2004

January 1

• The Rose Parade takes place in Pasadena, California. Included is a 100-foot tall Twilight Zone Tower of Terror float. [651.26]

January 7

• (to January 19) At the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, the ice skating show "Disney on Ice Presents Disney/Pixar's Monsters, Inc." is held. [651.26]

January 12

• Disney announces it is shutting down its Orlando, Florida, animation unit. [745.473]

January 15

• Disney board member George Mitchell encourages Comcast to make a letter bid for Disney. [745.479]

January

• Capcom releases the Disney's Aladdin video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [623.21] [621.103]
• The Disney Channel premieres the Dave the Barbarian show. [652.65]

January 16

• The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Original Movie Pixel Perfect. [508.9]

January 27

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Finding Nemo for an Oscar Award in the category Best Animated Feature. [745.479]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Finding Nemo for an Oscar Award in the category Best Original Screenplay. [745.479]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Finding Nemo for an Oscar Award in the category Best Original Score. [745.479]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Finding Nemo for an Oscar Award in the category Best Sound Editing. [745.479]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates Roy Disney for an Oscar Award in the category Best Animated Short Subject, for the film Destino. [745.479]

January 29

• Pixar CEO Steve Jobs announces that Pixar Animation Studios will end its relationship with The Walt Disney Company and seek a distribution deal with another film studio, following the release of the next two films (The Incredibles, Cars). [680.C4] [686] [745.479]
• Disney announces it will release its first in-house-developed computer-animation film, Chicken Little, in 2005. [680.C4]

(month unknown)

• Disney Interactive releases the Disney's Brother Bear video game for personal computers. Price is US$19.99. [708.101]

February 5

• John Hench dies, at age 95. Hench worked at Disney for 64 years, the longest of any Disney employee. He worked on animation, and took part in the creation of all Disney parks. [665.22]
• The Comcast board of directors discusses a formal bid for the Walt Disney Company. An analysis of assets suggests a bid in the mid-US$20s per share. [745.487]

February 7

• (to March 7) At Disneyland Paris in France, The Lion King Carnival musical dance performs. [651.27]

February 9

• Microsoft and Disney announce an agreement to cooperate in developing secure digital media content and delivery systems. Microsoft grants Disney a non-exclusive license to its Windows Media digital rights management software. [686] [731.9]
• Comcast chairman Brian Roberts privately asks Disney chairman Michael Eisner to begin merger negotiations. Eisner refuses, saying he is not interested in a buyout at any price. [686] [745.488] [1002.34]

February 11

• Comcast launches a hostile takeover bid for Disney, publicly releasing a letter to Michael Eisner outlining the proposed financial terms. If approved, Comcast would issue 0.78 of a Comcast share for each Disney share (total value US$54 billion) plus assume Disney's debt of about US$12 billion. Disney shareholders would then own about 42 percent of the combined company, which would be worth US$125 billion. [686] [745.6,489] [1002.34]
• Institutional Shareholder Services issues a statement criticizing Michael Eisner's leadership, and recommending Disney shareholders withhold their votes from Eisner at the upcoming shareholders' meeting. [745.495]
• Disney releases a response to Comcast's takeover bid, saying they will evaluate the proposal. [745.490]

February 13

• Disney shares rise 16 percent, Comcast shares drop 12 percent, dropping the proposed value of the deal to US$48 billion. [745.490]

February 15

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A Chinese restaurant is called "Mickey Mao's", a reference to Mickey Mouse. [1022]

February 16

• Diane Disney Miller sends a letter to the Disney board of directors, expressing her opposition to the Comcast deal. Miller also notes Michael Eisner's unwillingness to identify a successor, suggesting that he be replaced when his contract ends in 2006. [745.491]
• The Disney board unanimously rejects the Comcast deal. [745.491]

February 20

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. The title of the episode is "Pixies, Inc.", a reference to the Disney-Pixar film Monsters, Inc.. [936]

February 23

• At the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland, the show An Enchanting Musical opens. [652.22]
• The shareholder advisory service Glass, Lewis & Company hears presentations from Roy Disney, Stanley Gold, Michael Eisner, and many others. (Two days later, the group issues a recommendation opposing re-election of Eisner and George Mitchell to the board of directors.) [745.499]

February 25

• The California Public Employees Retirement Systems pension fund manager announces it would cast its votes against Michael Eisner at the upcoming shareholder meeting. [745.502] [1003.38]

February 29

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Best Animated Feature) for the film Finding Nemo. [890]

(month unknown)

• Premiere magazine publishes its list of the 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. Disney entries are #45: Mary Poppins, and #87: Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean). [675.53]
• Touchstone releases the film Veronica Guerin on videocassette and DVD. [675.97]
• Touchstone releases the film Duplex on videocassette and DVD. [675.99]

March 2

• On the evening before the annual shareholders meeting, Michael Eisner, Robert Iger, and the Disney board of directors meet. Eisner offers to resign, but the board opposes this. Eisner agrees to cede the title of chairman to George Mitchell. [745.507]

