1996

Disney Enterprises, Inc.

An overview of all Disney-related events that occurred in the year 1996.

Theatrical releases

Feature films

February 2 - White Squall (Hollywood Pictures)
February 16 - Muppet Treasure Island
February 23 - Before and After (Hollywood Pictures with Caravan Pictures)
March 1 - Up Close & Personal (Touchstone Pictures) was released to mostly negative reviews.
March 8 - Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
March 29 - Oliver & Company (re-issue)
April 12 - James and the Giant Peach is released to near-universal acclaim, but became a commercial failure.
April 19 - Celtic Pride (Hollywood Pictures with Caravan Pictures)
May 3 - Last Dance (Touchstone Pictures)
May 24 - Spy Hard (Hollywood Pictures)
May 31 - Eddie (Hollywood Pictures)
June 7 - The Rock (Hollywood Pictures)
June 19 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame premiered in New Orleans, Louisiana.
June 21 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame is released to positive reviews and became a commercial success.
August 2 - Emma (Miramax Films)
August 9 - Jack (Hollywood Pictures)
August 30 - First Kid (with Caravan Pictures)
September 13 - The Rich Man's Wife (Hollywood Pictures with Caravan Pictures)
October 4 - D3: The Mighty Ducks
October 25 - The Associate (Hollywood Pictures)
November 8 - Ransom (Touchstone Pictures)
November 27 - 101 Dalmatians (with Great Oaks Entertainment) received generally mixed reviews, but became a commercial success.
December 25 - Evita (Hollywood Pictures)

Theme parks and resorts

January 2 - World of Motion closes in Future World at Epcot.
January 21 - Universe of Energy closes in Future World at Epcot.
January 27 - Toy Story Funhouse opens at Disneyland.
March 11 - Mickey's Starland Show closes in Mickey's Starland at Magic Kingdom.
April 15 - Toontown opens at Tokyo Disneyland.
June 20 - Disney's River Country celebrates its 20th anniversary at Walt Disney World Resort.
June 29 - Mickey's Starland at the Magic Kingdom is renamed Mickey's Toontown Fair.
September - The Remember the Magic Parade premieres at the Magic Kingdom to prepare for its 25th anniversary.
September 1 - Captain EO closes in Tomorrowland at Tokyo Disneyland.
September 6 - Night of Joy 1996 begins at the Magic Kingdom.
September 15 - Ellen's Energy Adventure opens in Future World at Epcot.
September 21 - IllumiNations 25 opens in World Showcase at Epcot.
September 28 - Walt Disney World's Grand Prix Speedway is renamed Tomorrowland Speedway in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom.
October 1 - Walt Disney World Resort and the Magic Kingdom celebrates its 25th anniversary.
- The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm opens in Mickey's Toontown Fair at the Magic Kingdom.
November 25 - Main Street Electrical Parade closes at Disneyland.

Television

March 8 - Muppets Tonight premieres on ABC.
June 1 - The Disney Channel original movie Nightjohn airs.
June 6 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Festival of Fun Musical Spectacular premieres.
September 3 - Quack Pack premieres in syndication.
September 6 - Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series premieres in syndication and on ABC.
September 7 - Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles and Brand Spanking New Doug (formerly on Nickelodeon), premiere on ABC.
October 3 - The Disney Channel premiere film, Susie Q premieres on the Disney Channel.
October 5 - Jungle Cubs premieres on ABC.
October 8 - The Quack Pack episode "Ducklaration of Independence" premieres in syndication.
October 25 - Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh premieres on CBS; it would move to ABC a year later.
December 14 - Animated short, The Bug Hunt screens on the Disney Channel, during the American Teacher Awards. It was the winner of the "Create a Great Story" Contest.

Albums

March 5 - Oliver & Company (re-release; some songs rearranged)
March 26 - Songs from the AristoCats and Bibbidi Bobbidi Bach
April 12 - James and the Giant Peach

Comics

December - Marvel Comics files for bankruptcy, and as a result, Disney Comic Hits! is canceled.

