English

1998

The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) at Magic Kingdom — The Enchanted Tiki Room is put "Under New Management" at Walt Disney World.

ToonDisneyLogo — Toon Disney begins broadcasting.

The Oasis at Disney's Animal Kingdom — Disney's Animal Kingdom opens.

Disney - You Lucky Dog — *You Lucky Dog*

The Parent Trap (1998 film) - Poster — *The Parent Trap*

Hercules Face-off — *Hercules* the series

Out of the Box

Disney - Halloweentown — *Halloweentown*

A Bug's Life official poster — *A Bug's Life*

An overview of all Disney-related events that occurred in the year1998.

Theatrical releases[]

Feature films[]

February 20 -An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (Hollywood Pictures) was released to a universally negative reaction and was a box office bomb.
February 27 -Krippendorf's Tribe (Touchstone Pictures)
March 27 -Meet the Deedles (with DiC Entertainment) was released to negative reviews and became a box office bomb.
May 23 -Kiki's Delivery Service premiered in Seattle International Film Festival.
June 5 -Mulan (premiere)
June 12 -Six Days, Seven Nights (Touchstone Pictures)
June 19 -Mulan was released to mostly positive reviews and commercial success.
July 1 -Armageddon (Touchstone Pictures)
July 29 -The Parent Trap remake was released to positive reception.
August 14 -Air Bud: Golden Receiver
September 11 -Simon Birch (Hollywood Pictures)
October 9 -Rushmore (Touchstone Pictures)
November 13 -I'll Be Home for Christmas was released to generally negative reviews and becomes a box office failure.
November 20 -Enemy of the State (Touchstone Pictures)
November 25 -A Bug's Life was released to very positive reviews and becomes a box office success.
December 25 -Mighty Joe Young becomes a box office bomb and gains mixed reviews from critics.

Shorts[]

November 25 -Geri's Game

Theme parks and resorts[]

January 21 - The originalDisneyland Parking Lot closes to make way for theDisneyland Resort expansion, includingDisney California Adventure,Downtown Disney, andDisney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
January 31 - TheMagic Kingdom'sCinderella Castle, which was decorated to look like a cake for the 25th anniversary celebration, is returned to its normal look.
February 1 -ILLUMinations 98 opens inWorld Showcase atEpcot. The "25" is also dropped from the name.
February 14 - The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop opens at Downtown Disney inWalt Disney World Resort.
February 17 - Construction begins on theRock 'n' Roller Coaster in Sunset Boulevard atDisney-MGM Studios.
April 5 -The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) opens in Adventureland at theMagic Kingdom.
April 12 -Disneyland Paris andDisneyland Park (Paris) celebrates its 5th anniversary.
April 15 -Tokyo Disneyland andTokyo Disney Resort celebrates its 15th Anniversary.
April 22 -Disney's Animal Kingdom, the fourth theme park at theWalt Disney World Resort, opens.
May 22 - The"New" Tomorrowland opens atDisneyland with the following new attractions: American Space Experience,Astro Orbitor, Cosmic Waves,Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, andRocket Rods. Older attractions remaining open after refurbishment:Autopia,Disneyland Monorail System,Space Mountain,Starcade,Star Tours, andSubmarine Voyage.
June 19 -Animazement: The Musical begins its run at Disneyland'sFantasyland Theatre.
July 3 -Innoventions opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland.
August 17 -Captain EO closes in Discoveryland atDisneyland Paris.
September 7 -Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closes in Fantasyland at theMagic Kingdom.
September 8 -Submarine Voyage closes in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. It would reopen nearlynine years later asFinding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
October 10 -Journey Into Imagination andThe Image Works: Creative Playground of the Future closes inFuture World atEpcot to be replaced byJourney Into Your Imagination version featuringEric Idle withoutFigment orDreamfinder andImageWorks: The What-If Labs in the future site ofImagination! Pavilion.
December 8 -Test Track begins soft openings in Future World at Epcot.
December 23
- Toon Park closes inMickey's Toontown atDisneyland.
- Toon Park would, however, live on inMickey's Toontown Fair atMagic Kingdom (until2011) and inToontown atTokyo Disneyland.
December 24 - OnSailing Ship Columbia in Frontierland atDisneyland, a cleat used to secure the ship to the dock tears loose, striking 33-year-old Luan Phi Dawson and his wife in the head, as their two children and other horrified park guests look on. Dawson is declared brain-dead two days later and died when his life support system is disconnected. Acast member is also injured. (SeeIncidents at Disney parks.)

Cruise ships[]

July 30 -Disney Cruise Line opens, with the first cruise ship being theDisney Magic in the Bahamas.

