What is a Disney Legend? Disney Legends are the amazing people who help create Disney movies, songs, and theme parks. They can be actors, singers, artists who draw cartoons, or even the leaders who run the company. Being named a Legend is the biggest 'thank you' Disney can give! The Big Celebration – D23: Last week, Disney threw a giant party called D23 at Disneyland in California. Fans traveled from all over the world to watch the big show. The party lasted three days and ended with 11 new stars receiving a shiny, golden trophy. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: The famous actor and wrestler was named a new Legend! He is the voice of Maui in the movie Moana. During his speech, he told the crowd, “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.” He reminded everyone that kindness is the best way to shine. Anne Hathaway: Anne, who played Mia in The Princess Diaries, also became a Legend. She said she felt very honored and thanked her idol, Julie Andrews, who played Mary Poppins. Anne even shared that her own kids were excited to meet Dwayne! Lin‑Manuel Miranda: The songwriter behind the music for Hamilton and Moana was honored too. He even turned his speech into a song, singing “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. He thanked all the people who help bring his music to life. Other New Legends: The group also included Susan Egan (the voice of Meg in Hercules), Eric Goldberg (the artist who drew the Genie in Aladdin), Alan Tudyk (the funny voice of many characters like Heihei in Moana), Jerry Bruckheimer (who produced the Pirates of the Caribbean movies), Kim Irvine (who helps design Disney park rides), and Bob Iger (the former boss who brought Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars to Disney). Why is this important? Disney Legends show us that teamwork, big dreams, and kindness create stories that make people happy. When a new Legend is picked, it reminds us all that anyone can help bring more magic into the world. Did you know?: The very first Disney Legend was Walt Disney himself in 1978! The award is a beautiful golden trophy shaped like a castle. Many of these Legends have also won big prizes like Oscars and Grammys. Questions you might have: What does a Disney Legend do? They create movies, write songs, or help build fun Disney parks. Can a child become a Disney Legend? Yes, if they grow up to help Disney in a big way, like becoming a talented animator or a famous singer. Why do we celebrate them? To say thank you for making our favorite stories and vacation spots so special. How it touches your life: Every time you watch a Disney movie or visit a park, you are seeing the hard work of these Legends. Knowing their names helps you see the effort behind the magic. Looking ahead: Disney will keep choosing new Legends every year. Maybe one day you will be a Legend too, by drawing a picture, writing a song, or building a fun game! Keep dreaming and creating!