TMSM Mythbusters: Walt Myths

The goal of this blog series is to factually prove or disprove rumors and myths in the Disney-verse. Tonight on TMSM Mythbusters we’re taking on some reader suggestions!

Walt’s Body After he Died
“Is Walt is cryogenically frozen?”
Addie Clark of the Nation also mentioned this myth “When I was a child, we were walking by one of the entrances to the tunnels under MK and my brother tried to convince me Walt’s frozen head was down there. Not his whole body…just his head”
Joe Schlenger “Is Walt buried under one of the Partners statues?”
Well the answer to all of these is no. Walt died 12/15/66, and the first first recorded cryonic suspension didn’t occur until 1/12/67.   Walt’s death certificate actually notes that he was cremated and his remains are buried in a marked grave at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.

Walt and Military Service
Amy Richardson asked “Was Walt Disney was dishonorably discharged from the US Army?”
Though Walt WANTED to join the Army during World War I he wasn’t old enough, he was only 16. So instead Walt joined the Red Cross and was sent to Europe where he spent a year driving ambulances and Red Cross officials around. He also covered his ambulance in cartoons and drawings. By the time he turned 18 in 1920 Walt was back in Kansas City working as an advertising cartoonist. So because one can never be dishonorably discharged from a service you were never a part of, this myth is false.