Television[]

January 1 -Movie Surfers premieres on theDisney Channel.
January 6 -Bear in the Big Blue House Season 2 premieres on theDisney Channel.
January 10 -Jungle Cubs airs its last episode onABC.
March 1 -Bug Juice premieres on theDisney Channel.
March 4 -101 Dalmatians: The Series ends with "Dalmatian Vacation, Part 3: Dearly Beloved". Reruns continue onABC until1999.
March 15 -PB&J Otter premieres on theDisney Channel.
April 18 -Toon Disney begins broadcasting.
June 20 -Bill Nye the Science Guy airs its last episode.
June 27 -You Lucky Dog premieres on theDisney Channel.
August 29 -Brink! premieres on theDisney Channel.
August 31 -Hercules: The Series premieres on ABC and in syndication.
October 7 -Out of the Box premieres on theDisney Channel.
October 17 -Halloweentown premieres on theDisney Channel.
November 6 -Rolie Polie Olie premieres on theDisney Channel.
December 20 -The Wiggles Live at Disneyland Park premieres onDisney Channel Australia to welcome The Wiggles.

Albums[]

January 27
- Winnie the Pooh: Friends Forever
- Ariel's Favorites
February 3
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Peter Pan
February 10
- Archive Collection Vol. 1:Burl Ives: Chim Chim Cherie
- Archive Collection Vol. 2:Hayley Mills: Let's Get Together
- Archive Collection Vol. 3:Louis Prima with Gia Maione: Let's Fly With Mary Poppins
- Archive Collection Vol. 4:Rex Allen: 16 Golden Hits
- Archive Collection Vol. 5:Cliff Edwards: Ukulele Ike Sings Again

Comics[]

December -Gladstone Publishing loses the rights to the Disney comic license.

Books[]

February -Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters (third edition)

Video games[]

A Bug's Life for PC
April 23 -The Walt Disney World Explorer – Second Edition (Windows and Mac application)
May -Mickey Mouse: Magic Wands! for Game Boy
August 18 -The D Show
September 14 -Animated StoryBook: Mulan
October 27 -A Bug's Life for PlayStation
December 8 -A Bug's Life for Game Boy Color

Home video releases[]

VHS releases[]

January 23 -The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
February 3
- Hercules
- G.I. Jane (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
February 10 -Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
February 14 -Winnie the Pooh: Un-Valentine's Day (re-issue)
February 17
- The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
- The Strongest Man in the World
- The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit
- The Barefoot Executive
- Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World
March 3
- Peter Pan
- The Moon-Spinners
March 31
- The Little Mermaid
- Mary Poppins (re-issue) (VHS only)
- The Sword in the Stone (re-issue)
- Alice in Wonderland (re-issue)
- Pete's Dragon (re-issue)
- Robin Hood (re-issue)
- Dumbo (re-issue)
April 21
- Flubber
- The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (re-issue)
- Gus (film) (re-issue)
- No Deposit, No Return (re-issue)
- The Apple Dumpling Gang (re-issue)
May 19
- The Apple Dumpling Gang (re-issue)
- The Brave Little Toaster (re-issue)
- The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
- Pretty Woman
- The Love Bug
June 2 -Melody Time
July 10 -The Patriot
July 14 -The Spirit of Mickey
July 28 -Disney Sing Along Songs: Honor to Us All
August 4
- The Black Cauldron
- Mr. Magoo
August 25
- Winnie the Pooh: Frankenpooh (re-issue)
- Winnie the Pooh: Spookable Pooh (re-issue)
- Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh (re-issue)
- Disney Sing Along Songs: Happy Haunting: Party at Disneyland
- Money Rock
- Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
September 15
- Kiki's Delivery Service
- Lady and the Tramp
September 29 -The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
October 6
- A Walt Disney Christmas (re-issue)
- A Disney Christmas Gift (re-issue)
- Jiminy Cricket's Christmas (re-issue)
- Mickey's Christmas Carol (re-issue)
- Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (re-issue)
- Spot's Magical Christmas (re-issue)
- How the Toys Saved Christmas (re-issue)
- 101 Dalmatians: Christmas
- Raymond Briggs' The Bear
October 6 -The Santa Clause
October 27 -The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
December 8
- The Parent Trap
- Mr. Magoo (re-issue)
- Six Days, Seven Nights
December 15
- Air Bud: Golden Receiver
- Summer of the Monkeys

DVD releases[]

