Disney Mothers[]
A reoccurring theme in most Disney films is that most of the protagonists in their respective films don't have mothers. A common guess as to why this happens is that in the early 1940s, Walt bought his parents a house as gratitude for them taking care of him. Unfortunately, there was a major gas leak in the house which resulted in the death of his mother. Walt felt personally responsible for this tragedy, and it is believed that he subconsciously put that plot point into most of his films.
Walt Disney was a racist and anti-semite[]
Walt Disney was believed to have been a racist and anti-semite during his lifetime. This was evident in his cartoons where he had insensitive drawings and caricatures of Blacks and Jews. However, there have plenty of evidence to debunk this urban legend as Walt's daughter, Diane testified that her sister, Sharon has dated a Jewish man which Walt did not raise objections for. On the contrary, he has reportedly stated "Sharon, I think it's wonderful how these Jewish families have accepted you." His racism towards blacks was disputed by Disney biographer Neal Gabler who stated "Walt Disney was no racist. He never, either publicly or privately, made disparaging remarks about blacks or asserted white superiority. Like most white Americans of his generation, however, he was racially insensitive." Further support of Walt not being a racist was raised by the family of actor James Baskett, who played Uncle Remus in the controversial 1946 film Song of the South. Baskett's family talked about Walt Disney's friendship with him during and after completion of the film, Walt claiming James's sister that James is "the best actor, I believe, to be discovered in years." Furthermore, with James's failing health, Walt has reportedly financially supported him and his family to which his widow expressed an undying gratitude. Walt also campaigned for James to receive an Honorary Academy Award for his performance, making Baskett the first black actor so honored.
Walt Disney is Frozen[]
A bizarre urban legend was presented that Walt Disney himself may be cryogenically frozen. In the decades since Walt Disney's death, the claim that he arranged for his body to be frozen has become ubiquitous. Nearly everyone familiar with the name 'Walt Disney' has heard the story that Disney's corpse is stored in a deep-freeze chamber somewhere -- directly under Disneyland's "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction is the most frequently mentioned site -- awaiting the day when science could repair the damage to his body and bring 'Uncle Walt' back to life.
The truth of his death was due to lung cancer because of his history of being a heavy smoker. Two days after his death, his body was cremated with his ashes were interred at a family mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. His daughter, Diane has stated in 1972 "There is absolutely no truth that my father, Walt Disney, wished to be frozen. I doubt that my father had ever heard of cryonics."