March 3

• At the Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Walt Disney Company holds its annual shareholders meeting. After various speeches, the inspector of elections reads the vote tallies. 45 percent of shareholders withheld their votes to re-elect Michael Eisner to the board of directors, and 24 percent withheld votes from George Mitchell. [694.B5] [745.502] [1004.31]
• (evening) The Disney board of directors meets, deciding to replace Michael Eisner with George Mitchell as chairman. A press releases is issued making the announcement. [745.508]

March 5

• Disney releases the live-action feature film Hidalgo to theaters in the USA. [650.63] [651.27] [652.24]

March 6

• France issues three postage stamps for Stamp Day, depicting Walt Disney characters: Donald Duck (45 cents), Mickey Mouse (50 cents), and Minnie Mouse (75 cents). [1156.1218]

March 9

• Disney releases Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo on videocassette and DVD in the USA and Canada. [652.24] [697.7]

March 14

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. One of the movies listed at a theater is "Eating Nemo", a reference to the Disney-Pixar film Finding Nemo. [1023]

March 19

• The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Original Movie Going to the Mat/ [649.63] [663.13]

March 21

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A movie theater is showing the Disney film The Lizzie McGuire Movie. [1024]

March 28

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. When asked why she is in prison, a girl says "I pushed Snow White over the parapet at Disneyland.". [1025]

March 30

• Touchstone releases the film Brother Bear on videocassette and DVD. [652.24] [675.96] [697.3] [731.85]

(month unknown)

• Touchstone releases the film Dirty Pretty Things on DVD, for US$29.99. [676.96]
• Touchstone releases the film The Magdalene Sisters on DVD, for US$29.99. [676.101]
• Touchstone releases the film Splash on DVD, for US$29.99. [676.102]
• Touchstone releases the film Ransom on DVD, for US$29.99. [676.102]

April 2

• Disney releases the animated feature film Home on the Range to theaters in the USA. [651.27] [652.24] [675.19]
• Disney Interactive releases the Disney's Home on the Range video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. Price is US$29.95. [652.76] [679.122] [688.9]

April 9

• Touchstone releases the live-action feature film The Alamo to theaters in the USA. [613.63] [675.19]

April

• Disney Editions releases the Home on the Range: The Adventures of a Bovine Goddess book, by Monique Peterson. [652.77]
• Seventy-five plaster Mickey Mouse statues decorated by celebrities begin a one-year tour of the United States. (The statues will then be auctioned off for charity at Sotheby's in New York.) [651.18]

April 15

• The Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters attraction opens at Tokyo Disneyland. [415.22] [652.24]
• THQ releases the Finding Nemo video game for the PlayStation 2 in Canada. [688.9]

April 21

• Apple Computer reaches an agreement with Disney's Buena Vista Music Group for Apple's Internet iTunes Music Store to carry soundtrack music titles of many Disney films. [686]

April 25

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

The dress-up character resembling Eeyore from Walt Disney World is run-over by a car; the character's actor says "Everything happens to Eemore.".

A character in Miami tells an old man "If you take a woman [to Epcot], she will be yours.".

[1026]

April 27

• The Disney board expresses complete confidence in Michael Eisner as CEO, and Robert Iger as President. [1097.50]

April 28

• Comcast withdraws its bid to buy the Walt Disney Company, due to Disney executive reluctance to support the acquisition, and Comcast investor concerns over business focus. [686] [1097.50]

May 4

• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction opens at Disney's California Adventure. [394.23] [652.18,24]

May 17

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A car wash place is called "When you Wash Upon a Car", a reference to the song "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Disney's Pinocchio film. [1027]

May 18

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases a DVD set of Disney Treasures: Walt Disney on the Front Lines. [651.65] [708.97] [733.94]
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases a DVD set of Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Volume 2. [651.65] [708.97] [733.94]
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases a DVD set of Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald Duck, Volume 1. [651.65] [708.97] [733.94]
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases a DVD set of Disney Treasures: Walt Disney's Tomorrowland. [651.65] [708.97] [733.94]

May 27

• Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa opens in Walt Disney World. [414.20] [665.20]

May 28

• Touchstone releases the live-action feature film Raising Helen to theaters in the USA. [676.72]

June

• At a meeting of the Disney board of directors, CEO Michael Eisner tells the board he has chosen Robert Iger as his successsor. [745.522]

June 23

• The United States Postal Service issues four different 37-cent stamps titled The Art of Disney: Friendship. They feature Mickey Mouse, Bambi, Simba, and Pinocchio, each with friends. [671.43] [1155.112]

July 6

• Disney Interactive releases the Kim Possible 2: Drakken's Demise video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [666.21] [673.101] [678.60]

July 7

• Touchstone releases the live-action feature film King Arthur to theaters in the USA. [676.58] [685.14] [706.24] [864.38] [1096.56]

July 23

• In San Diego, California, the Comic-Con International convention is held. An exclusive sneak peek preview is held of the film The Incredibles, attended by director Brad Bird and producer John Walker. [755.31]

(month unknown)

• Zagat releases its Survey of U.S. Family Travel Guide: Sites & Attractions, Restaurants, Lodging. Disney has several top rated attractions:

#1: Magic Kingdom,

#2 Epcot,

#4 Disneyland,

#6 Disney-MGM Studios,

#8 Disney's Animal Kingdom.

