Disney Legend Dick Nunis Has Passed Away

We’re sad to report that Dick Nunis passed away today at the age of 91.

This Disney Legend was the former chairman of Walt Disney Attractions and played a vital role in the Disney parks.

Nunis began his career in Disneyland in 1955. He learned about Disneyland through his classmate, Ron Miller, who was Walt’s son-in-law. He was hired by Van France—founder of The Disney University and author of the park’s orientation and training program—in May 1955 as an orientation training instructor. Just before the park’s opening, the duo began training Disneyland employees.

During those early years, Nunis learned Walt Disney’s theme park philosophy firsthand. “Walt believed strongly that what would make Disneyland different was the people—he wanted them to feel that they were part of the organization,” Nunis once said. “That’s why he established the first-name policy—he was Walt, I was Dick, and so on. From an overall operations point of view, the most important thing is to work together to make sure that when guests come, they have a wonderful experience.”

Nunis worked his way up to attractions supervisor. In 1961, he became director of park operations and helped develop Walt Disney World Resort. By 1971, the year Magic Kingdom opened at Walt Disney World, he was named executive vice president of Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

In 1980, a month after his 25th anniversary with Disney, he was named president of the Outdoor Recreation Division, additionally overseeing EPCOT Center and, later, the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Nunis also consulted on plans for Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris while serving on the Walt Disney Productions Board of Directors. He retired on May 26, 1999. He has a window on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland.

Bob Iger made a statement about his passing. “Today, we mourn the passing of Dick Nunis, a true Disney Legend whose contributions to The Walt Disney Company have touched the lives of millions of people all over the world,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “What started as a summer job training future Disneyland employees would ultimately become a storied 44-year career at Disney. Dick took the values and philosophies he learned directly from Walt and incorporated them into everything he did at Disney. We are grateful for his many achievements and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.”

“On behalf of every Cast Member, Crew Member, Imagineer, and employee of Disney Experiences, I want to express my gratitude to Disney Legend Dick Nunis… and my condolences to his family following the sad news of his passing,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences. “Dick’s impact on our theme parks business is everlasting. Along with our founder, Walt Disney, Dick helped shape our business, create happiness for millions of families around the world… and set a standard that an entire industry must now live up to.”

We are thankful for the instrumental role he played in turning the Disney parks into what they are today. Our thoughts are with Dick Nunis’s family at this time.