2016

Events

 * Disney officially enters the Ultra Blu-ray market.

Feature films

 * January 29 - The Finest Hours was released to mixed reviews.
 * March 4 - Zootopia was released to universal acclaim.
 * April 15 - The Jungle Book was released to universal acclaim.
 * May 6 - Captain America: Civil War was released to near-universal acclaim.
 * May 27 - Alice Through the Looking Glass was released to negative reviews.
 * June 17 - Finding Dory was released to universal acclaim.
 * July 1 - The BFG was released to mostly positive reviews.
 * August 12 - Pete's Dragon will be released in theaters.
 * September 2 - The Light Between Oceans will be released in theaters.
 * September 23 - Queen of Katwe will be released in theaters.
 * November 4 - Doctor Strange will be released in theaters.
 * November 23 - Moana will be released in theaters.
 * December 16 - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be released in theaters.

Shorts

 * June 17 - Piper
 * November 23 - Inner Workings

Television

 * January 10 - Austin & Ally aired its final episode on the Disney Channel.
 * January 12 - ABC Family changes its name to Freeform.
 * January 15 - The Lion Guard premieres on Disney Junior.
 * January 19 - Agent Carter began airing its second and last season on ABC.
 * January 23 - The 7D begins its second season.
 * February 3 - Lab Rats aired its final episode on Disney XD.
 * February 14 - Stuck in the Middle aired on the Disney Channel.
 * February 15 - Gravity Falls aired its final episode on Disney XD.
 * March 1 - Agent Carter and The Muppets aired their final episodes on ABC.
 * March 2 - Lab Rats: Elite Force premiered on Disney XD
 * March 6
 * Once Upon a Time aired its 100th episode.
 * K.C. Undercover began its second season on the Disney Channel.
 * March 11 - Stuck in the Middle premiered on the Disney Channel.
 * April 5 - Imagining Zootopia premieres on Fusion.
 * June 3 - Girl Meets World began its third season on the Disney Channel.
 * June 24
 * The 100th Disney Channel Original Movie Adventures in Babysitting premiered.
 * Bizaardvark will premiere afterwards.
 * June 27 - Wander Over Yonder aired its final episode on Disney XD.
 * July 11 - Star vs. the Forces of Evil will begin its second season on Disney XD.
 * July 22 - Elena of Avalor will premiere.
 * July 30 - Doc McStuffins will begin its fourth season on Disney Junior.
 * Summer - Yo-kai Watch will begin its second season on Disney XD.
 * September - The 7D will air its final episode on Disney XD.
 * October - Milo Murphy's Law will premiere on Disney XD.
 * Throw Like Mo, a Disney Channel Original Movie, will premiere.
 * Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero will begin its second season on Disney XD.
 * Liv & Maddie will begin its final season on the Disney Channel.
 * Once Upon a Time will begin its sixth season on ABC.
 * Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will begin its fourth season on ABC.
 * Secrets and Lies will begin its second season on ABC.
 * Quantico will begin its second season on ABC.

Soundtracks

 * January 8 - The Lion Guard
 * February - The Rescuers Down Under: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Intrada release)
 * March 1 - Zootopia
 * June 14 - Finding Dory: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

DVD and Blu-ray releases

 * January 5 - The Return of Jafar / Aladdin and the King of Thieves: 2-Movie Collection (general retail release) and Blackbeard's Ghost (Disney Movie Club release)
 * February 2 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Signature Edition and Bridge of Spies (Touchstone Home Entertainment)
 * February 23 - The Good Dinosaur
 * March 15 - Pocahontas and Mulan (Disney Movie Club releases)
 * April 5 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Lucasfilm, Ltd.)
 * April 26 - Operation Dumbo Drop: 20th Anniversary Edition, Alice in Wonderland: 65th Anniversary Edition and Dumbo: 75th Anniversary Edition (Disney Movie Club releases)
 * May 24 - The Finest Hours
 * June 7 - Zootopia
 * June 14 - Saludos Amigos & The Three Caballeros 2-Movie Collection
 * June 21 - The Boatniks: 45th Anniversary Ediiton
 * August 9 - The Jungle Book
 * September 13 - Captain America: Civil War
 * September 20 - Beauty and the Beast: 25th Anniversary Signature Edition
 * November 1 - Finding Dory 

