14 iconic milestones of Disney innovation
A timeline looking back at the path of innovation at the Mouse House from 1929-2015.
More: Disney CEO Bob Iger’s empire of tech
1929
Disney releases Steamboat Willie, pioneering "fully synchronized" sound cartoons.
1937
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, the first full-length animation feature, makes its debut.
1963
The Tiki Room opens at Disneyland, introducing parkgoers to audio animatronics (electro-mechanical robots).
1977
Lucasfilm releases Star Wars, the first film shot with motion-control camera.
1982
The re-recording of Fantasia breaks ground as the first film done in digital sound.
1986
Captain EO, one of the first "4-D" films (a 3-D movie incorporating special effects such as smoke and lasers), opens at Disneyland.
1995
Pixar Animation Studios releases Toy Story, the first feature-length computer-animated film.
1988
ABC airs the first network broadcast in high-definition television, the live-action version of 101 Dalmations.
2005
In an unprecedented deal, Disney makes full-length TV episodes available on Apple's iTunes Music Store.
2006
ABC becomes the first network to offer ad-supported TV episodes online for free, via its own branded player.
2009
ESPN launches the SportsCenter app, the most downloaded sports app of all time (with more than 55 million downloads).
2013
MagicBands debut at Disney World, allowing guest to enter the park and pay for food using the RFID-enabled wristbands.
2014
Disney stores adopt Apple Pay, letting customers make purchases using near-field communications capabilities on few iPhones
2015
Later this year, Disney will release an Apple Watch with guess who on the face.