[1100.96]

August 3

• Touchstone Home Entertainment releases the film Hidalgo on DVD in the USA. [683.4] [699.2] [734.91]

August 5

• Disney announces the Disney Dream Desk PC computer. It features 2.6 GHz processor, Windows XP operating system, CD-RW/DVD drive, mouse, keyboard, digital pen, optional 14.1-inch LCD monitor wih mouse ears (US$299) and optional printer. Price is US$599. [686] [735.6] [740.26]

August 9

• Donald Duck receives a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. [755.28]

August 11

• Disney releases the live-action feature film The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement to theaters in the US. [652.24] [665.24] [672.34] [676.64] [706.28]

August 27

• In Itasca, Illinois, over three days, a reunion is held of six original Mouseketeer actors of the Mickey Mouse Club. A question and answer session is held with Bill Farmer (voice of Goofy) and Tony Anselmo (voice of Donald Duck). [755.28]

August 31

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the animated feature film The Lion King 2 - Simba's Pride on videotape and DVD in the USA. [665.24] [683.4] [700.11] [734.91]

September 10

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. The main characters in the book The Three Musketeers all wear black Mouseketeer Mickey Mouse hats. [904]
• The Walt Disney Company announces that Michael Eisner will retire as CEO on September 30, 2006. [694.B5] [745.523] [1101.50]

September 17

• Touchstone releases the live-action feature film Mr. 3000 to theaters in the USA. [707.24] [711.67] [777.149]

September 20

• The Disney board of directors meets, over three days. They discuss CEO succession, and decide to hire a professional search firm to aid in the search for Michael Eisner's replacement. [745.525]

October 5

• Walt Disney Home Entertainment releases the film Aladdin on DVD in the US. Price is US$29.99. [696.2] [700.11] [707.110] [736.94] [754.22] [780.99]

October

• An Olympic full-length 21-foot wide pool is completed on Main Street in Disneyland. [939.42]
• Disney auctions a personalized Haunted Mansion tombstone on eBay.com, for US$37,400. A tombstone for winner Cary "Jay" Sharp is placed inside the Disneyland attraction, near the trio of ghostly musicians. [757.57]

October 26

• Disney releases the film Mulan on DVD in the US. Price is US$29.99. [696.2] [709.106] [736.94] [754.22] [780.107]

November 5

• Disney releases the Pixar Animation Studios computer-animated feature film The Incredibles to theaters in the US. [665.24] [669.62] [686] [702.44] [709.16] [711.72] [728.54] [754.22] [781.98]

November 9

• The show On the Road begins its US tour in Cleveland, Ohio, featuring over sixty Disney songs. [754.21]

November 16

• The Turtle Talk with Crush attraction opens in Epcot at Walt Disney World. [756.15] [914.6]
• The Stitch's Great Escape attraction opens in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The location formerly housed The ExtraTerrorestrial Alien Encounter. [754.21] [756.27]

November 19

• Touchstone releases the live-action feature film National Treasure in theaters in the US. [711.75] [712.102] [754.22] [755.66] [781.104]

November 25

• In New York City, New York, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held. Included is a large balloon of Chicken Little. [756.27]

(month unknown)

• Chronicle Books releases The Art of The Incredibles book, by Mark Cotta Vaz. Price is US$40. [755.72]
• Ape Pen Publishing releases the Disneyland ... The Beginning, by Carlene Thie. Price is US$55. [755.73]
• Disney Editions releases the Cooking with Mickey and the Disney Chefs. Price is US$19.95. [755.73]

December 7

• Disney releases the DVD set Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Black & White Volume 2. [738.92] [755.69]
• Disney releases the DVD set Walt Disney Treasures: The Complete Pluto Volume 1. [738.92] [755.69]
• Disney releases the DVD set Walt Disney Treasures: The Mickey Mouse Club Week 1. [738.92] [755.69]

December 8

• Disney announces that it will support the Blu-ray Disc format for video releases in North America and Japan when the discs become available. A single disc can hold up to 50 GB of data. [686]

December 12

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A t-shirt salesman tells another character he sold the t-shirt design rights to the Disney company. [1057]

December 14

• Touchstone releases the film Mary Poppins: 40th Anniversary Edition on DVD in the USA. Price is US$29.99. [712.52.12] [755.24]
• Disney releases the film The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement on videocassette and DVD in the USA. [712.165] [755.24] [781.116]