Roy E Disney, 79, passed away today.

[Linda Farrell]

I also had the pleasure of meeting him on a DVC cruise. He was part of a question and answer session in the Walt Disney Theater with Jim Lewis, and it was so great to hear from someone who knew Walt well, and all his little personal stories. At dinner on the last night, he was 3 tables away from us. When he was all done eating, 3 of us, all Disney Store castmembers, went over to say hi to him. He was very nice and we all got a picture with him. I've had mine in my living room ever since.

RIP Roy. You will be very much missed.

 

[MonorailDriver]

So sad, I love this whole family...so sad for them.

 

[Capt. Barbosa]

RIP and prayers to the Disney Family immediate and extended.

I'm afraid that we have lost one of the last guardians of Walt's vision. Roy you did your Father and Uncle proud.

 

[Glampire31]

I saw it on MSN.com.... my thoughts and prayers go out to the entire disney family.... May he rest in peace......

 

[samshane]

So sad... my thoughts are with the family.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

RIP Roy.

 

[DJHPMouse]

The last great hope

 

[avamadison]

He was an inspiration!

 

[Disneenut]

RIP

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I am so saddened by his passing. I swear he was Walt's spirit carrying on. Rest in sweet peace.

 

[Brave teacher]

I was deeply saddened to hear this today. He will be greatly missed.

 

[jctwizzer]

Guess I'm in the minority...the area he was in charge of rarely was successful; and he approved the current management, which has led the charge downhill at WDW a lot more than Eisner ever thought of

 

[Hmbldr]

Guess I'm in the minority...the area he was in charge of rarely was successful; and he approved the current management, which has led the charge downhill at WDW a lot more than Eisner ever thought of

You are entitled to your opinion. BUT, it was Roy who mounted the charge to originally change the management and direction of Disney in '84. Without that vision and fight there would be no Disney animation. Say that again - No Disney Animation. Bringing in Eisner and Wells brought dynamic change and growth to the company and all its facets. Unparalleled. Eisner without Wells began to turn sour with a single overmanagement style. Time to go and Roy stepped in and ushered that change. Is it perfect or was it ever?? No.

Without the shake up of 1984, Disney would be a fraction and a whisper of what it is today, if even it had remained whole.

I'm grateful to Roy for his hard work and vision in trying to keep Disney the creative force it has been and hopefully remains for the future.

 

[Rosanne]

 

[biz410]

Guess I'm in the minority...the area he was in charge of rarely was successful; and he approved the current management, which has led the charge downhill at WDW a lot more than Eisner ever thought of

I'll join you in the minority. Roy was the driving force in getting Eisner in (and out), but the success of the overall company (including all the construction of all the WDW resorts, AK and DS) was the work of Eisner & Wells.

The success in animation was due to Katzenberg. Thus, the success of Dreamworks and the malaise of Disney animated features. Take Pixar out and they haven't done anything since Katzenberg created The Lion King.

 

[KristyBDJ]

I'll join you in the minority. Roy was the driving force in getting Eisner in (and out), but the success of the overall company (including all the construction of all the WDW resorts, AK and DS) was the work of Eisner & Wells.

The success in animation was due to Katzenberg. Thus, the success of Dreamworks and the malaise of Disney animated features. Take Pixar out and they haven't done anything since Katzenberg created The Lion King.

OK guys...You are entitled to your opinions on what he may or may not have done for the company but is the day of his death the right time to discuss it? Does it really even matter right now? Let's all be kind and pay our respects or just stay quiet. Like your mother says "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

R.I.P. Roy, you will be missed by your friends and family and by the Disney Fan community as well. It's sad to see a piece of the Disney legacy leave us.

 

[loveWDWalways]

I found out about Roy Disney's passing the moment I stepped out of the Princess and the Frog last night. I had been so overjoyed and my heart was so happy to see magical, beautiful 2-D from Disney again, when I received the text about Roy from my friend. I gained and lost a lot of the Disney magic all at once last night (with the movie and the news about Roy), and I can't imagine what his family and friends must be feeling now.

Jheigl, where did you find that picture you posted? It's the saddest thing I've seen, but it really sums up the feelings toward Roy's passing.

 

[Texan]

I feel a great sadness right now. Whatever your beliefs are on what Roy did or did not do, he truly loved the Disney name and tried to uphold Walt's dreams. I really hope some of Walt's grandchildren step up to the plate now. The magic must live on through the Disney blood.

 

[jheigl]

I found out about Roy Disney's passing the moment I stepped out of the Princess and the Frog last night. I had been so overjoyed and my heart was so happy to see magical, beautiful 2-D from Disney again, when I received the text about Roy from my friend. I gained and lost a lot of the Disney magic all at once last night (with the movie and the news about Roy), and I can't imagine what his family and friends must be feeling now.

Jheigl, where did you find that picture you posted? It's the saddest thing I've seen, but it really sums up the feelings toward Roy's passing.

I remember seeing the picture somewhere...I think it was in a book or on a TV special on Walt and when he died, the artists made that picture. I am not going to lie...I was a bit hesitant in posting that picture because it was for Walt, by Walt's artists, and of Walt's characters....I did not want to take that away from him. However, since Roy was such a big part in the animation division of the company, I found that fitting to post.

As for the others who have expressed feelings on the other side of the spectrum, that's fine....but to insert a dancing emoticon and to be happy of the death of someone is probably not something I would be proud of. If you are not saddened by the news that is fine, but at last give the person the dignity they deserve as a fellow human being and not "dance on their grave".

 

[loveWDWalways]

I remember seeing the picture somewhere...I think it was in a book or on a TV special on Walt and when he died, the artists made that picture. I am not going to lie...I was a bit hesitant in posting that picture because it was for Walt, by Walt's artists, and of Walt's characters....I did not want to take that away from him. However, since Roy was such a big part in the animation division of the company, I found that fitting to post.

Thanks for your response, jheigl. I searched all over the Internet for a copy and couldn't find one, so do you mind if I use this picture elsewhere? I read there were similar pictures for when Jim Henson died. I think the picture was a great choice for Roy; Walt may have started it all, but there are many important Disney family members that have also had a great impact on the legacy we love today.