“Partners” Statue – 1993

Created by Blaine Gibson, the “Partners” statue has been replicated in many Disney Parks around the world. It first debuted at Disneyland in 1993 for the 65th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. This statue shows an older Walt Disney holding hands with Mickey and pointing onward.

Gibson said of the statue, “I chose to depict Walt as he was in 1954. I think that was when [he] was in his prime. It was tough trying to match the media image of Walt Disney, the one the public knows, to the real Walt, the one we knew. I think Walt is admiring the park and saying to Mickey, ‘Look what we’ve accomplished together,’ because truly, they were very much a team through it all. ‘Look at all the happy people who have come to visit us today.’”

“Storytellers” Statue – 2012

Debuted at Disney California Adventure in 2012, this bronze statue was designed by Rick Terry and Ray Spencer. While “Partners” shows Walt Disney and Mickey at the prime of Disney’s career, “Storytellers” is focused on the early years around 1923. This statue area has two plaques. On the right side of the statue, it quotes Disney in saying, “We are just getting started.”

On the other side, there is another Disney quote about arriving in California: “It was July 1923. I packed all of my worldly goods — a pair of trousers, a checkered coat, a lot of drawing materials, and the last of the fairy tale reels we had made — in a kind of frayed cardboard suitcase. And with that wonderful audacity of youth, I went to Hollywood, arriving there with just forty dollars. It was a big day, the day I got on that Santa Fe California Limited. I was just free and happy!”

Gardens of Wonder – 2022

Installed for the 30th anniversary of Disneyland Paris in 2022, these metal sculptures are kinetic and move. Each represents a different character and is vibrant and whimsical. Although they were installed for the anniversary over four years ago, they are still currently on display at the park. We are unsure how long they will remain installed.

Gazebo Garden – 2026

As the renewed Walt Disney Studios Park became Disney Adventure World, new gardens arrived as well. One section is The Gazebo Garden, which is styled after an English garden with bronze statues of classic British Disney characters. These include One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Winnie the Pooh, and Peter Pan.

“Dream Makers” – 2023

This statue of Walt Disney sitting beside Mickey on a bench represents the moment when Disney dreamt up Disneyland while watching his daughters ride a merry-go-round. It was installed as part of the Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration. The statue was dedicated on October 16, 2023, on the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company.

There are two plaques beside this statue. On the right is a quote by Disney from the 10th anniversary of Disneyland that reads: “I just want to leave you with this thought, that it’s just been a sort of dress rehearsal and that we’re just getting started.” On the left is an open sketchbook, which symbolizes Disney’s legacy so far and describes the moment he thought up the idea for Disneyland.

Steamboat Willie Fountain – 2016

This bronze statue of Mickey as Steamboat Willie on his boat is designed to look like it is floating on the water from the fountain below. Steam rises from the two steamboat smoke stacks behind Steamboat Willie, who is at the boat’s helm.

“Helmsman Mickey” – 2001

Found in the Cape Cod area of Tokyo DisneySea, this statue of Mickey as a helmsman is an homage to the Gloucester Fishermen’s Memorial in Gloucester, Massachusetts, from 1925. There is also a replica of this “Helmsman Mickey” statue in the atrium aboard the Disney Magic.

“Walt the Dreamer” – 2023

Located in Dreamers Point at EPCOT, “Walt the Dreamer” is a bronze statue shown sitting on a bench just looking at the grounds in front of him. The back of the bench features detailing that emulates the proposed design and layout of Walt’s EPCOT, an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow that would have been an inhabited and functional city as opposed to a theme park. The community was the centerpiece of Walt’s ‘Florida Project’ plans, which were greatly altered after he died in 1966.

“The Cameraman” -1995

Created by father and son Aldo and Andrea Favilli, “The Cameraman” is an homage to the cameramen of the 1930s and 40s in Hollywood. Beneath the bronze statue is a plaque which reads: “…He envisioned dreams that others might share,” from M. Vignali. The original statue was commissioned by Roy E. Disney and is located at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California. Technically, this statue is a replica.

“La Fountaine de Cendrillion” – 1971

Also known as the Cinderella Fountain, this statue of Cinderella with her animal friends can be found behind Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom. This was also designed by Gibson, who created the “Partners” statue. It was designed so that, at a child’s height, Cinderella appears to be wearing the crown shown behind her on the mural.

“Sharing the Magic” – 1999

Finally, Gibson designed this bronze statue of Roy O. Disney sharing a bench with Minnie Mouse. The two are looking at each other. It is located at the top of Main Street along Main Street U.S.A. Gibson is said to have drawn inspiration from Roy O. Disney sitting with early costumed characters.

“Roy is sitting back in the bench which indicates he was there first and Minnie came to him, not that he came up to her to ask why she was sitting down and not working [laughs]. Also he is holding her hand underneath so he is supporting it, just like he always supported Walt’s dreams. Roy was very underrated.”―Blaine Gibson