References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 June 26.

2001 January 2 Disney's Grand Californian Hotel opens. [259.23,28] [325.73] (February 8 [757.41]) January 7 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. The line "is that your final answer" is said, a reference to the Disney-ABC TV show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. A sign for the "Disney Store" is shown as an example of a place smart people are not welcome. [955] January 12 Downtown Disney opens, in the Disneyland Resort, between Disneyland and the site of Disney's California Adventure. The 300,000 square foot site features restaurants, nightclubs, shops, and movie theaters. [259.23,28] [325.16] The Café Catal restaurant opens in Downtown Disney in California. [325.16] The La Brea Bakery opens in Downtown Disney in California. [325.16] The Naples Ristorante and Pizzeria restaurant opens in Downtown Disney in California. [325.17] The Rainforest Cafe restaurant opens in Downtown Disney in California. [325.17] The ESPN Zone restaurant and arcade opens in Downtown Disney in California. [325.17] The Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen restaurant opens in Downtown Disney in California. [325.17] The Y Arriba Y Arriba restaurant opens in Downtown Disney in California. [325.17] The House of Blues nightclub opens in Downtown Disney in California. [325.17] Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Double Take to theaters in the USA. [486.9] January 13 The TV series Disney's House of Mouse premieres, part of Disney's One Saturday Morning. [911.168] January The TV series The Book of Pooh debuts. It features puppets on computer-generated backgrounds. [325.68] January 29 Disney announces it will close its Go.com Web site, and exit the Web portal market. The stock ceases trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Disney exchanges stock of Go.com for Disney shares. [686] [745.358] [794.44] (month unknown) Nintendo releases the Mickey's Speedway U.S.A. video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [668.62] Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Gone in Sixty Seconds on videocassette in the US. [595.83] February 8 In Anaheim, California, Disney's California Adventure theme park opens, next to Disneyland. The 55-acre site includes three areas: Paradise Pier, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and the Golden State. The theme park cost US$1.4 billion to build. Admission prices are US$43 for adults, and US$33 for children. [259.23,28] [322.29] [320] [325.73] [394.35] [757.41] [793.56] [939.176] February 12 Disney releases the animated film Buzz Lightyear of Star Command - The Adventure Begins on videocassette and DVD in the United Kingdom. [405.100] February Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Dinosaur on videocassette and DVD in the US. [396.16] [596.111] February 16 Disney releases the Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film Recess: School's Out to theaters in the USA. [321.73] [325.68] [486.16] February 18 Disney releases the animated film Lady and the Tramp II - Scamp's Adventure on videocassette and DVD. [321.49] [322.31] The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A televised game show called "Me Wantee!" is a parody of the Disney-ABC TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. [973] February 25 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. A sign on a tour bus in Hollywood says "Star Tours", a reference to the Disneyland attraction. [933] (month unknown) The Power of Blast musical show opens at Disney's California Adventure. [394.28] The Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction opens in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [321.20] March 11 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. A character says he's "only one skull short of a Mouseketeer reunion". [934] March 13 Finland issues five postage stamps for the 50th anniversary of Donald Duck Comics in Finland. [1156.1123] March Disney reworks its Go.com web site, rather than shutting it down as earlier reported. The site now acts as a gateway to all of Disney's Web properties, and replaces InfoSeek with the search engine of GoTo.com. [686] The Writer's Guild of America receives the first public screening of the film Walt: The Man Behind the Myth. The film was produced as a documentary by Pantheon Productions for the Walt Disney Family Foundation. [327.70] March 27 Disney announces it will reduce its workforce by 4000 jobs by the end of July, to reduce costs. [686] March 30 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. The entire episode is about playing in a virtual reality video game. Characters in the game appear similar to those in the Disney film TRON. [956] April 1 The Main Street Electrical Parade at Walt Disney World makes its last run. [321.20] April 2 Spectromagic re-starts in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [321.20] April 6 Albania issues four postage stamps