Arielle Cruz
Walt Disney, the genius animator and producer responsible for creating beloved characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy, was known to be a heavy smoker and drank alcohol. Disney took up smoking as an ambulance driver in France during World War I and smoked as many as three packs of cigarettes a day, with his favorite brand being Lucky Strike. His heavy smoking and drinking habits led to his untimely death from lung cancer, which the company tried to cover up. Despite his own habits, Disney did not want alcohol in his parks and his studio implemented a ban on screen smoking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcoholic | There are no credible sources that confirm Walt Disney was an alcoholic. |
| Chain smoker | While Walt Disney did smoke cigarettes, there is no definitive evidence to support the claim that he was a "chain smoker." However, it is widely known that he smoked and was often seen with a cigarette in hand. |
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What You'll Learn
Walt Disney was a heavy smoker
Disney's heavy smoking contributed to his lung cancer, which eventually led to his untimely death in December 1966. Despite this, Disney took great care never to smoke around children. However, he was known for his infamous coughing fits, which were likely caused by his smoking habit. Disney Legend Ward Kimball described one such incident: "I was right in the middle of describing a storyboard... and he got into one of these coughing jags... Walt looked up, his eyes watering and said, 'A guy's got to have a few vices, doesn't he?'".
Disney's smoking habit has been largely airbrushed from history, with photos online showing him with a strange "two-finger point" pose, which was likely an attempt to hide his cigarettes. The Walt Disney Company has regarded Walt's smoking as one of its darkest secrets, and its blanket ban on lit cigarettes in films came into effect in 2007. As a result, films about Disney, such as 'Saving Mr. Banks,' do not depict him smoking, despite his well-known heavy smoking habit.
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Disney airbrushed cigarettes from photos
Walt Disney, the genius animator behind Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and many other beloved characters, was a heavy smoker. He reportedly smoked three packs a day and his favorite brand was Lucky Strike. However, it is challenging to find photos of Walt Disney smoking, as the company he founded has airbrushed cigarettes from his portraits. This was done to hide his smoking habit from children visiting Disneyland and to maintain a family-friendly image. The altered photos often show Disney with a peculiar two-finger point, which has become a famous gesture associated with Disney.
The practice of airbrushing cigarettes from photos was part of a broader company cover-up following Walt Disney's untimely death from lung cancer in 1966. The company, keen to dissociate itself from smoking, implemented strict policies against smoking in Disney films. For example, Tom Hanks' portrayal of Walt Disney in the film "Saving Mr. Banks" omitted any scenes of him smoking, despite the character's heavy smoking habit in real life.
The airbrushing of cigarettes from Walt Disney's photos has sparked mixed reactions. Some view it as a necessary step to protect Disney's family-friendly brand and hide an unhealthy habit from children. However, others criticize it as a form of historical revisionism, arguing that it is important to acknowledge the truth about Disney's life, including his smoking habit, which likely contributed to his lung cancer.
The company's decision to airbrush cigarettes from photos reflects a broader societal shift in attitudes towards smoking. Smoking rates have declined, and public awareness of the health risks associated with smoking has increased. As a result, smoking has become increasingly stigmatized, and companies like Disney, with a large child audience, feel pressured to distance themselves from any association with tobacco use.
While the airbrushing of cigarettes from Walt Disney's photos may have been done with good intentions, it also raises questions about historical accuracy and the ethics of altering images to suit a particular narrative. The strange two-finger point that remains in many photos has become an iconic gesture, with some Disney employees even trained to do it as a tribute to Walt Disney, despite the gesture's origin being obscure to most observers.
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Walt Disney's cause of death
Walt Disney, the genius animator and creator of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and many other beloved characters, passed away on December 15, 1966, at the age of 65. His death was caused by complications from lung cancer, for which he had undergone surgery a month earlier. Disney was a heavy smoker, often smoking up to three packs of cigarettes a day, with his favorite brand being Lucky Strike. He also smoked Chesterfields, Camels, and Gitanes, a French import brand.
Disney's smoking habit was well known, and it is believed to have contributed to his lung cancer. His distinctive cough was often noted by those who knew him, and his daughter, Diane Disney Miller, recalled that they could always locate her father by listening for his cough. Despite his daughters' efforts to reduce the harm of his habit, such as buying him filtered cigarettes, Disney would break off the filters when they were not around.
Disney's death was kept relatively private, with a small, private funeral held the day after his passing. His body was cremated, and his ashes interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. The Walt Disney Company has been accused of covering up Disney's death and his smoking habits, editing photos and keeping his affinity for tobacco hidden.
