The well-documented story, which has been denied by the Disney family, goes that Walt Disney was born Jose Luis Guirao in Spain. He found out about his other life when he needed his birth certificate to enlist in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Can we finally kill off the Walt Disney/ Jose Luis Guirao born in Mojacar/Chicago myth?
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1996-11-23-9611230144-stor...
http://www.surinenglish.com/20090606/news/world/walt-jose-disney-20...
I think it's likely to be bunk - there's a definite family resemblance between old Walt and his brother Roy. The grain of truth to it may be that his birth certificate had been lost (it happens).
As to origins, there were Disneys in Maryland from *very* early on, and at least some of them moved on west. Further deponent sayeth not.
It appears the story is about WWII records so simply those are public records, then a history lesson is needed, he was 40 at the time his draft card was issued and a birth cert was NOT required.
However he did in fact provide one when he applied for his 1st passport: at AGE 17
U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 for Walter E Disney
Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 1918
Roll 0628 - Certificates: 45250-45499, 14 Nov 1918-15 Nov 1918
Name
Walter E Disney Age 17
Birth Date 5 Dec 1900
Birth Place Chicago, Illinois
Residence Place Chicago, Illinois
Passport Issue Date 15 Nov 1918
Father Elias Disney
Has Photo Yes
Certificate Number 445439 The orignial records on file at National Archives
Cecil you are amazing! The first person to find this ever it appears.
Now can be added as a source for Walt Disney.
I only hope he did have a birth certificate and dis not just write the d.o.b. anf place of birth in.
Why has none of the profile managers ever find this or anyone else in 100 years ?
Also noticed on Passport aplication he swore he was born in 1900 not 1901 ?
According to Redcross site Walt changed/altered the date of his birth , maybe the place as well. But no birth certificate presented or part of in Passport application 14 November 1918 , only affidavits.
All these people swore he was born 1900 so maybe they also lied about the place ;
even Military Intelligence were fooled 13 November 1918 , Captain J.S. Moore .
Even lied to a notary public 26 October 19%$ ( suddenly 18 not clear ? ) that he was born 5 December 1900 at 1249 Tripp Avenue , Chicago Illinois .
Yet on another Redcross document
Employees Service Record dated top left Licensed Dec. 15 1966 ???
his d.o.b. is 12/05/$% 01 strange that there the 00 changed to 01 ?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9X3-RJ2H?i=902&am...
Snopes has weighed in, poinying how big flaws in the theory: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/walt-disneys-illegitimate-birth/
There's enough dirt on Disney without digging for mythical misbegetting. Despite his public image, he was *not* a nice man, was so stingy to his employees that at least once they went on strike (he hired scabs to replace them), and was so notoriously greedy that Fractured Fairy Tales spoofed him in a cracked retelling of "Sleeping Beauty".