Hey there! I’m Elliott, and today we’re diving into some common myths about Disney, both the man and the company. Let’s clear up some of these misconceptions together!
After Walt Disney passed away in 1966, he was actually cremated. However, a rumor started that he was frozen, and it became so popular that his family decided to open the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco in 2009 to set the record straight. His daughter, Diane Disney Miller, mentioned that people even asked her kids if their grandfather was frozen! If he had been, wouldn’t they have unfrozen him for the premiere of the movie Frozen? That would have been quite the event!
This is another myth that isn’t true. According to his family, Walt Disney was cremated, and his ashes were placed in Glendale, California, at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. So, let’s put this legend to rest.
While Walt Disney came up with the idea for a mouse character in 1928, he didn’t actually draw Mickey Mouse. The character was designed by Walt’s partner, Ub Iwerks. It was a team effort! Fun fact: Mickey was originally going to be called Mortimer Mouse.
This myth started because Mickey Rooney himself claimed it was true. He said he met Walt Disney while playing a character named Mickey McGuire, which inspired Walt to name the mouse after him. However, it was actually Walt’s wife, Lillian, who suggested the name “Mickey” instead of “Mortimer.” She might have been inspired by Rooney, but it’s unlikely since Rooney was working for Warner Brothers at the time, and Disney had his own studio.
Many people think Tinkerbell was inspired by Marilyn Monroe because the film came out when Monroe was becoming famous. However, the animators actually used a model named Margaret Kelly to create Tinkerbell. She spent six months posing and acting out Tinkerbell’s movements for the film.
The Disney logo isn’t Walt’s real signature. While he was alive, some Disney employees were allowed to sign autographs for him. The logo we see today is a fancier version of those signatures. An authentic Walt Disney autograph that looks like the logo hasn’t been found yet.
There’s a scene in The Lion King where Simba lies down, and some dust flies up. If you look closely, it seems like the dust spells “S-E-X” for a moment. The animators say it was supposed to look like “S-F-X,” which stands for “special effects.” You can decide what you believe!
In the Haunted Mansion’s graveyard scene, there’s a bust that looks a bit like Walt Disney. However, it’s actually Thurl Ravenscroft, who was the voice of Tony the Tiger for many years. Although they both had similar mustaches, it’s just a coincidence.
There’s a story that the Haunted Mansion opened in 1962, and a guest had a heart attack, causing the ride to close until 1969. While the ride’s opening was delayed, it wasn’t because of that. Other events, like Disney’s passing, caused delays, and the building wasn’t even finished by 1962.
Some people believe that if there’s a serious medical emergency at a Disney park, the person is taken outside the gates so no one is declared dead at the park. However, there have been several deaths at Disney parks, including a 1984 plane crash in the EPCOT parking lot. Unfortunately, even Disney magic can’t prevent everything.
Thanks for joining me on this journey through Disney myths! If you have any topics you’d like to see in future episodes, let us know in the comments. See you next time!
Create a poster that debunks one of the Disney myths discussed in the article. Use images, facts, and creative designs to make your poster engaging. Present your poster to the class and explain why the myth is false.
Research and create a timeline of significant events in Walt Disney’s life and the history of the Disney company. Include at least five events and illustrate how these events relate to the myths discussed. Share your timeline with a partner and discuss your findings.
Work in pairs to create a quiz with questions based on the myths from the article. Test your classmates’ knowledge by having them answer whether each statement is fact or fiction. Discuss the correct answers and clarify any misconceptions.
Write a short story that incorporates one of the Disney myths. Use your imagination to create a narrative that explains how the myth might have started. Share your story with the class and discuss the real facts behind the myth.
Choose one Disney myth from the article and conduct further research to gather more information. Write a report summarizing your findings and include any new insights or interesting facts you discovered. Present your report to the class and answer any questions they might have.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
Hi, I’m Elliott. This is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, I’m going to talk about some misconceptions about Disney—both the man and the company.
**Misconception #1:** Walt Disney was cryogenically frozen.
After Disney passed away in 1966, he was cremated. However, the rumor that he was frozen was so persistent that his family opened the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco in 2009. According to his daughter, Diane Disney Miller, “Other kids would say to my kids, ‘Your grandfather is frozen, isn’t he?’ And I couldn’t let that stand.” Plus, if he had been frozen, don’t you think they would have unfrozen him for the premiere of the movie *Frozen*? That would have been quite the publicity stunt!
**Misconception #2:** Disney is buried underneath the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.
While we can’t know for sure, his family claims that he was cremated and his ashes were placed in Glendale, California, at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. So, let’s put this urban legend to rest.
