As The Walt Disney Company’s 100th-anniversary celebration comes to an end, there are a new batch of Disney anniversaries and milestones to commemorate in 2024.
It will be 100 years since Disney released its first Alice Comedies short films and the 95th anniversary of the famed “Skeleton Dance” that launched Silly Symphony shorts. Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World will celebrate its 35th anniversary.
There are many more attractions, movies and events reaching milestone anniversaries this year, including the 65th anniversary of the Matterhorn opening in Disneyland, the 15th anniversary of Seven Dwarfs Mine Trainin Magic Kingdom, the 25th anniversary of “Toy Story 2” and can you believe the 5th anniversary of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Plus, we’ve included some big Disney birthdays. Here are Disney anniversaries in 2024 to watch for:
January
Jan. 1: Elias Disney and Flora Call are married in 1888 in Acron, Fla., a town in eastern Lake County, about 60 miles from what is today Walt Disney World. They are the parents of Walt and Roy Disney. (136th anniversary)
Jan. 1: The “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign begins at Disney parks in 1999. (25th anniversary)
Jan. 12: The “GO” network is launched in 1999. The network is now the online portal for Disney content.(25th anniversary)
Jan. 13: The first Mickey Mouse comic strip appears in newspapers around the U.S. in 1930. (94th anniversary)
Jan. 15: All-Star Movies Resort opens at Walt Disney World in 1999. (25th anniversary)
Jan. 26: Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin takes its first spin at Disneyland in 1994. (30th anniversary)
Jan. 29: Kingdom Hearts III is released worldwide in 2019. (5th anniversary)
February
Feb. 1: Hollywood Pictures begins operations in 1989. (35th anniversary)
Feb. 13: Disney XD launches in 2009. (15th anniversary)
Feb. 15: Kali River Rapids opens in 1999 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. (25th anniversary)
Feb. 15: Disney Channel Original Movie “Kim Possible” debuts in 2019. (5th anniversary)
March
March 1: The first Alice Comedies short film is released in 1924, “Alice’s Day at Sea.” (100th anniversary)
March 1: Asia section of Animal Kingdom, including the Maharajah Jungle Trek, opens in 1999. (25th anniversary)
March 8: “Captain Marvel” premieres in 2019. (5th anniversary)
March 9: In 1984, Touchstone Studios releases its first film, “Splash.” (40th anniversary)
March 10: D23: The Official Disney Fan Club launches in 2009. (15th anniversary)
March 13: In 1969, “The Love Bug” had its wide movie release. This was the first in a series of films starring Herbie, the pearl-white 1963 Volkswagen Beetle. (55th anniversary)
March 16: Walt Disney Studios in Paris, opens in 1992. (32nd anniversary)
March 19: “The Shaggy Dog,” first of a series of wacky comedies s released in 1959. (65th anniversary)
March 20: “Aladdin” debuts on Broadway in 2014. (10th anniversary)
March 20: The Walt Disney Company in 2019, acquires 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion. Under the terms of the deal, Disney gets the key entertainment assets of the Twentieth Century Fox film studio and its subsidiaries, a stake in Hulu, FX Networks, Fox Sports (regional networks only), National Geographic Partners, and international operations Star TV and Sky. (5th anniversary)
March 29: In 2019, the live-action film “Dumbo” premieres. (5th anniversary)
March 31: MyMagic+ is made available in 2014 to all guests at the Walt Disney World Resort as part of the test and adjust process. (10th anniversary)
April
April 3: Disney President Frank Wells dies in a helicopter crash on Easter in 1994 while returning from a heliskiing trip in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains. Wells’ death had a major impact on Disney. Without his calming force, Eisner becomes more isolated. Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was chairman of the Walt Disney Studios, have a major falling out, causing Katzenberg to leave Disney and start DreamWorks animation with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. (30th anniversary)
April 4: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” is released in 2014 from Marvel Studios. (10th anniversary)
April 18: “Beauty and the Beast” stage show opens on Broadway in 1994. (30th anniversary)
April 22: Four exhibits developed by Disney open at the 1964 New York World’s Fair: Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln for the State of Illinois, Carousel of Progress for General Electric, Magic Skyway for Ford, and It’s a Small World for Pepsi-Cola to salute and benefit UNICEF. (60th anniversary)
April 22: Disneynature label is launched in 2009 with release of “Earth.” (15th anniversary)
April 26: “Avengers: Endgame” premieres in 2019. (5th anniversary)
April 30: Disney becomes an equity owner of Hulu in 2009. (15th anniversary)
May
May 1: Disney/MGM Studio Theme Park at Disney World opens in 1989. The park is now called Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (35th anniversary)
May 1: Pleasure Island, where every night is New Year’s Eve, opens in 1989. The area is now the The Landing section of Disney Springs. (35th anniversary)
May 24: The live-action “Aladdin” (2019) premieres. (5th anniversary)
May 28: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opens in Magic Kingdom Theme in 2014. (15th anniversary)
May 29:. “Up,” from Disney and Pixar, is released in 2009 and goes on to win two two Oscars.(15th anniversary)
May 30: The film “Maleficent” premieres in 2014. (10th anniversary)
May 31: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disneyland Park in 2019. (5th anniversary)
June
June 1: In 1989, Typhoon Lagoon opens at Disney World. (35th anniversary)
June 9: “The Wise Little Hen,” opens in 1934. This is first appearance of Donald Duck. (90th anniversary)
June 14: In 1959 Vice-President Richard Nixon dedicates the new Monorail at Disneyland. On the same day, the Matterhorn and the Submarine Voyage (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) also opened at Disneyland. (65th anniversary)
June 15: “The Lion King” is released in 1994. (25th anniversary)
June 18: The animated film “Tarzan” is released in 1999. (25th anniversary).