DVD only releases

 * January 12 - Captain Jake and the Never Land Pirates: The Great Never Sea Conquest
 * February 2 - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Pop Star Minnie
 * February 23 - The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
 * March 1 - LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales (Lucasfilm)
 * April 19 - Goldie & Bear: Best Fairytale Friend
 * May 24 - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Sport-Y-Thon
 * June 24 -  Adventures in Babysitting
 * September 20 - The Lion Guard: Unleash the Power

Theme parks

 * January 4- Soarin' closed at Epcot.
 * January 10 - Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular had its final performances at Disney California Adventure.
 * January 11 - Big Thunder Ranch closed at Disneyland to make room for Star Wars Land.
 * Fantasmic!, Disneyland Railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat, Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes, Sailing Ship Columbia, Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America all closed temporarily at Disneyland, due to the construction of Star Wars Land.
 * January 16 - Club Villain premiered at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
 * January 31 - Animagique had its final performances at Walt Disney Studios Park.
 * February 10 - La Forêt de l’Enchantement: Une aventure musicale Disney premiered in The Chaparral Theater at Disneyland Park (Paris) until May 8.
 * March 7 - Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters opened at Disney California Adventure.
 * March 16 - Star Tours at Disneyland Park (Paris) closed, to make way for The Adventures Continue.
 * March 20 - Big Band Beat at Tokyo DisneySea closes to begin its refurbishment in preparation for the park's 15th anniversary It is set to return on April 15.
 * March 30 - Mad T Party had its final performances at Disney California Adventure.
 * April 2
 * Dream Along with Mickey had its final performances at the Magic Kingdom.
 * Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show had its final performances at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and nearby locations around the Streets of America closed to make way for that park's expansions Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land.
 * Super Hero HQ closed at Disneyland.
 * April 3 - Muppets Courtyard "opened" at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
 * April 5 - UFO Zone at Hong Kong Disneyland closed.
 * April 14 - Midtown Jewelry at Hong Kong Disneyland closed.
 * April 15 - The Year of Wishes begins at Tokyo DisneySea in preparation for its 15th anniversary.
 * April 17 - For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration had its final performances at Disney California Adventure.
 * April 22 - Rivers of Light made its debut at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
 * May 2 - Stitch Encounter at Hong Kong Disneyland closed.
 * May 16 - StormRider at Tokyo DisneySea closed to make way for a simulator based on Finding Dory.
 * May 27 - Frozen: Live at the Hyperion premiered in Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure.
 * June 1 - Crystal Arts at Hong Kong Disneyland closed.
 * June 11 - Autopia at Hong Kong Disneyland closed.
 * June 15 - Soarin' Over Carifornia closed at Disney California Adventure.
 * June 16 - Shanghai Disneyland in Shanghai, China is scheduled to open to the public. It became the sixth Disney destination to open and the fourth international Disney destination to open.
 * June 17
 * Soarin’ Around the World opened at both Disney California Adventure and Epcot.
 * Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire premiered at Magic Kingdom.
 * June 21 - Frozen Ever After opened at Epcot's Norway Pavilion.
 * July 2 - Mickey and the Magician premiered at Walt Disney Studios Park until January 8, 2017.
 * July 8 - My Journeys with Duffy opened at Hong Kong Disneyland, as part of its 10th anniversary celebration.
 * August - Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic at Walt Disney Studios Park will close temporarily until Spring 2017, for making three new scenes from Cars, Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe to replace Catastrophe Canyon, Dinotopia and Reign of Fire.
 * September 4 - Tokyo DisneySea will celebrate its 15th anniversary.
 * October 1 - The Magic Kingdom will celebrate its 45th anniversary.
 * December - Iron Man Experience will open at Hong Kong Disneyland, as part of its 10th anniversary celebration.
 * Star Jets and Grand Circuit Raceway at Tokyo Disneyland will be removed to make way for that park's Fantasyland expansion.
 * DisneyQuest will be closed to make way for The NBA Experience.