**Misconception #3:** Walt Disney designed Mickey Mouse.
It turns out that Walt didn’t draw Mickey all that much. After he went into business for himself in 1928, he came up with the idea for a mouse character, but Mickey was designed by Walt’s partner, Ub Iwerks. You could say the character was a collaboration between the two men. Fun Fact: Mickey was originally named Mortimer Mouse.
**Misconception #4:** Mickey Mouse was named after Mickey Rooney.
This is an interesting myth because it was Rooney himself who claimed it to be true. He said that he was playing a character named Mickey McGuire when he met Walt at Warner Bros. studio, which prompted Walt to name the character after him. However, it was actually Walt’s wife, Lillian, who suggested the name “Mickey” instead of “Mortimer.” It’s possible that she could have been inspired by Rooney, but it’s hard to believe considering Rooney was working for Warner Brothers at the time, and Disney had his own studio.
**Misconception #5:** Disney animators based Tinkerbell on Marilyn Monroe.
People tend to believe this because the film came out around the time that Marilyn Monroe was becoming very popular. However, the animators actually hired a model named Margaret Kelly to base Tinkerbell on. It took her six months of work to pose for the film, and she acted out all of Tinkerbell’s motions.
**Misconception #6:** The Disney logo is Walt’s actual signature.
Walt’s real signature didn’t look like the logo. While he was alive, a few Disney employees were authorized to sign Walt’s autographs. The logo that later emerged appears to be a fancier version of the signatures that various employees had attempted. An authentic Walt Disney autograph that looks like the logo has yet to be uncovered.
**Misconception #7:** The word “SEX” can be seen in *The Lion King*.
There’s a scene in the film where Simba lays down, and some dust flies off a cliff. If you look closely, it looks like the dust spells out “S-E-X” for a moment. The film’s animators have claimed that it was supposed to look like “S-F-X,” short for “special effects.” You can decide for yourself whether you believe them.
**Misconception #8:** You can see Disney’s face in the Haunted Mansion.
There’s a bust that slightly resembles him in the graveyard scene of the Haunted Mansion. However, that man is Thurl Ravenscroft, who you might know as the voice of Tony the Tiger for fifty years. Although Disney and Ravenscroft had similar mustaches, it could be some sort of tribute.
**Misconception #9:** The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland was shut down due to a guest’s heart attack.
There’s an urban legend that the Haunted Mansion opened in 1962, then a guest rode it and had a heart attack, leading to the ride being shut down until 1969. While it’s true that the ride’s opening was postponed, it wasn’t for that reason. Other events, like Disney’s passing, got in the way, and the building hadn’t even been completed by 1962.
**Misconception #10:** No one dies at Disney Parks.
The story goes that anytime there’s a serious medical emergency at a Disney park, that person is rushed outside the gates, so no one is ever declared dead at a park. However, there have been numerous declared deaths there, including some from a 1984 plane crash in the EPCOT parking lot. It’s not really preventable, even with that Disney magic.
Thanks for watching Misconceptions on Mental Floss on YouTube, which is made with the help of all these nice people. If you have a topic for an upcoming Misconceptions episode that you’d like to see, leave it in the comments. See you next week! Bye!
—
Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Disney – A major entertainment company known for its animated films and theme parks. – Walt Disney created a world of magic and imagination that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Walt – Referring to Walt Disney, the founder of the Disney company and a pioneer in the animation industry. – Walt Disney’s vision and creativity led to the creation of iconic characters like Mickey Mouse.
Mouse – A small rodent, but in the context of Disney, often refers to Mickey Mouse, a famous cartoon character. – Mickey Mouse, with his cheerful personality, became the symbol of Disney’s success in animation.
Tinkerbell – A fictional fairy character from Disney’s “Peter Pan,” known for her magical abilities and sparkling personality. – Tinkerbell’s enchanting presence adds a touch of magic to the story of Peter Pan.
Animators – Artists who create animated films by drawing or using computer technology to bring characters to life. – The animators at Disney worked tirelessly to produce the stunning visuals in “The Lion King.”
Haunted – In history and performing arts, often refers to a place believed to be visited by ghosts or spirits. – The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland is a popular attraction that combines spooky history with entertaining performances.
Mansion – A large, impressive house, often used in stories and films as a setting for dramatic events. – The grand mansion in the play served as the backdrop for the unfolding family drama.
Myths – Traditional stories or legends that explain natural phenomena or cultural beliefs, often involving gods or heroes. – Ancient Greek myths have inspired countless plays and movies with their tales of adventure and morality.
Premiere – The first public performance or showing of a play, film, or other work of art. – The premiere of the new historical drama was attended by many famous actors and directors.
Family – A group of related individuals, often central to stories in history and performing arts, representing themes of love, conflict, and unity. – The play explored the complex relationships within a family during a pivotal moment in history.
