Kevin Costner’s Unforgettable Childhood Run-In With Walt Disney

Persistence is one thing Kevin Costner has never lacked. When critics warned him that Waterworld was a financial disaster waiting to happen, he pressed on regardless. The film did end up costing a fortune and struggled at the box office, but that didn’t stop him. He went on to create sweeping westerns that didn’t always find an audience, yet instead of switching gears, he doubled down on the genre. After pouring massive resources into the first two parts of Horizon: An American Saga, Costner is already planning two more installments. He’s also producing The Gray House, a Civil War epic narrated by Morgan Freeman, set to span eight episodes. This time, at least, he isn’t footing the bill himself. Meanwhile, his time on Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan’s hit series, ended after five seasons due to on-set disagreements, prompting Costner to walk away from the project.

What truly drives Costner is his deep-rooted fascination with American history and the legendary figures who shaped the country’s past. This passion was evident as early as his breakout performance in Silverado back in 1985. Major roles in films like JFK, Bull Durham, and The Untouchables paved the way for him to direct and star in Dances with Wolves in 1990. That film, a fresh take on the classic Cowboys and Indians narrative, grossed over $500 million and earned seven Academy Awards, including Best Director for Costner. He tried to recapture that magic with Waterworld and The Postman in the ‘90s—both ambitious, costly projects that failed to connect with audiences. The 2000s saw him take on more unconventional roles, such as the chilling Mr. Brooks, but by 2012, he was back in familiar territory with the Hatfields & McCoys miniseries.

Western Roots and a Legendary Encounter

Costner’s lifelong devotion to the western genre earned him a place in the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. During his induction, he spoke about his family ’s early struggles in California and recounted a remarkable childhood memory involving a Hollywood icon. As a young boy in the late 1950s, Costner visited Disneyland when the park was still new. While most kids might have been drawn to the Magic Kingdom, he was captivated by the rugged charm of Frontierland. On one visit, he tried to sneak onto a ride for the fifth time, racing ahead of a group of VIP guests who were about to board.

He remembered,

“I was certain we could beat them. They looked old, and they were just walking. My mother tried to stop me, but I ran ahead, determined to beat that large group of men, waving to my mom behind me… I flew under that ribbon and ran right into the men leading the group, he never saw me, but I must have hit him hard, right in the knees, because he buckled, and the men in that party all stopped, everything stopped. No one said a word. My mother’s hands were over her mouth. She was paralysed.”

A Moment That Changed Everything

Costner continued,

“The man looked down at me, and I remember him being huge. And he wasn’t angry. And he asked me if I liked this ride. I told him that I loved this ride. He simply smiled and pointed to the other side of the ribbon and said, ‘I think your mother’s over there,’ she asked if I knew who he was, I shook my head. And then she told me – that was Walt Disney. ”

This early brush with Disney left a lasting impression on Costner. Over the years, he would go on to star in several Disney-backed films, including Open Range, The Guardian, and McFarland, USA. That chance meeting at Disneyland became a cherished story, symbolizing the intersection of Costner’s childhood dreams and his lifelong dedication to telling America’s stories on screen.