The Disney Story

Walter Elias Disney is born to parents Elias and Flora Call Disney in Chicago

The Disney family moves from their family farm in Marceline, Missouri to Kansas City

The family relocates to Chicago, where Walt attends classes at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts

Lying about his age, Walt is accepted into the American Ambulance corps, serving the end of WWI in France

Walt incorporates Laugh-O-Gram Films inc. producing advertisements and short cartoons

Laugh-O-Gram goes bankrupt, Walt and Brother Roy move to Hollywood and create Disney Bros. Studio

Walt lands a contract to create 'Alice Comedies', a half animated, half live action series

Walt begins to hire a team of animators and inkers, including his future wife, Lillian Bounds

Walt and Lillian Disney are married

Walt and Roy rename the company 'Walt Disney Studios' and move to a new building on Hyperion Avenue

Charles Mintz contracts Walt Disney Studios to create 'Oswald The Lucky Rabbit'

Walt has to abandon Oswald to Mintz after he asserts trademark rights

Walt creates Mickey Mouse, who debuts in Plane Crazy, then the ever famous Steamboat Willie

'Silly Symphonies' are launched by Walt, a cartoon series to music

Flowers and Trees is the first ever technicolour animated short, and wins an Academy Award

Goofy makes his debut, originally named 'Dippy Dawg'

Lillian Disney gives birth to Diane Disney

Walt and Lillian adopt a second daughter, Sharon Mae Disney

Walt's first full Length Production, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, is released

Pinocchio is released in February

Fantasia is released in November, it is deemed an absolute Disney Classic and a 'masterpiece'

Dumbo is released to a fairly modest commercial success

Bambi is released, it was nota commercial success at time of release

Cinderella is released, becoming Disney's first animated success since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Treasure Island, Disney's first feature length live action film is released

Alice In Wonderland is released

Peter Pan is released

Walt acquires the land and funds for Disneyland through a programming deal with ABC Television

Lady and the Tramp is released

Disneyland opens and receives 1 million visitors within 2 months of opening

Sleeping Beauty is released

Mary Poppins is released and goes on to be nominated for 13 Academy Awards

Walt Disney purchases land that later becomes Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

Walt Disney is diagnosed with lung cancer and sadly dies on December 15, 1966

Construction begins on the newly renamed 'Walt Disney World', Roy Disney renames the park in his honour

Walt Disney World opens, Roy Disney sadly passes away

Robin Hood is released

Disney Channel is officially launched

Good Morning, Vietnam! is released, construction begins on Euro Disney

Mickey Mouse celebrates his 60th Birthday and diamond celebration

The Little Mermaid is released alongside smash hits 'Under The Sea' 'Part of Your World' and 'Kiss the Girl'

Beauty and The Beast is released, becoming the first ever animated picture to be nominated for Best Picture

The first Disney Vacation Club resorts open at Walt Disney World

Aladdin is released

Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is released

The Lion King is released, with a soundtrack by Elton John

Childhood Classic 'Toy Story' is released

Pocahontas is released in cinemas

Hercules is released

Disney announces plans for Hong Kong Disneyland

Mulan is released

Disney's California Adventure Park opens

Tokyo Disney Sea Opens

Finding Nemo is released

Hong Kong Disneyland opens

Disneyland celebrates it's 50th anniversary

High School Musical is released, launching a phenomena and 2 more films

Disney re-acquires the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

Disney announces D-23, an official disney fan club

The Princess and The Frog is released

'Tangled' Disney's own version of Rapunzel, is released

Disney acquires Lucasfilm, including the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, from George Lucas

'Frozen' is released and becomes the highest grossing animated feature of all time, winning an academy award

'Big Hero 6' is released and too wins an academy award for best animated feature

Shanghai Disneyland is opened on June 16