2001

An overview of all Disney-related events that occurred in the year 2001.

Theatrical releases

Feature films

• February 10 - Recess: School's Out (premiere)
• February 16 - Recess: School's Out is released to favorable and mixed reviews but becomes a box office failure.
• March 30 - Spy Kids (Dimension Films)
• April 6 - Just Visiting (Hollywood Pictures) is released to negative reviews from critics and was the final production from Hollywood Pictures before becoming dormant.
• April 13 - Bridget Jones's Diary (Miramax Films)
• May 25 - Pearl Harbor (Touchstone Pictures)
• June 15 - Atlantis: The Lost Empire is released to mixed reviews and moderate commercial success.
• June 29 - Crazy/Beautiful (Touchstone Pictures)
• July 4 - Scary Movie 2 (Dimension Films)
• August 3 - The Princess Diaries is released to mixed reviews, but becomes a box office success.
• August 10 - The Others (Dimension Films)
• August 24
  • Bubble Boy (Touchstone Pictures)
  • Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (Dimension Films)
• October 5
  • Max Keeble's Big Move is released to mixed reviews and bombs at the box office.
  • Serendipity (Miramax Films)
• November 2 - Monsters, Inc. is released as a box office hit and receives universal acclaim.
• November 21 - Out Cold (Touchstone Pictures)
• December 14 - The Other Side of Heaven (Touchstone Pictures)
• December 25
  • Kate & Leopold (Miramax Films)
  • The Shipping News (Miramax Films)

Shorts

• November 2 - For the Birds

Theme parks and resorts

• January 1 - Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration ends.
  • Millennium Village closes in World Showcase at Epcot.
• January 2 - Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa opens at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
• January 9 - Downtown Disney opens at the Disneyland Resort.
• January 14 - Collector pins begin to be given out at the Disney Parks.
• February 8 - Disney's California Adventure opens at Disneyland Resort.
  • Muppet*Vision 3D opens in Hollywood Pictures Backlot at Disney's California Adventure.
• March 28 - The Sorcerer's Hat opens in Hollywood Boulevard at Disney-MGM Studios and becomes the park's icon, replacing the Earffel Tower.
• April 1 - The Main Street Electrical Parade ends its run at the Magic Kingdom.
• April 2 - SpectroMagic returns to the Magic Kingdom.
• April 7 - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It! debuts in Animation Courtyard at Disney-MGM Studios.
• April 16 - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge opens at Walt Disney World Resort.
• April 27 - The Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register reports that the Rocket Rods at Disneyland will never reopen due to many factors.
• May 1 - The Disney's Animal Kingdom attraction, Countdown to Extinction changes its name to Dinosaur in DinoLand U.S.A..
• May 6 - A tree in Frontierland at Disneyland, which had been there since the park opened, falls over, injuring 29 people.
• May 12 - Doug Live! closes at the Disney-MGM Studios, due to the show's cancellation from ABC.
• May 24 - The Magic Carpets of Aladdin opens in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom.
• July 4 - Disney's Electrical Parade begins performing at Disney's California Adventure.
• July 17 - Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln receives an upgrade.
• July 27 - The Disney Resort Line of the Tokyo Disney Resort goes into service.
• September 4 - Tokyo DisneySea opens at the Tokyo Disney Resort.
• September 9
  • The Country Bear Jamboree closes in Critter Country at Disneyland.
  • Tapestry of Nations has its final performance at Epcot.
• September 11 and 12 - Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort close due to the terrorist attacks in the northeast. Hotels in both resorts remain open.
• September 13 - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It! premieres in Hollywood Pictures Backlot at Disney's California Adventure to very low crowds, due to the terrorist attacks halting travel two days before.
• September 24 - Tapestry of Dreams premiered at Epcot.
• October 1 - Walt Disney World Resort and the Magic Kingdom celebrates its 30th anniversary.
  • Cinderella's Surprise Celebration premieres at the Magic Kingdom.
  • Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage begins in Animation Courtyard at the Disney-MGM Studios.
• October 3 - Haunted Mansion Holiday, the seasonal overlay of The Haunted Mansion, debuts in New Orleans Square at Disneyland.
• October 7 - Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough closes in Fantasyland at Disneyland.
• October 8 - Journey Into Your Imagination closes in Imagination! Pavilion at Epcot.
• November 2 - Disney's River Country closes at Walt Disney World after celebrating its 25th and final anniversary on June 20, 2001.