Comics

 * March 9 - Joe Books begins publishing the Disney Princess comic book
 * April 27 - Joe Books begins publishing a new Darkwing Duck comic book
 * July 13 - Joe Books will begin publishing the Finding Dory comic book
 * July 20 - IDW Publishing will begin publishing a four-issue mini-series based on the Mickey Mouse TV shorts
 * July 27 - Joe Books will begin publishing a new Frozen comic book
 * August 24 - Joe Books will begin publishing a Pirates of the Caribbean comic book
 * August 31 - IDW will begin localizing PKNA as Duck Avenger
 * September - Joe Books will begin publishing a Star vs. the Forces of Evil mini-series

Graphic novels

 * January 14 - Winnie the Pooh Cinestory Novel
 * March 2 - Zootopia Cinestory Comic
 * March 30 - Descendants: Wicked World Wish Granted Cinestory
 * April 6 - Disney Graphic Novels #2: X-Mickey
 * May 18 - Star vs. the Forces of Evil Cinestory Comic
 * July 13 - Alice Through the Looking Glass Graphic Novel
 * September - Mickey's Craziest Adventures

Reprint collections

 * February 18 - Donald and Mickey: The Walt Disney's Comics and Stories 75th Anniversary Collection
 * March 3 - Donald Duck: The Sunday Newspaper Comics Volume 1
 * March 8 - Star Wars: Chewbacca (Trade Paperback)
 * March 31 - Silly Symphonies: Sunday Newspaper Comics Volume 1
 * April 6
 * Mickey Mouse: The Chirikawa Necklace
 * Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic Volume 2
 * April 20
 * Donald Duck Timeless Tales Volume 1
 * Star Wars Vader Down (Trade Paperback)
 * April 27 - Silly Symphonies Volume 1: The Complete Disney Classics
 * May 4 - The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library - Donald Duck: Terror of the Beagle Boys
 * May 18
 * Mickey Mouse Timeless Tales Volume 1
 * Star Wars: Kanan Volume 2 - First Blood (Trade Paperback)
 * May 24 - Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Comic Collection
 * June 1 - Uncle Scrooge: The Eternal Knot
 * June 15 - Star Wars: Droids and Ewoks Omnibus
 * June 29
 * Donald Duck: The Newspaper Comics Volume 3
 * Mickey Mouse: The Floyd Gottfredson Library - Volume 9: Rise Of The Rhyming Man
 * July 5 - Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Rebellion Vol 1
 * July 13
 * Donald Duck: Vicious Cycles
 * The Muppets Collection
 * July 19 - Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin (Trade Paperback)
 * July 26 - Donald Duck: Vicious Cycles
 * August 10 - Star Wars: Darth Vader Volume 3 - The Shu-torun War (Trade Paperback)
 * August 17
 * Mickey Mouse: Shadow of the Colossus
 * Star Wars Volume 3: Rebel Jail (Trade Paperback)
 * August 31 - The Don Rosa Library Volume 5: The Richest Duck in the World
 * September 6 - Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Comic Collection
 * September 13 - The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library - Donald Duck: The Secret of Hondorica
 * September 20
 * Disney Princess Comics Collection
 * Star Wars Volume 1
 * September 21
 * Uncle Scrooge: Scrooge's Last Adventure
 * Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales Volume 1
 * October 4 - Star Wars: Darth Vader Volume 4 (Trade Paperback)
 * October 18 - Mickey Mouse: The Floyd Gottfredson Library - Volume 10: Planet of Faceless Foes
 * October 22 - The Don Rosa Library Volume 6: The Universal Solvent
 * October 25 - Frozen Comics Collection

