2019 Disney Legends

Meet the 2019 Disney Legends to Be Honored at D23 Expo

UPDATED JULY 8, 2019 By D23 Team At every D23 Expo, we gather together to celebrate a new class of Disney Legends. The Disney Legends Awards ceremony—just one of the highlights of the ultimate Disney fan event—has honored many of Disney’s brightest stars and notable luminaries, starting with Fred MacMurray in 1987. Since then, The …

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Mickey Mouse

Read Leonard Maltin’s Tribute to Dave Smith

By D23 Team Legendary movie historian Leonard Maltin recently wrote a touching tribute to Disney Legend Dave Smith, recounting an unforgettable article Dave wrote about Walt Disney back in 1981. Check out Leonard’s website for a full look at the article, here.

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Dave Smith memories

Fond Memories of Dave Smith from the Walt Disney Archives

By: Walt Disney Archives Staff When Disney Legend and Walt Disney Archives founder Dave Smith passed away, he left a legacy that will stand the test of time. Even more than that, anyone who was fortunate enough to meet Dave and get to know him will forever remember his unparalleled knowledge of The Walt Disney …

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Archives Adventure exhibit

The Walt Disney Archives Embarks on a New Adventure

By Matt Moryc, The Walt Disney Archives “Adventure is out there!” in the latest exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives at The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank. The Archives’ Reading Room has been refreshed to include tropical imports, exotic antiquities, and mysterious discoveries collected from many beloved and daring Disney adventures. Whether it be …

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Hocus Pocus item from the Walt Disney Archives

13 Bewitching Props from Hocus Pocus

By Kelsey Williams, the Walt Disney Archives ‘Tis time! 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the spooktacular film Hocus Pocus. To celebrate the occasion, prepare thyselves to view some of the most bewitching props and costumes from the Walt Disney Archives collection. Don’t be frightened; remember “…it’s just a bunch of hocus pocus!” “This is the …

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harriet burns

Disneyland’s First Female Imagineer Helped Create Your Favorite Attractions

By Jocelyn Buhlman When we think of classic Disneyland attractions, many minds wander to haunted houses, salty old pirates, and children of the world. One Imagineer had a hand in bringing all of them to life: Disney Legend Harriet Burns, the first woman ever hired by Walt Disney Imagineering in a creative capacity. A “Model” Imagineer …

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Inside the Walt Disney Archives’ Holiday Exhibit

By Rick Lorentz, Archivist, Walt Disney Archives On December 8, 2017, the Walt Disney Archives presented Holiday Memories from The Walt Disney Archives—their first winter holiday exhibit on The Walt Disney Studios lot in more than 10 years. Cast members had the opportunity to view 150-plus holiday-themed historical objects from the Archives collection that were …

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The Walt Disney Archives' House of Villains exhibit

A Peek Inside Walt Disney Archives’ House of Villains

By Justin Arthur, Archivist, the Walt Disney Archives This Halloween, something wicked has materialized on The Walt Disney Studios lot. The Walt Disney Archives has returned to the Hyperion Bungalow, and this time we’ve filled it with some of the most sinister scoundrels from Disney history. In our second year crafting a creepy exhibit (click …

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Walt Disney Archives exhibit - The Sole of Disney

The Walt Disney Archives’ New Exhibit is Good for the Sole

By Rick Lorentz, Archivist, Walt Disney Archives “As soon as he saw the Big Boots, Pooh knew that an Adventure was going to happen…”—Winnie the Pooh Winnie the Pooh and his creator, A. A. Milne, would be happy to see how many “big boots” and tales of “adventure” are on display in the latest Walt …

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