Vote of the week: Should Disney give Steve Jobs a window on Main Street?

When someone who made a profound impact on the Walt Disney Company, especially its theme parks, retires, often Disney chooses to honor that individual with a window on Main Street USA at Disneyland or Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Look up at the second story windows the next time you visit one of those parks, and you'll see the names of dozens of former Imagineers, company executives and creative personnel who have helped make Disney the world's most popular entertainment brand.

Steve Jobs, who died this week at 56, wasn't a Disney employee, but he was part of the Disney family. Though he was world-famous as the Chairman and former CEO of Apple, he was the largest individual shareholder in the Walt Disney Company, a member of the Disney board, and the founder of Pixar Animation, which created a dozen blockbuster hits for Disney, as well as providing the inspiration for many popular attractions in the Disney theme parks.

So here's my question for you, as theme park fans. Do you think that Disney should honor Jobs with a window on Main Street?

No, he wasn't a Disney employee. Apple didn't sponsor any Disney theme park attractions. Jobs wasn't directly involved in the creation of any Disney theme park rides or shows.

But without Pixar, Disney wouldn't be the company it is today. Without Jobs' mentoring the career of John Lasseter, Disney wouldn't have its chief creative officer. And Jobs captured the imagination and earned the gratitude of the public more than any other CEO of a company in the creative arts since Walt Disney himself.

Let's hear what you think. (If you think Disney should honor Jobs, but not with a window, go ahead and vote no, then offer your suggestion in the comments.)



Thank you, again, for reading Theme Park Insider.

Replies (28)

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.