Dancer Marge Champion, who served as a live-action reference model for many of Disney’s early animated feature films, including the title character of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, has passed away at 101. The daughter of Ernest Belcher, a ballet coach who taught such iconic performers as Shirley Temple, Gwen Verdon, and Cyd Charisse, … Read more
As part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Appreciation Week this year, we decided to bring back full presentations from last year’s WDWNT event, Stage 89! All 3 full-length presentations from Disney Imagineers and Legends premiered on YouTube throughout the week as part of our WDWNT Live! programming, but we’ve decided to round them all up for you … Read more
Kau’i Brandt, the beloved Hawaiian cultural representative and former dancer from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort better known as “Aunty Kau’i”, has passed away. 88-year-old Anake “Aunty” Kau’I Brandt was a Disney legend at the Polynesian, entertaining guests with hula dances and hand-made leis for over 30 years. The Hawaii-native was born in 1932 and grew … Read more
Disney Legend Bob Matheison, a key figure in Walt Disney World’s history, from the development process to serving as Director of Operations for the Magic Kingdom at its 1971 opening to Executive Vice President of Parks for the resort in 1987, has passed away at the age of 85. From D23’s Disney Legends page for … Read more