Breaking news
Ron Dominguez – one of Disney’s internal executives, literally – died.
Dominguez, also known as “Mr. Disneyland”, passed away Friday … according to the Disneyland Alumni Club. The cause of death was not revealed, but the guy’s rich history with Casa do Rato was … and his roots go back to where the park really started.
An official “Disney legend”, the RD family was one of the original owners of several acres of land and orange groves that Walt Disney and Co. bought in the 1950s to build what is now known as Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, CA .
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The story continues … Walt in fact, he turned Dominguez’s two-story family home into one of the original Disneyland administration buildings into a backlot on the park’s grounds, and not only that – but Dominguez stayed there and started working for them as one of the first cast members.
The guy started working as a ticket collector and became familiar with each attraction. He rose through the ranks of the company over the years, until he became the head of park operations in 1970. It was not long before he became the vice president of Disneyland and, later, in the 90s … the vice – executive chairman of Walt Disney’s West Coast attractions, before retiring from Disney in 94. Talk about a Cinderella story, huh?!?
Dominguez is credited as an integral part of negotiations to build Disney California Adventure – the park opposite Disneyland, which is seen as more for adults – and was a steamroller in the Orange County / SoCal business world. He was named a Legend in 2000, and even has his own window on Main Street (close to where his OG home remained intact). It’s safe to say … Disneyland wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Ron and his family.
He survived for his wife, Betty, with whom he was married for decades. The Disneyland Alumni Club says a small family gathering is expected due to COVID restrictions.
Ron was 85 years old.
REST IN PEACE