depicting Goofy. [1155.318] Disney releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film Just Visiting to theaters in the USA. [486.178] April 8 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. A sitting robotic Abraham Lincoln stands and talks, a reference to Disneyland's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction. [935] April 13 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. Inside a human body, a tour guide says "The small intestine is a high-intensity flume ride. People, you will get wet.", a reference to Disneyland's Splash Mountain attraction. Characters visit "Kidneyland", a reference to Disneyland, with a large castle. A man at the park is "Walt Kidney", a reference to Walt Disney. A tiny flying pixie is called "Tinklebell", a reference to Tinkerbell. [957] April The attraction Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - Play It! opens at Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World. [324.B2] [327.18] April 16 Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge opens at Walt Disney World. [321.19,26] [367.28] [394.19] April 20 The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival begins, running for six weeks. [321.20] The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. A character says "Welcome to Dimmsdale, the happiest place on the planet, or else!". This is a reference to Disneyland being "The Happiest Place on Earth". [958] May 6 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. The episode title I'm Goin' to Praiseland is a reference to the Disney-sponsored line "I'm going to Disneyland". At a theme park, an attraction is called King David's Wild Ride, a reference to the Disneyland attraction Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. [974] May 13 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A professor uses "Flubber" on his shoes to jump high, a reference to Disney's The Absent Minded Professor film. [975] May 20 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A log raft ride ends with a photo being taken, exit sign, and souvenir photo area, all references to Disneyland's Splash Mountain attraction. [976] May 22 Disney holds a dedication ceremony at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge in Walt Disney World. [327.24] May 25 Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Pearl Harbor to theaters in the USA. The premiere of the film is held on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis in Honolulu. The film cost US$140 million to produce. (North American theater gross receipts: US$199 million; worldwide: US$450 million.) [486.54] [597.35] [603.68] [745.357] [795.90] (month unknown) Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film The Legend of Drunken Master on video. Price is US$29.99. [598.93] Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Bounce on video. Price is US$29.99. [598.95] Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film The Crow: Salvation on video. Price is US$29.99. [598.96] June 3 Disney premieres the film Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California. [327.24] June 5 Disney releases the film Oliver & Company on videocassette and DVD. [322.26] Disney releases the film So Dear to My Heart on videocassette and DVD. [322.26] June 8 Disney releases the Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire to theaters in the USA. The film cost US$90 million to produce. (North American theater gross receipts: US$84 million.) [322.26] [325.71] [486.61] [598.65] [603.68] [745.362] [810.79] [922.72] Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Swordfish to theaters in the USA. A character says "I'm just a sucker for Disneyland". [1137] The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Original Movie Jett Jackson The Movie. [492.29] June 12 Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? on videocassette and DVD. [598.94] [599.97] June ABC Television airs Voyage to Atlantis: The Lost Empire produced by Disney. [664.42] June 20 Peter Schneider announces he is leaving Disney as chairman of the film studio. [745.363] [811.44] Comedy Central airs the South Park TV show in the USA. A kid has four tickets to "The Lion King On Stage". [1206] June 29 Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Crazy/Beautiful to theaters in the USA. [486.67] [598.65] (month unknown) Disney pays US$352 million to a pair of heirs of author A.A. Milne regarding rights to the Winnie-the-Pooh characters. [915.51] Fred Joerger is named a Disney Legend. He was a model maker for Disneyland and Disney films. [914.163] July 3 Disney's Electrical Parade begins nightly performances at Disney's California Adventure. [327.22] July 4 Comedy Central airs the South Park TV show in the USA. The Master Control Program from the film Tron is used to represent a computer interface. [1207] July Disneyland unveils the renovated Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction. [366.22] July 11 Comedy Central airs the South Park TV show in the