Renowned Disney Legend Alice Estes Davis has passed away. A California native, the prolific Imagineer worked on a number of iconic attractions and projects for over 20 years. Her contributions to Disney works earned her the title of Disney Legend in 2004, and received the June Foray Award in 2014. Married to fellow Imagineer and character animator Marc Davis, Alice saw a fascinating career over the course of her life.
Born in Escalon as Alice Estes, she had a talent for art. It earned her recognition in high school, and a scholarship to the Chouinard Art Institute. Hoping to study animation, a conflict of scheduling found her a seat in costume design classes. She met her future husband Marcwhile he was teaching night classes in animation. Her talent for textile work launched her career designing lingerie for Beverly Vogue & Lingerie House in LA.
In the mid-1950s, Davis came to Estes for help animating Aurora’s dress in “Sleeping Beauty.” Estes designed a dress for reference model Helene Stanley to wear so that Davis could study how it moved. During this time, the two grew closer, and married in 1956. While dining out one night, Walt Disney happened upon the couple, and was immediately charmed. He told her “You know, you’re going to work for me one day.”
From Assistant to Imagineer
In 1963, Disney asked Davis to assist Mary Blaire in designing the costumes for It’s a Small World for the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair. The rest was history. Estes Davis created a costume manufacturing area, quality control system, and refurbishing techniques at WED Enterprises in Glendale, CA. These techniques are still employed today.
The rest was history. Estes Davis went on to design the costumes for Pirates of the Caribbean. She created 47 different costumes, all period specific to the 17th and 18th centuries. As well as the mission control costumes for the attraction Flight to the Moon. Estes Davis retired in 1978, following her husband’s own retirement. Though she continued to consult on Disney projects and attended events for meet-and-greets.
Alice Estes Davis has left a profound legacy behind. She’s received mass recognition, as well as a window on Main Street, USA in Disneyland Park next to her husband’s. A long time supporter of the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, Estes Davis will be long-remembered by those who knew her. “To the Board and staff at The Walt Disney Family Museum, Alice was an inspiring collaborator, kind-hearted benefactor, and cherished friend.”
Davis was 93 years old. Check out Disney’s Imagineering series on Disney+ for some incredible behind the scenes footage of Davis’ work.