Television

• January 7 - Totally Hoops premieres on the Disney Channel.
• January 12
  • Lizzie McGuire premieres on the Disney Channel.
  • Zenon: The Zequel premieres on the Disney Channel.
• January 13
  • House of Mouse premieres on ABC.
  • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command airs its final episode on ABC.
• January 22 - The Book of Pooh premieres on Playhouse Disney.
• February 3 - Lloyd in Space premieres on ABC.
• February 16 - Motocrossed premieres on the Disney Channel.
• March 9 - The Luck of the Irish premieres on the Disney Channel.
• April 5 - The Disney Channel debuts in Brazil.
• April 13 - Hounded premieres on the Disney Channel.
• April 15 - Totally Hoops airs its final episode.
• June 8 - Jett Jackson: The Movie premieres on the Disney Channel.
• July 13 - The Jennie Project premieres on the Disney Channel.
• August 17 - Jumping Ship premieres on the Disney Channel.
• September 1
  • The Legend of Tarzan premieres on UPN.
  • Pepper Ann and Doug begin airing in syndication on Toon Disney.
  • The final few episodes of Pepper Ann's fourth season begin premiering on Toon Disney early throughout the month.
• September 14 - The Poof Point premieres on the Disney Channel.
• September 15
  • The Proud Family premieres on the Disney Channel.
  • Stanley premieres on Playhouse Disney.
• September 28 - So Weird airs its final episode on the Disney Channel.
• September 30 - Alias airs on ABC.
• October 2
  • Bob Patterson premieres on ABC.
  • Scrubs premieres on NBC.
• October 3 - According to Jim premieres on ABC.
• October 12 - Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge premieres on the Disney Channel.
• November 21 - Recess, after four years as one of the most popular shows on ABC's One Saturday Morning, airs its final episode. It would remain in reruns on ABC until fall 2004. A direct-to-video epilogue and prequel are released two years later.
• December 7 - 'Twas the Night premieres on the Disney Channel.

Books

• October 21 - The Book of Pooh: Rhyme Time

Video games

• January 24 - Winnie the Pooh Baby for PC
• March 15 - Disney's Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge for PlayStation (North America only)
• March 29 - Dance Dance Revolution GB Disney Mix for Game Boy Color (Japan only)
• April 27 - Disney's Phonics Quest and Winnie the Pooh Kindergarten for PC
• October 2 - Winnie the Pooh: ABC's and Winnie the Pooh: 123's Disney Learning Toddler and Preschool for PC
• October 9 - Dopey's Wild Mine Ride on DVD
• October 25 - Monsters, Inc. Scream Team Training for PC
• November 6 - Rolie Polie Olie: The Search For Spot for PC
• November 14 - Tarzan: Untamed for PlayStation 2
• November 15 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for Game Boy Color
• November 17 - Tarzan: Untamed for GameCube
• November 22 - Adventure of Tokyo Disney Sea for Game Boy Advance (Japan)
• December 20 - Adventure of Tokyo Disney Sea for PlayStation 2 (Japan)

Home video releases

VHS & DVD releases

• January 9
  • Love Tales (re-issue)
  • Sweetheart Stories (re-issue)
  • Mickey Loves Minnie (re-issue)
  • Winnie the Pooh: Un-Valentine's Day (re-issue)
  • Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You (re-issue)
  • Rolie Polie Olie: Happy Hearts Day
• January 16
  • Pete's Dragon
  • Coyote Ugly
  • Mission to Mars (VHS only)
• January 23
  • Disney's The Kid
  • The Thirteenth Year
  • The New Adventures of Spin and Marty: Suspect Behavior
• January 30 - Dinosaur
• February 13 - The Loretta Claiborne Story
• February 27 - Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure
• March 20
  • The Sword in the Stone
  • Bedknobs and Broomsticks: 30th Anniversary Edition
  • Remember the Titans
  • Toy Story
  • Toy Story 2
  • Johnny Tsunami
  • Can of Worms
• April 3 - 102 Dalmatians
• April 10
  • Bounce (Miramax Home Entertainment)
  • The Love Bug (re-issue)
  • Tower of Terror (re-issue)
  • Safety Patrol (re-issue)
  • Noah (re-issue)
  • Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (re-issue)
  • A Knight in Camelot (re-issue)
• April 17
  • Alley Cats Strike
  • Brink!
• May 1
  • The Emperor's New Groove
  • The Emperor's New Groove: The Ultimate Groove Edition (DVD only)
• May 8
  • Duets
  • The Miracle Worker
• June 5 - Oliver & Company (VHS only)
• June 12 - O Brother, Where Art Thou?
• June 26 - Unbreakable
• July 17
  • The Book of Pooh: Stories from the Heart
  • Goldrush: A Real Life Alaskan Adventure (re-issue)
  • My Date with the President's Daughter (re-issue)
  • Tourist Trap (re-issue)
  • Balloon Farm (re-issue)
  • Flash (re-issue)
  • Beverly Hills Family Robinson (re-issue)
• August 7
  • Chocolat
  • Recess: School's Out
• September 11
  • The Book of Pooh: Fun with Words
  • The Book of Pooh: Fun with Friends
• September 18
  • Spy Kids
  • Mr. Headmistress (re-issue)
  • Principal Takes a Holiday (re-issue)
  • A Saintly Switch (re-issue)
  • Model Behavior (re-issue)
• October 9
  • Bridget Jones's Diary
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition (DVD only)
• October 23
  • Dumbo: 60th Anniversary Edition
  • Whispers: An Elephant's Tale
• October 30 - Rolie Polie Olie: A Jingle Jangle Holiday
• November 6
  • Disney's Sing-Along Songs: The Twelve Days of Christmas (re-issue)
  • 101 Dalmatians: Christmas (re-issue)
  • Raymond Briggs' The Bear (re-issue)
  • Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
  • Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street
  • Sister Act
  • Santa Who?
• November 27 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition (VHS only)
• December 4
  • Pearl Harbor
  • Walt Disney Treasures Wave 1 (DVD only)
• December 18
  • Scary Movie 2
  • The Princess Diaries
  • Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story

