2002

January 1

• IMAX Corporation and Disney release the film Beauty and the Beast to IMAX and other large screen theaters in Australia, France, Hong Kong, and USA. [322.67] [366.26] [602.15] [890] [1073.200]

January 2

• IMAX Corporation releases the film Beauty and the Beast to theaters in Belgium. [890]

January 4

• IMAX Corporation releases the film Beauty and the Beast to theaters in Poland and the United Kingdom. [890]

January 6

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.

A character refers to "the magic of Disney Animatronics".

A robotic human in a chair stands and speaks, a reference to the Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln attraction.

[981]

January 7

• Disney announces it is using Compaq iPaq handheld computers to provide text and foreign language audio translations of some of its attractions in WDW. A wireless network automatically triggers the computer as the wearer moves among locations. Language translations available are French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish. [686]
• Disney announces that Stu Bloomberg is being replaced by Susan Lyne as president of ABC's Entertainment Television Group, with Lloyd Braun as sole chairman. [745.381] [812.40]

January 13

• In Hollywood, Disney premieres the film Snow Dogs. [394.35]

January 15

• Disney re-releases the film Tron, on DVD and videocassette in the US. [402.38] [720.75]

January 18

• Disney releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Snow Dogs to theaters in the US. [603.16]

January 27

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A parade float "Lesbians of the Caribbean" includes music similar to that of Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean ride, with lyrics "Yo ho ho it's an alternative lifestyle for me". [982]

February 1

• Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film The Count of Monte Cristo to theaters in the US. [603.18]

February 8

• At the first anniversary of the opening of Disney's California Adventure theme park, Disneyland Resort president Cynthia Harriss and Walt Disney Imagineering senior vice president Barry Braverman announce plans for the park's expansion. [394.35]

February 11

• In Hollywood, California, Disney premieres the film Return to Never Land. [394.35]

February 12

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Monsters, Inc. for an award for animated feature. [486.126]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Monsters, Inc. for an award for sound effects editing. [486.126]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Monsters, Inc. for an award for original score. [486.126]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the song "If I Didn't Have You" from the film Monsters, Inc. for an award for best original song. [486.126]

February 15

• Disney releases the animated film Return to Never Land to theaters in the USA. [366.26]

February 26

• Disney releases the animated film Cinderella II: Dreams Come True on videocassette and DVD. [366.26] [367.67]

February 28

• Michael Eisner testifies at the Senate Commerce Committee in Washington, D.C., on protection of digital content from piracy. Eisner refers to Apple Computer ads for the iPod as encouraging copyright violation. [745.382]

March 8

• Disney's Pop Century Resort opens at Walt Disney World. [366.22]

March 10

• The ABC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. [367.67]

March 13

• Saint Thomas and Prince Islands issues a 15,00d postage stamp of Walt Disney in its "Famous Men" series. [1229.855]

March

• At The American Adventure attraction in Epcot, portable translators are pilot tested. The Personal Translation Units are triggered by sensors to play audio translations of the attraction's soundtrack in alternate languages. [394.25] (January [686])

March 16

• The Walt Disney Studios Park opens next to Disneyland Paris in France. [366.22] [367.28] [415.54] [745.387] [914.81]

March 17

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character eats a page from a childrens' book, then says "Well, it's easier to chew than that Bambi video.", likely referring to the Disney film. [983]

March 19

• Disney releases the animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame II on videocassette and DVD in the US. [367.28] [605.85]

March 24

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Music, Best Song) for the song "If I Didn't Have You" from the film Monsters, Inc.. [394.34] [486.126] [890]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Sound Editing) to Christopher Boyes and George Watters II for the film Pearl Harbor. [890]

March 26

• In New York City, the Astor Plaza Theatre premieres the film The Rookie. [394.34]

March 29

• Disney releases the live-action feature film The Rookie to theaters in the US. [606.24]

March 31

• Over the past twelve months, attendance at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea was 22 million visitors. [1223.57]
• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A book is titled Who Wants to be a Braziliannaire?, a reference to the Disney-ABC TV show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. [984]

(month unknown)

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Belle De Jour on DVD in the US for US$32.99. [605.81]
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Bubble Boy on DVD in the US for US$32.99. [605.82]

