Two
Statues of Walt and Mickey
At the Disneyland
Resort the two most photographed things in the parks are the two statues of
Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. The two statues are different and have a
different ‘message’ to share.
The Partners
Statue in the Central Hub of Disneyland has Sleeping Beauties Castle behind it.
The Partners statues has older Walt Disney holding the hand of his friend and
partner, Mickey Mouse. Walt’s free hand is outstretched and he is pointing town
Main Street. I can almost hear Walt telling Mickey, “Look at all that we've accomplished
Mickey!” For many years now these two partners have stood together looking at
the Magic they made together. I know even the oldest of Disney fans will stop
and look and maybe even cry a little.
Over at Disney California
Adventure the new Storytellers statue was commissioned and made for the central
end of Buena Vista Street. This statue is of a young Walt having just arrived
in Hollywood. His hat is set back a bit and you can see an optimistic smile on
his face. His jacket is tossed over his shoulder unneeded in the California
sunshine. On top of Walt’s cardboard suitcase, upended at his side, stands an
early Pie Eyed Mickey Mouse ready to make the world laugh.
Together these two
statues create bookends for Walt’s life.
The Partners statue
shows Walt looking back at what he had accomplished. Walt is standing there
with his partner Mickey happy at the joy he had brought the world through his life’s
work. You can see the pride and happiness at all he has done.
Made second yet
showing Walt at a younger age is the Storytellers Statue. This statue tells the
story of Walt as he arrived in Hollywood, Ca at the age of 22. Even though he
arrived broke, having suffered his third financial setback in his still short
life he was optimistic and hopeful, looking forward to what would come in the
future. In his face you can see the dreams, his hopes and imagination. Mickey
is beside him yet in reality Mickey was not yet there. Mickey was waiting to
come to life just five years later. Yet that hopeful, funny little mouse was
there in Walt’s playful fertile mind. Not Mickey Mouse exactly but a playful
little character full of personality.
I love both of
these statues. Partners Walt is the Walt of my childhood, the Uncle Walt I saw
on TV every week telling me what amazing stories would be coming next. This
Walt brings out the nostalgic part of me. This Walt brings out the feeling of
being a little child safe and comfortable.
The Storytellers statue
brings out an entirely different set of feelings. I see Walt as a young man
excited and hopeful ready to work and work hard to succeed. I see the playful
smile and the silly Pie Eyed Mickey waiting to come out of his fertile mind.
Storytellers gets me excited and stirs me to be creative and take chances. The “anything
is possible if you have courage and conviction” attitude shown in his face and
stance is infectious.
Together these two
statues remind me that if you have a dream and are willing to do the work you
can achieve anything. Storytellers shows me the dreamer while Partners shows me
the pride and pleasure of seeing your dreams come true. Thank you Walt Disney for
giving me the encouragement to dream. Thank you Disney Company and the
designers of the statues for sharing them.
I hope you will be
encouraged to dream and not let people tell you that your dreams are wrong. I
pray you will find the courage and strength to stick with your dreams and see
them come true.
