Acting as the “kiss goodnight” for this year’s D23: Ultimate Disney Fan Event, the 2024 Disney Legends Ceremony was held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, this past Sunday. The over-the-top ceremony was abuzz with thousands of ecstatic Disney fans and 14 fantastic honorees: Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.
These are individuals who have left an “indelible mark on the company’s historic legacy.” The ceremony was hosted by Ryan Seacrest, with an introduction from Bob Iger. Each of the 14 new Disney Legends were honored by a video tribute and guest appearances from various celebrities and Disney Cast Members, with a few musical performances in between; before the honoree took the stage to accept their award. Each procession offered excitement, smiles and laughs, humility, some vulnerability, and maybe a tear.
If you haven’t watched yet, the entire 2024 Disney Legends Ceremony is now available to stream on Disney+. Here are a few of my favorite inspirational moments from some of the Legends’ acceptance speeches:
“Man has a dream and that’s the start. He follows his dream with mind and heart. And when that dream becomes a reality, it’s a dream come true for you and me.
And that’s what’s happening right here, right now.”
– Jamie Lee Curtis
“I just want to thank all of you for honoring, essentially, what you’re honoring tonight—which is imagination.”
– James Cameron
“The stories are for you, about you, about us.
To be able to work in that area is a privilege.”
– Harrison Ford
“It’s legendary to be afraid and do it anyway.
There is no such thing as failure when you try.”
– Miley Cyrus
“It’s taken me a long time to allow myself to be who I am, and I don’t want you all to wait ’til you’re 80 years old. I want to give you a jump start:
Don’t hide who you are.”
– Frank Oz
This year held such a wonderful lineup of Disney Legend inductees, I’m already thinking “who’s next?” for 2026’s D23 Event. Who do you think should be honored next?
