- March 6
- The CBS TV network airs the special Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary, starring Danny Kaye. [126.C22] [228.278] [386.127] [1300.137]
- March 9
- The two-hour Disney TV show The Kids Who Knew Too Much airs. [228.274]
- March 16
- The first closed captioned television series are broadcast in the US: The ABC Sunday Night Movie (ABC), The Wonderful World of Disney (NBC) and Masterpiece Theatre (PBS). [1357]
- March 24
- Antigua issues ten postage stamps depicting various Disney characters. [629.369]
- April 13
- The TV show Disney's Oscar Winners airs. [228.141]
- April 20
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, featuring Sultan and the Rock Star. [501.529] [652.83]
- April 27
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, featuring The Secret of Lost Valley, part one. [501.491]
- May 4
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, featuring The Secret of Lost Valley, part two. [501.491]
- May 29
- Saint Lucia issues ten postage stamps marking the International Year of the Child, and commemorating the 15th anniversary of the first moon walk, depicting various Disney characters in space. [656.719] (May 28, five stamps [96.89])
- June 3
- Donn Tatum retires as chairman and chief executive officer of Walt Disney Productions, becoming chairman of the executive committee. [14] [34.272] [108.23] [123.D1] [501.539]
- Card Walker is elected chairman of Walt Disney Productions. [23] [14] [34.272] [108.23] [123.D1] [194.541] [501.591] [914.165]
- Card Walker names Ron Miller as president and chief operating officer of Walt Disney Productions. [23] [14] [34.272] [108.23,36] [123.D1] [751.D2]
- Walt Disney Productions announces the creation of new divisions: Walt Disney Motion Picture and Television Production Division, Walt Disney Outdoor Recreation Division, and Walt Disney Marketing Division. [123.D1]
- June
- The second death on Disneyland's PeopleMover is recorded. Geraldo Gonzales tries to switch cars, slips, falls on the tracks, and is crushed and dragged by the following vehicle. [163] [450.173]
- Steven Lisberger and Donald Kushner visit Tom Wilhite, Disney vice president for motion-picture production, showing the idea for a movie TRON. Wilhite authorizes an investment of US$50,000 for more study of computer technology applied to the movie. [437.89]
- June 25
- Disney releases the animated short film Mickey Mouse Disco to theaters. An album of the music is also released. [23] [85.325] [228.323] (1979 [79.29])
- Buena Vista releases the live-action feature film The Last Flight of Noah's Ark to theaters. It is based on a story by Ernest Gann. [23] [34.272] [102.50] [228.282] [370.316] (July [112.473])
- Buena Vista releases the live-action feature film Herbie Goes Bananas to theaters. The film is the third sequel to the 1969 film The Love Bug. [17] [23] [102.133] [228.232] [370.316]) (July [102.133])
- (month unknown)
- Disney re-releases the film Mary Poppins to theaters. [23] [228.314]
- Wolfgang Reitherman, long-time Disney animator, retires. [97.276] [228.411]
- The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants its first official wish, a trip to Disneyland for seven-year-old Frank Salazar. [914.13]
- The Pony Farm at Disneyland is renamed Circle D Corral. [228.93]
- Ron Miller, head of film production at Disney, buys the rights to turn the book Who Censored Roger Rabbit into a movie. [1] [14]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film A Symposium on Popular Songs. [23]
- Disney releases the 16-mm film America the Beautiful. [23] [228.21]
- Production begins on the film The Black Cauldron. [14]
- Disney releases the live-action 16-mm film The Sky Trap. [23]
- Paramount Pictures' Barry Diller and Michael Eisner meet with Disney's Card Walker and Ron Miller. They agree to share costs of making two movies: Popeye and Dragonslayer. In return, Disney would handle international distribution. [238.113]
- Disney creates "Sport Goofy", a buffer and smarter version of Goofy. [191]
- Disney releases the live-action film Call It Courage. [23]
- Disney buys the idea for the movie TRON from Steven Lisberger and Donald Kushner. [23] [437.89]
- Disney re-releases the film Lady and the Tramp to theaters. [25] [228.280]
- Disney re-releases the film The Aristocats to theaters. [25] [86.53] [228.29]
- The French Olympic team adopts Goofy as its official mascot. [97.50]
- Richard Nunis becomes president of Walt Disney Attractions. [228.363] [409.2] [1123.D4]
- Irving Ludwig retires, after forty years with Disney. [228.298]
- August
- The Walt Disney World Conference Center building opens. [501.595]
- September 14