June 21: “Toy Story 4” premieres in 2019. (5th anniversary)
June 24: Roy O. Disney is born in Chicago, Illinois in 1893. (131st anniversary)
July
July 9: Gran Destino Tower opens in 2019, as part of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World. (5th anniversary)
July 10: “Ratatouille” attraction opens in Walt Disney Studios Park at the Disneyland Paris Resort in 2014. (10th anniversary)
July 17: Splash Mountain opens at Disneyland in 1989. (35th anniversary)
July 19: The live-action “The Lion King” premieres in 2019. (5th anniversary)
July 22: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios opens in 1994. (30th anniversary)
July 29: The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith opens in 1999. (25th anniversary)
August
Aug. 1: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” from Marvel Studios, is released in 2014. (10th anniversary)
Aug. 4: Bay Lake Tower opens in 2009 at the Contemporary Resort in Disney World. (15th anniversary)
Aug. 9: The Haunted Mansion opens at Disneyland in 1969. (55th anniversary)
Aug. 15: The Maiden voyage of the Disney Wonder takes place in 1999. (25th anniversary)
Aug. 22: In 1929, “The Skeleton Dance” short film is released, marking the start of the Silly Symphony shorts. (95th anniversary)
Aug. 25: The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! opens at Hollywood Studios in 1989. (35th anniversary)
Aug. 29: In 1964, the movie “Mary Poppins” is released. (60th anniversary)
Aug. 29: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in 2019. (5th anniversary)
Aug. 29: Disney Skyliner opens at Walt Disney World in 2019. (5th anniversary)
September
Sept. 7: In 1984, the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot at Disney World opens. (40th anniversary)
Sept. 10-13: The first D23 Expo is held in 2009 in Anaheim, California. (15th anniversary)
Sept. 15: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens at Disneyland in 1979. (45th anniversary)
Sept. 23: Disney, in 1984, becomes the target of corporate raiders and takeover attempts and many influential shareholders criticized Miller’s leadership. Disney family member Roy E. Disney (son of Walt Disney’s brother, Roy), Stanley Gold, and shareholder Sid Bass oust Miller in favor of a pair of non-Disney executives: Michael Eisner, who becomes CEO, and Frank Wells, who becomes president of the Walt Disney Productions. (40th anniversary)
Sept. 23: A Disney Vacation Club addition opens at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at Disneyland Resort in 2009: (5th anniversary)
October
Oct. 1: The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World opened in 1971. (53rd anniversary).
Oct.1: EPCOT opens at Walt Disney World in 1982. (42nd anniversary)
Oct. 1: The Walt Disney Family Museum, operated by the Walt Disney Family Foundation, opens in San Francisco in 2009. (15th anniversary)
Oct. 1: In 1999, the Millennium Celebration begins at EPCOT. (25th anniversary)
Oct. 3: ABC in 2004 debuts “Desperate Houswives.” (20th anniversary)
Oct. 19: The Wonders of Life Pavilion in Epoct, which contained health and body related attractions such as Body Wars and Cranium Command, opens in 1989. It is now used as a Festival Center. (35th anniversary)
Oct. 27: In 1954, the first airing of the Disneyland television show takes place. (70h anniversary)
November
Nov. 4: The first Walt Disney Gallery opens at the MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana, California in 1994. (30th anniversary)
Nov. 5: “The Incredibles” is released in theaters in 2004. (20th anniversary)
Nov. 7: “Big Hero 6” is released in theaters in 2014. (10th anniversary)
Nov. 12: Disney+ streaming service debuts in 2019. Notable launch year titles include: “The Mandalorian,” “Lady and the Tramp” (live-action, 2019), “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” “The Imagineering Story,” and “Noelle.” (5th anniversary)
Nov. 16: Turtle Talk with Crush opens in Epcot in 2004. (20th anniversary)
Nov. 18, 1928: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse make their debut in “Steamboat Willie” in 1928. (96th anniversary)
Nov. 22: “Frozen 2” premieres in 2019. (5th anniversary)
Nov. 24: “Toy Story 2” opens theaters n 1999. (25th anniversary)
December
Dec. 5: Walt Disney is born in 1901. (123rd anniversary)
Dec. 5: Disney Interactive, a new division dedicated to publishing computer and video game console software, is formed in 1994. (30th anniversary)
Dec. 11: “The Princess and the Frog” film is released, introducing Princess Tiana, in 2009. (15th anniversary)
Dec. 15: Star Tours: The Adventures Continues opens in 1989 at Hollywood Studios. (35th anniversary)
Dec. 15: In 1954 the Davy Crockett story is told on the “Disneyland” show. (70th anniversary)
Dec. 16: The Disney brothers’ partnership in 1929 is replaced by four companies: Walt Disney Productions Ltd.; Walt Disney Enterprises; Liled Realty and Investment Company; and the Disney Film Recording Company. (95th anniversary)
Dec. 16: In 2009, Roy E. Disney, the longtime executive at The Walt Disney Company, which was founded by his father Roy O. Disney and uncle Walt Disney, dies. (15th anniversary)
Dec. 20: Roy O. Disney passes away in 19971, less than three months after the opening of the Walt Disney World Resort. (53nd anniversary)
Dec. 23: In 1954, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” is released. (70th anniversary)
Dec. 31: Disney acquires Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in 2009. (15th anniversary