Books

 * January 5
 * Girl Meets World: Let's Do This!
 * The Secret Admirer
 * February 2 - Death Star Battle
 * February 16 - The Force Awakens: Rey's Story
 * April 5
 * Demigods & Magicians
 * Mowgli's Rainy Day
 * Star Wars: Tales From a Galaxy Far, Far Away Volume 1: Aliens
 * ​The Force Awakens Storybook
 * ​The Force Awakens Read-Along Storybook & CD
 * April 12
 * A Matter of Time
 * Alice Through the Looking Glass Deluxe Novelization
 * May 3
 * Alice Through the Looking Glass: The Complete Visual Guide
 * Finding Dory Junior Novelization
 * ​The Trials Of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle
 * May 17 - Finn & Poe Team Up!
 * May 24 - Descendants: Return to the Isle of the Lost
 * June 14 - Chaos in The Castle
 * June 28 - Pete's Dragon: The Lost Years
 * July 5 - Return to the Ice Palace
 * July 26
 * Dipper and Mabel and the Curse of the Time Pirate's Treasure
 * Gravity Falls: Journal 3
 * Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch
 * August 30 - Hero vs. Villain
 * September 6 - Kristoff's Crystal Adventure
 * September 7 - The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember
 * September 28 - Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series
 * October 4 - Magnus Chase And The Gods Of Asgard: The Hammer Of Thor
 * October 11 - Ahsoka
 * October 18 - Elena and the Secret of Avalor

Video games

 * April 7 - Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ (iOS) (in North America)
 * May 13 - Disney Art Academy (N3DS)
 * December - Kingdom Hearts HD II.8 Final Chapter Prologue (PS4) (Worldwide)

Character debuts

 * March 4 - Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps, Gazelle, Chief Bogo, Mayor Lionheart, Clawhauser, Flash, Duke Weaselton, Bonnie and Stu Hopps, Yax, Bellwether, Mrs. Otterton, Mr. Otterton, Finnick, Dr. Badger, Mr. Manchas, Jerry Jumbeaux Jr., Peter Moosebridge, Officer McHorn, Priscilla, Mr. Big, Koslov
 * May 27 - Zanik Hightopp, Time
 * June 17 - Jenny, Charlie, Bailey, Destiny, Hank, Otters, Fluke and Rudder
 * November 23 - Moana Waialiki, Maui, Tui, Pua, Hei-Hei, Moana's Grandmother

