Kim Irvine, a cornerstone of Walt Disney Imagineering for over five decades, has retired, marking the end of an era for the company responsible for crafting Disney’s theme park magic.
As a legacy hire with deep ties to Disney’s storied past, Irvine’s career is a blend of celebrated contributions and polarizing decisions, leaving fans and critics alike debating her impact on the parks.
Sleeping Beauty Castle in 2019 after refurbishment. Photo Credit: CrispyCream27, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Her retirement closes a chapter for a family synonymous with Disney’s creative heritage, as Irvine’s lineage traces back to her mother, imagineer Leota Toombs, and father, Disney animator Harvey Toombs. Her father-in-law, Dick Irvine, is also the first executive VP and COO of WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering).
Leota Toombs, a legendary Imagineer, left an indelible mark on Disney’s Haunted Mansion, lending her face to Madame Leota in the séance room scene and her voice to “Little Leota” at the ride’s exit (with Eleanor Audley providing the main Madame Leota voice).
Kim Irvine followed in her mother’s footsteps, serving as the face model for Madame Leota in Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland and even appearing as a maid in the 2021 Muppets Haunted Mansion special. Since joining Imagineering in 1970, Irvine rose to the role of executive creative director and director of concept design, shaping some of Disneyland’s most iconic attractions.
A screenshot showing the exterior of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland – YouTube, Best Life and Beyond
Irvine’s portfolio includes a range of high-profile projects that enhanced the Disneyland experience.
She contributed to the restoration and repaint of Sleeping Beauty Castle, the refurbishment of King Arthur Carrousel, and the reimagining of Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. Her work on It’s a Small World introduced Disney characters to the classic attraction, blending nostalgia with fresh appeal.
However, Irvine’s tenure wasn’t without controversy, particularly in her later years. The recent Haunted Mansion queue redesign and the adjacent Carriage House gift shop drew significant backlash from fans. The gift shop, criticized for its use of AI-generated artwork, store-bought decor, and what many described as a prefabricated building structure, faced practical issues as well.
A screenshot showing the exterior of the Haunted Mansion gift shop and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland – YouTube, Best Life and Beyond
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It reportedly flooded during rain, raising questions about its design and execution. These choices sparked debates about whether Imagineering was cutting corners under Irvine’s oversight.
More contentious were Irvine’s comments on modernizing The Haunted Mansion to align with contemporary sensibilities, as reported by the LA Times.
The attic scene’s Bride, once a murderous “Black Widow” character, was reimagined as a grieving widow to reflect the attraction’s original storyline.
The new version of the Ghost Bride in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion – YouTube, Los Angeles Times
“In this day and age we have to be really careful about the sensitivities of people,” Irvine said. “We were celebrating someone chopping off her husband’s heads, and it was a weird story.” She acknowledged mixed fan reactions, noting, “I know the fans—some will like it and some will say, ‘Oh, you changed something again.’ That’s our job. That’s what we’re here for.”
Irvine also confirmed rumors that the iconic hanging man scene in the Haunted Mansion’s stretching room was under review for removal due to “sensitivity” concerns.
“We’re still looking at that,” she told the LA Times. “That one is complicated, structurally … One thing at a time.”
The head of Madame Leota in the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland – YouTube, Los Angeles Times
The potential removal of this macabre element, a hallmark of the ride’s darkly humorous narrative, alarmed fans who feared it would dilute the attraction’s unique identity. Critics argued that Irvine’s push for identity politics-based changes, likely influenced by Disney’s Stories Matter initiative, risked alienating the core fanbase that cherishes the Haunted Mansion’s grim whimsy.
The retirement Kim Irvine comes at a time when Disney’s theme park division faces increasing scrutiny over balancing tradition with modernization. Her contributions, from enhancing classic attractions to navigating the complexities of cultural updates, reflect a career dedicated to evolving Disneyland’s magic. Yet, her later decisions, particularly around The Haunted Mansion, highlight the challenges of adapting beloved properties in an era of heightened social awareness.
The new Ghost Bride in the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland – YouTube, Los Angeles Times
Fans remain divided—some celebrate her as a keeper of Disney’s creative flame, while others question whether her final projects strayed too far from the spirit of the originals.
As Irvine steps away, her departure prompts reflection on the future of Imagineering. Will her successors continue her approach to updating attractions for modern audiences, or will they lean harder into preserving Disney’s classic charm?
Do you think Kim Irvine will be missed at Disney imagineering? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think!
Don’t let the door hit her, where the good lord split her.