Albums

• January 23 - Recess: School's Out
• February 27 - Disney's Greatest Volumes 1 and 2
• March 27 - Cruella's Favorite Villain Songs
• May 22 - Atlantis: The Lost Empire
• July 24 - The Princess Diaries
• September 11 - Playhouse Disney
• October 23 - Monsters Inc.

Business

• Buena Vista Games is founded, Disney Interactive and Buena Vista Interactive being subsidiaries in the process.
• Disney loses the rights to King Louie following a lawsuit with Gia Prima for not paying royalties and impersonation of her husband's voice.
• October 24 - Disney purchases Fox Family Worldwide from News Corporation and Saban Entertainment. The buyout included the Fox Family Channel, the Fox Kids brand name, rights to the Fox Kids/Fox Children’s Productions library of shows and Fox Kids channels in Europe and Latin America (including their 75.7% majority stake in Fox Kids Europe N.V.), the Saban Entertainment library, Saban International Paris and other subsidiaries. Fox Family Worldwide is renamed ABC Family Worldwide. 17 days later, Fox Family became ABC Family. Saban Entertainment is renamed to BVS Entertainment and Saban International Paris was sold off to become an independent studio.

Events

• January 1 - Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebration comes to an end.
• April 20 - EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival runs until June 11.
• October 20 - EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival runs until November 19.
• After 1 year, the last videos in the Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection were The Sword in the Stone, Oliver & Company (Canadian copy only), and Bedknobs and Broomsticks, followed by the Platinum Edition of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in October 2001.

