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

Last updated: 2013 September 19.

2003

January 1

• IMAX Corporation releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Japan. [890]

January 5

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
  • Someone says "Dead Poets Society has destroyed a generation of educators.".
  • A videotape shows the Robin Williams character of the Disney film using humor in the classroom.
  • A child says the family gets to go to Florida. The dad asks if they're going to Disney World.
  • A scene shows the marquee of "EPCOT CENTER" with a sign under reading "WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS BOOKED".
  • When flying a plane over the site, the dad says "It's even boring to fly over it.".
  • At the end, a character jumps over a wall into what he calls "Disney World", in which a Disney-style castle can be seen.
  • He frets that a churro costs $14, but pays anyway.
  Disney theme park references:
  • The Future Sphere (Spaceship Earth),
  • Transportation Pavilion (World of Motion Pavilion),
  • Honey, I Squirted Goo on the Audience! (Honey, I Shrunk the Audience),
  • Great Moments with Mr. Eisner (Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln),
  • The Home of Tomorrow (Monsanto House of the Future),
  • a restaurant with menu items from around the world,
  • fireworks and laser light show over a lake (Illuminations, World Showcase).
  [995]

January

• The US Supreme Court rules 7-2 upholding the passage of the 1998 Copyright Term Extension Act. The Act extends copyright protection from 70 to 95 years. (This extends protection of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters from 1998 to 2023.) [921.44]

January 12

• A ground-breaking ceremony is held for the construction of Hong Kong Disneyland. [914.69]
• Hong Kong issues four postage stamps depicting Hong Kong Disneyland. [1161.706]
• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
  • A shopping mall has a huge banner outside saying "NOW DISNEY STORE-FREE!".
  • A boy treasures a photo of himself with Snow White; likely a reference to photos taken with cast members at a Disney theme park.
  [996]

January 16

• In Anaheim, California, Disney premieres the stage show Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular. [650.27]

January 21

• Disney releases the animated film 101 Dalmatians 2: Patch's London Adventure on DVD and videocassette. [415.26]

(month unknown)

• Konami releases the Disney Sports Snowboarding video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [624.140]
• Disney Interactive releases the Stanley: Wild for Sharks software for the Apple Macintosh computer in the US. Price is US$20. [869.44]
• Disney Interactive releases the Disney Learning Adventure: Search for the Secret Keys software for the Apple Macintosh computer in the US. Price is US$20. [869.44]
• Disney Interactive releases the Disney Pixar Learning: 2nd & 3rd Grade software for the Apple Macintosh computer in the US. Price is US$20. [869.44]
• Disney Interactive releases the Disney's Phonics Quest software for the Apple Macintosh computer in the US. Price is US$20. [869.44]

February 2

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A mugger is wearing a Goofy hat. [997]

February 8

• The Jungle Book Carnival begins at Disneyland Paris, running for a month. [415.22]

February 9

• In Hollywood, California, Disney premieres the film The Jungle Book 2. [650.27]
  
  

February 14

• Disney releases the animated feature film The Jungle Book 2 to theaters in the US. [414.66] [415.26]

February 16

• The ABC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled Music Man. [414.67]

March 2

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
  • At a shopping mall, a store is called "Something Wicker This Way Comes", a reference to the Disney film Something Wicked This Way Comes.
  • A character refers to the film "Honey, I ScotchGuarded the Kids", a reference to the Disney film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
  [998]

March 8

• The Le Music-Hall de Mickey show opens in Videopolis at Disneyland Paris. [414.25]

March 9

• The Jungle Book Carnival at Disneyland Paris ends. [415.22]

March 11

• Disney releases the film Inspector Gadget 2 on DVD and videocassette in the US. [414.25] [415.26]

March 21

• Disney releases the animated feature film Piglet's Big Movie to theaters in the US. [414.25] [415.26]