- The Mickey Mouse Revue attraction in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closes. [228.323] [235.84]
- September 15
- Togo issues eleven postage stamps depicting various Disney characters, for the 50th anniversary of Pluto. [617.461]
- September
- Disney releases the live-action 16-mm film Rick, You're In: A Story About Mainstreaming for educational use. [23] [501.470]
- Disney releases the "Fit To Be You" series 16-mm educational film Flexibility and Body Composition. [23] [228.186]
- Disney releases the "Fit To Be You" series 16-mm educational film Heart and Lungs. [23] (Heart - Lungs [228.186])
- Disney releases the "Fit To Be You" series 16-mm educational film Muscles. [23] [228.186]
- Disney releases the 16-mm educational film Foods and Fun: A Nutritional Adventure. The animated film stars Orange Bird. [228.190] (Nutrition [23])
- Disney releases the 16-mm film The Adventures of J. Thaddeus Toad. [23] [228.9]
- Disney releases the animated and live-action 16-mm film The Atom: A Closer Look. It is an updated version of the film Our Friend the Atom. [23] [228.32]
- September 25
- Grenada issues ten postage stamps featuring scenes from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. [177.76] [653.416]
- Turks and Caicos Islands issues ten postage stamps with scenes from Disney's film Pinocchio. [617.640]
- October 1
- Dominica issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Peter Pan. [648.749]
- October 7
- Grenada Grenadines issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Bambi. [653.452]
- October 10
- Disney re-releases the film Song of the South to theaters. Also shown in the animated short film Mickey Mouse Disco. [501.513] [940.C14]
- October
- Disney first releases some minor live-action films on videocassette for sale and rental, in Beta and VHS format. [1] [501.586] [911.151] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the animated film compilation On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends on videocassette. [911.151] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film The Apple Dumpling Gang on videocassette. [501.586]
- Disney releases the film The Black Hole on videocassette. [501.586] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film The Love Bug on videocassette. [501.586] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film Escape to Witch Mountain on videocassette. [501.586]
- Disney releases the film Hot Lead and Cold Feet on videocassette. [228.243]
- Disney releases the film Mary Poppins on videocassette. [1] [228.314]
- Disney releases the film Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier on videocassette. [228.119] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film The North Avenue Irregulars on videocassette. [228.361]
- Disney releases the film Pete's Dragon on videocassette. [228.386] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea on videocassette. [501.575] [1073.132]
- Disney releases the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks on videocassette. [228.48]
- October 22
- The TV special Lefty airs. [228.284]
- October 28
- Thirty former Mouseketeers take part in filming a TV special for the 25th anniversary of The Mickey Mouse Club show, including appearing on a parade float down Disneyland's Main Street. [1336.176] [1357]
- (month unknown)
- The Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat is retired from operation in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [228.5]
- November 8
- The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride officially opens in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It cost US$17 million to build. [5] [125.s10.9] (September 23 [228.54])
- November 23
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, entitled Mouseketeer Reunion, celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Mickey Mouse Club TV show. [228.344] [941.D25] [1336.177]
- (month unknown)
- The Fantasy on Parade Christmas parade begins running again at Disneyland. [228.174]
- December
- Paramount Pictures releases the Disney/Paramount live-action feature film Popeye to theaters in the US. [23] [15] [228.397]
- The stage show Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs airs on pay-TV. The show was performed in New York in 1979. [501.509]
- In Tokyo, Japan, a ground-breaking ceremony is held at the site for Tokyo Disneyland. [55.37]
- December 21
- The NBC TV network airs the Disney's Wonderful World show, featuring The Ghosts of Buxley Hall, part one. [228.205]
- December 22
- Maldives issues ten postage stamps depicting scenes from Alice in Wonderland. [655.580]
- Year
- Total attendance at Disneyland during the year: 11.5 million. [1074.166]
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