Video games

April 11 - Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow for Super NES
April 24 - Animated StoryBook: Toy Story
August 24 - Toy Story: Activity Center
September - Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow for PC
September 24 - The Walt Disney World Explorer (Windows and Mac application)
November - Pinocchio for Super NES
November 11 - Animated StoryBook: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Home video releases

VHS releases

January 9
- Favorite Stories: The Wind in the Willows
- Valentine's Day promotion:
  - Sweetheart Stories
  - Mickey Loves Minnie
  - Aladdin & Jasmine's Moonlight Magic
  - Love Tales (re-issue)
  - The Little Mermaid: Whale of a Tale (re-issue)
  - Winnie the Pooh: Un-Valentine's Day (re-issue)
  - Muppet Babies: Be My Valentine (re-issue)
  - Alvin and the Chipmunks: Love Potion #9 (re-issue)
January 30 - Timon and Pumbaa's Wild Adventures (1-3)
January 31
- A Kid in King Arthur's Court
- The Big Green
February 20
- Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: Magic and Mystery
- Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: True Hearts
- Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
- Heavyweights
- Tall Tale
- Man of the House
February 21 - Easter promotion:
- The Easter Chipmunk
- The Best of Roger Rabbit
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (re-issue)
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Let's Go to the Circus! (re-issue)
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Campout at Walt Disney World (re-issue)
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Beach Party at Walt Disney World (re-issue)
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Circle of Life (re-issue)
- The Tale of the Bunny Picnic (re-issue)
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar (re-issue)
- Where's Spot? (re-issue)
- Spot Goes to the Farm (re-issue)
- Spot Goes to a Party (re-issue)
- Spot Goes to School (re-issue)
- Sweet Dreams, Spot (re-issue)
February 28
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (re-issue)
- Pocahontas
- The Three Caballeros (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- The Sword in the Stone (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Dumbo (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Alice in Wonderland (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- So Dear to My Heart (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Robin Hood (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Pete's Dragon (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
- Mary Poppins (re-issue) (Rare Later printing)
March 5
- Houseguest (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Roommates (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
March 19
- The Tie That Binds (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Operation Dumbo Drop
March 27 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
April 9
- Aladdin's Arabian Adventures: Fearless Friends and Team Genie
- Splash (re-issue; Touchstone Home Video)
- The Rescue (re-issue; Touchstone Home Video)
April 16
- Unstrung Heroes (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- The Scarlet Letter (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
April 24 - The Aristocats
May 1 - Tom and Huck
May 7 - Dead Presidents (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
May 8 - Timon and Pumbaa's Wild Adventures (4-6)
May 14 - Powder (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
June 11 - Father of the Bride Part II (Touchstone Home Video)
June 26- Disney Sing Along Songs: Topsy Turvy, Let's Go to the Circus!, Campout at Walt Disney World, and Beach Party at Walt Disney World
July 2 - Mr. Holland's Opus (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
July 9 - Nixon (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
July 17 - Winnie the Pooh Playtime: Happy Pooh Day and Learning: Working Together
July 28 - Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (re-issue)
July 30 - Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
August 13
- White Squall (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Aladdin and the King of Thieves
September 4
- Winnie the Pooh: Frankenpooh (re-issue)
- Winnie the Pooh: Spookable Pooh
September 10
- Muppet Treasure Island
- Favorite Stories: Three Little Pigs
- Up Close & Personal (Touchstone Home Video)
September 24
- Before and After (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
September 25
- Oliver & Company
October 2
- Favorite Stories: Mickey's Christmas Carol
October 15
- James and the Giant Peach
- Celtic Pride (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
October 29
- Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (re-issue)
- Toy Story
- Tiny Toy Stories
November 5
- Spy Hard (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Last Dance (Touchstone Home Video)
November 26 - Disney Sing Along Songs: Pongo and Perdita
December 17 - Life with Mikey
December 24 - Mickey's Christmas Carol
Unknown
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Under the Sea

Events

March 21 - Disneyland unveils its plans to renovate Tomorrowland. The project would be completed in 1998.
March 23 - Disney and McDonald's sign a 10-year national promotion alliance, which began in January 1997.
April 26 - EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is held until June 3.
September 28 - The first annual EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is held until October 27.
November 29 - The first annual EPCOT Holidays Around the World is held until December 24.
After 2 years, The Wind in the Willows, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and Three Little Pigs are the last videos in the Disney's Favorite Stories series.
- However, the Walt Disney Classics logo returned with early VHS copies of Pocahontas, and the Walt Disney Mini Classics logo returned in 1996 with the Favorite Stories video release of Mickey's Christmas Carol.

Behind the scenes

Disney buys New York-based animation studio Jumbo Pictures. The company would produce three shows for Disney.
Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere leave Nickelodeon to pitch Recess to Walt Disney Television. It would premiere a year later.
February 1 - The Walt Disney Company changes copyright name to Disney Enterprises, Inc.
February 2 - Gerry Laybourne, former president of Nickelodeon, is hired as the new president of the newly founded Disney/ABC Television Networks.
October - Production begins on Atlantis: The Lost Empire.