- January 24
- The Walt Disney Company agrees to pay US$7.4 billion to acquire Pixar Animation Studios. [1030.7] [1180.40] [1226] [1357] (US$6.3 billion [1029.38])
- (month unknown)
- The 2006 Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade is held in Pasadena, California. Disney includes a float entry entitled "The Most Magical Celebration on Earth", fifty feet high, 150 feet long. [914.9]
- February 7
- Disney releases the animated film Bambi II on DVD in the USA. (Gross revenue: US$69.8 million.) [914.21] [1076.49]
- February 17
- Disney releases the live-action feature film Eight Below to theaters in the USA. (Worldwide theatee gross receipts: US$120.5 million.) [914.15] [1187.51]
- March 5
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Achievement in Makeup) to Howard Berger and Tami Lane for the film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. [890]
- March 10
- Disney releases the live-action feature film The Shaggy Dog to theaters in the USA. (Worldwide theater gross receipts: US$87 million) [886.40] [914.15] [1187.51]
- March 11
- The soundtrack to the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical tops the Billboard album chart. Total sales worldwide: over 7 million copies. [1357]
- March 12
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A man was helped out of "that tea cup ride" by two firemen, a crane, and Snow White. [1066]
- March
- The world premiere of the Tarzan stage show is held. [914.101]
- La Boutique de Noël in New Orleans Square at Disneyland closes. [1300.236]
- March 19
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A scene takes place at an old mill, with similarities to the Disney short film The Old Mill. [1067]
- April 7
- Expedition Everest opens in Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The 2.5-hectare attraction features a 1.6km train ride with a 24m drop. [1227.F11]
- April 8
- The Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast attraction opens at Disneyland Paris. [914.11]
- April 10
- Disney says it will begin allowing the download of television shows from Web site abc.com, for a two month trial period. [881.28]
- April 14
- Disney releases the computer-animated feature film The Wild in theaters in the USA. (Worldwide theater gross receipts: US$102.3 million.) [887.31] [1187.51]
- April 21
- The United States Postal Service issues four Disney stamps entitled "Art of Disney: Romance" with Mickey and Minnie, Cinderella and Prince, Beauty & Beast, Lady & Tramp. [1092.22] [1095.55] [1155.117]
- April 23
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character says he loves the sea because "there's no... Apple Dumpling Gangs", a reference to the Disney film The Apple Dumpling Gang. [1068]
- April 30
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A musical stage play mimics part of Disney's The Lion King, including music. [1069]
- May 10
- The Tarzan stage show opens in the USA. [914.101]
- May 14
- The American Broadcasting Company airs the America's Funniest Home Videos TV show in the US. Disney characters (the type with people inside costumes) Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Pluto appear. [1056]
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. In a law court, a lawyer holds a young deer on his lap and asks, "Now Bambi, who started that forest fire that killed your mama?". [1070]
- May
- Disney acquires Pixar Animation Studios. [1115.9]
- May 23
- Disney releases the film High School Musical on DVD in the US. (2.1 million copies sell in the first five weeks.) [991.44]
- May 31
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment announces it will offer movies for sale via CinemaNow over the Internet, starting June 6. Prices would be about $20 per new title, and $10 for older titles. [1103]
- (month unknown)
- Universum Communications in the US conducts a survey of over 37,000 undergraduates. The top response of desirable employer is the The Walt Disney Company. [882.13]
- The July issue of Motor Trend magazine includes a seven-page article on the Pixar film Cars. [1222]
- June 6
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the live-action feature film Glory Road on DVD in the USA. [1103]
- June 9
- Disney releases the Disney-Pixar computer-animated feature film Cars in theaters in the USA. (North American theater gross revenues: US$244 million. Worldwide theater revenues: US$462 million.) [889.59] [914.15] [1031.41] [1051.32] [1075.52] [1187.51] [1222.108]
- June 13
- The Walt Disney Company launches the Disney Mobile mobile phone service in the USA. It features built-in satellite tracking, and parental regulation of when, how long, and to whom their children talk. [1103]
- June 21
- The Republic of China issues four postage stamps depicting Winnie the Pooh and friends. [1142.66] [1156.305] [1174.31]
- June 24
- The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, hosts the premiere of the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest outdoors. [1264.2]