March 23

• In Hollywood, California, the 75th Annual Academy Awards show is held. An animated Mickey Mouse appears on stage to introduce the nominees for Best Animated Short Film. [650.27]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Best Picture) for the film Chicago. [890]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Actress in a Supporting Role) to Catherine Zeta-Jones for the film Chicago. [890]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Art Direction - Set Direction) to John Myhre (art director) and Gordon Sim (set decorator) for the film Chicago. [890]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Costume Design) to Colleen Atwood for the film Chicago. [890]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Sound) to Michael Minkler, Dominick Tavella, and David Lee for the film Chicago. [890]
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Editing) to Martin Welsh for the film Chicago. [890]
• The Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland Paris makes its last run. [415.22]

March 24

• Business Week magazine uses an image of Disney's Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket in an article on lying on applications to business schools. [987.14]

March 30

• The first Walt Disney World In-Line Marathon is held, through Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Boardwalk Resort, and Epcot. [414.25]

March 31

• Over the past twelve months, attendance at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea was 25 million visitors. [1223.57]
• IMAX Corporation releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in Russia. [890]

April 7

• The National Association of Broadcasters holds a luncheon honoring the Disney franchise. Company chairman Michael Eisner announces Disney will begin testing a new video-on-demand service called Movie Beam later in the year. A television set-top box will download new film releases over regular television broadcast signal to a local storage device for later playback. [686]
• The Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage show debuts at Disney's California Adventure. [414.25]

April 11

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction opens in Critter Country at Disneyland. [1300.264]

April 13

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A child seeks to repress an unwanted memory by saying "I am at Disneyland. Disneyland!". [999]

April 15

• The Mickey's Gifts of Dreams musical show premieres on the Castle Forecount Stage at Tokyo Disneyland. [414.25]

April

• The May issue of Mac Addict magazine includes a picture from the film Finding Nemo, as an example of saving a film in QuickTime format. [1044.21]
• The Teddi Barra's Swingin' Arcade in Disneyland closes. [1300.409]
• The Brer Bar in Disneyland closes. [1300.82]
• The Crocodile Mercantile shop in Disneyland closes. [1300.120]

April 18

• Disney releases the Walt Disney Pictures film Holes to theaters in the US. [414.68]

April 26

• Disney premieres the film The Lizzie McGuire Movie in Hollywood, California. [483.29] [745.432]

April 27

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A lawyer tells a character "... don't use A flat or G natural. Those notes are owned by Disney." [1000]

(month unknown)

• Camphor Tree Publishers releases the Ellenshaw Under Glass book, by Peter Ellenshaw, about his career as a visual effects and matte artist for Disney. Price is US$65-150. [650.75]
• Walt Disney Record releases the music CD O Mickey, Where Art Thou? [650.74]
• Disney Interactive changes its name to Buena Vista Games. [525.21] [625.20]

May 2

• Buena Vista releases the animated and live-action feature film The Lizzie McGuire Movie to theaters in the US. [414.25] [612.28]

May 4

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
  • The episode title "Old Yeller-Belly" is a reference to the book, dog, and Disney film Old Yeller.
  • A parody of the Disney-ABC TV show Live with Regis and Kelly is shown.
  [1001]

May 9

• Disney announces negotiations for a second Lizzie McGuire movie and extension of the television series had ended unsuccessfully. [745.434]

May 13

• Disney releases the film Atlantis 2: Milo's Return on DVD and videocassette. [414.25]
• Buena Vista releases the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea on DVD for US$29.99, and videocassette in the US. [414.25] [633.108]

May 15

• IMAX Corporation releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in the Czech Republic. [890]

May 18

• Disney premieres the film Finding Nemo in Hollywood, California. [483.29]

May 27

• Disney releases the animated film Recess: All Growed Down on DVD and videocassette. [414.25]

May 30

• Disney releases the animated Disney-Pixar feature film Finding Nemo to theaters in the US. (American theater ticket sales: US$340 million. Worldwide theater ticket sales: US$850 million.) [414.25] [612.65] [650.20a] [669.62] [685.29] [708.63] [1323.224]

June

• Bethesda Softworks releases the Pirates of the Caribbean video game for Windows-based computers and the Xbox video game system. [448.88] [449.110] [660.75]

(month unknown)

