1979

Theatrical releases

 * January - Take Down
 * February 9 - The North Avenue Irregulars
 * April 13 - Bedknobs and Broomsticks (re-issue)
 * June 8 - One Hundred and One Dalmatians (re-issue)
 * June 22 - The Muppet Movie
 * June 29 - The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
 * July 6 - The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (Bismarck, North Dakota)
 * July 27 - Unidentified Flying Oddball
 * September 28 - Sleeping Beauty (re-issue)
 * December 20 - The Black Hole (premiere)
 * December 21 - The Black Hole

Shorts

 * May 1 - Understanding Alcohol Use and Abuse
 * September - The Footloose Fox

Character debuts

 * December 20 - Hans Reinhardt, Dan Holland, Charlie Pizer, Kate McCrae, Harry Booth, S.T.A.R., V.I.N.CENT, B.O.B., Maximilian, Sentry Robots, Humanoids

Theme parks

 * August 14 - Sherrill Anne Hoffman slips into a coma after riding Space Mountain.
 * September 2 - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens at Disneyland.
 * October 1 - Groundbreaking begins on EPCOT Center.

Albums

 * Mickey Mouse Disco
 * Disney Children's Favorite Songs 1
 * Disney Children's Favorite Songs 2

Births

 * January 6 - Cristela Alonzo (comedian, actress, screenwriter, and producer)
 * January 25 - Christine Lakin (actress)
 * January 26 - Sara Rue (actress)
 * February 5 - Gil McKinney (actor)
 * February 8 - Josh Keaton (actor, singer, and music producer)
 * February 11 - Brandy Norwood (actress and singer)
 * February 21
 * Tituss Burgess (actor and singer)
 * Jennifer Love Hewitt (actress and singer)
 * Jordan Peele (actor, comedian, screenwriter, and director)
 * March 5 - Riki Lindhome (actress, voice actress, comedian, and musician)
 * March 9 - Oscar Isaac (actor and singer)
 * March 10  - Danny Pudi (actor, voice actor, and comedian)
 * March 14 - Chris Klein (actor and comedian)
 * March 19 - Dan Fogelman (producer, screenwriter, and director)
 * March 24 - Lake Bell (actress, director, and screenwriter)
 * March 25 - Lee Pace (actor)
 * April 2 - Lindy Booth (actress)
 * April 4 - Natasha Lyonne (actress)
 * April 12
 * Claire Danes (actress and producer)
 * Jennifer Morrison (actress, model, and film producer)
 * April 13 - Baron Davis (professional basketball player and actor)
 * April 15 - Luke Evans (actor and singer)
 * April 19 - Kate Hudson (actress)
 * April 21 - James McAvoy (actor and voice actor)
 * April 23 - Jaime King (actress and model)
 * May 4 - Lance Bass (singer and actor)
 * May 5 - Rosario Dawson (actress, singer, and writer)
 * May 17 - Adam Jacobs (actor and singer)
 * May 26 - Elisabeth Harnois (actress)
 * May 28
 * Nonso Anozie (actor)
 * Monica Keena (actress)
 * June 5 - Pete Wentz (bassist)
 * June 20 - Julie Fowlis (singer)
 * June 24 - Mindy Kaling (actress, comedian, writer, and producer)
 * June 25 - Busy Philipps (actress)
 * July 15 - Laura Benanti (actress)
 * July 18 - Jason Weaver (voice actor and singer)
 * July 31 - B. J. Novak (actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter, and director)
 * August 3 - Evangeline Lilly (actress and spokesperson)
 * August 10 - JoAnna Garcia (actress)
 * August 23 - Clare Grant (actress)
 * September 9 - Nikki DeLoach (actress and singer)
 * September 11 - Ariana Richards (actress)
 * September 15 - Amy Davidson (actress)
 * September 23 - Laura Dickinson (actress and singer)
 * September 28 - Anndi McAfee (actress and singer)
 * October 7 - Shawn Ashmore (actor)
 * October 9 - Chris O'Dowd (actor)
 * October 10 - Mýa (singer and actress)
 * October 20 - John Krasinski (actor, director, and writer)
 * November 5 - Romi Dames (actress)
 * December 10 - Keiko Nemoto (voice actress)
 * December 11 - Rider Strong (actor, voice actor, director, producer, and screenwriter)
 * December 12 - Sandro Corsaro (animator, writer, storyboard artist, and producer)
 * December 28 - André Holland (actor)
 * December 29 - Diego Luna (actor, producer, and director)
 * December 30 - Catherine Taber (actress)

Deaths

 * January 5 - Billy Bletcher (voice actor)
 * January 27 - Dick Wesson (announcer)
 * April 6 - Norman Tokar (prolific director)
 * May 29 - Mary Pickford (Canadian-American motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
 * July 2 - Anthony Eustrel  (actor)
 * July 25 - Alexander Key (science fiction writer)
 * September 12 - Les Clark (animator)
 * November 30 - Dick Huemer (animator)

Artists joined

 * Tim Burton - Director for The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and Alice in Wonderland.
 * John Lasseter - Current CEO for Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disneytoon Studios. Has directed films such as Toy Story, A Bug's Life, and Cars.
 * Mike Gabriel - Director/Animator on Oliver & Company, The Rescuers Down Under, and Pocahontas.
 * Doug Krohn - Animator on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Tarzan.
 * Jay Jackson - Animator for The Little Mermaid, Hercules, Tarzan, and Treasure Planet.
 * Shawn Keller - Animator on The Little Mermaid, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
 * Michael Cedeno - Animator on Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King.
 * Hendel Butoy - Animator on The Fox and the Hound, The Great Mouse Detective, and Oliver & Company and Director on The Rescuers Down Under.
 * Cyndee Whitney - Animator on The Great Mouse Detective, Oliver & Company, and The Little Mermaid.
 * Patricia Peraza - Effects Animator on The Fox and the Hound, Mickey's Christmas Carol, The Black Cauldron, and The Great Mouse Detective.
 * Don Paul - Effects Animator on The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Pocahontas.
 * Guy Vasilovich - Art Director/Layout Artist on The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron, and The Great Mouse Detective.
 * Kathleen Swain - Background Designer on The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
 * Gilda Palinginis - Animator on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King.
 * Joe Lanzisero - Animator on The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron, and The Great Mouse Detective.
 * Fujiko Miller - Assistant Animator on The Fox and the Hound, Mickey's Christmas Carol, The Black Cauldron, and The Great Mouse Detective.
 * Bill Berg - Lead Key Assistant on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King.
 * Jane Baer - Assistant Animator on Mickey's Christmas Carol, The Black Cauldron, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Cofounder of Baer Animation Studios and spouse of animator Dale Baer.
 * Rusty Stoll - Assistant Animator on The Fox and the Hound, Mulan, and Lilo & Stitch.

1979