This article is a great rundown of Pixar and Disney, but while the latter did publish Pixar’s movies through the nineties and early naughties they had very little creative influence over them - especially compared to what would come post acquisition. Even the four “transitional” films (that had already begun production in 2006) are clearly more Pixar than Disney.
In general I tend to differentiate between creator and publisher in all art. It would have been a more shocking inclusion had it been a movie made by Disney themselves - at least to me. I’m open to being wrong about how much Disney meddled in Pixar stories pre 2006 purchase though. I can’t say it’s a subject I’ve studied at length. I know there is a book about Pixar but I haven’t read it. Do you have any sources?