Not sure which thread to put this on but..

[mickeysbestfriend]

has anyone else met Walt?

I was lucky enough to meet him in 1964 and it was an amazing experience. I was curious as to whether other DIS members had met him and what their impressions were....

 

[mousermerf]

So you're randomly soliciting memories and stories involving Walt Disney, a man most of us assuredly view positively, and our nostalgia for him.. in a forum that otherwise deals with our negative opinions of the company's future projects?

I see..

 

[skier_pete]

Ignore mousermerf...he's just grumpy.

My guess is there are not many on here that are as fortunate as you. Partly because Walt died about 45 years ago, so only folks 50+ would possibly do that. Personally, I think a better place to post this would be in the community board, but I for one would be interested in hearing a little more of your meeting with him.

SkierPete

 

[magoo10]

My aunt's dad painted its a small world for the orginal world's fair, and shook the hand of Walt. So I guess I have shook the hand that shook walt's.

 

[ChrisFL]

My aunt's dad painted its a small world for the orginal world's fair, and shook the hand of Walt. So I guess I have shook the hand that shook walt's.

Wow, thats cool!

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

My dad worked on Epcot. The architectual firm he worked for did horizons and I have the construction day preview passes he was given. Unfortunately he never made it down there to use them. He also had a hand in Spaceship earth.

 

[vorpalswrd]

My parents created the fiberglass edging on the facade of The Hall of Presidents. They were contracted for further work but turned down the offer (as I was just starting school in PA and they weren't thrilled with FL schools in the area). They still have the job offer letters.

 

[gymnastgirlflips]

Amazing to think that at least a handful of people on disboards have met Walt.

 

[pilferk]

I haven't.

But I did have the GREAT pleasure to get to know David Gengenbach, who helped design the Mark III and Mark IV Monorail systems (and other attractions, like POTC's boat system, etc) for Walt. Dave DID know Walt, and I had the honor of hearing a great many stories about him.

Dave was a great friend, and a brilliant guy. Sadly, he passed away about 10 years ago....

 

[Micca]

I'd love to hear stories from anyone who met Walt. Please elaborate

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I talked to him the other night. Poured him a drink but he wasn't having any, so I drank it instead.

 

[Dznefreek]

One of my wife's clients had parents that worked with/slash knew him. They were working with him on the ski resort (can't remember the name) that later became the model for the WL. Her clients also met him and they said he was truly inspiring. They even have pics of all of them together.

I talked to him the other night. Poured him a drink but he wasn't having any, so I drank it instead.

very funny. . . . . weird since was a drinker and smoker . . . .

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

and we ran across a file he had kept on Epcot. I had no idea he had started working on the project as early as 1975 considering it didn't open until 1982. It was fascinating to see how the plans changed over the years as they refined it. There was a list of all of the countries that were invited to submit applications to be in the World Showcase and I was surprised at the countries that were on the list like the USSR.

We discovered that my dad was an obsessive compulsive that kept everything! Even the post it notes that he had used on the blueprints to indicate changes he felt were needed.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

and we ran across a file he had kept on Epcot. I had no idea he had started working on the project as early as 1975 considering it didn't open until 1982. It was fascinating to see how the plans changed over the years as they refined it. There was a list of all of the countries that were invited to submit applications to be in the World Showcase and I was surprised at the countries that were on the list like the USSR.

We discovered that my dad was an obsessive compulsive that kept everything! Even the post it notes that he had used on the blueprints to indicate changes he felt were needed.

That kind of stuff is priceless!

 

[kimmar067]

has anyone else met Walt?

I was lucky enough to meet him in 1964 and it was an amazing experience. I was curious as to whether other DIS members had met him and what their impressions were....

...wow, that's actually pretty cool.

 

[kimmar067]

I talked to him the other night. Poured him a drink but he wasn't having any, so I drank it instead.

...was he with Elvis?