USA. A character dies laughing, and it's emerging angel continues laughing, similar to the way the weasels die in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. [1208] July 17 Disney releases the animated film The Book of Pooh: Stories From the Heart on videocassette. [322.26] Disney releases the animated film Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search For Christopher Robin on videocassette and DVD. [322.26] July 25 Comedy Central airs the South Park TV show in the USA. An amusement park shares many similarities to Disneyland and Walt Disney World: main street, haunted mansion, mine train, fast passes, paddlewheeler and sailing ship and island, log ride. [1209] (month unknown) Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Duets on video. [599.96] August 2 In Burbank, California, Disney renames its Soundstage 2 to The Julie Andrews Stage. [366.29] August 3 Disney releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film The Princess Diaries to theaters in the USA. The film cost US$30 million to produce. (North American theater gross receipts: US$107 million.) [322.26] [486.83] [598.69] August The Tokyo DisneySea theme park in Japan is opened for a press preview. [366.25] August 17 The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Original Movie Jumping Ship. [493.35] August 24 Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Bubble Boy to theaters in the USA. [486.190] (month unknown) The Country Bear Playhouse at Disneyland closes. [366.22] September 2 At Disneyland, the Disneyana Convention is held, over seven days. [327.14,22] [366.29] September 4 The Tokyo DisneySea theme park opens in Japan. It features seven "ports of call": American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, Mysterious Island, and Mediterranean Harbor. There are initially 23 attractions. The park is owned by the Oriental Land Company, Ltd., operated under licence from the Walt Disney Company. [322.26] [327.14,62] [366.29] [395.24] [914.81] The Aquasphere fountain sculpture attraction opens at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.64] The Sinbad's Seven Voyages storybook boat ride opens in the Arabian Coast port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. The ride features 163 Audio-Animatronics people and animals. [327.64] The Hotel MiraCosta, with 502 rooms, opens in the Mediterranean Harbor port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.65] The Flounder's Flying Fish Coaster roller coaster opens in the Mermaid Lagoon port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.65] The S.S. Columbia ocean liner opens in the American Waterfront port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.66] The Dockside Stage opens in the American Waterfront port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.66] The Storm Rider simulator ride opens in Port Discovery at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.66] The Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull attraction opens in the Lost River Delta port of call in Tokyo DisneySea. [327.67] The Magic Lamp Theater opens in the Arabian Coast port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.67] The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction opens in the Mysterious Island port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.67] The Journey to the Center of the Earth attraction opens in the Mysterious Island port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.67] The Fortress Explorations play area opens in the Mediterranean Harbor port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. [327.68] The Caravan Carousel attraction opens in the Arabian Coast port of call at Tokyo DisneySea. This is the first two-story carousel for a Disney park. [327.68] September 7 Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film New Port South to theaters in the USA. [486.192] September 9 The Tapestry of Nations parade ends in Epcot. [395.43] The Country Bear Jamboree in Bear Country at Disneyland closes. [939.128] September 11 Following four plane crashes in the US, Michael Eisner and Robert Iger decide to stage an orderly closing of Walt Disney World, and not open Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure for the day. [745.371] September Disney creates the Buena Vista Game Entertainment Studio, headed by Jan Smith. The business unit is focused on the interactive gaming market. [686] September 19 Sid Bass tells Michael Eisner that the Bass family must sell a combined 135 million shares of Disney stock, representing 6.7% of the company total shares, worth US$2.2 billion. [745.374] September 20 The Bass family sells 135 million shares of The Walt Disney Company for about US$2 billion. This quantity of shares represents 6.4% of all outstanding shares of the company. Disney buys 50 million of the shares, with Goldman Sachs investment bank buying the other 85 million. (During 1984, the Bass family acquired 25% of Disney, helping Roy Disney take over the company