This is an entry for “Partners Statue” in our Disneyland 101 Glossary: Disneyland Resort definitions in under 101 words, from Mouse Brief. Keep reading after the entry for answers to frequently asked questions about the Partners Statue and Disney history.
The bronze statue in the hub of Disneyland Park (directly south of Sleeping Beauty Castle) is called Partners. It depicts Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse hand in hand, and it was installed in 1993 to commemorate Mickey’s 65th birthday. The sculpture was created by Blaine Gibson, and copies of Partners can be found in Disney parks around the world as well as the Disney Studio lot.
Thank you for reading this entry from our Disneyland 101 Glossary. For answers to frequently asked questions about the Partners statue and the relationship between Disney history and Disneyland, please keep reading.
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Partners Statue, FAQs
The Partners statue is an iconic sculpture. You might recognize it even if you do not know its name. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the Partners statue in Disneyland, plus some tips on where to explore more Disney history.
Who is depicted in the Partners statue at Disneyland?
The Partners statue depicts Walt Disney and the character Mickey Mouse holding hands. Walt Disney was one of the creators of both Disneyland Park and Mickey Mouse.
The statue also features a plaque with a quotation from Walt Disney himself. It reads: “I think most of all what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place… Where parents and children can have fun, together. — Walt Disney.”
Where is the Partners statue?
At Disneyland Resort, the Partners statue is in Disneyland Park just south of Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is at the center of what is commonly referred to as “The Hub,” which is a landscaped area in front of the castle where paths leading to the far corners of the park converge. Disneyland Park was intentionally laid out like a wagon wheel in a hub-and-spoke pattern: the main pathways, or “spokes” radiate out from a central “hub.” Notably, this places Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse at the symbolic heart of Disneyland. You can read more about the Hub here.
To find the Partners statue at Disneyland, enter the park’s turnstile and head north up Main Street, U.S.A. and towards Sleeping Beauty Castle. Just before you reach the castle, you will encounter a circular landscaped area. The Partners statue is on a raised pedestal surrounded by flowers and a small fence. Many guests like to stop and pose for photos here. You can probably also snag a PhotoPass photograph to take your photo.
Should you get a bit discombobulated at Disneyland Park, the Partners statue makes a nice central reference point. Check the skyline for Sleeping Beauty Castle and head there. In front of the castle, make your way to the Partners statue and you will also be at the convergence point for pathways to Disneyland Park’s many lands.
Several other Disney parks also have Partners statues. These include Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland at Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan and Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios Paris) at Disneyland Paris in France. Disney Studio in Burbank also has a Partners statue.
How old is the Partners statue at Disneyland?
The Partners statue was installed at Disneyland Park on November 18, 1993. The statue was created by Disney sculptor Blaine Gibson who came out of retirement to create the piece. Partners was installed in commemoration of Mickey Mouse’s 65th “birthday.”
Partners was installed at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Florida in 1995, in Tokyo Disneyland at Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan in 1998 and in Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios Paris) at Disneyland Paris in France in 2002. In 2003, it was placed at the Disney Studio in Burbank.
I like Disney history: where can I learn more about Walt Disney and the history of Disneyland?
Great! There are many bits and pieces of Disney history waiting all over Disneyland Resort. We suggest you stop and read the plaques you see at the parks or chat with cast members to learn about these. These documented traces of history are easiest to find around Main Street, U.S.A. and you should absolutely visit Walt Disney – A Magical Life and the Disneyland Gallery in the Main Street Opera House to get some great Disney history. As you step outside the Opera House, be sure to look across the street annd above the firehouse to the lamp shining in the window of Walt Disney’s Apartment.
For a little peek at Disneyland history before you even get to Disneyland Resort, we recommend some of the great documentaries on Disney+, particularly the excellent The Imagineering Story. We also like that show’s companion book. For a more kid friendly version of Imagineering history, we really love the Imagineering Field Guide series. They are out of print now, and obviously the parks have changed since they were printed, but we think they are so well done that they are worth seeking out. Here is a link to the Disneyland Park one, and here is one for Disney California Adventure Park.
Disney History Tours
The tour offerings at Disneyland Resort are constantly changing, but you can usually find a tour that deals specifically with Disney history. At the time of writing, Disney is advertising a “Walk in Walt’s Footsteps” tour to start in summer 2026.
The tours inside the parks generally cost money on top of your park admission for the day. But if you are a guest at a Disneyland Resort Hotel, you can also take advantage of the free tours offered there. I’m thinking in particular of the Disneyland Hotel Tour: this tour walks you through the history of the Disneyland Hotel which is very much wrapped up in the history of Disneyland itself. We suggest speaking to a cast member at check-in to reserve a spot on one of these tours. We have even called in advance.
Thank you for reading this Disneyland 101 Glossary post on the Partners statue.
For more Disney definitions in under 101 words plus relevant FAQs, please explore our Disneyland 101 Glossary. If you are interested in tributes to Walt Disney in Disneyland Resort, be sure to check-out Walt Disney’s Apartment, Disneyland 101 Glossary in particualr. And for start-to-finish help planning your Disneyland trip, please visit our Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep. Thanks again for reading!