By Zach Johnson
To cap off an unforgettable weekend, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa® will conclude on Sunday, August 11, with the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. The Disney Legends Award honors artists and visionaries throughout The Walt Disney Company’s history who have pushed the envelope of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom, and broken the restraints of the status quo in search of new possibilities and excellence. A 37-year tradition, this year’s honorees include Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.
In an exclusive Q&A, Kelly Ripa—who is being recognized in the Television category—reflects on her contributions to the company and what it means to be named a Disney Legend.
You’ve been cohosting Live for years. During that time, you’ve been able to film at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, hosted the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade, and more. From those times, what are some of your favorite Disney memories?
I love watching the magic, the excellence, the pageantry, the precision of all of the performers and the Cast Members. Anytime something looks effortless, you know that there’s a tremendous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. When it comes to Disney, you just never see the seams anywhere. It all appears so seamless. And being able to raise my kids year after year and to give them this unique privilege of getting to visit the parks—particularly when I was hosting the Christmas Day Parade—was such a fun time.
It’s such a beautiful time to be there and to celebrate the holidays in that way.
What are some highlights from your 30-plus years within the ABC family?
Getting my 30-year Jiminy Cricket award was a pretty big deal because that meant that I worked at Disney as long as my dad worked at New Jersey Transit. I don’t think my dad ever considered my job to be a real job until I reached that milestone! And so now I have been validated that I do in fact have a real job.
You met your husband, Mark Consuelos, on an ABC soap opera, and now you two cohost a talk show that’s syndicated by Disney Entertainment. Are you living a Disney fairy tale?
100%. I’m definitely living a Disney fairy tale without question. However, Mark seems to be Aladdin, and I’m more Ursula.
You’re being presented with this award by your former Live co-host, Ryan Seacrest. How does that make it extra special?
It’s special that Disney does recognize our co-dependence with each other, and I think it makes sense. We can only give and receive awards from each other, so it is very special, and it gives me a chance to of course harass him on a public stage, which I never get tired of doing.
How does it feel to be honored as a Disney Legend?
It feels surreal. I feel like the job is the gift, and I feel like the longevity is the gift. And so, the honor on top of the job just feels kind of gluttonous, if I’m being honest. But it’s a privilege and a true honor.