There were also rumors that Disney's body was cryogenically frozen after his death, with the intention of reanimating him in the future. However, these rumors have been largely dismissed as false, with signed legal documents indicating that Disney was cremated and his remains interred in a marked plot. Additionally, Disney's daughter, Diane, wrote in a biography that she doubted her father had ever heard of cryonics.
The cause of Walt Disney's death was primarily attributed to lung cancer and the resulting complications, with his heavy smoking habit likely being a significant contributing factor. His death led to new policies and restrictions for The Walt Disney Company's films, aiming to maintain a family-friendly image.
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Walt Disney's drinking habits
It is well-documented that Walt Disney, the iconic animation pioneer and founder of the Disney empire, had a complex and often tumultuous relationship with alcohol and smoking. While his achievements and contributions to the world of entertainment are undeniable, a closer examination of his personal life reveals a man who struggled with certain vices.
Disney's drinking habits have been a subject of speculation and interest for biographers and fans alike. It is known that he did consume alcohol and that it may have been a regular part of his life, especially during his early years in Hollywood. However, the extent of his drinking and whether it rose to the level of alcoholism is less clear and remains a matter of debate. Some accounts from those close to him suggest that he could be a heavy drinker at times, particularly in social settings or when dealing with the stresses of his work.
One well-known story involves Disney and his brother Roy celebrating the success of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in 1937. The brothers are said to have gone on a drinking binge, with Walt ending up passed out on a couch. However, such incidents do not necessarily indicate alcoholism, and it is important to note that social drinking was more widely accepted during the time period in which Disney came of age. Still, it is likely that alcohol may have played a more significant role in his life than some more sanitized portrayals of him might suggest.
In addition to alcohol, Disney was also a smoker, and this habit is perhaps better documented through photographs and eyewitness accounts. He was often seen with a cigarette in hand, and it is believed that he started smoking at a young age, possibly as early as his teen years. This habit persisted throughout most of his life, and he was rarely seen without a pack of cigarettes nearby. However, towards the end of his life, he did make efforts to cut down on smoking, recognizing the health risks associated with it.
In summary, while Walt Disney's drinking habits may have varied over the years, with some periods of heavier consumption, it is unlikely that he was an alcoholic in the clinical sense. His relationship with alcohol was likely more nuanced and reflective of the social norms of his time. However, his smoking habit was more pervasive and enduring, and it is this aspect of his life that may give more credence to the idea that he struggled with certain addictions.
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Alcohol at Disneyland
While Walt Disney was a heavy smoker, known to smoke as many as three packs of cigarettes a day, there is no evidence to suggest that he was an alcoholic. In fact, Disney reportedly said in 1956 or 1958 that he did not want alcohol served in his park, Disneyland.
Disneyland has traditionally been a dry park, with no alcohol served anywhere except in the exclusive Club 33 near Pirates of the Caribbean. However, in recent years, this policy has been relaxed, and alcoholic drinks have been introduced in several locations across the park.
In 2019, Oga's Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge began serving themed cocktails, beers, and other alcoholic drinks. This was followed by the Blue Bayou restaurant, which added alcoholic drinks to its menu. Three more table-service restaurants at Disneyland have since added alcoholic drinks to their menus, including beer and wine.
Disneyland Hotel also offers alcoholic beverages, with the Palm Breeze Bar serving cocktails by the pool, and the Broken Spell Lounge offering a wide range of spirits, wine, and beer.
California Disney Adventure, located across from Disneyland, has served alcoholic drinks throughout the park since its opening in 2001. The Lamplight Lounge, for example, is an outdoor bar at Pixar Pier that serves a variety of alcoholic beverages.
While Disneyland has traditionally been cautious about serving alcohol, the recent introduction of alcoholic drinks in select locations across the park offers visitors more options to enhance their Disney experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Walt Disney was a heavy chain smoker. He smoked as many as three packs of cigarettes a day and his favorite brand was Lucky Strike. He also smoked Chesterfields, Camels, and Gitanes, a French import brand.
Yes, Walt Disney drank alcohol. His cocktail of choice was Scotch Mist. However, he did not want alcohol in his park and said in 1956 or 1958 that "he did not want alcohol in his park".
Yes, Walt Disney's smoking contributed to his health issues. He had a distinctive, incessant cough and eventually died of lung cancer in December 1966 at the age of 65.
