Former Disney CEO Bob Iger now has a permanent place on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park.
On Sunday, The Walt Disney Company honored Iger with his own personalized Main Street, U.S.A. window, one of the most significant honors Disney bestows upon those who have made a lasting impact on the company and Disneyland.
The new window can be found above the entrance to the Emporium, and our team is at Disneyland with a closer look at it.
Iger is recognized on the window as “Chief Architect for New Century Builders,” along with the motto, “Looking forward to your tomorrow!” The design also incorporates words reflecting his years of leadership at Disney, including “courageous,” “confidence,” “excellence,” “innovation,” “curiosity,” and “optimism.”
During Sunday’s dedication ceremony, Iger reflected on what receiving the honor meant to him.
“I stand here with a deep sense of wonder and humility and appreciation and gratitude for having the opportunity not just to work for the company that Walt Disney founded, but to run the company that he founded, and then to have the opportunity to be given this,” Iger said on Sunday.
He also spoke about standing on Main Street and thinking about the generations of guests, cast members, and Disney leaders who came before him.
“It’s just so special to me to stand here, Town Square, Main Street, thinking about this place over 70 years ago, thinking about the millions and millions and millions of people that have come through, thinking about the thousands and thousands of cast members that have worked here and contributed mightily to what this is, and thinking about the legacy of the people who are represented in these windows, and realizing I’m now among them.”
Iger added:
“This is more than a dream come true,” he said. “It’s actually not even a dream come true, because I never could have dreamed this was possible.”
The ceremony also included the Dapper Dans performing the Sherman Brothers’ “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” a particularly fitting choice considering the forward-looking message incorporated into Iger’s window.
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro was also on hand for the dedication and reflected on Iger’s influence on the company.
“He expanded Disney storytelling around the world, he was unrelenting in his focus on creativity and innovation, and he honored our past while always keeping his eye on the future,” D’Amaro said.
D’Amaro recalled Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration, when cast members gathered for a group photo with Iger before the park opened.
“They greeted him like a rock star, and that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people feel connected to Bob, they know that he loves Disney as much as they do,” D’Amaro said. “And they also know that the Disney they love today exists because of his vision, his leadership, and his deep respect for the people who bring this place to life.”
He thanked Iger for “everything you have done to shape this company, to strengthen the bond people feel with Disney, and to inspire all of us who are lucky enough to carry this work forward.”
The tradition of honoring individuals with windows on Main Street dates all the way back to Disneyland’s opening on July 17, 1955. Walt Disney selected names to appear on the windows as a way to recognize people who helped bring Disneyland to life. Over the decades, receiving a window has become one of Disneyland’s highest honors.
Now, Bob Iger’s name has officially joined them.
And for those visiting Disneyland, this isn’t something tucked away behind the scenes. Look up the next time you’re passing the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A., and you’ll be able to spot Disney’s newest window for yourself.
