WALT DISNEY
PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES
An American Hero
This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to celebrate American excellence and recognize a great American hero through the intersection of art, culture, and American history.
Publicity photo of Walt Disney from the Boy Scouts of America.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Walt Disney, seated, examines film with Mickey Mouse perched on his right arm.
Photo credit: Library of Congress
RESOURCES
Videos and Digital Media
American Experience: Walt Disney | Kanopy (3 hours 46 minutes, two parts)
This two-part film examines Disney’s complex life and continuing legacy, featuring rare footage from the Disney vaults, interviews with biographers and historians, as well as the animators and designers who helped turn his dreams into reality. Both an inspiring story and a cautionary tale about the price of ambition, Walt Disney offers an unprecedented look at the man who created a world and built an empire.
Saving Mr. Banks (125 minutes)*
This biographical drama depicts author P. L. Travers’ tragic childhood in rural Australia and shows two weeks of meetings in Los Angeles, when Walt Disney tried to get the film rights to Travers’ Mary Poppins novels.
Walt Before Mickey (107 minutes)*
This biographical drama covers the early life of Walt Disney and shows how he started his first animation studio and later founded The Walt Disney Company.
WD-FM Collections Corner: Disneyland Objects
In this edition of The Walt Disney Family Museum’s video podcast they visit the archives to see a few of the museum’s Disneyland-related artifacts.
WD-FM Mini Musings: And the Oscar® Goes to… Walt Disney
In this episode of The Walt Disney Family Museum’s Mini Musings podcast, the hosts walk the red carpet and highlight Walt Disney’s historical success at the Academy Awards®.
WD-FM Mini Musings: Walt Disney’s Reception Around the World In this edition of The Walt Disney Family Museum’s video podcast the hosts explore Walt Disney’s reception around the world, including in Germany, Italy, and Mexico. They view some of their favorite international awards on display at The Walt Disney Family Museum, the most famous Disneyland visitor that never was, and Walt’s 1935 European trip.
Articles
Bemis, Bethanee. 2017. “How Disney Came to Define What Constitutes the American Experience.” Smithsonian Magazine, January 3, 2017.
Online Exhibit
The Walt Disney Family Museum: Virtual Tour and Museum Highlights (33 minutes) — this app allows audiences to explore The Walt Disney Family Museum virtually. It includes digital media and rare audio from a 1956 interview with Walt Disney. Visitors learn about Walt’s early struggles, his storytelling ideas, and the innovations behind films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
INTRODUCTION
Walt Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer, and entrepreneur. He is best known as the creator of Mickey Mouse and the founder of The Walt Disney Company. Disney was a pioneer in animation and storytelling, helping to create the first full-length animated feature film with synchronized sound and color. His work changed the entertainment industry and shaped popular culture around the world. Walt Disney won many awards during his lifetime, and his films, characters, and theme parks continue to influence generations today.
LESSON PLANS
Multiplane Educator Guide | Walt Disney Family Museum
This educator guide provides detailed information about the Multiplane Camera, one of The Walt Disney Studios’ most important and influential technological developments. It includes background information and descriptions of animation techniques that will help facilitate discussion and inquiry.
Pixar in a Box | Khan Academy
Sponsored by Disney, Pixar in a Box is a collaboration between Pixar Animation Studios and Khan Academy. It provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Pixar artists do their jobs. Lessons include how to animate bouncing balls, build a swarm of robots, and make virtual fireworks explode. Subjects taught in school — math, science, computer science, and humanities — are used every day to create amazing movies at Pixar.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How did Walt Disney help establish the United States as a global leader in animation and entertainment?
- What American values—such as innovation, ambition, or optimism—are reflected in Disney’s films and theme parks?
- Why do you think the U.S. entertainment industry, especially Hollywood, became so influential worldwide in the 20th century?
- How did Disney’s combination of creativity and business innovation strengthen the global reputation of American entertainment?
- How does Disney’s legacy shape how the world views the United States today?
KEY DEFINITIONS
animation
The art of making drawings or images move to tell a story.
animator
A person who creates animated films or cartoons.
entrepreneur
A person who starts and builds a business.
feature-length film
A full movie, usually over one hour long.
founder
A person who starts an organization or company.
iconic character
A very famous fictional character that many people recognize.
innovation
A new idea or way of doing something.
pioneer
One of the first people to do something new.
popular culture
Movies, music, and entertainment that many people enjoy.
theme park
A large park with rides, shows, and attractions based on stories or characters.
Overdrive Resources
Consider organizing discussions, English conversation clubs, scavenger hunts, and displays about the following books and magazines. These programs and displays can also be an opportunity to promote individual eLibraryUSA accounts. Regularly highlight a book or magazine on your social media platforms to generate online discussion and spark interest in eLibraryUSA.
Walt Disney: From Mickey to the Magic Kingdon | OverDrive
Disney World is often called the “happiest place on earth” and the character Mickey Mouse is an iconic character. The Walt Disney Company is one of the largest and most valuable companies in the world. But behind all of that was an ambitious small-town farm boy who failed as often as he succeeded. He finally found worldwide fame – thanks to a cartoon mouse.
Life: 100 Years of Disney | OverDrive
This magazine explores the history of Disney, Walt Disney’s ideas, Disney amusement parks, and Disney movies.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in these links and resources do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. government.
* Post may need to procure these films. Not all films are appropriate for all audiences. Coordinators should preview films before showing them. American Spaces have the right to screen Kanopy films (available through eLibraryUSA) at their American Space if the film has public performance rights. Other films must be covered by the MPLC license.
Here is more information on showing films at American Spaces.
Updated February 2026
