The Enduring Legacy of Zorro

With the Hispanic Heritage month soon coming to a close, it marks another important milestone: the 65th anniversary of Disney’s Zorro. Discover the power of representation in storytelling and how Zorro left a lasting mark on fans well after its premiere in 1957.

See more

We’ve Just Begun to Dream!

Just as Magic Kingdom Park, and all of Walt Disney World Resort, had beforehand, EPCOT Center (now known as EPCOT) opened its gates on October 1.

See more

From Puffins to Porgs

Creature paint finish designer Henrik Svensson painted this Porg color test during the production of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). Check out our latest Spotlight article for a closer look at these adorable creatures!

See more
WDA - Beauty And The Beast

Beauty and the Beast at 30: From Production to Classic

By Katie Strobel, Walt Disney Archives 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the 30th full-length animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios: Beauty and the Beast. Produced by Don Hahn and directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, let’s take a look back at how this enchanting story of love and inner beauty became a …

See more
Full House

“We’re Going to Walt Disney World”: Full House

By Matt Moryc, Walt Disney Archives If you grew up watching television in the 1980s and ‘90s, there is an objective argument to be made that some of the greatest family sitcoms of all time were produced during this era. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) was at the forefront of this golden age of adolescent …

See more
The X-Files

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1990s: The X-Files

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives Halloween is here at last! We are ready to don our festive costumes and fill up our Trick-or-Treat bags with delicious candy. But first, let’s glean a little investigative inspiration from the final installment of our 20th Century Fox “Spooktacular.” We are hot on the case of The X-Files, …

See more
High-Flying Heritage

High-Flying Heritage: A Walt Disney World Moment 50 Years in the Making

By Becky Cline and Kevin M. Kern, Walt Disney Archives Every now and then, we here in the Archives have the honor of spotlighting historical materials so unique from our collection that the objects themselves seem to transcend matters of just Disney history and cross over into a realm documenting a wider moment from popular …

See more
predator

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1980s: Predator

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives This film is for mature audiences. Halloween is just a couple weeks away and with it, all manner of spooky, scary creatures have begun haunting us… Among these ghouls and goblins, there may be a particularly scary creature lurking in the shadows of the jungle. Get to the chopper …

See more
archives walt disney world

50 Years of The Vacation Kingdom of the World

By Francesca Scrimgeour, Walt Disney Archives With the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World underway, what better way to celebrate than by looking back at the grand opening celebration of the Magic Kingdom Park? After the success of the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, Walt Disney recognized the impact an East Coast theme park and …

See more
Manuel Gonzales

Legendary Handprints – Manuel Gonzales

In 1936, the Disney studio needed new artists to work on its first feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Open auditions for artists were held at Rockefeller Center in New York, and Manuel Gonzales was one of 33 selected from thousands of applicants to join the Disney ranks. In 1938, Gonzales took over penciling …

See more
The Rocky Horror Picture Show

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1970s: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives This film is for mature audiences. Halloween is creeping up ever closer, and with the eerie flicker of jack-o’-lanterns lighting our way through a stormy evening, we are continuing our journey through some of the most “spooktacular” films from 20th Century Fox. What awaits us now is perhaps the …

See more
Planet of the Apes

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1960s: Planet of the Apes

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives Fall is officially upon us and Halloween is creeping just around the corner! To celebrate, our 20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” continues on to our next stop: that most swingin’ of decades—the 1960s. We’re not “monkeying” around when we say our next film explores what could await humanity in a …

See more
the day the earth stood still

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1950s: The Day the Earth Stood Still

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives With the leaves falling from trees and temperatures getting cooler, we’re getting into the Halloween spirit by continuing our tour through the decades and looking at some of the most haunting films from 20th Century Fox. For the 1950s—the era of milkshakes, drive-ins, and the Cold War—we shall witness …

See more
Nightmare Alley

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1940s: Nightmare Alley

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives As fall swiftly approaches, and with it, the scariest of holidays—Halloween!—we’re taking a “spooktacular” decade-by-decade tour through the most haunting films from 20th Century Fox. While our first stop on the tour may not trade in ghouls and ghosts, Nightmare Alley (1947) asks a question perhaps scarier than anything else: …

See more
Christina Aguilera

Legendary Handprints – Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera is one of the preeminent musical performers in the world. With a powerful voice and wide vocal range, she boasts an unmatched stage and recording presence that has entertained fans the world over. Selling more than 25 million records, Aguilera has also garnered six Grammy Awards® including a Latin Grammy Award for her …

See more