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Disney Legends facts for kids

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Disney Legends
Disney Legends logo.svg
Presented by The Walt Disney Company
First awarded 1987; 38 years ago (1987)

The Disney Legends award is a special honor given by The Walt Disney Company. It's like a Hall of Fame for people who have made a huge difference to Disney's history and success. This award started in 1987.

For many years, the award was given out every year in a private ceremony. Since 2009, it has been given every two years during Disney's big fan event, the D23 Expo. In 2024, the awards ceremony moved to a bigger place called the Honda Center. It was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and could be watched online the next day on Disney+.

What Makes Someone a Disney Legend?

Disney Legends Plaza - Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)
Examples of the Disney Legends plaques: living recipients with handprints and the award's insignia for posthumous recipients.

A special group of people chooses who gets the Disney Legends award. This group includes Disney leaders, historians, and experts.

When someone becomes a Disney Legend, they get a bronze plaque. If they are still living when they receive the award, their handprints and signature are on the plaque. If they are honored after they have passed away, the plaque shows the award's special symbol. These plaques are displayed in a place called Legends Plaza. This plaza is at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.

The Special Award Statuette

The Disney Legends award statuette was designed by an artist named Andrea Favilli. It is made of bronze by hand each year. The award shows Mickey Mouse's arm holding a wand with a star on top.

There are also two very large copies of the award statuette. One is 14 feet tall and stands in Legends Plaza in Burbank. Another 14-foot sculpture is outside the entrance of Disneyland Paris.

Disney explains that the award has three important parts:

  • The Spiral represents imagination and new ideas.
  • The Hand shows skill, hard work, and being good at something.
  • The Wand and the Star mean magic. This is the special spark that happens when imagination and skill come together to create something amazing.

Who Are the Disney Legends?

Disneylegendsnametag
The nametag given to Disney Legends

1987 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2024

Blue ribbon = awarded posthumously

1980s

Class of 1987

Class of 1989

Most of these people were part of Disney's famous "Nine Old Men" animation team.

1990s

Class of 1990

Class of 1991

Class of 1992

Class of 1993

Class of 1994

Class of 1995

Class of 1996

  • Rex Allen, Film & Television
  • X Atencio, Animation & Imagineering
  • Betty Lou Gerson, Animation—Voice
  • Bill Justice, Animation & Imagineering

Class of 1997

  • Roberto de Leonardis, Film Blue ribbon
  • Joe Potter, Attractions Blue ribbon
  • Paul Winkler, Character Merchandise Blue ribbon

Class of 1998

Class of 1999

  • Tim Allen, Television, Film & Animation—Voice
  • Mary Costa, Animation—Voice
  • Norm Ferguson, Animation Blue ribbon
  • Dick Nunis, Attractions

2000s

Class of 2000

  • Harriet Burns, Imagineering
  • Joyce Carlson, Animation & Imagineering
  • Ron Dominguez, Parks & Resorts
  • Dick Jones, Animation—Voice
  • Ruthie Tompson, Animation

Class of 2001

Class of 2002

This year, all the people honored were from Europe. The ceremony was held at the Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris.

Class of 2003

Class of 2004

  • Tim Conway, Film
  • Rolly Crump, Imagineering
  • Alice Davis, Imagineering
  • Karen Dotrice, Film & Television
  • Matthew Garber, Film Blue ribbon
  • Bob Gurr, Imagineering

Class of 2005

This year, all the people honored were connected to Disney Parks and Resorts or Walt Disney Imagineering. This was to celebrate Disneyland's 50th anniversary.

  • Milt Albright, Parks & Resorts
  • James Cora, Parks & Resorts
  • Art Linkletter, Parks & Resorts
  • Steve Martin, Parks & Resorts
  • Tom Nabbe, Parks & Resorts

Class of 2006

Class of 2007

Class of 2008

Class of 2009

2010s

Class of 2011

Class of 2013

Class of 2015

Class of 2017

Class of 2019

Christina Aguilera 2019 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony D23 EXPO 2019 (51440742748)
Christina Aguilera at the 2019 induction ceremoy

2020s

Class of 2022

Name Category Ref.
Anthony Anderson Film & Television
Kristen Bell Film & Animation—Voice
Chadwick Boseman Blue ribbon Film
Josh Gad Film & Animation—Voice
Jonathan Groff Film & Animation—Voice
Idina Menzel Film & Animation—Voice
Ellen Pompeo Television
Tracee Ellis Ross Television

Class of 2024

Name Category Ref.
Colleen Atwood Costume Design
Angela Bassett Film & Television
James L. Brooks Television
James Cameron Film
Jamie Lee Curtis Film
Miley Cyrus Television & Music
Steve Ditko Blue ribbon Publishing
Harrison Ford Film
Mark Henn Animation
Frank Oz Film & Television
Kelly Ripa Television
Joe Rohde Imagineering
John Williams Music

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Disney Legends para niños

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