With 131 movies, Disney’s legacy is hard to forget. Its magical characters and exciting plots have made it the multi-billion dollar company it is today. Let’s dive into why Disney is so successful, together!

History

Walt Disney, Disney’s founder, came to California in 1923, with a passion for drawing and creating. While he was in California he created Alice in Wonderland, his first big break, about a young girl from Kansas. The plan was to make it into a series called Alice Comedies, and a distributor in New York, M. J. Winkle, took up the series. He soon partnered with his brother, Roy, to further the Disney company, and we all know how that went. It was a success, Walt continued the series for four years, before moving onto different projects. The two brothers kept creating for a couple years, and on January 13, 1930 the Mickey Mouse comic strip began. This began the mouse’s famous legacy, and a couple years later, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was created. With his success, came World War Two, hindering their abilities. Walt worked on films in South America, but his team was forced to make military propaganda, and they struggled to come back to their original image post-war. In October of 1949 Walt Disney Music Company formed, followed by WED Enterprises in December of 1952. After the creation of these companies, Disney was able to branch out and create all the films we know and love. 

 Quick Facts

• Avenger’s Endgame is Disney’s highest grossing movie

• Disneyland's 1955 opening was a disaster. Thousands endured the July heat as rides broke, plumbing failed, heels sank into fresh pavement, and restaurants ran out of food.

• The Lion King’s makers found real lion roars too quiet, so the film features tiger roars instead

• Until 1960, Disneyland banned facial hair for employees and visitors—except for Walt Disney and Captain Hook.

• Tiana became Disney’s first left-handed princess at the request of her voice actor, Anika Noni Rose.

• The Little Mermaid features over a million hand painted bubbles.

• At 14, Snow White is the youngest Disney Princess. Seven years her elder, Elsa is the oldest.

• At 16, Walt Disney dropped out of high school to join the Army but was rejected for being underage. He later forged his age to work as a Red Cross ambulance driver in France.

Disney has made a lasting impact on both culture and the economy. In 2022, Walt Disney World contributed over 250,000 jobs and billions of dollars to Florida’s economy, showing its major financial influence. Beyond money, Disney has shaped pop culture with iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and films that influence generations. The company also promotes diversity, such as dubbing films in Māori to help preserve indigenous language Through its movies, theme parks, and cultural initiatives, Disney continues to shape entertainment and inspire people worldwide.