Tyler Dean McDowell is no stranger to music. As the son of country music legend Ronnie McDowell, he grew up surrounded by the industry. But rather than following in his father’s exact footsteps, he’s using his talent to send a message—to Disney.
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His song What Walt Would Say has struck a nerve with disillusioned Disney fans, taking direct aim at Disney CEO Bob Iger and the corporate leadership that has, in McDowell’s eyes, strayed from Walt Disney’s vision. In an exclusive interview with That Park Place, he shared his deep connection to Disney, what inspired the song, and why he believes the company is losing its magic.
A Disney Legacy That Started Before He Was Born
McDowell’s Disney connection runs deep. His father, country music star Ronnie McDowell, was honored at Disney-MGM Studios with a ceremony where he placed his hands in concrete outside The Great Movie Ride—though those prints, unfortunately, were never displayed.
“That was one of the highlights of my life,” Tyler shared.
Tyler Dean McDowell in front of the Rivers of America in What Walt Would Say – YouTube, TDMcDowellVEVO
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His personal Disney story, however, began even earlier.
“My first introduction to a Disney park was actually my mother found out she was pregnant with me at Epcot,” he said. “The payphone that she talked to her doctor on is still there, I think, in front of the park. I hope they never get rid of it, or at least the little building is still there.”
Growing up, Disney was a central part of his life. But as the years passed, something changed.
Losing the Magic: From Annual Passholder to Disillusioned Fan
McDowell’s lyrics capture a sentiment shared by many longtime Disney fans:
“Strollin’ down Main Street, just don’t feel the same
There’s a change in the wind, and we know who to blame.”
McDowell had been a Disney annual passholder for years—until 2020, when he finally let it go.
Tyler Dean McDowell on the Magic Kingdom Ferry in front of the Polynesian Resort – YouTube, TDMcDowellVEVO
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“The biggest contributing factor for me was the price,” he said. “I think it’s extortionate, especially for cost value ratio or however you say it. Also the reservation system. I’m one of those people that when we were traveling, like if we were doing a show in Florida, we would often play at the Orange Blossom Opry, which is not too far from Disney. And I would always try to find a way to get to the parks. Well, I mean, that was a spur-of-the-moment thing. So I’m a very spontaneous park goer. And then when they had this reservation system… it was just a nightmare, not a magical dream.”
His song reflects this frustration:
“Bob, what are you thinkin’? There’d be tears in his eyes
Disney’s World’s sinkin’ under corporate lies.”
He also pointed out how Disney has changed the way it treats passholders, noting how if you’re not a resort guest paying to stay on property, you’re almost looked down upon.
A Music Video That Captures a Ghost Town
Beyond the song itself, the music video for What Walt Would Say has gained attention for its striking visuals. Filmed inside the Magic Kingdom, the video gives the impression of an eerily empty park.
“My cousin, he told me, he was like, ‘Man, he goes, it looks kind of spooky,” McDowell said. “‘Cause it looks like you’re the only one there.’”
A powerful moment in the video features McDowell standing next to a painting of Walt Disney—one that he painted himself.
A painting of Walt Disney by Tyler Dean McDowell featured in the song What Walt Would Say – YouTube, TDMcDowellVEVO
“It took me a little over a month to paint it,” he revealed. “I listened to Saving Mr. Banks on repeat and watched old Walt interviews while I worked on it.”
But there’s an even deeper connection hidden within the artwork.
McDowell revealed that he has a small piece of Walt’s father Elias Disney’s shed, which was used by Walt as his first makeshift art studio. He put that memento to good use.
“What I did was I took a piece of this. You can see where I broke it off a little bit. And I grinded that up in the paint and put that on Walt’s tie.”
It became clear very quickly during our conversation that, for McDowell, this wasn’t just a music video, nor was it meant to be some kind of angry attack against Bob Iger and the Disney C-Suite. Rather, it was a tribute to the man who started the magic, Walter Elias Disney himself.
The Message: What Would Walt Say Today?
Tyler Dean McDowell believes What Walt Would Say is more than just a protest song—it’s a call for fans to demand better from Disney.
Tyler Dean McDowell on the Tomorrowland People Mover in What Walt Would Say – YouTube, TDMcDowellVEVO
“It’s important to be constructive,” he said. “Walt was. I use the story all the time about how he wanted gold leaf on Sleeping Beauty Castle, and Roy was just not having it. And we all know the story. Eventually, Walt booked a vacation for Roy to go away, and then while Roy was away, Walt put gold leaf on Sleeping Beauty Castle. I think that some Disney fans, not all Disney fans, some Disney fans nowadays would have called Walt negative for saying that the gold spray paint wasn’t good enough. They’d be like, ‘You’re just negative. It looks great.’ It’s okay to be constructive.”
His frustrations extend beyond the parks. He expressed disappointment in Disney’s removal of Walt’s name from Walt Disney Pictures.
“If you didn’t want to convince, or if you wanted the world to be convinced that you still cared about Walt Disney’s legacy, why did you remove his first name?” he asked. “Like, it’s just kind of silly.”
Walt Disney in Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1966), Walt Disney Productions
Despite his critiques, McDowell hasn’t lost all hope. He believes there are still creatives in Hollywood who understand Disney’s legacy—particularly Jon Favreau. It was recently announced that Favreau would be making a Disney+ series based on Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, one of Walt’s first creations.
“Oswald doesn’t get a lot of love,” Tyler said. “And I think it’s one of the rare things that Bob Iger is clearly proud of because that was an acquisition that he made. But Jon Favreau being in charge of that, I think that he’s a guy who has a lot of love for the original Disney stuff.”
Still, for Disney fans who feel left behind, McDowell’s lyrics say it all:
“We wish upon a star for one more magical day
And for you to hear what Walt would say.”
Final Thoughts
With What Walt Would Say, Tyler Dean McDowell proves that he’s more than just the son of a country music legend—he’s an artist using his voice to speak for fans who feel forgotten.
His song is more than a protest. It’s a love letter to the Disney that once was, a lament for what has been lost, and a challenge to the company to remember its roots.
The title card for What Walt Would Say – YouTube, TDMcDowellVEVO
Whether Disney listens remains to be seen. But thanks to McDowell, fans now have an anthem that speaks for them.
What do you think Walt would say if he were alive today to see what’s become of his legacy? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
That was fantastic. He has a great singing voice and the song is catchy. Definitely adding it to my playlist.