Disney Legend Ron Dominguez known as 'Mr. Disneyland' has passed away at 85
Disney Legend and former EVP of Attractions Ron Dominguez known as ‘Mr. Disneyland’ passes away at 85
- Ron Dominguez, a Disney Legend and former executive vice president of Walt Disney Attractions, passed away at 85 on Saturday
- Dominguez is survived by his wife of 41 years, Betty, who he met at Disneyland
- Known as ‘Mr. Disneyland,’ he previously joked his childhood home was ‘located right about where the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean and Cafe Orleans are today’
- Starting in July 1955, Dominguez took a summer job at the Anaheim amusement park as a ticket taker at age 20
- In 1974, the businessman became Vice President of Disneyland and, in 1990, then the executive Vice President, Walt Disney Attractions for the West Coast
- Dominguez was, later, inducted as a Disney Legend in 2000 and has a window on Main Street
- He was reportedly in hospice for the ‘past six weeks following a fall in which he broke his hip, according to the Orange County Register
Ron Dominguez, a Disney Legend and former executive vice president of Walt Disney Attractions, passed away at 85 on Saturday.
‘Some sad news to start the new year,’ the Disneyland Alumni Club announced on Facebook. ‘Ron was an original Disneyland Cast Member, even more so than others. His family owned and lived on 10 acres of orange groves that were purchased by Walt Disney for Disneyland in 1954.’
Known as ‘Mr. Disneyland,’ he previously joked his childhood home was ‘located right about where the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean and Cafe Orleans are today.’
Sad news: Ron Dominguez, a Disney Legend and former executive vice president of Walt Disney Attractions, passed away at 85 on Saturday
Additionally, the giant palm tree by the entrance of the Jungle Cruise had been a gift to his grandparents, who wed in the 1890s.
Starting in July 1955, Dominguez took a summer job at the Anaheim amusement park as a ticket taker at age 20, before he was promoted to ‘temporary supervisor of Main Street U.S.A’ within a year.
Over his career, he held various supervisor positions throughout the park, until he landed the role of director of operations in 1970.
In 1974, the businessman became Vice President of Disneyland, and, in 1990 earned the title of executive Vice President, Walt Disney Attractions for the West Coast.
Rest in peace: Known as ‘Mr. Disneyland,’ Dominguez was an original Disneyland Cast Member and grew up on the ’10 acres of orange groves that were purchased by Walt Disney for Disneyland in 1954,’ according to a Facebook post by the Disneyland Alumni
‘He retired from The Walt Disney Company in 1994 after 39 years,’ according to Deadline.
In 2000, Dominguez was inducted as a Disney Legend and was gifted a window on Main Street.
Receiving a ‘window is a significant honor,’ according to Scott Fleener, who was one of the first to be informed of Dominguez’s passing on Friday.
Big career: In 1974, the businessman became Vice President of Disneyland and, in 1990, then the executive Vice President, Walt Disney Attractions for the West Coast
‘It’s given to someone who made a large contribution to what the resort is today,’ the president of the Order of the Red Handkerchief told the Orange County Register.
Fleener also revealed his friend was in hospice for the ‘past six weeks following a fall, in which he broke his hip.
‘It was very sad to see him so frail, especially because he was so vibrant,’ Fleener recalled, before noting Dominguez had recently shared some fun trivia about Disneyland at a luncheon in October.
Dominguez is survived by his wife of 41 years, Betty, who he met at Disneyland.
The Happiest Place On Earth: He was, later, inducted as a Disney Legend in 2000 and has a window on Main Street
