The Walt Disney Company was founded in 1923. In the century since then, Disney has given the world countless hours of joy and excitement, fascinating worlds to explore, and charismatic characters to love or hate. How much do you know about Walt Disney the man and the Wonderful World he has shared with us? Take this quiz, be our guest, and share your knowledge.
1: Who was the first Disney cartoon character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
Mickey received his star in 1978, and he was the first cartoon character from any studio to be so honored. Other animated characters with stars on the famous sidewalk, whether Disney or not, include Snow White, Woody Woodpecker, Big Bird, Kermit the Frog, Donald Duck, Winnie the Pooh, and many more.
2: Which Disney movie was known as “Disney’s Folly” before its release and box office success in 1937?
People close to Walt Disney were skeptical about his Snow White movie, calling it “Disney’s Folly.” Even Disney’s wife said, “No one’s ever gonna pay a dime to see a dwarf picture.” Luckily for us, Disney stuck with his vision. He even mortgaged his house to finance the project.
3: Who is the only member of the Disney Princess franchise based on a real person?
As of 2020, there are 12 official Disney Princesses. Either they are royal by birth or marriage, or they are considered to have princess status based on their heroism. Elsa and Anna of Frozen fame are not part of the Disney Princess franchise, perhaps because they both became queens or perhaps because they are less focused on romance than the other princesses.
4: In The Princess and the Frog, who is Tiana’s love interest?
Naveen is a prince from the fictional country Maldonia. The country’s name is a portmanteau of Maldives and Macedonia. Naveen is the only Disney Prince whose two parents appear in his film.
5: In the movie Up, what is the name of the place Ellie always wanted to visit?
Ellie always wanted to visit Paradise Falls, and her husband Carl ultimately fulfilled her dream years later. The fictional Paradise Falls is based on the real Angel Falls in Venezuela.
6: Can you guess which Disney character is named for an Apollo astronaut?
Buzz Lightyear is named in honor of Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, the second person who walked on the Moon. Aldrin got the nickname when his little sister couldn’t pronounce the word “brother” and said “buzzer” instead. In 1988, Aldrin had his name legally changed to Buzz.
7: You’ve heard of EPCOT at Disney World, but do you know what EPCOT stands for?
Although EPCOT was inspired by Walt Disney himself, he did not live to see it open to the public in 1971. The iconic geodesic sphere in EPCOT contains Spaceship Earth, a ride that lets passengers travel through time.
8: In the song Friend Like Me from Aladdin, what line follows “Life is your restaurant”?
A maître d’ is a head waiter. Comedian and actor Robin Williams performed this song as the Genie in the 1992 version of Aladdin. He improvised hours and hours of dialog, which editors later pieced together for the best storytelling and comedic flow.
9: Which of these countries does NOT have a Disney theme park?
France has Disneyland Paris with two parks, China has the Shanghai Disney Resort with the Shanghai Disneyland Park, and Japan has the Tokyo Disney Resort with two parks. Germany does not have a Disney theme park, but, believe it or not, you can book a nine-day tour of the country through Adventures by Disney.
10: Do you remember the name of Jack Sparrow’s pirate ship in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies?
Originally, it was a merchant ship called the Wicked Wench. After the ship sank, Captain Jack Sparrow struck a deal with Davy Jones to salvage it. He rechristened the ship the Black Pearl, painted it black, and hoisted black sails.
11: This is a tough one: Who is Chernabog?
Chernabog is a demon from the 1940 movie Fantasia, in the Night on Bald Mountain storyline. He is based on the Night God from Slavic mythology who is also known as Czernobog, Tchernobog, and other similar names. Chernabog a member of the Disney Villains franchise.
12: Can you name the real-world castle that inspired the look of Cinderella’s castle and Sleeping Beauty’s castle?
Just visit or check out a photo of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany—you could easily imagine Cinderella or Princess Aurora living there. Similarly, in Aladdin, the Sultan’s Palace in Agrabah was inspired by the Taj Mahal in Agra. Also, Prince Eric’s castle in The Little Mermaid looks like Chillon Castle in Montreux, Switzerland.
13: In 1991’s Beauty and the Beast, what is the one physical characteristic of Beast that retained its human form after he was cursed?
When he’s cursed, the Beast is a combination of many animals. For instance, he has the body of a bear, the horns of a buffalo, and the tail of a wolf. Only his blue eyes retain their human appearance, to remind us that he is a man in a beast's body.
14: Who is the mysterious other brother of Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie?
Did you even know about this fourth nephew? In early Disney Duck comics, the artists accidentally drew a fourth nephew a few times, and they unofficially called him “Phooey.” Decades later, in 1999, a comic story called “Much Ado About Phooey” offered a strange explanation for Phooey’s occasional existence, which involved a phenomenon called spontaneous cell division.
15: Can you name the first Disney film that was not adapted from a pre-existing story?
The Lion King is Disney’s first film based on an original storyline (although it nods toward Hamlet just a bit). The movie was released in 1994. Before it became The Lion King, proposed titles included The King of the Kalahari and King of the Jungle.
16: Do you know what Disney transportation system debuted in 2019?
At Walt Disney World in Florida, the Disney Skyliner opened on September 29, 2019. It connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT to several Disney Resort hotels. Some of the gondolas are decorated with iconic characters and scenes, and each can seat up to ten passengers.
17: In a beloved song from Mary Poppins, what does a spoonful of sugar do?
“A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down / In the most delightful way.” One of the songwriters, Robert Sherman, was inspired to write the lyrics after hearing that his children received their polio vaccine on sugar cubes.
18: Can you sort five Disney Princesses by age, from youngest to oldest?
Snow White is 14,Aurora is 16, Belle is 17, Rapunzel is 18, and Cinderella is 19. Snow White is the youngest of all 12 official Disney Princesses.
19: Can you name the only Disney main character who does not speak in their feature film?
Dumbo never says a word in his eponymous movie. At 64 minutes, Dumbo is Disney’s shortest feature film. Bonus question: Can you name Dumbo’s sidekick? He’s Timothy Q. Mouse, of course.
20: What is the iconic statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse holding hands called?
Partners is the famous sentimental statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. They're holding hands and exuding happiness. The statue is a landmark at both Disneyland and Disney World. On the statue, Disney’s tie has the monogram “STR,” which stands for Smoke Tree Ranch, the location of his Palm Springs vacation home. Walt Disney was the first to give Mickey Mouse a voice, starting in 1928.