and put Michael Eisner in charge.) [368.D10] [745.376] Disney stock drops below US$17 per share, down over 25 percent from its value ten days ago. [745.373] September 21 Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Big Trouble to theaters in the US. [600.95] The city of Marceline, Missouri, begins a three-day celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Walt Disney. [327.28] September 25 Disney Interactive releases the Ultimate Ride software for Windows in the US. The player can build and ride virtual roller coasters. [366.80] [404.56] [779.31] (month unknown) The ABC TV network airs the film Walt: The Man Behind the Myth. [327.71] Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Malèna on video. Price is US$32.99. [600.100] Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Dracula 2000 on video. Price is US$29.99. [600.104] October 1 Walt Disney World begins the 100 Years of Magic celebration of Walt Disney's birth. [322.26] [327.14] The Tapestry of Dreams parade premieres in Epcot. [395.43] October 5 Disney releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Max Keeble's Big Move to theaters in the USA. [327.14] [486.198] October 9 Walt Disney Home Video releases the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on a Platinum Series two DVD set. [322.26] [327.14] [601.101] October 12 Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Corky Romano to theaters in the USA. [486.112] [601.92] October In Disneyland, the Haunted Mansion attraction is decorated with elements from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas film, with temporary new name Haunted Mansion Holiday. [939.125] October 20 The International Food and Wine Festival begins in Epcot, running until November 18. [327.22] October 23 Disney releases the film Dumbo on DVD and videocassette. This edition has been digitally restored and remastered. Included with the film is the animated short Silly Symphony film The Flying Mouse. [327.14,71] October 24 Disney's acquisition of the Family channel closes, with final total price at US$5.2 billion. [745.376] October 28 Disney premieres the animated feature film Monsters, Inc. in Hollywood, California. [367.27] (month unknown) Parker Brothers releases the Disney Monopoly board game. Price is US$30. [366.80] Disney Editions publishes the book The Little Book of Disney. Price is US$24.95. [366.80] Disney Editions publishes the book Mickey Mouse: The Evolution, the Legend, the Phenomenon!. [366.80] November 2 Disney generally releases the Walt Disney Pictures / Pixar Animation Studios animated feature film Monsters, Inc. to theatres in the USA. The film cost US$115 million to produce. (North American theater receipts: US$255.5 million.) [327.14,73] [486.126] [601.95] [603.68] [922.72] November 4 Disney releases the film Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street on VHS and DVD. [327.14] November 6 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. While trying to catch a leprechaun, a pixie drawn like Tinkerbell is also caught. [977] November 11 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. The episode title The Parent Rap is a reference to the Disney film The Parent Trap. [978] November 18 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A bartender says "I am sick of you drunks and your shaggy dog stories."; a patron tells the dog next to him "Sorry Shaggy". These are references to Disney's The Shaggy Dog film and sequels. Four people dance on a bar counter, a reference to a similar scene in Disney's film Coyote Ugly. [979] November 21 Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Out Cold to theaters in the USA. [486.206] December 1 The TriceraTop Spin attraction opens in Chester & Hester's DinoRama in Disney's Animal Kingdom. [366.22] December 2 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character mentions Scrooge McDuck. A couple eating spaghetti share a common noodle, like in the Disney film Lady and the Tramp. [980] December 4 Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases four volumes of "Walt Disney Treasures", each title on two DVDs: Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Davy Crockett, Silly Symphonies, and Disneyland USA. [366.16] [1073.201] Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Pearl Harbor on videocassette, and DVD for US$26.98, in the US. [601.17] [603.79] [720.77] [807.27] December 14 Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film The Royal Tenenbaums to theaters in the USA. [486.148] [602.18] December Disney and the China Central Television network make an agreement for 142 Mickey Mouse cartoons to be broadcast on television, to about 225 million houses in China. [701.72] December 18 Disney premieres the film Beauty and the Beast in giant screen theaters. [394.34] Disney releases The Princess Diaries on videocassette. [366.70] [720.77] December EchoStar Communications decides to remove Disney's ESPN Classic and Family Channel from EchoStar's cable programming. [812.35]