February 4
- Air Bud
- The Crow (Miramax Home Video)
- Sling Blade (Miramax Home Video)
- While You Were Sleeping (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Crimson Tide (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
March 24
- Trainspotting (Miramax Home Video)
- Con Air (Touchstone Home Video)
- Mary Poppins
March 25
- The English Patient (Miramax Home Video)
- Metro (Touchstone Home Video)
- Evita (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
April 21
- Nothing to Lose (Touchstone Home Video)
April 22
- Mimic (Miramax Home Video)
- A Thousand Acres (Touchstone Home Video)
- G.I. Jane (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
May 19
- Pretty Woman (Touchstone Home Video)
- Tron (Walt Disney Home Video)
- Grosse Pointe Blank (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
May 20
- Pulp Fiction (Miramax Home Video)
- Cop Land (Miramax Home Video)
- Dead Presidents (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
June 16 -Flubber
June 17
- From Dusk Till Dawn (Miramax Home Video)
- Playing God (Touchstone Home Video)
July 22
- An American Werewolf in Paris (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
August 19
- Judge Dredd (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
October 13
- The Santa Clause
October 14
- Kundun (Touchstone Home Video)
- Deep Rising (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
- Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (Walt Disney Home Video)
November 10
- Dead Poets Society
- He Got Game (Touchstone Home Video)
- The Horse Whisperer (Touchstone Home Video)
December 8
- Good Will Hunting (Miramax Home Video)
- Six Days, Seven Nights (Touchstone Home Video)
- The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)

Magazines[]

June -Disney Adventures publishes its 100th issue.

Events[]

January - Production begins onRecess: School's Out.
January 26 - Ranch and Grove Holding Corporation is merged into the Walt Disney World Company.
April 17 - EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is held runs untilMay 31, which is celebrated its 5th anniversary.
October 25 - EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is held runs untilNovember 23.
November 27 - EPCOT Holidays Around the World is held runs untilDecember 23.

Milestone anniversaries[]

February 5 -Peter Pan celebrated its 45th anniversary.
February 19 -Saludos Amigos celebrated its 55th anniversary.
May 27 -Melody Time celebrated its 50th anniversary.
April 15 -Huey, Dewey, and Louie celebrated their 60th birthdays.
November 8 -Robin Hood celebrated its 25th anniversary.
November 18 -Mickey andMinnie celebrated their 70th birthdays.
December 25 -The Sword in the Stone celebrated its 35th anniversary.

Character debuts[]

People[]

Births[]

January 4 -Coco Jones (actress, singer, rapper, and dancer)
January 9 -Kerris Dorsey (actress and singer)
January 16 -Curran Walters (actor and former model)
January 28 -Ariel Winter (actress, voice actress, and singer)
February 9 -Isabella Gomez (actress and voice actress)
February 15 -Zachary Gordon (actor and voice actor)
April 6 -Peyton List (actress and model)
April 9 -Elle Fanning (actress)
June 19 -Atticus Shaffer (actor and voice actor)
June 24 -Liana Ramirez (actress)
July 3 -Isabella Murad (actress and voice actress)
July 8 -Maya Hawke (actress and singer)
July 22 -Madison Pettis (actress, voice actress, and model)
July 24 -Logan Grove (athlete and former actor and voice actor)
July 31 -Rico Rodriguez (actor and voice actor)
August 1 -Khamani Griffin (actor and voice actor)
August 3 -Cozi Zuehlsdorff (actress, voice actress, and singer)
August 25 -China Anne McClain (actress, voice actress, and singer-songwriter)
September 15 -Seth Dusky (actor and voice actor)
October 6 -Matt Cornett (actor and singer)
October 17 -Erin Kellyman (actress)
October 23 -Amandla Stenberg (actress)
October 28 -Nolan Gould (actor and voice actor)
October 29 -Jenna Lea Rosen (vocalist, actress, voice actress, and singer)
November 4 -Darcy Rose Byrnes (actress and singer-songwriter)
November 23 -Bradley Steven Perry (actor and voice actor)
November 24 -Peyton Meyer (actor)
December 16 -Kiara Muhammad (actress, voice actress, and singer)
December 22 -G. Hannelius (actress)

Deaths[]

February 6 -Carl Wilson (musician, singer, singer-songwriter, record producer, and artist)
February 28 -James Algar (director, screenwriter, and producer)
March 8 -Marvin Davis (master planner, art director, and scenic designer)
March 31 -Eda Reiss Merin (actress and voice actress)
May 27 -Ken O'Connor (layout artist and art director)
May 28 -Phil Hartman (actor, voice actor, comedian, graphic artist, and screenwriter)
June 5 -Jeanette Nolan (actress)
June 12 -Retta Davidson (animator)
July 22 -Marjorie Ralston (voice actress)
October 3 -Roddy McDowall (actor, film director, photographer, and voice artist)
October 15 -Jack Boyd (effects animator)
November 30 -Ruth Clifford (actress and voice actress)