten to walk out en masse if wages weren’t increased after struggling to meet the cost of living in Anaheim. Disney later agreed to pay increases.
What Will The Future Bring?
As Disney looks ahead to the future, the 100-year journey from humble beginnings in a garage to a global media giant showcases the company’s legacy of innovation and creativity. The company’s evolution emphasizes not only its historical milestones but also the enduring magic of Disney that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
From classic characters and animated masterpieces to diversified ventures and digital platforms, the Disney timeline is a rich narrative that reflects the power of imagination and storytelling. The Walt Disney Company remains committed to enhancing its legacy, poised to inspire generations for another century and beyond.
What’s your favorite piece of Disney history trivia?
