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| Walt Disney enjoys dinner on Main Street, U.S.A. along with Lillian Disney, Admiral Fowler, and Emile Kuri (I believe) during the summer of 1962. A Walt sighting in Disneyland, such as this, is most definitely an “E Ticket” attraction to this author (and everyone here at the Institute)! It is also the reason why your intrepid Institute historians actively seek out photos of Walt in his favorite place on earth. |
“Oh, I might average once a month. Most of my interest in Disneyland is planning and improving it and I do a great deal of that here at the Studio. So I only go down to check on things, to see what ought to be done for the coming year. It’s pretty hard to get around Disneyland when people are there. I mean, they’re friendly, they’re wonderful and I love to meet them, but I can’t stand still long because I’ll – oh, I don’t mind giving autographs, I think it’s wonderful that they do want your autograph. But when I’m at Disneyland, if I stop to sign one autograph, before I can get that signed, there are some more up there and it accumulates quite a crowd and it always makes it awful hard to get away.
“So when I go through Disneyland, I walk fast, and it isn’t much fun. So I go down when Disneyland is closed with my staff and we go through everything. Or I go down when there is a big crowd, a very big crowd, and I walk very fast and watch every part of it and find out where we need to improve our crowd control conditions to make it easier for people to get around and our shade areas and all the problems that we have in the summer when we have the half million plus people a week.
“So that’s mainly my interest in Disneyland has been building that thing, in keeping it alive and keeping it fresh and keeping it successful by doing these things. So most of my fun comes from that end of it.”
A perfect example of this notion is that of merchandise host Willard Davis, who had the pleasure of helping the boss one day in the mid-1960s. Davis recalled: “Walt walked up to my register one day with a plaque he wished to purchase. When I told him how much it would be, he said, ‘Son, that’s not right.’ I told him that was the price with his discount. ‘Discount?’ he asked. ‘You’re an employee and get a discount,’ I answered. He looked puzzled and then replied, ‘You’re right! I am an employee–a damned expensive one!’”
Walt got the plaque and his discount. A half decade later Institute readers, thanks to oral history, got a look at Walt’s sense of humor.
Enjoy!
He was worth every penny! Great post!
Hear hear! Thank you.
He was worth more….
Excellent never heard of story!
Thank you. And yes, priceless comes to mind!
Are those candles on the little chocolate (?) cakes on the tables? If so. what were they celebrating?
I just noticed, there is a lit candle in front of Lillian.
Yes, each person in this photo (and in other photos from this same set) all have a little piece of black cake with one candle. However, after talking it over with Todd and a few others, we can’t conclude one way or another what they might be celebrating. The entire photo set seems to be around Walt showing prospective sponsors around, so not sure what they would be celebrating (unless it is one year as a sponsor with Disneyland). So your guess is as good as ours. Thanks.
Great piece as usual, Paul!
Love the container of Carnation milk as well…
Could you tell me WHICH January 1964 issue of LOOK this article appeared in? There were two (2) January 1964 issues, and I want to locate the correct one. Thanks.
They are dining on the patio of the Plaza Pavillion Restaurant – Today’s Jolly Holiday Bakery!
Peter: Thanks kindly. Yes, great product placement.