1996

Events

 * 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. The show would premiere a year later.
 * February 2 - Gerry Laybourne, former president of Nickelodeon, is hired as the new president of the newly founded Disney/ABC Television Networks.
 * March 21 - Disneyland unveils it's plans to renovate Tomorrowland. The project would be completed in 1998.
 * March 23 - Disney and McDonald's sign a 10-year national promotion alliance, set to begin January 1997.

Theatrical releases

 * February 16 - Muppet Treasure Island
 * March 8 - Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
 * March 29 - Oliver & Company (re-issue)
 * April 12 - James and the Giant Peach
 * June 21 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
 * August 30 - First Kid
 * October 4 - D3: The Mighty Ducks
 * November 25 - 101 Dalmatians (live-action)

Theme parks

 * January 2 - World of Motion closes at Epcot.
 * January 21 - Universe of Energy closes at Epcot and replaced by Ellen's Energy Adventure.
 * January 27 - Toy Story Funhouse opens in Disneyland.
 * April 15 - Toontown opens at Tokyo Disneyland
 * September 15 - Ellen's Energy Crisis opens at Epcot
 * September 21 - IllumiNations 25 opens at Epcot
 * September 28 - Walt Disney World's Grand Prix Speedway is renamed Tomorrowland Speedway.
 * October 1 - Walt Disney World celebrates its 25th anniversary; Mickey's Starland is renamed Mickey's Toontown Fair

Television

 * September 3 - Quack Pack premieres in syndication
 * September 5 - Brand Spanking New Doug (formerly on Nickelodeon), Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series, and Jungle Cubs premiere on ABC

Video games

 * April 11 - Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow for Super NES
 * September - Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow for PC
 * November - Pinocchio (video game) for Super NES

VHS releases

 * Janurary 9 - Sweetheart Stories
 * January 30 - A King in Kid Arthur's Court, The Big Green
 * January 31 - Three Little Pigs
 * February 20 - Heavyweights
 * February 28 - Pocahontas
 * March 27 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
 * April 24 - The Sword in the Stone (re-issue), The Aristocats
 * May 1 - Tom and Huck
 * June 25 - 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 31 - Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
 * September 10 - Muppet Treasure Island
 * September 25 - Oliver & Company
 * October 15 - James and the Giant Peach
 * October 29 - Toy Story
 * November 28 - Disney Sing-Along Songs: Pongo and Perdita
 * December 24 - Mickey's Christmas Carol

Direct-to-video releases

 * August 13 - Aladdin and the King of Thieves

Music Releases

 * March 5 - Oliver & Company (re-release; some songs rearranged)
 * March 26 - Songs from the AristoCats and Bibbidi Bobbidi Bach

Deaths

 * Hazel Gilman (Disney Songwriter)