Ron Logan, who transformed live entertainment at Disney’s theme parks, died in Orlando on Tuesday, the company confirmed in a tribute post. He was 84.
What You Need To Know
- Disney Legend Ron Logan has died; he was 84
- Logan helped transform live entertainment at Disney's theme parks
- He was instrumental in productions such as "Fantasmic!" and "Festival of the Lion King"
During his time with Disney, Logan, a former executive vice president and executive producer for Walt Disney Entertainment, developed dozens of memorable live productions, including “Fantastic!” (Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios) and “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” (Hollywood Studios), “Festival of the Lion King” (Disney’s Animal Kingdom), and more.
Logan, a native of Kansas, got his start at Disney as a trumpet player at Disneyland. In 1978, he moved to Florida and became Disney World’s music director. He returned to Disneyland in 1980 as the park’s director of entertainment. Two years later, he returned to Disney World as vice president of entertainment.
In his last role as executive vice president president for Walt Disney Entertainment, Logan was responsible for creating, casting, and producing live entertainment products for Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris and other areas of the company.
After retiring from the company in 2001, Logan was honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom. The tribute on the window above the Emporium reads, “Ron Logan, Leading the Band into a New Century.”
In 2007, he was named a Disney Legend in recognition to his contributions to the company.
“It made it all worth it,” Logan said of receiving the honor. “The respect that we get as Legends makes it feel like a knighthood. You feel really proud to wear this pin, and to put it along with everything else—it’s the pinnacle of indication that you did okay.”