And Now… Your Host

The Magic of Television
and The Magic Kingdom

By John Van Camp

Walt Disney needed help from ABC television to finish his Magic Kingdom Disneyland, and ABC needed Walt’s help too.

The story of how television played very important parts in all things Disney from the mid century to the mid 1990s. The Disney brand was dependent on television for more than its Theme Park footprint in the latter half of the century. And it started innocently enough with the help of a middle aged gentleman we would all come to know as “Uncle Walt.”

But the story doesn’t end with Walt. It continues onto Disney buying the ABC television network in the 1990s and becoming the largest media company in America.

Van Camp is a former Disney Cast Member, having helped launch “The Disney Afternoon” and serving up Disney synergy throughout the company.