1998

An overview of Disney-related events that occurred in 1998.

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 extremely 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

The name change actually happened in 2000.

Theme parks

• January 21 - The original Disneyland Parking Lot closes to make way for the Disneyland Resort expansion, including Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
• January 31 - The Magic Kingdom's Cinderella 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 at Epcot. The "25" is also dropped from the name.
• February 14 - The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop opens at Downtown Disney in Walt Disney World Resort.
• February 17 - Construction begins on the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney-MGM Studios.
• April 5 - The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) opens at the Magic Kingdom.
• April 12 - Disneyland Paris celebrates its 5th anniversary.
• April 15 - Tokyo Disneyland celebrates its 15th Anniversary.
• April 22 - Disney's Animal Kingdom, the fourth theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort, opens.
• May 22 - The "New" Tomorrowland opens at Disneyland with the following new attractions: American Space Experience, Astro Orbitor, Cosmic Waves, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, and Rocket Rods. Older attractions remaining open after refurbishment: Autopia, Disneyland Monorail System, Space Mountain, Starcade, Star Tours, and Submarine Voyage.
• June 19 - Animazement: The Musical begins its run at Disneyland's Fantasyland Theatre.
• July 3 - Innoventions opens at Disneyland.
• August 17 - Captain EO closes at Disneyland Paris.
• September 7 - Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closes at the Magic Kingdom.
• September 8 - Submarine Voyage closes at Disneyland. It would reopen nearly nine years later as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
• October 10 - Journey Into Imagination and The Image Works: Creative Playground of the Future closes at Epcot to be replaced by Journey Into Your Imagination version featuring Eric Idle without Figment or Dreamfinder and ImageWorks: The What-If Labs in the future site of Imagination! Pavilion.
• December 8 - Test Track begins soft openings at Epcot.
• December 23 - Toon Park closes at Disneyland. Toon Park would however live on at Magic Kingdom (until 2011) and at Tokyo Disneyland.
• December 24 - On Sailing Ship Columbia at Disneyland, 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. A cast member is also injured. (See Incidents at Disney parks.)

Cruise ships

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

Television

• January 1 - Movie Surfers premieres on the Disney Channel.
• January 6 - Bear in the Big Blue House Season 2 premieres on Playhouse Disney.
• January 10 - Jungle Cubs airs its last episode on ABC.
• March 1 - Bug Juice premieres on the Disney Channel.
• March 4 - 101 Dalmatians: The Series ends with "Dalmatian Vacation, Part 3: Dearly Beloved". Reruns continue on ABC until 1999.
• March 15 - PB&J Otter premieres on Playhouse Disney.
• April 18 - Toon Disney begins broadcasting.
• June 20 - Bill Nye the Science Guy airs its last episode.
• June 27 - You Lucky Dog premieres on the Disney Channel.
• August 29 - Brink! premieres on the Disney Channel.
• August 31 - Hercules: The Series premieres on ABC and in syndication.
• October 10 - Out of the Box premieres on Playhouse Disney.
• October 17 - Halloweentown premieres on the Disney Channel.
• November 6 - Rolie Polie Olie premieres on Playhouse Disney.
• December 20 - The Wiggles Live at Disneyland Park premieres on Disney 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.

Video games

• A Bug's Life for PC
• May - Mickey Mouse: Magic Wands! for Game Boy
• September 14 - Animated StoryBook: Mulan
• October 27 - A Bug's Life for PlayStation
• November 2 - The D Show
• December 8 - A Bug's Life for Game Boy Color

Home video releases

• February 3
  • Hercules
  • G.I. Jane (Hollywood Pictures Home Video)
  • Air Bud
• 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
  • The Chipmunk Adventure
• March 24
  • Mary Poppins (re-issue)
  • The Sword in the Stone (re-issue)
  • Alice in Wonderland (re-issue)
  • Pete's Dragon (re-issue)
  • Robin Hood (re-issue)
  • Dumbo (re-issue)
• March 31
  • The Little Mermaid
  • Mary Poppins
• April 21 - Flubber
• 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
  • Savage Sam
• 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 13 - The Santa Clause
• October 14 - Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
• October 27 - The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
• November 10 - Dead Poets Society
• December 8
  • The Parent Trap
  • Mr. Magoo (re-issue)
  • Six Days Seven Nights (Touchstone Home Video)
• December 15
  • Air Bud: Golden Receiver
  • Summer of the Monkeys

Magazines

• June - Disney Adventures publishes its 100th issue.

Events

• January - Production begins on Recess: 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 until May 31, which is celebrated its 5th anniversary.
• October 25 - EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is held runs until November 23.
• November 27 - EPCOT Holidays Around the World is held runs until December 23.

