“I buckled him”: Kevin Costner Accidentally Hit Walt Disney During His Wild Ride at Disneyland

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner once shared a heartwarming tale of how his wild ride at Disneyland led to a chance meeting with Walt Disney.

Kevin Costner has had a long-standing relationship with the House of Mouse, Disney. The actor has appeared in several Disney-produced and distributed films as well as made films for the production company. Over the years, this relationship has only grown and it seems it was almost destined to be.

Kevin Costner in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 | Credit: Warner Brothers

During a candid interview where the Academy Award-winning actor reflected back on his childhood and upbringing, Costner revealed how he once met the legend Walt Disney after running into him at Disneyland. While sharing the adorable childhood memory, Costner also talked about his favorite Disneyland ride.

Kevin Costner on running into Walt Disney and his favorite Disneyland ride

Walt Disney | Credit: Agence de presse Meurisse, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Kevin Costner is one of the most esteemed actors and directors of his time, having won countless accolades and praise in his decades-long career. But once he was just a four-year-old too excited to be at Disneyland.

Once appearing in an interview with Dan Patrick (via YouTube), the actor reflected back on his childhood. Recalling how when he was four years old, Disneyland had just started out and wasn’t as famous. But when he visited the park along with his parents and brother, he got too excited to see a ride which was perhaps Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules.

Little Costner was so excited that he rode the ride over and over again. And when his mother told him to stop, he tried to go ride again and ran straight into Walt Disney.

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

Costner then went on to praise the late legend, commending him for staying firm on his dream even though how there were so many people who doubted him when he started the company. He even said that he likes to think that the little interaction with him might have motivated Walt Disney to continue on his venture after seeing his enthusiasm.

Kevin Costner to team up with FOX Nation for Yellowstone to Yosemite With Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner in Yellowstone to Yosemite With Kevin Costner | Credit: FOX Nation

After showcasing the natural beauty and history of the United States of America in 2022’s Yellowstone: One Fifty, Kevin Costner is teaming up with FOX Nations again. A three-part-limited series, Yellowstone to Yosemite With Kevin Costner will be a sequel to the original series.

Once again, Costner will be taking the audience around the natural treasures and many hidden gems of the country, as he explores the rich history of both Yosemite and Yellowstone (via Whiskey Riff). Not only will the star showcase the flora of the land but will also touch upon the history of these places, from the struggle by John Muir to how the National Park System came into place.

The series will debut on February 8, kicking off FOX Nation’s year-long celebration of USA’s 250th anniversary. The actor acknowledged that he couldn’t miss out on the opportunity and is eagerly awaiting to delve deep into the rich history of the country and reveal details to audiences that have not been covered in a similar fashion before.

Yellowstone to Yosemite With Kevin Costner will premiere on FOX Nation on Saturday, February 8.