Walt Disney's Life

Walter Elias Disney Born to Elias and Flora in Chicago

Dec 5, 1901

In Chicago to Elias and Flora

Walt Moves To Missouri

Apr 1, 1906

Disney familiy moved to Missouri because the family wanted a nicer area to raise their family

Disney Family Moves To Kansas City

Jan 1, 1910

Elias Disney sold the Missouri farm because he needed money and had poor health. He moved his family Kansas City after buying a newspaper route. Walt helped his dad deliver newspapers.

Starts Classes at Kansas City Art Institute

May 6, 1915

Disney Family Moves Back To Chicago

Jun 8, 1917

Walt graduates from Benton Grammer School in Kansas CIty. Elias invested in a fruit juice and jelly company and moves family back to Chicago. Walt begins attending classes at The Chicago Institute of Art.

Walt Joins Red Cross

Nov 1, 1918

Walt lied about his age and joined the Red Cross as an ambulance driver during World War I and is sent to France.

Walt Moves Back to Kansas City

Oct 1, 1919

Walt follows his dreams as an artist and begins working at UB Iwwerks in Kansas City. His brother Roy helped him get the job.

Walt Makes Laugh-O-Grams Cartoons

Dec 15, 1922

These cartoon become very popular in Kansas City. Walt and several friends created a company called Laugh-O-Grams. The artists made short films using stop motion annimation. Mickey Mouse and Alice in Wonderland were thought of during this timeThe company went bankrupt in 1923.

Walt and Roy Disney Form Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio

Oct 16, 1923

Walt moves to Hollywood to create a cartoon studio with his brother Roy where Alice was featured in several comedy cartoons.

Walt Marries Lillian Bounds

Jul 13, 1925

Lillian worked for Walt and they married in Lewiston, ID. Lillian made her own dress. Walt was 23 and Lillian was 26 years old.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Released

Sep 5, 1927

Trolley Troubles was released and was a huge hit. Walt found out a year later in New York that his business partner sold the character to Universal Studios. Walt was so angry and came up with a new character named Mortimer Mouse.

Mickey Mouse is BORN!!!

Jul 29, 1928

Steamboat Willie is realeased and stars Mickey Mouse. Orginally called Mortimer Mouse, Walt's wife Lillian did not like the name Mortimer.

Walt wins his 1st TWO Academy Awards

Nov 18, 1932

Walt Disney receives a special award for Mickey Mouse and one for a short color film called Silly Symphonies "Flowers and Trees".

Birth of Diane Marie

Dec 18, 1933

Diane was Walt's first daughter.

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Mar 16, 1934

Best Animated Short Film for Silly Symphonies: Three Little Pigs

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Feb 27, 1935

Best Short Film for Silly Symphonies: The Tortoise and the Hare

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Mar 5, 1936

Best Animated Short Film for Silly Symphonies: Three Orphan Kittens

Birth of Sharon Mae

Dec 21, 1936

The Disney's could not have anymore children so they adopted Sharon right after she was born.

Walt Wins One Academy Award

May 4, 1937

Best Animated Short Film for Silly Symphonies: The Country Cousin

Walt Wins One Academy Award

May 3, 1938

Best Short Animated Film for Silly Symphonies: The Old Mill

Walt Wins Two Academy Awards

Feb 23, 1939

Best Short Animated Film for Ferdinand the Bull and and Honorary Award for Creating Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. For Snow White, he received one statuette and seven miniture statuettes on a stepped base.

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Feb 29, 1940

Best Animated Short Film for Silly Symphonies: The Ugly Duckling

Walt Wins Three Academy Awards

Feb 26, 1942

Best Animated Short Film for Lend a Paw, Honorary Award for Fantasia, Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to Walt Disney

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Mar 4, 1943

Best Animated Short Film for Der Fuehrer's Face

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Mar 24, 1949

Best Live Action Short Film Two Reel for Seal Island

Walt Appears on TV

Dec 25, 1950

TV special is called "One Hour in Wonderland".

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Mar 29, 1951

Best Live Action Film Two Reel for In Beaver Valley

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Mar 20, 1952

Best Short Subject Two Reel for Nature's Half Acre

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Mar 19, 1953

Best Live Action Short Film Two Reel for Water Birds

Walt Wins Four Academy Awards

Mar 25, 1954

Best Animated Short Film for Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, Best Documentary Feature for The Living Desert, Best Documentary Short for The Alaskan Eskimo, Best Live Action Short Fim Two Reel for Bear Country

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Mar 30, 1955

Best Documentary Feature for The Vanishing Prairie

Disneyland Opens

Jul 17, 1955

Walt opens Disneyland in Anaheim, CA

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Mar 21, 1956

Best Documentary Short for Men Against the Arctic

Walt Wins One Academy Award

Apr 6, 1959

Best Live Action Short for Grand Canyon

Walt Disney Begins Buying Land in Florida

Apr 15, 1964

30,000 Acres of land are puchased by 1965 for Epcot and Walt Disney World. DisneyWorld opened on October 1, 1971, almost 5 years after Walt Disney died.

Disney Family Goes on Cruise to Brittish Columbia

Jul 4, 1966

This was to celebrate Walt and Lillian's 41st Wedding Anniversary and included children and grandchildren. Walt wasn't feeling very well during the cruise.

Walt Disney Passed Away

Dec 15, 1966

Walt Disney dies before seeing Disney World in Florida open.

Walt Disney Wins One Academy Award

Apr 14, 1969

Best Animated Short for Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. This was awarded after Walter Elias Disney Died on December 15, 1966