April 7

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character says "Michael Eisner's been dead for five years". [985]

April 8

• Albania issues four postage stamps depicting Bambi and Thumper. [1155.319]

April

• Disney announces changes to its board of directors, prohibiting external auditors from providing consulting services to the company. [917.110]

April 22

• The Primeval Whirl roller coaster opens in Disney's Animal Kingdom. [366.22] [367.28]

April 24

• Grenada issues ten postage stamps depicting Mickey Mouse. [1161.493]

April 26

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. One character says to another "Mr. President, you almost caused a nuclear war. What are you going to do next?" The reply is "I'm going to Escalatorland." This is a reference to Disney commercials where a sports figure says he is going to Disneyland. [959]

May 19

• Disney releases the film The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh on videocassette and DVD. [367.28]

(month unknown)

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film The Others on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [607.90]

June 1

• The Journey Into Imagination with Figment attraction re-opens in Epcot Center at Walt Disney World. [394.28]

June

• The Disney Channel debuts the animated Kim Possible TV show. [394.67]

June 16

• In Hollywood, California, the El Capitan Theatre premieres the animated feature film Lilo & Stitch. [367.28] [395.31]

June

• Disney Interactive releases Disney's Lilo & Stitch video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [447.52] [645.146]

June 18

• Disney releases the film Max Keeble's Big Move on DVD and videocassette. [394.32]

June 21

• Disney generally releases the Walt Disney Pictures animated film Lilo & Stitch to theaters in the USA. (US theater receipts: US$146 million.) [394.32] [608.23] [922.72]

(month unknown)

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Amélie on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [608.82]
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Nixon on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [608.85]

July 1

• Disney's Beach Club Villas resort opens at Walt Disney World. [394.32]

July 11

• Buena Vista International releases the film Beauty and the Beast to theaters in Argentina. [890]

July

• Following the release of third quarter Disney fiscal results, the stock price drops to an eight-year low: US$13.75 (split-adjusted). [745.402]
• The article "Where Do We Go From Here?" in MacFormat magazine includes a picture from the film Toy Story 2, as a demonstration of computer-produced animated films. [1043.21]

July 21

• The live-action and animated feature film The Country Bears premieres at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California. [415.31]

July 25

• The film Beauty and the Beast is re-released to theaters in Israel and Peru. [890]

July 26

• Disney generally releases the film The Country Bears to theaters in the USA. [367.66] [394.32] [395.47]

(month unknown)

• The Fantasmic show re-starts at Disneyland, after undergoing an extensive rehabilitation. [394.26]
• Disney Interactive releases the Ultimate Ride Disney Coaster software for personal computers in the US. It includes some Disney-themed roller-coasters: Space Mountain (Disneyland Paris), and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Disneyland). Price is US$19.99. [692.110]

August 1

• The Once Upon a Toy shop opens in Downtown Disney Marketplace at Walt Disney World. [394.32]

August 2

• Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures film Signs to theaters in the US. (Theater revenue in the first week: US$117 million.) [609.16] [745.402]

August 9

• The film Beauty and the Beast is re-released to theaters in Iceland. [890]

August 22

• The Official Disneyana Mystery convention is held at Walt Disney World, over three days. [394.32]

(month unknown)

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Pulp Fiction on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [609.79]
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film The Shipping News on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [609.82]
• THQ releases the Monsters, Inc.: Scream Arena video game for the GameCube in the US. [646.197]
• Ubi Soft releases the Disney's Treasure Planet video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [646.199]

September 3

• Disney releases the film Mickey's House of Villains on DVD and videocassette. [395.24]

September 6

• Buena Vista International re-releases the film Beauty and the Beast to theaters in Brazil. [890]

September 7

• The Flik's Fun Fair attraction opens in Disney's California Adventure. [394.26] [395.24]

September 8

• Disney releases the film Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition on DVD and videocassette. [395.24]

September 11

• Disney releases the film Tuck Everlasting to theaters in the USA. [395.24,67]

September 13

• Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Moonlight Mile to theaters in the US. [610.20]

September 14

• The ABC TV network begins airing the show Fillmore on ABC Kids. [395.70]