Character debuts

• January 12 - Lizzie McGuire, Miranda Sanchez, David Gordon, Matt McGuire, Jo McGuire, Sam McGuire, Kate Sanders, Danny Kessler, Claire Miller
• January 13 - Microphone Mike
• January 26 - Ruby Mendel
• February 2 - Monique Taylor
• February 3 - Lloyd Nebulon, Captain Nora Nebulon, Francine Nebulon, Eddie Horton, Kurt Blobberts, Douglas McNoggin, Mrs. Bolt, Station, Megan Uno, Rodney Glaxer, Violet, Frank Horton, Brittany Boviak
• February 8 - Vitale Robustelli, Swifty La Rue, Camellia Falco, Patrick, Califia, Oo-soo'-ma-te
• February 10 - Tasha
• February 16 - Dr. Phillium Benedict, Becky Detweiler, Kojak, Secret Service Look-Alike Agents, Dr. Rosenthal, Professor Fenwick
• February 17 - Man-Wolf
• February 27 - Angel, Buster, Reggie, Francois, Sparky, Mooch, Ruby, Scratchy, Otis, the Dogcatcher
• March 3 - Pru
• March 11 - Gwyn, Robin Hood
• May 4 - Angel Lieberman
• June 1 - Lanny Onasis
• June 15 - Milo Thatch, Kida Nedakh, Lyle Tiberius Rourke, Gaetan Molière, Helga Sinclair, Preston B. Whitmore, Joshua Sweet, Kashekim Nedakh, Vincenzo Santorini, Audrey Ramirez, Wilhelmina Packard, Fenton Q. Harcourt, Jebidiah Allardyce "Cookie" Farnsworth, Thaddeus Thatch, Queen of Atlantis
• June 19 - Millicent
• August 3 - Mia Thermopolis, Queen Clarisse Renaldi, Lana Thomas, Helen Thermopolis, Josh Bryant, Anna and Fontana
• September 4 - Renard Dumont, Sindbad, Rukh, Giant, Pirate Crew, The Sultan, Wild Monkeys, Whale, Chandu, Crystal Skull, Paco
• September 5 - Nuru and Sheeta
• September 6 - Queen La, Leopard Men
• September 7 - Hugo and Hooft, Lieutenant Colonel Staquait
• September 15 - Penny Proud, Dijonay Jones, Zoey Howzer, LaCienega Boulevardez, Suga Mama, Oscar Proud, Trudy Proud, BeBe & CeCe Proud, Puff, Sticky Webb, Felix Boulevardez, Sunset Boulevardez, Papi Boulevardez, the Gross Sisters, Michael Collins, Stanley Griff, Joyce Griff, Mark Griff, Harry, Elsie, Dennis
• September 16 - Dania
• September 21 - Wizard Kelly, Myron Lewinski, Omar Phillips, Melina Bianco
• September 24 - Samuel T. Philander, Dreamseekers
• September 25 - Hista
• September 26 - Abigail Markham
• September 28 - Bobby Proud, Ginger S. Kelly, Ajay, Tristan the Magician
• October 5 - Max Keeble, Troy McGinty, Don Keeble, Lily Keeble, Evil Ice Cream Man, Principal Elliot T. Jindrake, Jenna, Chelsea, Dobbs, Daniella Sanchez, Mega
• October 8 - Naoh, Muviro
• October 9 - Zutho, Gozan and Hungo
• October 10 - Helga
• October 12 - The Chang Triplets, Timothy Smythe, Crandall Smythe, Cindy
• October 14 - Tublat
• October 19 - Frankie White
• October 31 - Finster Zombies
• November 2 - James P. Sullivan, Mike Wazowski, Boo, Randall Boggs, Henry J. Waternoose, Celia Mae, Roz, Yeti, Fungus, Flint, Thaddeus Bile, Needleman and Smitty, George Sanderson, Trailer Folk, Lanky Schmidt, Child Detection Agency, Pete Ward, Theodore Pauley, Josh Rivera, Tony, Sushi Chef, Waxford, Dr. Payne, Carlos
• November 4 - The Tylers
• November 9 - Percy Proud
• December 7 - Danny Wrigley
• December 10 - Grandma Griff

People

Births

• January 19 - Tyler Merna (actor and voice actor)
• February 15 - Haley Tju (actress and voice actress)
• February 21 - Isabella Acres (actress and voice actress)
• March 6 - Milo Manheim (actor)
• March 30 - Grace Song (actress)
• April 15 - Django Marsh (actor and voice actor)
• May 3 - Rachel Zegler (actress, singer, and YouTuber)
• June 1 - Ed Oxenbould (actor)
• June 9 - Xolo Maridueña (actor and voice actor)
• August 5 - Josie Totah (actress)
• August 6
  • Harley Graham (actress and voice actress)
  • Ty Simpkins (actor)
• August 8 - Aubrey K. Miller (actress)
• August 30 - Sean Ryan Fox (actor and voice actor)
• September 4 - Tenzing Norgay Trainor (actor)
• October 9 - Joshua Carlon (actor and voice actor)
• October 12 - Raymond Ochoa (actor, voice actor, and musician)
• October 14 - Rowan Blanchard (actress, singer, model, and dancer)
• November 15 - Sadie Stanley (actress and singer)
• December 13 - Harley Bird (actress)
• December 14 - Joshua Rush (actor and voice actor)

Deaths

• January 26 - Thor Putnam (layout artist)
• February 17 - John Sutherland (producer, writer, animator, and voice actor)
• February 24 - Chuck Keehne (costume designer)
• March 25 - Larry Lansburgh (director, producer, screenwriter, writer, and cinematographer)
• May 10 - Deborah Walley (actress and voice actress)
• May 18 - Maurice Noble (animation production designer, animation background artist, and layout designer)
• May 19 - Mike Sammes (vocal arranger and session musician/singer)
• July 15 - Ted Berman (film director, animator, and screenwriter)
• August 4 - Lorenzo Music (actor, voice actor, writer, producer, and musician)
• August 23 - Kathleen Freeman (actress)
• September 13 - Dorothy McGuire (actress)
• November 29 - George Harrison (musician)
• December 26 - Nigel Hawthorne (actor)
• December 31 - David Swift (screenwriter, animator, director, and producer)