Disney Legend Dick Nunis has passed away at age 91. Author David Koenig shared the news, via a mutual friend, on X.
Disney Legend Dick Nunis Passes Away
Nunis began his “summer job” at Disneyland prior to the park’s opening in 1955 after hearing about it through his University of Southern California classmate and Walt Disney’s son-in-law, Ron Miller.
Nunis worked his way up to attractions supervisor and developed the standard operating procedures for all attractions. He became director of park operations in 1961 and VP of operations in 1968. He was eventually named executive vice president of Walt Disney World and Disneyland, after helping to develop the latter.
“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, via D23. “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 remained with the company in various positions until retiring in 1999, and was inducted as a Disney Legend in the Attractions category the same year.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The post Disney Legend & Former EVP of Disney Parks Dick Nunis Passes Away at 91 appeared first on WDW News Today.