Disneyland honored former Disney CEO Bob Iger with a personalized decorative window on Main Street U.S.A. as the chief architect of New Century Builders on the same day he became a Disney Legend.
Iger was memorialized with a window above the Emporium gift shop entrance during a ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 16 before the opening of the Anaheim theme park.
“This is more than a dream come true,” Iger said during the ceremony. “It’s actually not even a dream come true, because I never could have dreamed this was possible.”
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Iger was also honored as a Disney Legend during a ceremony on Sunday afternoon at the Honda Center as part of the D23 fan event in Anaheim.
The window dedicated to Iger includes the slogan “Looking forward to your tomorrow” with the words courageous, confidence, excellence, innovation, curiosity and optimism in the side panels.
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A Main Street U.S.A. window at Disneyland is one of the highest honors awarded by the Walt Disney Company — a tradition started by Walt Disney himself.
“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.
The Dapper Dans a cappella barbershop quartet sang “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” during the ceremony in a tribute to Iger’s optimistic ethos.
Iger handed over the Disney reins in March to Josh D’Amaro, who previously oversaw the company’s theme parks as Disney Experiences Chairman and served as Disneyland Resort President.
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D’Amaro called Iger a “rock star” whose vision and leadership made Disney what it is today.
“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 during the ceremony.
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As Disney CEO, Iger acquired Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox and opened Shanghai Disneyland.
Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner agreed in early August to purchase a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion.