December 5, 1901
Walter Elias ("Walt Disney") is born at 1249 Tripp Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois, to parents Elias and Flora Disney. Walter is named after Reverend Walter Parr.

1910
Elias Disney and family move to Kansas City, Missouri.  Walt Disney is enrolled in Benton Grammar School.

1915
Walt Disney attends the Kansas City Art Institute.

June 8, 1917
Walt Disney graduates from Benton School (8th grade).

Fall, 1917
Walt enrolls in the McKinley High School in Chicago. Walt begins taking night courses at the Chicago Institute of Art.

1918
Walt completes his freshman year at McKinley High School and buys his first movie camera.

August 26, 1918
Walt forges his parents' signatures, and enlists in the American Ambulance Corps, part of the Red Cross. Walt alters the document, changing his birth year from 1901 to 1900.

1919
Walt and Ubbe Iwwerks (later Ubbe Iwerks) form a company called Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists. The name is later changed to Ub Iwerks.

March, 1928
Ub Iwerks modifies Walt Disney's "Oswald The Lucky Rabbit" character, turning him into Mickey Mouse. Iwerks begins work on the first Mickey Mouse cartoon.

May, 1928
Walt Disney's first silent film featuring Mickey Mouse, "Plane Crazy" premieres as a sneak preview at a theatre on Sunset Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California. It cost US$1772.89 to make. Minnie Mouse also debuts. Walt Disney applies for a trademark for "Mickey Mouse" for use in motion pictures. Walt Disney's trademark application for "Mickey Mouse" is filed with the United States Patent Office. Walt Disney copyrights the film "Plane Crazy".

July, 1928
The Mickey Mouse film, "Steamboat Willie" is delivered to the distributor. Production begins on the Mickey Mouse film, "Steamboat Willie". This is the first cartoon designed for use with a soundtrack. Walt, Ub, Wilfred Jackson, and Johnny Cannon provide the music, voices, and sound effects for a test showing of "Steamboat Willie".

September, 1928
Walt hires an orchestra in New York to record the soundtrack for "Steamboat Willie". Walt Disney's "Mickey Mouse" trademark application is granted. A musical score for "Steamboat Willie" is completed, and Walt Disney heads to New York to have it recorded. The Mickey Mouse film "Steamboat Willie" is completed.

1928
Walt meets with Charles Mintz and the directors of Universal Pictures to hear their offer to have Walt join them. Walt refuses.

December 31, 1929
The Silly Symphony film "The Skeleton Dance" is shows as a sneak preview at Hollywood's Carthay Circle Theater.

January 13, 1930
The first Mickey Mouse comic strip is published, in the New York Mirror. The strip is initially written by Walt Disney and drawn by Ub Iwerks.

January 21, 1930
Ub Iwerks informs Roy Disney that he wishes to leave the Disney Company. Disney buys his 20% share of the company for $2920.00 in US dollars.

1930
Walt contacts MGM studio head Louis Mayer about signing with Disney for distribution of its films. Initially Mayer agrees, but changes his mind when Pat Powers threatens to sue anyone who interfered with his exclusive contract of the rights to Disney's films. Walt contacts Columbia Pictures studio head Harry Cohn, who agrees to distribute Disney's films.  Pat Powers sues, Cohn countersues, and Powers backs off.  In February of 1930, Columbia begins advancing Disney $7000.00 per cartoon.

1933
Walt goes to New York to negotiate with Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures for an increase in cartoon advances, from $7500 to $15,000 each. Harry Cohn refuses, and tears up their existing contract.

March 16, 1934
An Academy Award (Short Subjects, Cartoons) is won for the film "Three Little Pigs".

August, 1934
Walt suggests 50 possible names for the dwarfs in the film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs".

September 24, 1937
The Mickey Mouse film "Hawaiian Holiday" is released. Donald Duck, Pluto, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy also appear.

December 21, 1937
Disney's first full-length animated feature film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" premieres at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Hollywood. It is the industry's first full-length animated movie. The $1.5 million needed to complete the film nearly bankrupted the company. Two million drawings make up the 83 minute film.

August, 1938
Walt and Roy Disney pay a 10% deposit on a $100,000 51 acre property on Buena Vista Street in Burbank for a new studio. In its first six months "Snow White" grosses $2 million.

1939
A Mickey Mouse watch is sealed in the World's Fair time capsule buried in New York.

February 7, 1940
The animated feature film "Pinocchio" premieres at the Central Theatre in New York. It cost $2.6 million to produce.

April 2, 1940
Walt Disney Productions first offers shares in the company to the public. 155,000 shares of preferred stock are offered at $25 per share and 600,000 of common stock for $5 per share.

1940
The Disney Studios' debt reaches $4.5 million.

February 19, 1941
The film "Fantasia" opens in Chicago, Illinois.

February 27, 1941
An Academy Award (Music, Best Song) is won for the song "When You Wish Upon a Star" from the film "Pinocchio". An Academy Award (Music, Best Score) is won for the film "Pinocchio".

May 29, 1941
293 Disney animators, members of the Screen Cartoonists Guild, stage a strike of the Disney Studios. More than 1000 picketers appear in the first hour.

July 1941
US President Franklin Roosevelt sends federal labor conciliator Stanley White to Hollywood, to try to work out a settlement of the Disney workers' strike.

The Printing Council forces the temporary withdrawal of the "Mickey Mouse" comic strip from its member newspapers, in support of the Disney strikers.

Technicolor Corporation announces its refusal to process Disney film until the studio recognizes the Cartoonists Guild.

September 14, 1941
The strike at the Disney studio officially ends.

1941
Walt's father Elias Disney dies.

1942
Disney produces the film "Food Will Win the War" for the National Film Board of Canada. It cost $20,000 to make.  Disney produces the film "Out of the Frying Pan into the Firing Line" for the Conservation Division of the War Production Board.

January, 1945
Walt resigns as president of Walt Disney Productions. He appoints Roy as new president.

1946
Disney announces planned layoffs of over 400 employees of a staff of 1000.

March 20, 1948
An Academy Award (Song) is won for the song "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" in the film "Song of the South".

August 31, 1948
Walt circulates a memo in the studio describing ideas for an amusement park, which he calls "Mickey Mouse Park".

1948
Facing a debt of $4 million, Walt accepts an offer from distributor RKO Pictures and new owner Howard Hughes, of a $1 million interest-free loan in exchange for rights to the Disney inventory of films for educational uses.

March, 1949
The Soviet Union announces a purge of all Disney films, accusing Walt of attempting to infiltrate Russia with his propaganda.

October, 1949
The Walt Disney Music Company is formed, for sheet music sales.

December 25, 1950
The first Disney TV special "One Hour in Wonderland" airs on NBC, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company. Walt Disney and several Disney cartoon characters make their TV debut. The show previews portions of the film "Alice in Wonderland".

December, 1952
Walt Disney forms Walt Disney Incorporated, to develop ideas for a "family park" to be called "Disneyland".

February 8, 1953
Walt Disney appears on TV as a guest on Toast of the Town.

July, 1953
Walt Disney commissions the Stanford Research Institute to advise on best location for the Disneyland park. Walt Disney meets with ABC president Leonard Goldenson, to negotiate a deal for ABC to benefit from Disney's name and inventory of films, in exchange for financing Disneylandia.

September, 1953
Walt discusses his plans for Disneylandia with Herb Ryman, convincing him to draw a visual image of the park. The meeting is on a Saturday, and the drawing is needed for a Monday meeting with TV network executives in New York.

1953
Disney establishes Buena Vista Distribution Company as Disney's film distributor.

April, 1954
Disney and ABC sign an agreement regarding the building of Disneylandia. ABC advances Disney $500,000 in cash, and guarantees all WED bank loans. In exchange, ABC receives 35% ownership of Disneylandia, 100% of all profits from the park's food concessions for 10 years, and an 8-year commitment from Disney for use of its inventory of films to be shown in a one-hour television program. Walt announces that Disneylandia would open in July, 1955. At the suggestion of ABC, Walt changes the name of Disneylandia to Disneyland.

July 21, 1954
The ground is broken for the beginning of building the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland.

August, 1954
Excavation of the Disneyland site begins.

October 27, 1954
The first "Disneyland" TV show debuts on Wednesday night on ABC TV. The episode is titled "The Disneyland Story". Approximately 30.8 million American viewers watch the show.

1955
In New York, NBC president David Sarnoff tells Walt, "Television will never be a medium of entertainment.".

Walt Disney grants Jack Wrather a 99 year license agreement to use the Disney name on any hotel in southern California.

Orange County plumbers and asphalt workers stage a strike, threatening to delay the tight schedule of building Disneyland.

March 30, 1955
An Academy Award (Art Direction - Set Decoration, Color) is won for the film "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". An Academy Award (Special Effects) is won for the film "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".

March, 1955
Walt Disney comes up with the name "Mouseketeers" for members of the Mickey Mouse Club.

July 17, 1955
Disneyland opens, in Anaheim, California. 15,000 guests were invited, but attendance for the day is recorded as 28,154. Based on an initial US$10,000 for planning, the final cost is $17 million to build. The opening is broadcast live on ABC.  The Red Wagon Inn restaurant opens in Adventureland at Disneyland. The Refreshment Corner, on Main Street, USA opens in Disneyland.  Disney's Mark Twain riverboat is christened in Disneyland.

July 18, 1955
Disneyland opens to the public with admission costing just $1. Cost of attractions ranged from 10 to 35 cents.

August, 1955
The "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. The "Dumbo Flying Elephants" ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland.

September, 1955
Disneyland welcomes its one millionth visitor.

October, 1955
The Disneyland Hotel opens on a 60-acre site next to Disneyland.

October 3, 1955
Disney's second TV show is launched, "The Mickey Mouse Club", on the ABC network. It is a daily series, showing cartoons and introducing the talents of the "Mouseketeers".

April, 1956
The "Bathroom of Tomorrow" attraction opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland.

June, 1956
The "Skyway to Tomorrowland" begins operation in Fantasyland at Disneyland.

The "Skyway to Fantasyland" begins operation in Tomorrowland at Disneyland.

July, 1956
Walt attends "Walt Disney Day" in his childhood hometown of Marceline, where he dedicates a public swimming pool that is part of a ten-acre park named in his honor.

Actor Kirk Douglas sues Walt Disney for use of home movie footage of Kirk and his two sons at Walt Disney's home. The suit is later dropped.

August, 1956
The "Main Street Omnibus #1" begins operation in Disneyland.

November 11, 1956
Walt Disney appears as a guest of the TV show "What's My Line?".

April, 1957
The "Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through" attraction opens in Disneyland, showing a 3-D portrayal of the story of Sleeping Beauty.

December, 1957
The "Main Street Omnibus #2" begins operation in Disneyland.

June, 1958
The "Alice in Wonderland" ride opens in Disneyland.

1958
ABC changes the name of Disney's TV show from "Disneyland" to "Walt Disney Presents".

The first "Christmas in Many Lands" parade is held at Disneyland.

June 14, 1959
The "Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System" begins operation in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. It represents the first urban monorail system in the USA. The "Matterhorn Mountain" with its "Matterhorn Bobsleds" ride opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. The "Submarine Voyage" ride at Disneyland opens. It cost about $2.5 million to create.

1959
The "Mickey Mouse Club" TV show is cancelled.

March, 1960
The Circle-Vision film "America the Beautiful" opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland.

1960
Disney sues the ABC TV network for the right to take their shows elsewhere, and buys ABC's one-third interest in Disneyland for $7.5 million.

April 25, 1961
Walt and Roy pay off all existing loans.

June, 1961
The Disneyland Monorail is extended to the Disneyland Hotel.

September 24, 1961
Disney's TV show changes names from "Walt Disney Presents" to "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" and debuts in color on NBC.

1961
Disneyland welcomes its 24 millionth guest.

1962
A group of Audio-Animatronics elephants in the Elephant Bathing Pool are added to the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland.

June 23, 1963
The "Enchanted Tiki Room" opens in Adventureland at Disneyland, with the debut of Audio-Animatronics.

November, 1963
Walt and others take a plane trip across the US, to make a final selection of location for a second theme park. Central Florida is chosen.

1963
Pepsi-Cola ask Walt Disney to create a pavilion for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair.

April 22, 1964
The New York World's Fair opens. Walt Disney's WED company constructed pavilions for: Ford ("Magic Skyway"); General Electric ("Progressland"); the state of Illinois ("Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln") and Pepsi-Cola ("It's a Small World").

May 2, 1964
The Illinois Pavilion opens at the New York World's Fair, with Disney's "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" operating flawlessly.

May, 1964
The first death in Disneyland is recorded. 15-year old Mark Maples stands up while on the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride, and is catapulted out. He dies four days after the incident.

August 27, 1964
The live-action and animated film "Mary Poppins" premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

1964
Walt Disney begins developing concepts for EPCOT center.

April 5, 1965
Julie Andrews wins an Academy Award (Actress) for her role in the film "Mary Poppins". An Academy Award (Music, Song) is won for the song "Chim Chim Cher-ee" in the film "Mary Poppins". An Academy Award (Music, Music Score - Substantially Original) is won for the film "Mary Poppins". An Academy Award (Film Editing) is won for the film "Mary Poppins". An Academy Award (Special Visual Effects) is won for the film "Mary Poppins".

October, 1965
Disney planners have acquired 27,443 acres (43 square miles) in central Florida, at a cost of just over $5 million.

November 15, 1965
Walt and Roy Disney, and Florida Governor Hayden Bruns make the first public announcement of plans to build a new theme park in Florida.

1965
Ron Miller buys the rights to A.A. Milne's "Winnie the Pooh" characters.

January 1, 1966
Walt serves as Grand Marshal of the Tournament of the Roses parade in Padadena, California.

May 28, 1966
The "It's a Small World" attraction opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland.

September 19, 1966
Walt Disney gives his last press conference, regarding development of the Mineral King ski resort, in southern California.

October, 1966
Walt gives a press conference, and describes his plans for building an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, EPCOT.

November 2, 1966
X-rays detect a cancerous spot on Walt Disney's left lung.

November 7, 1966
Walt is admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital, in Burbank, for surgery.

November 8, 1966
In hospital, Walt's left lung is removed, and found to be full of cancerous tumors.


November 30, 1966
Walt collapses at his home, is revived by medics, and is readmitted to hospital.

December 15, 1966
Walt Disney dies of acute circulatory collapse, caused by lung cancer, at age 65. He had won more than 950 honors and citations worldwide, including 48 Academy Awards and 7 Emmys. Roy O. Disney, president of Walt Disney Productions, is named chairman. Donn Tatum becomes president, and Card Walker is appointed executive vice president for operations. FBI director Hoover orders Walt Disney's name removed from the FBI's records as an active SAC contact.

December 16, 1966
A private service is held by Walt's immediate family at Little Church of the Flowers of Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in Glendale, California.

December 20, 1971
Roy Disney dies.

April 1998
The Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World opens.