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The Walt Disney Family Museum

Welcome to the Walt Disney Family Museum Mailbox. For your enjoyment, we present a selection of letters from Guests to the curators. (Some of them may, of course, be edited for length.)

Hello!
I have been doing a lot of research over the past 2 years on famous folks with learning differences to use with my own students (as a way to encourage them with positive role models). I have been researching intensely, yet without much luck, to find an exact quote regarding Walt's alleged learning disability. Many, many websites list him as having a learning disability, but I have not found reference to it in bios. Is this true?

Thank you very much!

Catherine

 

Dear Catherine,

We thank you for writing us to get a clarification on this issue. We are aware that some sources have indicated that Walt Disney had dyslexia. The reason you have been unable to find any mention of this in any of his biographies is that there is no reason to believe it is true.

Certainly, when Walt was a young man, there was far less awareness of learning disabilities than is the case today, and so it's impossible to absolutely verify that Walt had no learning disabilities. However, it is clearly the case that he was able to read quickly, fluidly, and with remarkable understanding all his life. He spent many, many hours reading scripts and editing them, and there were no impediments to his doing so. He was a very quick study, and easily retained information he received both visually and orally. And he was unusually capable of communicating that information to others. All that, we know to be true. As a result, it is difficult to believe that he suffered from any learning disabilities.

Thank you very much for writing.

best,
Katherine and Richard Greene
Museum Curators


Hi!

I have been to the Disney Studios in Florida and have spent plenty of time combing through all the displays in One Man's Dream. In that attraction, Walt's original office is on display. On two occasions, I have asked the Cast Member in charge to tell me who was the person in the picture that was hanging in Walt's office. It appears to be a priest in a cassock. Neither Cast Member could answer the question. Now reading here, I see that Walt got his middle name from the pastor. Is that
who is hanging in his office?

Thanks,

Joe

 

Dear Joe,

Actually, although we were very familiar with the photograph you mention, we didn't know the answer to your question, either; but we knew where to find it. Dave Smith, who runs the Disney Archives has identified the photo
as Maurice Chevalier, in costume for "Monkeys Go Home," with an autographed inscription for Walt.

We hope this helps, and that you will continue to visit the Museum.

best,
Katherine and Richard Greene
Museum Curators


Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

I heard that Mr. Walt Disney and the founder of McDonalds (I don't know if it was Richard McDonald, Maurice McDonald, Neil Fox, Ray Kroc or who ever...) were good friends during World War II. Is that true? And who was it?

Thanks for your answer,

Jan

 

Dear Jan,

Walt Disney trained for the Red Cross Ambulance Corps, in which he served after the end of World War I (not II), with a company in Lakeville, Connecticut. Ray Kroc, who founded the McDonald's chain was also with that company. They certainly would have known one another; though we have no evidence that they were close friends.

We hope this helps.

best,
Katherine and Richard Greene
Museum Curators


Dear Museum Curators,
I was wondering if Walt was a baseball fan?

 

Dear Museum Guest,

Thanks for writing us at the Walt Disney Family Museum, at Waltdisney.org. To the best of our knowledge Walt was not an avid fan of professional baseball; though in the early days in the studio he did participate in baseball games with staffers. We can tell you -- though you didn't ask -- that his brother Roy once commented that he could never throw a ball with much reliability.

best,
Katherine and Richard Greene
Museum Curators

 


Dear Museum Curators,

What was Walt's favorite movie?

Dear Museum Guest,

When we get questions about Walt's favorite movie -- or his favorite attraction at Disneyland, or his favorite cartoon -- we're always a bit stymied. The fact is, through Walt's life, he was always most enthusiastic about the project he was working on at that moment. He never really commented on his favorite movie of all time.

That said, everyone present reports that he really loved his work on "Mary Poppins," was terribly proud of the film when it was finished, and was involved in every element of its production. If we were forced to guess which was his favorite, then, "Mary Poppins" would be our answer. But remember, that's only a guess.

best,
Katherine and Richard Greene
Museum Curators


Dear Museum Curators,

On the museum page I read that the original show aired was being re-broadcast on A&E but if we missed it. I have gone to the Museum Gift Shop site at least 5 times in the past few weeks and can find NO WHERE to purchase that video. Help finding it would be appreciated. I did see the original showing of Walt's story but wanted to have a tape since I enjoyed it so much. Please help me find a way to purchase the video.

Thank you.
Peggy

Dear Museum Guests,

When we originally answered Peggy's note, she was absolutely right. We hadn't yet gotten the video into the Museum Gift Shop. We promised Peggy that it would be there within days, and we were true to our word. So, for any visitors interested in purchasing the video, there it is.

best,
Katherine and Richard Greene
Museum Curators

 

We would love to hear from you. We welcome your comments about the museum. Visitors to the site are encouraged to ask any questions they may have about Walt Disney's life. The site's curators will attempt to provide the most authoritative answers possible -- and may consult with Disney experts, including family members, to do so. Please keep your letters brief. We will make every effort to answer your questions about the life of Walt Disney, but you may experience a delay due to the volume of e-mails we receive. We appreciate your patience and look forward to receiving your letters. Click here to send the museum curators an e-mail. From the menu, please select "Walt Disney Family Museum."


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