Ron Logan


Ronald Logan was an American businessman who served as executive vice president of Walt Disney Entertainment. After retiring from the company in 2001, he was formally a professor at the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management in Orlando, Florida, United States.

Life and career

Growing up in Leavenworth, Kansas, Logan studied trumpet, violin, piano, and dance. He began performing professionally in the ninth grade and has performed as a trumpet player and singer on recordings, television, motion pictures, and with bands and lounge acts throughout the United States. He began his career with Disney in the 1960s as a trumpet player at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California.
As executive vice president of Walt Disney Entertainment, Logan was responsible for creating, casting, and producing all live entertainment products for The Walt Disney Company, including the Disneyland Resort, the Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Resort Paris, The Disney Institute, Disney Business Productions, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Entertainment Productions, and Walt Disney Entertainment Worldwide.
Logan also was executive vice president of the Walt Disney Special Events Group, executive vice president of Disney Special Programs, Incorporated and the founder and first president of Disney Theatrical Productions, which produced Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and later, around the world.
He authored Walt Disney Entertainment - A Retrospective Look, an internal publication that documents the evolution of Walt Disney Entertainment from 1955 through 2000.
Logan retired from Disney in 2001 and later was an associate professor at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida and the university's vice president of special events.
He died on August 30, 2022, at the age of 84.

Education and achievements

Logan held BA and MA degrees in music and music education from UCLA. He was a founding member of the International Foundation for Jazz institution of classical music, a corporate advisory council established in support of the International Association of Jazz Educators. He was a board member of the Orlando Repertory Theatre, served on the Board of Directors for the Famous People Players and the International Theatre in Long Beach, California.
In 2007, Logan was honored with the Disney Legends Award, which is presented to individuals who have made a significant impact on The Walt Disney Company.

Works

During Logan's tenure, Walt Disney Entertainment's productions included:

Disneyland Resort

Fantasmic! – Disneyland ParkThe Lion King Parade – Disneyland Park

Walt Disney World Resort

Grand Opening Ceremonies – Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal KingdomLegend of the Lion King – Magic KingdomSpectroMagic – Magic KingdomSkyleidoscope – EpcotLaserphonic Fantasy – EpcotSurprise in the Skies – EpcotIllumiNations: Reflections of Earth – EpcotTapestry of Nations – EpcotSorcery in the Sky – Disney-MGM StudiosThe Hunchback of Notre Dame – A Musical Adventure – Disney-MGM StudiosAladdin's Royal Caravan – Disney-MGM StudiosBeauty and the Beast Live on Stage! – Disney's Hollywood StudiosVoyage of the Little Mermaid – Disney's Hollywood StudiosFantasmic! – Disney's Hollywood StudiosLights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show – Disney's Hollywood StudiosFestival of the Lion King – Disney's Animal Kingdom

Tokyo Disney Resort

Disney Carnivale – Tokyo DisneylandTokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade – Tokyo DisneylandDisney's Fantillusion – Tokyo Disneyland

Disneyland Paris

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Dinner Show – Disney VillageDisney ImagiNations Parade – Disneyland ParkMoteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular – Walt Disney Studios Park

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Festival of the Lion King – Hong Kong Disneyland

Other venues

Beauty and the Beast – Broadway in New YorkTapestry of Nations Super Bowl XXXIV Halftime Show – Georgia Dome in GeorgiaIndiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye Super Bowl XXIX Halftime Show – Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami1987 Pan American Games – Indianapolis Speedway in IndianaDisneyFest – Asia