Michael, Irvine, California

There were actually 115 Academy Award nominations given for Disney films during Walt Disney’s lifetime, plus honorary and technical awards. I count 59 of those nominations being to Walt Disney personally, which includes the Mary Poppins Best Picture nomination. Walt personally won a total of 32 Academy Awards (one of those, for Winnie the Pooh …

Matthew, North Hollywood, California

The Disney parks’ costumed Mickey helped present an award in 1978 with Jodie Foster and Paul Williams, and an animated Mickey interacted with Tom Selleck as a presenter at the 1988 Academy Awards ceremony and with Jennifer Garner in 2003. Those were the only times for Mickey, though other Disney characters appeared in the 1990s. …

Heather, Santa Clarita, California

The two tile murals were covered over in 1986 and 1997. According to Imagineering’s Marty Sklar, “Mary Blair’s murals were not damaged or painted on, but the decision was made for cost reasons to leave them in place—hidden treasures at Disneyland!”

Leo, Santa Maria, California

“Minnie’s Yoo Hoo” was actually the first Disney song to be published, in 1930, on sheet music—both for general sale and as a giveaway at Mickey Mouse Club events in theaters (it was the club’s official theme song). Listed authors were Walt Disney and Carl Stalling. The song originally appeared in the Mickey Mouse cartoon, …

Jonathan, Albany, New York

Congratulations on your acceptance into the program. The Disney College Program, at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, is an excellent program for college students who want to learn more about The Walt Disney Company and how it operates. Take advantage of the seminars, lectures, and tours (some visit the Walt Disney Archives) that are …

Jason, Tampa, Florida

According to a former Jungle Cruise skipper, the end of the Jungle Cruise has always featured figures of Trader Sam and attacking natives, but he is unaware of cast members ever being stationed there. Trader Sam appeared among the natives when the Jungle Cruise premiered, but he was not named and repositioned to be by …

Adriana, Sewell, New Jersey

Two titles to check online are Reading Magic with Figment and Peter Pan and Would You Eat a Blue Potato; sometimes clips from them appear on YouTube. I know of no plans to remove Figment from Epcot.

Bob, Thousand Oaks, California

We do not know the exact day the plaques were installed, but we have a memo in the Archives dated June 22, 1955, sent to Walt Disney for approval of the text, stating that they would be “ready for opening.”

Joe, Portland, Oregon

Lucy and Desi are not on our list of celebrities that were at Disneyland on opening day, July 17, 1955. We know that Lucille Ball visited Disneyland on July 1-2, 1957; July 17, 1958 (Desi was with her at least this time); August 12-13, 1959; April 12, 1960; and August 6-7, 1961. It would not …

Keith, Port Orchard, Oregon

I occasionally do lectures at Disney events, fan conventions, and on Disney Cruise Line ships. You just missed, in March, a short lecture at a luncheon at the Ronald Reagan Library in conjunction with the Disney exhibit, which closes in April, and another for annual passholders at Disneyland.