Walt Disney: 10 Fun Facts
Aimee Posted on:-08-01-20 Collections,
Established in 1923, we have been fans of the likes of Mickey and Minnie Mouse created by Walt Disney for almost a century. Disney has been a favourite of families all over the world for years and years… With animations, performances, shops, parks… We just can’t get enough! It is true to say that Disney is one of the best-known family entertainment corporations to this day. And, that Disney still lives up to our special childhood expectations and memories of wonderful magic and fun.
At Toy Street, our passion is toys of all kinds. From puzzles to card games, teddies and toys – We love them all. What we love about Walt Disney is the huge range of characters that have been created over time. And with characters, comes TOYS! Take a look at our Disney section to find the perfect gift for your own little prince or princess at home.
The Origins Of Disney…
Born in Chicago, 1901, Walt Disney was a man of many talents. An American motion-picture and television producer, a showman, a pioneer of animated cartoon films and much much more. In 1922, Disney and Iwerks started a small studio of their own. Using a secondhand movie camera, they made one and two-minute animated advertising films for distribution to local movie theatres. Sadly this studio did not work out, but this did not stop Walt. Nevertheless, Walt started again and resumed the combination of live-action and animation with his brother Roy. Soon Iwerk and Disney began drawing again and the world first saw Mickey in 1927… —a cheerful, energetic, and mischievous mouse.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them” – Walt Disney
10 Fun Facts About Walt Disney…
Disney’s family name was originally D’Isigny – Before being Anglicized to Disney.
Walt Disney voiced Mickey Mouse himself– From 1928 to 1947, Walt was the voice behind the beloved Mickey. After 1947, Walt then continued to do Mickey’s voice for shorts on The Mickey Mouse Club.
Walt Disney had a secret apartment at Disneyland – located above the fire station, Walt’s private apartment remains virtually unchanged. The lamp in the window is always kept on to signify Walt is always in the park.
Walt Disney had a housekeeper called Thelma – as a result of her annual Christmas gift from the Disney’s (of company shares) Thelma left nearly $4.5 million to poor and disabled children in 1994.
Disney once played the role of Peter Pan – as a schoolboy living in Chicago. Finally, in 1953, Disney turned the story into a hit movie.
His favourite song was “Feed The Birds” – the song about the pigeon lady in Mary Poppins. And, he also loved the Sherman brothers to perform the song.
The first studio Walt set up was called Laugh-O-Gram – however, this struggled financially and was closed. As a result, Walt opened Disney Brothers Studio and later came ‘Mortimer Mouse’ (who we now call ‘Mickey’).
Walt Disney began developing his skills as a cartoonist as a young kid – taking drawing classes, drawing pictures of his neighbours farm animals and contributing to the school paper.
There is a minor planet named after Disney – 4017 Disneya, discovered by Soviet astronomer Lyudmila Karachkina in 1980.
At Disney World, there was a ‘Hot Dog Standard’ – trash cans placed 25 steps away from hot dog stands. Why? This is how long it would take Disney to eat a hotdog.