- The prop ship the Flying Dutchman from the Pirates of the Caribbean films is installed offshore at Castaway Cay island. [1264.2]
- June 26
- The Pirates of the Caribbean attraction re-opens with updates from the films. [1300.334]
- July 7
- Disney releases the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest to theaters in the USA. (Opening weekend (three days) gross revenue: US$135.6 million, a new record. Worldwide total gross revenue: US$1065.6 million.) [889.58] [914.15,103] [989.66] [990.44] [1032.7] [1054.35] [1075.52] [1187.51] [1264.2]
- August 7
- The August 7 issue of Business Week magazine presents a list of The 100 Top Brands in the world. Number 8 on the list is Disney. [1112.60]
- August 21
- The Disneyland Monorail closes for remodelling of the submarine attraction. [1300.292]
- August 28
- Time magazine shows a picture of dwarfs Dopey and Doc from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs accompanying the results of a recent survey showing that 77% of Americans polled could name two of the dwarfs, far higher than the number who could name two of the US Supreme Court judges. [1033.8]
- September 7
- The Disney Wonder embarks on Disney Cruise Line's first Southern Caribbean voyages, visiting St. Kitts and Barbados. [1265.1]
- September 10
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A gangster says "Who wants to sleep with the fishes?" and holds up a Finding Nemo bedspread. [1071]
- September 12
- Apple Computer announces the iTunes movie store, initially with 75 Disney company movies for download. Prices range from US$10 to 16 per film. [1077.14] [1114.18] [1184.72]
- September 15
- Disney releases the film The Guardian to theaters in the USA. (Worldwide theater gross receipts: US$88.6 million.) [1052.65] [1053.37] [1187.51]
- September
- The photo collages at Disneyland are taken down. [1300.327]
- September 18
- The September 18 issue of Business Week features ten hot-air balloons in the sky on its cover, each with a company name. The largest balloon has the name "Disney". The cover refers to the article "Best Places to Launch a Career". [1113]
- September 24
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. Someone tells a scientist to "go inside and do your Flubber", a reference to Disney's Flubber film. [1072]
- September 25
- Time magazine runs an article on films coming to computer via legal downloads, and shows a picture from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. [1034.39]
- September 29
- (to October 31) Halloween Time is first celebrated at Disneyland. [1300.199]
- October 1
- The Year of a Million Dreams promotion begins at Disneyland. (Scheduled to last 15 months, it is extended to run 27 months.) [1300.446]
- The Once Upon a Time exhibit opens at Le Grand Palais in Paris, France. The exhibit is a serious show of the genius of Walt Disney in film and story. [255.B11]
- October
- The cover of Macworld in the USA shows Captain Jack Sparrow from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean films displayed on an iMac computer. [1077]
- The Fantasyland Theater at Disneyland closes. [1300.434]
- October 16
- Disney announces it is phasing out unhealthy food served in its parks, and cutting back on licensing characters promoting snacks with excess sugar and fat. [1047.33]
- October 20
- Disney releases the Touchstone film The Prestige to theaters in the USA. (Worldwide theater gross receipts: US$101.5 million.) [1052.68] [1055.38] [1187.51]
- November 3
- Disney releases the film The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause to theaters in the USA. (Worldwide theater gross receipts: US$110.8 million.) [1052.78] [1187.51] [1219.20]
- November
- Club Buzz restaurant at Disneyland is renamed Tomorrowland Terrace. [1300.110]
- (to January 2007) Santa's Reindeer Round-up is held in Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland at Disneyland, with live reindeer. [1300.371]
- The 50th Anniversary Shop in Fantasyland at Disneyland re-opens as Tinker Bell & Friends shop. [1300.166,413]
- The Three Fairies Magic Crystals shop opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [1300.409]
- (month unknown)
- Marketwatch names Disney president and CEO Bob Iger as 2006 CEO of the Year. [1266.8]
- December 8
- Disney releases the film Apocalypto to theaters in the USA. (Worldwide theater gross receipts: US$105.6 million.) [1052.82] [1187.51]
- December 12
- Disney releases the film Air Buddies on DVD in the USA. [1076.49]
- Year
- Top theater revenue grossing film of the year: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, at over US$1 billion worldwide. [1075.52]
- Theater ticket sales of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in Russia: US$31 million, making this the best-selling foreign film in Russia ever. [1144.42]
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