Character debuts

• January 10 - Sketch
• January 13 - Ursa
• January 16 - Amber Dearly
• January 17 - Bob and Flo Spinelli
• January 28 - Ray the Sun
• February 9 - Jacques the Beaver, Lois, Big Old Bullfrog, Doc Hogg
• February 16 - Rebecca, Judge Dimsdale De Vil
• February 17 - Webster, Crane, Le Plume, Witherspoon, Chandeleria, Tres, Chaude
• February 20 - Cave Pup
• February - Newton, Vostok
• March - Brad Van Beck
• March 15 - Peanut Otter, Baby Butter Otter, Jelly Otter, Opal Otter, Ernest Otter, Mayor Jeff, Pinch Raccoon, Scootch Raccoon, Walter Raccoon, Wanda Raccoon, Munchy Beaver, Flick Duck
• March 21 - Ootsie Snootie, Bootsie Snootie
• March 28 - Anna Otter
• April 8 - Otto and Etta Otter
• April 18 - Steve Ellinger
• April 22 - DeVine, Wilson Matua, Dr. Helen Marsh, Dr. Grant Seeker
• May 1 - Uh-Oa
• May 19 - Robbie McGroarty, Fanny, Ratso, Hearing Aid, Supreme Commander, Tinselina, Microwave, Squirt, Faucet, Calculator, Viking 1, Wittgenstein, The Missile
• May 29 - Arpin Lusene
• June 1 - Baby Blotter
• June 19 - Fa Mulan, Li Shang, Mushu, Shan Yu, Cri-Kee, Little Brother, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po, Fa Zhou, Fa Li, Grandmother Fa, Chi-Fu, Hayabusa the Falcon, General Li, The Emperor of China, Fa Family Ancestors, The Matchmaker, Fa Li, Khan, Shang's Horse, Elite Hun Soldiers, Hun Army
• July 19 - Malevola De Vil
• July 29 - Annie James, Hallie Parker, Nick Parker, Elizabeth James, Charles James, Martin, Chessy, Meredith Blake, Marva Kulp Sr, Marva Kulp Jr, Jackie
• August 14 - Dr. Patrick Sullivan
• August 25 - John Rolfe, King James, Queen Anne, Mrs. Jenkins, Uttamatomakkin, Jesters
• August 31 - Cassandra, Icarus, Adonis, Mr. Parentheses, Homer
• September 1 - King Salmoneus
• September 3 - Chipacles, Clion, Tempest
• September 7 - Daedalus, Helen of Troy
• September 11 - Gaia
• September 12 - Orthos
• September 15 - Achilles, Memnon
• September 16 - Typhon, Echidna
• September 17 - Fear and Terror
• September 18 - Queen Hippolyte
• September 23 - Hecate
• September 25 - Rachel McGuire
• September 29 - Tabaqui
• September - Oberon De Spair
• October 3 - Gelman
• October 5 - Nestor & Meleager
• October 10 - Prometheus
• October 17 - Aggie Cromwell, Gwen Piper, Marnie Piper, Dylan Piper, Sophie Piper, Luke, Kalabar, Benny, Harriet
• October 27 - Kiara, Kovu, Zira, Vitani, Nuka, Outsiders, Crocodiles
• October 31 - Chiron
• October - Eugene Photomas
• November 4 - Chimera, Ladon
• November 6 - Lavina, Geryon, Tivius
• November 7 - Conrad Mundy
• November 10 - Orion
• November 12 - King Midas
• November 13 - Eddie Taffet
• November 14 - Amphitrite
• November 16 - Poseidon
• November 20 - Mr. Griff
• November 21 - Erwin Lawson, Ephialtes, Syrinx, Miss Thespis
• November 24 - Great King Pan, Nemesis
• November 25 - Flik, Princess Atta, Dot, Hopper, Molt, Thumper, P.T. Flea, Heimlich, Gypsy, Manny, Slim, Rosie, Dim, Francis, Tuck and Roll, The Queen, The Fly Brothers, Bird, Grasshoppers, The Blueberries, Ant Colony
• November 28 - Alexander, Callista
• December 2 - Doc Owl
• December 3 - Jeremiah Tortoise
• December 14 - Doc Hogg
• December 16 - Andromeda
• December 25 - Gregg O'Hara, Jill Young, Mighty Joe Young, Andrei Strasser, Doctor Ruth Young, Garth, Jason
• Dexter Dingus

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)
• February 23 - Matreya Scarrwener (actress)
• April 6
  • Peyton List (actress and model)
  • Spencer List (actor)
• April 9 - Elle Fanning (actress)
• April 24 - Ryan Newman (actress and singer)
• May 4 - Taylar Hender (actress and voice actress)
• June 19 - Atticus Shaffer (actor and voice actor)
• June 24 - Liana Ramirez (actress)
• July 3 - Isabella Murad (actress and voice actress)
• July 9 - Robert Capron (actor)
• July 22 - Madison Pettis (actress, voice actress, and model)
• 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 Robert Dusky (actor and voice actor)
• October 17 - Erin Kellyman (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 14 - Thomas McKimson (animator)
• 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)