• Buena Vista releases the film Gangs of New York on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.105]
• Buena Vista releases the film The Recruit on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.106]
• Buena Vista releases the film Frida on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.108]
• Buena Vista releases the film 25th Hour on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.110]
• Buena Vista releases the film The Hot Chick on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [633.111]
• Saint Thomas and Prince Islands issues a 5,000d postage stamp of Walt Disney in its "Famous People" series. [1229.856]

July 9

• Buena Vista Pictures releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl to theaters in the USA. The film includes several references to Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction:
  • prisoners in jail try to get a dog with a key to come to them,
  • a pirate sits on a barrel drinking from a bottle,
  • a parrot says "Dead men tell no tales", and
  • the theme song is sung "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me".
  (American theater gross receipts: US$305 million; international: US$348 million.) [414.25] [612.68] [633.18] [650.22] [685.29] [705.21] [708.63] [745.439] [966] [990.44]

July 12

• Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Reign of Fire to theaters in the US. [507.11] [607.81]

July

• THQ releases the Finding Nemo video game for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and Game Boy Advance video game systems, and Windows and Macintosh computers in the US. [620.22] [625] [650.75]
• Gemstone begins publishing Donald Duck Adventures comic book. [650.55]

(month unknown)

• ABC television chairman Lloyd Braun presents an idea for a television show called Lost, about a group of people stranded on a desert island. [745.485]

August 4

• Business Week magazine publishes the Interbrand ranking of the most valuable global brands. Disney is number seven. [988.69]
• In Hollywood, California, Disney premieres the film Freaky Friday. [651.29]

August 5

• Touchstone Home Video releases the film Bringing Down the House on videocassette, and DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [613.89,94]

August 6

• Disney releases the live-action feature film Freaky Friday to theaters in the US. (Gross theater receipts in the US: US$109 million.) [612.79] [633.20] [650.22,65] [708.63]

August 12

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the film The Lizzie McGuire Movie on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [613.91] [616.100]

August 26

• Buena Vista Interactive releases the TRON 2.0 video game for Windows-based personal computers in the US. [449.64] [506.91] [518.70] [660.26] [670.44,65] [691.5] [693.33] [1215.23]

(month unknown)

• Touchstone releases the film Chicago on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [613.90]
• Touchstone releases the film Shanghai Knights on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [613.94]

September 2

• Activision releases the Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure video game for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, and Xbox in the US. [483.74] [518.144] [660.38] [670.26,70] [1133.16]

September 9

• Disney releases the film Sleeping Beauty on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [483.68] [613.105] [616.89]

September 12

• Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Cold Creek Manor to theaters in the US. [616.14]

September 26

• Disney releases the live-action feature film Under the Tuscan Sun to theaters in the US. [616.14]

September 29

• Disney subsidiary Buena Vista Datacasting introduces the video-on-demand service MovieBeam in three cities in the United States: Spokane, Washington, Jacksonville, Florida, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The service lets users download and store films for up to 24 hours on a television set-top device. Rental of the device costs US$6.99 per month, with film costs of US$1.99-3.99 per title. [686]

(month unknown)

• Touchstone releases the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind on DVD for US$29.99 on the US. [616.89]

October 7

• Disney releases The Lion King Special Edition on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [483.24] [519.68] [613.105] [614.110]

October 8

• Mickey's PhilharMagic 3-D film opens in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. [415.19] [1248.43]
• The fireworks show Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams premieres at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. [652.28]

October 9

• Hewlett-Packard announces a ten-year extension to its business and technology partnership with Disney. [686]
• The Mission: Space attraction opens in Epcot at Walt Disney World. The attraction cost US$150 million to build. [366.22] [483.24] [650.14] [652.28] [745.431]

October

• Matt Ouimet is the new president of the Disneyland Resort. [757.31]

October 10

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. When a basketball team wins the championships, the TV announcer asks them "What are you gonna do next?" They reply "We're not going to Alaska!". This is a reference to Disney promotional advertisements of the 1970s in which a sports star would answer "I'm going to Disneyland!". [903]

