[ddoll]

Come on....Ub Iwerks just HAS to be a made up name..like I.P. Freeley, or Jose Kenussee, or Seymour Butts.

[tragic312]

Why did Disney choose to make so many fairy tales? Did Walt love them, or did they lend themselves well to animation?

Robert G., Brooklyn, NY

When you select a well known fairy tale to adapt, you already have a built-in audience for your film. People who know the story are often eager to see how Disney would present it.

[tragic312]

When Cinderella and her Prince finally wed, which character leads the coach?

Major the horse.

[tragic312]

Was there ever a Disney wildlife TV show? I seem to remember one.

Linda D., Little Rock, AK

Disney had a wildlife series, called "True-Life Adventures," mostly made in the 1950s, but these were made for theaters. Some of them were shown on the Disney television series, and many additional shows made for television featured animals.

[tragic312]

What Disney restaurant won four stars from the California Restaurant Writers' Association?

Napa Rose at Disneyland Resort snared four stars for both its food and wine cellar at the 2002 awards.

[tragic312]

When was the statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse at Disneyland made? Was it there for Park opening? Did Walt model for it?

Richard R., Galveston, TX

The statue is called Partners, and it was created by sculptor Blaine Gibson to commemorate the 65th birthday of Mickey Mouse in 1993. The sculptor used photographs of Walt Disney for his reference. Identical statues were installed later at other Disney Parks.

[tragic312]

In "Finding Nemo," what is the one word the seagulls can say?

The seagulls say "Mine! Mine!"

[tragic312]

Did Disney ever collaborate with other movie studios?

Sheila G., Ann Arbor, MI

Back in the 1930s, Disney made cartoon inserts for a couple of Fox and MGM movies, but actual co-productions of movies did not come until the 1980s, when we partnered with Paramount on "Popeye" and "Dragonslayer." Buena Vista Distribution Co. occasionally distributes films made by other companies.

[tragic312]

In what existing Disney Theme Park attraction can you encounter the fabled yeti?

Guests who ride the Matterhorn bobsleds at Disneyland come face to face with the abominable snowman.

[Tinkerbelle67]

People lock their keys in their car 55,000 times a year in WDW.

[tragic312]

Why were the Nine Old Men called that? Weren't they pretty young when the name started?

Amanda R.,
Fort Wayne, IN

President Franklin D. Roosevelt called his Supreme Court his "Nine Old Men"; Walt said, "I have my Nine Old Men too," referring to nine key animators he had at the time.

[tragic312]

Who's the poultry prima donna we see in several Disney comic books and comic strips?

The chicken diva is Clara Cluck, aspiring opera singer. She appears in a number of stories, usually as Daisy Duck's pal.

[tragic312]

Are there some movies that Walt wanted to make, that were abandoned in the concept stage?

Norma D., Hollywood, FL

As with all movie companies, there are dozens of projects every year which are considered for production, but never progress any farther than the talking stage. For example, Walt Disney wanted to make a musical "Rainbow Road to Oz" film, and animated versions of "Hiawatha" and "Don Quixote."

[tragic312]

How many Oscars® did "Pinocchio" win?

Two -- for best original score and best song ("When You Wish Upon a Star").

[tragic312]

I've heard that Walt Kelly, who drew the "Pogo" comic strip, worked for Disney for a while. What projects did he do?

Richard K., Baltimore, MD

Kelly worked at the Disney Studio from 1936 to 1941, starting as a story man, and later doing some animation of Mickey Mouse in "The Little Whirlwind" and "The Nifty Nineties." He also aided Ward Kimball in a little animation in the "Pastoral Symphony" sequence of "Fantasia."