A new bronze statue featuring Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse has been unveiled at Hong Kong Disneyland. This first-of-its-kind tribute, titled Dream Makers, celebrates The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary and joins other iconic Disney statues worldwide.
Located in Fantasyland, between the Castle of Magical Dreams and Cinderella Carousel, this statue captures Walt in a reflective moment. He gestures toward the carousel and the castle, while Mickey looks at him with admiration.
A Tribute to Walt’s Inspiration
The Dream Makers statue is inspired by Walt Disney’s visits to Griffith Park’s Merry-Go-Round in Los Angeles, where he imagined a place for families to have fun together. While this moment occurred earlier in Walt’s life, the statue depicts him as an older visionary, reflecting on the legacy he built and the endless possibilities ahead.
Designed by Walt Disney Imagineering artists, including Scott Goddard, Patrick Simmons, and Erma Yazzie, this sculpture blends artistry and history. Imagineers from Hong Kong and California worked closely with the Walt Disney Animation Studios Creative Legacy team to bring this vision to life.
More Walt Disney Statues Arriving This Year
Dream Makers is not the only new Walt Disney statue debuting in 2023. In December, EPCOT will unveil Walt the Dreamer at Dreamers Point in World Celebration.
This statue will depict Walt in his sixties, the era when he envisioned EPCOT and the Florida Project. His relaxed pose symbolizes his optimism for the future and the endless magic of imagination.
When World Celebration opens in December, guests can sit beside Walt and capture a memorable photo at Dreamers Point.
The Legacy of Walt Disney Statues
Walt Disney’s first statue with Mickey Mouse, known as Partners, debuted in 1993 in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland for Mickey’s birthday. Sculpted by Disney Legend Blaine Gibson, it shows Walt at the age he was when Disneyland opened in 1955.
This beloved statue was later installed at:
- Magic Kingdom Park – June 1995
- Tokyo Disneyland – April 1998
- Legends Plaza (Burbank) – December 2001
- Walt Disney Studios Park (Paris) – July 2002
In 2012, the Storytellers statue was introduced at Disney California Adventure. It features a younger Walt Disney, as he might have appeared in 1923, alongside a Mickey Mouse from that decade. This statue, designed by Rick Terry and Ray Spencer, also appears at Tokyo DisneySea and Shanghai Disneyland.
Another tribute, Sharing the Magic, honors Roy O. Disney sitting on a bench with Minnie Mouse. It debuted in 1999 at Magic Kingdom and later appeared at Legends Plaza and Tokyo Disneyland.
A Centennial Tribute to Walt’s Legacy
Dream Makers is a fitting addition to Walt Disney’s legacy, celebrating his creative vision and storytelling impact. As part of Disney’s 100th anniversary, this statue is a timeless tribute to the man who brought dreams to life.
To see this stunning new statue, visit Hong Kong Disneyland’s Fantasyland, where Walt and Mickey’s story continues to inspire.
