Walt Disney's Milestones

Walt Disney was an American animator, film producer, and entrepreneur, founder of Disney Studios, creator of Mickey Mouse, and a pioneer who revolutionized animation and family entertainment.
1901

Birth

Born in Chicago, Illinois, to Elias Disney and Flora Call; fourth of five children.

Family December 5, 1901
1906

Moved to Marceline

Moved to Marceline, Missouri; developed love for drawing, trains, and rural life.

Location January 1, 1906 - January 1, 1911
1911

Moved to Kansas City

Moved to Kansas City, Missouri; attended Benton Grammar School, met Walter Pfeiffer, and began art classes at Kansas City Art Institute.

Location January 1, 1911 - June 1, 1917
1912

Began newspaper route

Worked early mornings and evenings delivering newspapers with brother Roy, which instilled discipline and work ethic.

Other January 1, 1912 - June 1, 1917
1917

Family moved to Chicago

Family moved to Chicago; attended McKinley High School, cartoonist for school paper, and took night courses at Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.

Location June 1, 1917 - September 1, 1918
1918

Joined Red Cross in France

Forged age to join Red Cross Ambulance Corps during WWI; served in France, decorated ambulances with cartoons.

Military September 16, 1918 - October 1, 1919
1919

Commercial art beginnings

Returned to Kansas City; worked at Pesmen-Rubin Commercial Art Studio, met Ub Iwerks, and started Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists.

Career October 1, 1919 - December 31, 1920
1920

Entered animation industry

Joined Kansas City Film Ad Company; began experimenting with animation and produced early 'Laugh-O-Grams.'

Career January 1, 1920 - May 17, 1922
1922

Founded Laugh-O-Gram Studio

Founded Laugh-O-Gram Studio in Kansas City; produced modernized fairy tales and 'Alice's Wonderland,' but studio went bankrupt.

Career May 18, 1922 - July 1, 1923
1923

Moved to Hollywood

Moved to Hollywood to pursue film; co-founded Disney Brothers Studio (later Walt Disney Company) with Roy Disney.

Location July 1, 1923
1927

Created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

Created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit for Universal Pictures; lost rights to the character, prompting new creative direction.

Career January 1, 1927 - March 13, 1928
1928

Created Mickey Mouse

Created Mickey Mouse (originally Mortimer Mouse) with Ub Iwerks; debuted in 'Steamboat Willie,' the first synchronized sound cartoon.

Achievement November 18, 1928
1929

Introduced Silly Symphonies

Launched Silly Symphonies series; pioneered use of Technicolor and synchronized sound in animation.

Achievement January 1, 1929
1932

Flowers and Trees wins first Oscar

'Flowers and Trees' became first cartoon to win Academy Award for Best Animated Short; Disney received honorary Oscar for Mickey Mouse.

Achievement November 18, 1932
1937

Released 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'

Released first full-length animated feature film; critical and commercial success, became highest-grossing film of its time.

Achievement December 21, 1937
1938

Golden Age of Animation

Oversaw production of classics: 'Pinocchio,' 'Fantasia,' 'Dumbo,' and 'Bambi.' Studio faced financial crisis during WWII.

Achievement January 1, 1938 - December 31, 1942
1941

Produced war propaganda films

Produced training and propaganda films for U.S. government during WWII, including 'Der Fuehrer's Face' and 'Victory Through Air Power.'

Achievement December 7, 1941 - September 2, 1945
1948

Launched True-Life Adventures

Created award-winning live-action nature documentary series, beginning with 'Seal Island.'

Achievement January 1, 1948 - December 31, 1959
1950

Major live-action and animated films

Produced classics including 'Cinderella,' 'Peter Pan,' 'Lady and the Tramp,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' and 'Mary Poppins.'

Achievement January 1, 1950 - December 31, 1964
1952

Founded WED Enterprises

Founded WED Enterprises (later Walt Disney Imagineering) to design Disneyland and future theme parks.

Business December 16, 1952
1954

Entered television

Launched 'Disneyland' TV series and 'The Mickey Mouse Club,' expanding Disney brand into television and merchandising.

Achievement October 27, 1954
1955

Opened Disneyland

Opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California; first theme park of its kind; broadcast opening on ABC to 70 million viewers.

Achievement July 17, 1955
1964

Final creative projects

Oversaw World's Fair exhibits, 'It's a Small World,' and contributed to 'The Jungle Book' and 'Winnie the Pooh.'

Achievement January 1, 1964 - December 14, 1966
1965

Announced Walt Disney World

Announced plans for Walt Disney World and EPCOT in Florida; began acquiring land and planning new attractions.

Achievement November 15, 1965
1966

Death

Died of lung cancer in Burbank, California, at age 65; cremated and interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.

Other December 15, 1966
1971

Posthumous honors and legacy

Walt Disney World opened in Florida; EPCOT Center opened in 1982; Disney's legacy continued with global theme parks and the Walt Disney Family Museum.

Achievement October 1, 1971