Has Anyone From DISBoards Ever Met Walt Disney?

[jhaig]

I realize that he died in 1966 and a good portion of us weren't around while he was still alive, and this may be a strange question, but....

Has anyone on the boards ever met Walt Disney?

Does anyone know anyone who has actually had any interaction with Walt Disney in person, either at Disneyland or otherwise? Just looking for some good stories abou the man himself.

I think he would have been the ultimate meet-and-greet

 

[magicaldisney]

Love this question. I'm curious to see the responses.

 

[OKW Lover]

I know of a couple of people on the boards who have met Walt. They frequent the DL and the Podcast boards here on the DIS.

 

[Vivianne]

That would be very interesting. I just saw the Saving Mr. Banks and enjoyed it. I laughed when P.L. Travers looked down at Disney when he took her to Disneyland and throughout the movie.

 

[kaybird]

My mother was a distant cousin of the Disneys. I know when we went to the park in 1957 that we were greeted by Walt, but I was 2 and all I remember was the cool Whale ride and the skyway. I also have a quiltblock made by Walt's mother.

 

[JimmyV]

I didn't but my dad did (by phone). Back when E.P.C.O.T. (the original spelling) was a gleam in Walt's eye and it really was supposed to be a "community", Walt had to figure out what he was going to do for an education system, so he contacted some top public education administrators to discuss ideas for a system to be used for its Community of Tomorrow and he contacted my dad and they had several discussions. Had the community actually been built, maybe my dad would have been the Superintend of Schools. He certainly would have been on the short list! For what it's worth, my dad thought Walt was kind of "out there" and a bit of a megalomaniac when it came to creating a Utopia. But he loved WDW and we went every summer from 1972-1987 except for about three of those years.

 

[flicx]

I never met the man, but I have a check signed by Walt I bought years ago. It is one of my favorite things.

 

[surferdave]

I suspect a few have! But they were in no condition to report back here afterwards.

 

[Networth]

I didn't but my dad did (by phone). Back when E.P.C.O.T. (the original spelling) was a gleam in Walt's eye and it really was supposed to be a "community", Walt had to figure out what he was going to do for an education system, so he contacted some top public education administrators to discuss ideas for a system to be used for its Community of Tomorrow and he contacted my dad and they had several discussions. Had the community actually been built, maybe my dad would have been the Superintend of Schools. He certainly would have been on the short list! For what it's worth, my dad thought Walt was kind of "out there" and a bit of a megalomaniac when it came to creating a Utopia. But he loved WDW and we went every summer from 1972-1987 except for about three of those years.

Funny I have read plenty of books about him and they always left me thinking he was the type of individual your dad thought he was. Very fine line between “doing the impossible” and having a "unrealistic grandiosity.” persona. Some of the more successful titans of industry are/were both. I met Steve Jobs numerous times before his passing, I imagine Disney was much like him in many ways, much like Rockefeller, Carnegie, etc. That said I obviously enjoy Disney’s products and would of like to have seen him live longer to pursue his visions, but I certainly would not have wished to work for/with him.

 

[Raenstoirm]

My dad did, but he passed away a few years ago so he can't retell his tale. He was an engineer contracted to do some of the preliminary work for The Florida Project. Later (after Walt was gone obviously) he contracted with US Steel to do a some of the engineering of the original two hotels (something to do with a conveyer system in the kitchens, I don't know the specifics). Roy personally offered him a job with Disney and the man turned it down! . As kid this fact tortured me to no end! My parents didn't want to live in Florida. They did get VIP treatment on opening day and all that. It was long before I was born, so I never got any special treatment.

 

[Minniekins]

I wish it was me! When I was little, probably about 7, we went to Disneyland. It was my parents, and my brother and me. Well, my Mom took my little brother, about 2 1/2, and they went the bathroom, she asked if I wanted to go with, I said no, and stayed with my Dad. Ugh, I'm still mad at myself, lol. My Mom and my little brother met Walt Disney, just walking in the park. It had to be 1965/66. I'm the big Disney freak in the family, but I had to stay and hang out with my Dad, we saw Mary Poppins, oh boy! Lol, yep, still mad about it! My Mom died when I was 12 so I never really talked to her about it, and my Dad didn't really even remember! But I feel like I was oh so close!! I still wonder if maybe one day, in some old boxes we'll find maybe a pic, (pics of the trip gotta be somewhere!), or maybe even one of those business cards he used to give out with his autograph on it is lost somewhere! Probably just dreamin!

 

[Disnsyncey]

Not me, but my Theme Park professor started out as a trumpet player in the Main Street band at DL and retired as the EVP of Worldwide Entertainment for the Walt Disney Company, so he worked with Walt quite a bit.....it was fun to hear stories......and since he was a Disney guy, it was basically Disney class

 

[Twende]

I met him in Disneyland but sadly I was only 7 years old. He was just walking the park greeting people and I was with my mother and grandmother. They were loving the Street of Flowers and up walked the big man himself. I can remember where we all were standing and how we shook hands but that is it. I wish we had thought to get a picture but I am pretty certain my dad had the camera and he was with my grandfather looking at something else near by.

I remember thinking that he owned all this cool stuff and how neat it would be to be one of his kids.

This was in July of 1962 and we also saw the Osmond Brothers that day. They sang Side by Side. I thought they were great!

 

[KB'sMom]

No, but our old neighbour was a friend of Walt's. He showed us a few pictures and told us some stories.

 

[DisneyJade]

I love this thread!

 

[I Love Pluto]

No, I have not met Walt Disney. I wish I had!

But - I played with Annette Funicello when we were kids in Utica NY. She was so nice - just a regular kid. Being a star on Mickey Mouse Club did not spoil this girl.

I wonder if Walt ever did the customer service thing - or if he hid, as the reps do today!?! Guest Services - where IS your real office?????!!!!!