Ron Dominguez (1935-2021) sometimes nicknamed Mister Disneyland is a real-life figure affiliated with Disney history.
History[]
Ron and his family owned the Anaheim orange groves which Disneyland was built on and sold them to Disney. The Dominguez family continued to live on the property in houses between Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A., buildings later converted for business operations. Ron himself worked as a cast-member for Disneyland since he was 20 and would go on to become vice-president of Disneyland and Walt Disney Attractions.
Jungle Cruise tributes[]
- A palm-tree planted by the Dominguez family in 1896 is located adjacent to the Jungle Cruise's boathouse. This plant is often referred to as, "The Dominguez palm" and is featured in Jungle Cruise spin-off materials such as the Skipper Survival Guide.
- The Jungle Cruise character Rosa Soto Dominguez is likely named in tribute to the Dominguez family.
Other[]
- On Main Street, there is a window for Ron Dominguez's, "Orange Grove Property Mgt.".
- The Adventureland affiliated story of the Little Man of Disneyland paralleled the story of the Dominguez family, following a leprechaun named Patrick Begorra who lived in orange groves that were demolished to make way for Disneyland. Patrick's house used to be located outside the Jungle Cruise but was later moved outside the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, both of which being set in the Lost Delta of India.