Considered a "true original" even among Disney Imagineers, Rolly Crump has had a hand in some of the most popular Disney animated features as well as attractions at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.



Crump was born on February 27, 1930 in Alhambra, California. When he joined Walt Disney Studios in 1952 he took a pay cut and took on a second job building sewer man holes to be apart of such an extraordinary company. Starting out as an in-between artist he later became an assistant animator working on features such as "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp," and "Sleeping Beauty."

He joined WED Enterprises, now Walt Disney Imagineering, in 1959 and began designing some of Disneyland's new attractions and shops such as, Haunted Mansion, the Enchanted Tiki Room, and Adventureland Bazaar.

Crump was one of the key designers for the Disney attractions that were featured at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. For It's a Small World he designed the Tower of the Four Winds marquee. When it was moved to Disneyland he designed the animated clock at the entrance that sends puppet children on parade.



Rolly Crump worked on the initial design for the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World before leaving Disney to consult on projects that include Busch Gardens, the ABC Wildlife Preserve in Maryland, and more.

Crump returned to Disney in 1976 to work on EPCOT Center. He served as project designer for "The Land" and "Wonders of Life" pavilions. He then left Disney again to launch his own firm, the Mariposa Design Group. Returning to Disney Imagineering in 1992 as executive designer, he set to work on redesigning and refurbishing the "CommuniCore" pavilion into "Innoventions" and "The Land" pavilion.

He retired from The Walt Disney Company in 1996 and was named a Disney legend in 2004. Do you have a favorite project of Rolly's? Is it a movie or attraction? Leave a comment below and let us know!