October 14

• TDK Mediactive releases The Haunted Mansion video game for the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 in the US. Price is US$39.99. [677.88] [1134.18]
• The Travel Channel airs the TV special "Disneyland Resort: Behind the Scenes". [1300.137]

October 20

• Disney premieres the animated feature film Brother Bear at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York. [483.24] [652.28]

October 24

• Disney releases the animated feature film Brother Bear to theaters in the USA. [614.18]

October 26

• The American Space Experience exhibit closes at Disneyland. [1300.48]

(month unknown)

• Touchstone releases the film Holes on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. [614.100]
• Disney Editions releases The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies book, by Jason Surrell. Price is US$19.95. [651.75]
• The Intrepid Traveler releases the Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets book, by Steven Barrett. Price is US$11.95. [651.77]
• Bowman Books releases The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World book by Cara Goldsbury. Price is US$19.95. [651.77]
• Disney Interactive releases the Lizzie McGuire: One the Go! video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. Price is US$29.99. [651.77]
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment releases the Lilo & Stitch's Island of Adventures board game with DVD. Price is US$29.99. [651.77]

November 4

• ABC resumes airing the TV show Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter after the death of main star John Ritter on September 11. [745.458]
• Touchstone releases the film Finding Nemo on DVD for US$29.99 in the US. A first-day sales record is set: 8 million copies. [520.82] [614.102] [1323.224]

November 9

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
  • A photograph shows a couple on the drop of a log flume ride, a reference to the photos taken on the drop of Disney's Splash Mountain.
  • A character driving with a fugitive from the law says: "I'm gonna hide you where there's no one around for miles: Disney's California Adventure!".
  [1019]

November 18

• Seventy-five plaster Mickey Mouse statues go on display in Walt Disney World. The art show is entitled Celebrate Mickey: 75 Inspearations. The statues were created by celebrity artists, to honor the 75th anniversary of the film debut of Mickey Mouse. (The statues will later go on a tour across America, to be auctioned off for charity at Sotheby's in New York.) [651.18] [652.29]

November 20

• John Bryson tells Roy Disney that Roy would not be re-nominated to the board of directors. [745.465]

November 22

• The ABC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled Eloise at Christmastime. [651.67]

November 23

• Disney premieres the live-action feature film The Haunted Mansion at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California. [652.29]

November 30

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A hallucination of various commercial bears includes Disney's Winnie-the-Pooh. [1020]
• Roy Disney resigns from the Disney board of directors, including his positions as Chairman of Feature Animation, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. [694.B5] [745.467]

December 1

• Disney re-releases the animated feature film The Lion King to theaters in New Zealand. [890]
• Stanley Gold issues a letter of resignation from the Disney board of directors, seconding Roy Disney's call for the removal of Michael Eisner as Chairmain and CEO. [745.471]

December 2

• Touchstone releases the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl on DVD for US$29.98 in the US. [615.120] [651.26]

December 4

• At the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, California, the Motion Picture Association presents the Pioneer of the Year award to Michael Eisner. [745.473]

December 7

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
  • A fat man has a teacup from Disneyland's Mad Tea Party attraction stuck on his bottom.
  • He comments that one should never go on the ride "after eating at Beauty and the Beast's Fried Dough Chateau".
  • A character hosting a live show says "Thank you, cast of The Lion King".
  [1021]

December 15

• The Mary Poppins stage show opens in London, England. [652.20] (December 2004 [745.334i])

December 17

• Comcast begins making discrete discussions with Disney board member George Mitchell about merging the two companies. Mitchell agrees that "this makes a lot of sense". [745.478]

December 19

• Touchstone releases the live-action feature film Calendar Girls in theaters in the US. [708.21]

Year

• Worldwide theater gross receipts for the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl: US$654 million. DVD sales: US$360 million. [1098.73]

Other web pages of interest:

This Day in History

---

Last updated: 2013 September 19.
Copyright © 1995-2013 Ken Polsson (email: [email protected]).
URL: https://kpolsson.com/disnehis/
Link to Ken P's home page.