Deaths

 * January 5 - Christine Lawrence Finney (animator)
 * January 6 - Pat Harrington Jr. (actor, voice actor and screenwriter)
 * January 7 - Richard Libertini (actor and voice actor)
 * January 9 - Angrus Scrimm (actor)
 * January 10 - David Bowie (singer, actor, composer, producer, director and screenwriter)
 * January 11 - Michael Galeota (actor)
 * January 13 - Brian Bedford (actor, singer and director)
 * January 14 - Alan Rickman (actor, singer, director, writer and producer)
 * January 15 - Dan Haggerty (actor, producer, set dresser, set decorator, animal handler, wild animal trainer and motorbike builder) and Noreen Corcoran (actress and singer)
 * February 3 - Joe Alaskey (actor, voice actor, singer and comedian)
 * February 4 - Maurice White (singer, composer, music supervisor, music producer and actor)
 * February 5 - Ray Colcord (composer)
 * February 6 - Daniel Gerson (screenwriter and voice actor)
 * February 9 - Alethea McGrath (actress)
 * February 15 - George Gaynes (actor and singer)
 * February 17 - Jesus Barrero (voice actor)
 * February 24 - Scott Cosgrove (stuntman)
 * February 25 - Tony Burton (actor)
 * February 28 - Jack Lindquist (actor and president of Disneyland)
 * February 29 - Alice Arlen (screenwriter and producer)
 * March 1 - Jim Clark (editor, director, voice actor and producer)
 * March 8 - Richard Davalos (actor)
 * March 10 - Ken Adam (production designer, visual consultant, art director, draughtsman, camera operator, actor and producer)
 * March 16 - Frank Sinatra Jr. (singer, actor, composer, musical director and screenwriter)
 * March 17 - Paul Daniels (magician, actor and voice actor)
 * March 21 - Peter Brown (actor and producer)
 * March 23 - Phife Dawg (singer and actor)
 * March 24 - Garry Shandling (actor, voice actor, screenwriter, producer, singer, director and comedian)
 * March 28 - James Noble (actor and producer)
 * March 29 - Patty Duke (actress, voice actress, singer, producer and writer)
 * April 3 - Erik Bauersfeld (voice actor and radio dramatist) and Don Francks (actor, voice actor, singer, composer and music arranger)
 * April 12 - Tōru Ōhira (Japanese actor and voice actor)
 * April 16 - Kit West (special effects artist, actor, cinematographer and producer) and Rod Daniel (director, producer and actor)
 * April 17 - Doris Roberts (actress, voice actress, director and singer)
 * April 18 - Scott Nimerfro (producer, screenwriter, story editor, video coordinator and actor)
 * April 20 - Victoria Wood (comedian, actress, voice actress, screenwriter, producer, composer, director and singer)
 * April 21 - Prince (musician, actor, director, composer and screenwriter)
 * April 22 - Jory Prum (audio engineer and videogame designer)
 * April 24 - Billy Paul (singer and actor)
 * April 30 - Tracy Scott (script supervisor, actress and screenwriter)
 * May 3 - Abel Fernandez (actor)
 * May 4 - Ret Turner (fashion designer)
 * May 8 - William Schallert (actor, voice actor and singer) and Nick Lashaway (actor)
 * May 12 - John McLaughlin (animator and visual effects artist)
 * May 13 - Makiko Futaki (animator)
 * May 14 - Darwyn Cooke (comic book writer, comic book artist, storyboard artist, screenwriter and producer)
 * May 15 - Michael Roberds (actor, voice actor, producer, screenwriter, director and camera operator)
 * May 16 - Julia Meade (actress)
 * May 17 - Yūko Mizutani (voice actress and singer)
 * May 19 - John Berry (musician) and Alan Young (actor, voice actor, singer, songwriter, director and scereenwriter)
 * May 20 - Rosanna Huffman (actress and voice actress)
 * May 21 - Nick Menza (musician)
 * May 24 - Buck Kartalian (actor)
 * May 26 - Angela Paton (actress)
 * May 27 - Marshall Jones (singer)
 * May 31 - Thomas Fekete (musician)
 * June 2 - Willis Pyle (animator)
 * June 4 - Bill Richmond (screenwriter, producer, actor and songwriter)
 * June 6 - Al Ackerman (sportscaster and actor)
 * June 11 - Christina Grimmie (singer and actress)
 * June 12 - Janet Waldo (actress, voice actress and singer)
 * June 13 - Chips Moman (songwriter, producer and audio mixer)
 * June 16 - Jerome Teasley (musician)
 * June 19 - Anton Yelchin (actor, voice actor and singer)
 * June 22 - Bill Ham (band manager) and Harry Rabinowitz (composer)
 * June 23 - Stuart Nisbet (actor)
 * June 25 - Elliot Wollff (musician, songwriter and music producer)
 * June 28 - Scotty Moore (musician)
 * June 29 - Rob Wasserman (musician)
 * June 30 - Don Friedman (musician)

Behind the scenes

 * July - Production will begin on the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants 2.

Business

 * May - Disney closes down Avalanche Software.