September 17

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Monsters, Inc. on videocassette, and DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [394.32] [395.24,68] [610.17,99] [1006.16]

(month unknown)

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film The Rookie on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [610.104]

October 4

• The Disney Channel airs the Original Disney Channel Movie The Scream Team. [523.212]

October 6

• The A Bug's Land area opens at Disney's California Adventure. [414.29]
• The Flik's Fun Fair attraction opens in A Bug's Land at Disney's California Adventure. [414.29]

October 11

• Buena Vista International re-releases the film Beauty and the Beast to theaters in Sweden. [890]

October

• Activision releases Disney's Tarzan: Return to the Jungle video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [646.25]

October 27

• Disney premieres the live-action feature film The Santa Clause 2 in Hollywood. [414.28]

(month unknown)

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film Iris on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [611.91]

November 1

• The WB Television Network airs the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch TV show in the USA.

A character says "Honey I Shrunk Marilyn Manson", a reference to the Disney film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

A character says "I've had enough of this Jessica Rabbit impersonation".

[968]
• Disney generally releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film The Santa Clause 2 to theaters in the USA. [395.24,69] [415.68] [611.18]

November 6

• Disney asks a court to invalidate a 72-year-old agreement between A.A. Milne and Stephen Slesinger, which gives the US rights to the Winnie-the-Pooh characters to the heirs of Slesinger. Disney claims to have a new agreement with Milne's granddaughter for the rights. [919.47]

November 12

• Disney releases the film A Very Merry Pooh Year on DVD and videocassette. [395.24]

November

• The Epcot Seas Aqua Tour opens at Epcot in Walt Disney World. [652.26]
• Ubi Soft releases the Disney's PK: Out of the Shadows video game for the GameCube in the US. [524.155] [646.24]

November 17

• Disney premieres the animated feature film Treasure Planet at the Cinerama Dome theater in Hollywood. (Opening weekend theater receipts: US$12 million.) [414.28] [745.415]

November 24

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. The radio plays "You're listening to Radio Disney. The songs you love, rewritten for babies." [992]
• Disney announces it is making a US$74 million financial write-down on the film Treasure Planet, due to disappointing theater receipts. This is the largest write-down in animated film history. [745.415]

November 27

• Disney generally releases the film Treasure Planet to theaters in the USA. The film cost US$130 million to produce. [367.65] [395.24] [415.42] [918.96] [922.72] [1018.28]

(month unknown)

• Disney Interactive releases the Disney's Magic Artist Cartoon Maker software for Windows-based computers. Price is about US$20. [494.154]
• Disney Interactive releases the Disney's Kim Possible: Revenge of Monkey Fist video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [524.160]

December 1

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. An exterminator company is called "A Bug's Death", with a logo that mimics Disney's A Bug's Life film. [993]

December 3

• Walt Disney Home Entertainment releases the film Lilo & Stitch on DVD for US$29.99, and on videocassette. [415.26] [632.77] [723.77] [1007.26]
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases three volumes of "Walt Disney Treasures", each title on two DVDs: Mickey Mouse in Black and White, The Complete Goofy, Behind the Scenes at The Walt Disney Studio. [415.26]
• Disney announces it is lowering projected fourth quarter earnings by US$47 million due to poor revenues from the film Treasure Planet. (Disney shares drop by 5 percent the next day.) [920.44]

December 9

• The Disney's Aladdin - Live on Stage show opens at the Hyperion Theater in Disney's California Adventure. [415.24]

December 15

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.

The episode title "The Great Louse Detective" is a reference to the Disney film The Great Mouse Detective.

A mother says a prison isn't a good place to bring children. A child says "It still beats Disney's California Adventure". The other family members agree.

[994]

December

• Thomas Schumacher leaves Disney animation as president, to move to New York to run the teatrical division. David Stainton, header of TV animation, replaces him. [745.416]

December 17

• Disney releases the film The Country Bears on DVD and videocassette. [415.26]

December 22

• The Enchanted Christmas Ball begins performances on Main Street, U.S.A., in Fantasyland, and Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris. [415.22]

December 25

• IMAX Corporation and Disney release the film The Lion King to IMAX and other large screen theaters in France, Germany, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the USA. [395.24] [415.26] [890]