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Legendary Disney Imagineer Celebrates 90th Birthday

Bob Gurr
Credit: Bob Gurr Facebook

Here you leave the world of today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.

Visiting a Disney Park is truly a magical experience where Guests can fly the Millennium Falcon, spin in magical teacups, and even encounter the Yeti on Mount Everest. Disney attractions are known and loved by millions around the world, and the people that bring those attractions to the masses are beloved by fans and revered by their colleagues.

Haunted Mansion

Credit: DisneyDining

The Disney attraction designers are known as Imagineers, and they are one of a kind. However, some Imagineers are Disney Legends who helped design and bring the Parks to life, making them extremely transformative for Guests. One of those Imagineers is Bob Gurr, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday on October 25.

Bob Gurr was an Imagineer with The Walt Disney Company for over 40 years and designed some of the most iconic rides at multiple Disney Parks — including Autopia, the Haunted Mansion, the Disneyland Monorail, and the famous Matterhorn Bobsleds. Gurr also worked on creating Disney’s groundbreaking audio-animatronics — which later enabled him to help create the T-Rex used in Jurassic Park (1993) and the sea monster Godzilla (1998).

Disneyland Monorail

Credit: Disney

Jeffrey R. Epstein, who runs D23, the Official Disney Fan Club, shared a video on Twitter of Bob blowing out the candles on his birthday cake to celebrate the special day.

Happiest of happy birthdays to the amazing Disney Legend Bob Gurr.
90 years young today. 
(Here he is blowing out his birthday candles…)

Bob Gurr’s official Facebook page also shared a special message in honor of the Imagineer’s birthday.

Bob Gurr is responsible for shaping and creating much of the fantastical playland loved by millions. His numerous creations gave Disneyland the timeless yet futuristic character admired by aspiring designers and kids-at-heart everywhere. His creations are immediately recognizable as Classic Disney. His positive contributions to and deep influence upon the cultural landscape are inestimable. Bob is a vanguard of the risk-taking spirit which shaped California’s reputation for creative excellence globally; he is one of the original Dreamers who developed the ethos which continues to this day.

Happy 90th Birthday Bob!
October 25th 1931

In 2004, Gurr officially received the title of Disney Legend in the Imagineering category. He is famous for saying “If it moves on wheels at Disneyland,  probably designed it.”

Please join us in wishing a very happy birthday to the legendary Bob Gurr!

About Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!