Walt Disney

COVID in the U.S. update: Disney's vaccine mandate, boosters, a startling death toll

3:18pm November 21, 2021

by Joe Hernandez

Disney has paused its vaccine mandate for Walt Disney World employees after a new Florida law barring workplace vaccine mandates. Meanwhile, new discussion on the definition of "fully vaccinated."

Guests stroll along Main Street at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World. The park celebrates its 50th anniversary on Oct. 1, 2021.

National

50 years ago, Disney World opened its doors and welcomed guests to its Magic Kingdom

5:00am October 01, 2021

by Greg Allen

Walt Disney secretly bought 40 square miles of land in the Sunshine State, then unveiled plans that would reshape the theme park industry and central Florida.

Visitors take photos at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., in March 2020. Jungle Cruise, one of the original Disney parks' rides, is getting a 21st century remodel by "imagineers" at the Disneyland park in California and the Magic Kingdom park in Florida with

National

Disney Revamps Jungle Cruise Ride To Remove Racist Depictions Of Indigenous People

1:30pm February 01, 2021

by Danielle Prieur

The ride's negative depictions of Indigenous people will be removed as part of a national reckoning on race and reconciliation.

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Walt Disney World unveiled its President Trump animatronic figure for the Hall of Presidents attraction.

Disney World Adds Trump Animatronic Figure, But Likeness Is Lacking

3:29pm December 19, 2017

by Camila Domonoske

The Hall of Presidents is updated with a new robot for every new leader. So it's not the presence of President Trump that is raising eyebrows. It's ... well, it's his face.

Actor Dean Jones, seen here in 1966, died Tuesday at age 84. Jones starred in 10 Disney films, including That Darn Cat!

Arts

Dean Jones, Herbie's Driver In Disney Movies, Dies At Age 84

7:10pm September 02, 2015

by Bill Chappell

Actor Dean Jones, who starred in The Love Bug, That Darn Cat! and other classic Walt Disney movies, also played the role of Bobby in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim's Company.

Newspaper clippings of young Donnie Dunagan from the early '40s.

Arts

Maj. Bambi: Meet The Marine Who Was Disney's Famous Fawn

12:23pm July 31, 2015

by NPR Staff

A gritty Marine, Donnie Dunagan fought in Vietnam, earned decorations for his service and retired as a major. But all his life, there was one thing he could never escape: He was the voice of Bambi.

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Wong's style focused more on evoking emotion than capturing a photographic reproduction of nature.

Arts

The Chinese 'Paper Son' Who Inspired The Look Of Disney's 'Bambi'

10:25am March 30, 2015

by Hansi Lo Wang

Tyrus Wong's expressive paintings caught Walt Disney's eye and became the visual guide for Bambi. Born in China, Wong — now 104 — used forged papers to enter the U.S. under the Chinese Exclusion Act.