In the shadow of the Team Disney – The Michael D. Eisner Building at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, the spirits of important men and women of The Walt Disney Company fill a plaza dedicated in their honor. Legends Plaza is a place that permanently recognizes such extraordinary and integral contributions of the Disney Legends to The Walt Disney Company.
The Seven Dwarfs beam down daily to a large statue of the Disney Legend award that each honoree is presented with when he or she is inducted into this prestigious club. The sculpture consists of a spiral and the arm of Mickey Mouse holding a star-tipped wand. In August 2011, I had the extreme pleasure of visiting the Walt Disney Studios during an Adventures by Disney “Backstage Magic” tour. My fascination with the actual sculpture itself did not start until that time when I saw the beautiful details of it.
The award itself states…
“This sculpture is dedicated to the Disney Legends; a program honoring the many individuals whose work has made a significant and lasting impact on the Disney Legacy.”
“The Spiral… stands for imagination, the power of an idea.”
“The Hand… holds the gifts of skill, discipline, and craftsmanship.”
“The Wand and the Star… represent magic: the spark that is ignited when imagination and skill combine to create a new dream.”
The Walt Disney Company states that each Disney Legend recipient has contributed to the company thru these three distinct elements.
Steamboat Willie, the 1928 animated short film featuring Mickey Mouse, is also represented on the side of the statue to pay respect to one of the first successes of the The Walt Disney Studio. The film is notable for being the first Mickey Mouse film to be distributed and also the first cartoon with synchronized sound.
There is even a hidden Gus. He is located on the back side of the sculpture, in the rolled up portion of the spiral.
A selection committee of long-time Disney executives, historians and other authoritites choose the recipients of this career-defining award. The late Roy E. Disney, Walt Disney’s nephew and former vice chairman and director emeritus of The Walt Disney Company, first chaired the Disney Legends Committee.
Artist Andrea Favilli created the Disney Legend award in 1987. The actual hand-held awards are hand-crafted from bronze each year. The awards initially were handed out to the honorees at The Walt Disney Studios. However, in 1997, the Legends program was held at Disneyland Paris in celebration of the park’s 5th anniversary. In 2009 and 2011, the Disney Legends ceremony were held for the only times outside of a Disney property and were held at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California.
During the 1997 Disneyland Paris Legend ceremony, the first 14-foot bronze enlargement of the Disney Legends awards was uneveiled as a tribute to the Disney European businesses.
The second 14-foot bronze sculpture was erected as part of the new Disney Legends Plaza at The Walt Disney Studios dedicated on October 16, 1998 in honor of the 75th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company.
Big thanks to our Adventures by Disney guides, Michael and Jaime, who served as perfect hosts for our time at Legends Plaza.
In part 2 of this series, we will look at the bronze plaques lining the columns of the Plaza that represent the individual Disney Legends.
Other Articles You May Like:
- The Spotlight Zone – Disney Legends Share This month the Spotlight Zone has its focus on the Disney Legends website. The website provides you with the history and philosophy of the Disney Legends an annual award program honoring Disney magic makers for their very special, gifted, and exceptional achievements. The program honors those who have made outstanding contributions in their field...
Fascinating insights; I hope to take this tour *someday*