Remembering Marty...

A Day at DISNEYLAND - Remembering Marty Sklar

Every day spent at DISNEYLAND is always better than a day spent anywhere else. A day in Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom that stands out from the others must be pretty amazing and I was lucky to have one of those days- it was the day I had breakfast at Disneyland's private restaurant, Club 33! As if that wasn't special enough, it was also the day I met a Disney Legend- Marty Sklar.

The morning would have been special even if it had ended after the exclusive breakfast at Club 33. That day, however, we were also treated to special discussions led by three Disney Legends, one of whom was Marty Sklar, who had been at DISNEYLAND from day one and worked closely with Walt Disney. We were literally surrounded by the fruits of Marty's labor. While happy families entered the Magic Kingdom, excited about their special day, Marty regaled us with stories about the projects he had worked on and his working relationship with Walt Disney.

After our tour, we went to the Disneyana Store for a private reception. It was there that I nervously approached Mr. Sklar to tell him how much his work has meant to me over the years. (Being raised right, I called him Mr. Sklar, though he quickly asked me to call him Marty.) To cap off our discussion, he insisted that I pose for a picture with him and our brief discussion was recorded for posterity. Even if the picture hadn't been taken, I still would have remembered that moment forever.

Marty lived a life that most of us dream of; helping his boss Walt Disney make his dreams come true. Long after Mr. Disney left us, Marty made sure that the new generations of Imagineers and Disneylanders continued to keep Walt's dream alive and vibrant. That millions of people still visit Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom each year is a testament to Marty's success.

Thank you, Mr. Sklar for making a wonderful day even more magical and for the countless wonderful memories your work has created for me over the years. I'm certain that you're having a happy reunion with Walt Disney right now, filling him in on how his dream is still alive. Rest In Peace, Marty.

RetlawYensid.Com Salutes Marty Sklar

Martin "Marty" Sklar, one of the first DISNEYLAND employees who worked alongside Walt Disney during the park's first ten years has passed away at age 83.

Marty started at DISNEYLAND from the beginning, working on whatever project needed his assistance. He was there on opening day, working from an office behind City Hall. He eventually found himself at Walt Disney Imagineering, providing creative guidance and managing projects around the world. Mr. Sklar holds the unique distinction of having been in attendance at every Disney Theme Park on opening day, from DISNEYLAND to Shanghai Disney. He almost missed that last one, but he ended up keeping his streak going.

Marty's importance to DISNEYLAND and the other Disney theme parks around the world is immeasurable. Outside of Walt Disney himself, nobody has been more important to DISNEYLAND than Mr. Sklar. He was proud of his work and the smiles that it put on the faces of children who might never know his name.

"You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality."

-Walt Disney

"Do what you dream of doing and never lose sight of that."

-Marty Sklar