Disney Legend and former EVP of attractions Ron Dominguez known as’ Mr. Disneyland ‘dies at 85
- Ron Dominguez, a Disney legend and former executive vice president of Walt Disney Attractions, passed away at 85 on Saturday
- Dominguez leaves his 41-year-old wife, Betty, whom he met at Disneyland
- Known as’ Mr. Disneyland, “he joked earlier, his childhood home was” located very close to the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean and Café Orleans today ”
- From July 1955, Dominguez got a summer job at Anaheim amusement park as a ticket buyer at age 20.
- In 1974, the businessman became Disneyland’s vice president and, in 1990, Walt Disney’s executive vice president of attractions for the west coast.
- Dominguez was later sworn in as a Disney legend in 2000 and has a window on Main Street
- He was reportedly hospitalized for the past six weeks after a fall that 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.
“Sad news for the start of the new year,” announced the Disneyland Alumni Club on Facebook. ‘Ron was a member of the original Disneyland cast, even more than the 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 joked earlier, his childhood home was’ located very close to the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean and Café Orleans. ‘
Sad news: Ron Dominguez, a Disney legend and former executive vice president of Walt Disney Attractions, passed away at 85 on Saturday
In addition, the giant palm tree at the entrance to the Jungle Cruise had been a gift to his grandparents, who married in the 1890s.
Beginning in July 1955, Dominguez landed a summer job at Anaheim amusement park as a ticket buyer at age 20, before being promoted to ‘temporary supervisor for Main Street USA’ in one year.
Throughout his career, he held various supervisory positions throughout the park, until he reached the position of director of operations in 1970.
In 1974, the businessman became vice president of Disneyland and, in 1990, won the title of executive vice president of attractions for Walt Disney for the west coast.
Rest in peace: known as’ Mr. Disneyland, ‘Dominguez was a member of the original Disneyland cast and grew up on the ’10 acres of orange groves that Walt Disney bought for Disneyland in 1954’, according to a Disneyland Alumni Facebook post
“He retired from The Walt Disney Company in 1994 after 39 years,” according to Deadline.
In 2000, Dominguez was named a Disney legend and won a showcase on Main Street.
Receiving a ‘window is a significant honor’, according to Scott Fleener, one of the first to be informed of Dominguez’s death on Friday.
Great career: in 1974, the businessman became vice president of Disneyland and, in 1990, Walt Disney’s executive vice president of attractions for the west coast
“It is given to someone who has made a major contribution to what the resort is today,” the president of the Order of the Red Scarf told the Orange County Register.
Fleener also revealed that his friend was at the hospice for the past six weeks after a fall, in which he broke his hip.
“It was very sad to see him so fragile, especially because he was so vibrant,” recalls Fleener, before noting that Dominguez had recently shared some fun trivia about Disneyland at a lunch in October.
Dominguez leaves his 41-year-old wife, Betty, whom he met at Disneyland.
The happiest place on earth: it was later introduced as a Disney legend in 2000 and has a window on the main street