When Kevin Costner Accidentally Struck Walt Disney on a Disneyland Adventure

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner once shared a heartwarming story about how a wild ride at Disneyland led to a memorable encounter with Walt Disney.

Kevin Costner has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Disney, having appeared in several films produced or distributed by the iconic company. Over the years, this connection has only grown stronger — and it seems it might have been destined from the start.

In a candid interview, the Academy Award-winning actor reflected on his childhood and revealed how, as a young boy, he unexpectedly met Walt Disney himself during a visit to Disneyland. While recounting this charming childhood memory, Costner also shared his favorite Disneyland ride.

Kevin Costner on Meeting Walt Disney and His Favorite Ride at Disneyland

Kevin Costner is one of the most celebrated actors and directors of his generation, with a career spanning decades and numerous accolades. But once, he was just a four-year-old boy, brimming with excitement at his first visit to Disneyland.

During an interview with Dan Patrick, Costner reminisced about his early years. At the time, Disneyland was still relatively new and not yet the world-famous park it is today. On that visit, Costner and his family explored the park, but he was particularly thrilled about one ride — likely the Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules.

Little Kevin was so eager that he rode it repeatedly. When his mother finally told him to stop, he tried to sneak on one more time — only to accidentally run into a man and “buckle” him.

Costner recalled, “I said, ‘Come on, Mom, we can make this,’ and she said ‘No.’ I ran into that thing and hit this one guy and I buckled him… Everything got really quiet and everybody stopped. I looked up at this guy, and he looked down at me and said, ‘Do you like this ride?’ I said, ‘I love this ride.’ I went back to my mom, and she looked at me and said, ‘Do you know who that was? That was Walt Disney.’”

Reflecting on the encounter, Costner praised the late Walt Disney for his unwavering commitment to his dream, despite numerous doubters when he first started the company. Costner even mused that maybe his little interaction helped motivate Disney to keep pushing forward, inspired by the enthusiasm of a young fan.