A research university in Orange County, near Disneyland, may soon host an academic think tank dedicated to exploring Walt Disney’s work and Disneyland’s global influence.

Disney historian Jeff Kurtti and Chapman University professor Brian Alters are assessing the feasibility of establishing a Walt Disney Think Tank at Chapman University, located just 5 miles from Disneyland in Old Towne Orange. The think tank would focus on Disney’s life, legacy, and worldwide impact across fields like art, music, culture, business, economic development, transportation, urban planning, themed environments, placemaking, science, technology, and innovation. Alters, who has taught at Chapman, Harvard, and McGill, offers a popular Chapman course titled The Pursuit of Happiness and Knowledge: Charles Darwin & Walt Disney.

“Walt Disney was a visionary whose work spanned numerous industries, shaping daily life globally, yet he remains underexplored academically,” Alters said in a Chapman statement. According to Kurtti, Disney’s projects consistently enhanced, elevated, or advanced ideas in ways that still resonate today.

“Whether it’s in film, music, parks, or placemaking, Disney’s influence endures,” Kurtti remarked. “A Walt Disney Think Tank offers a fascinating depth of study.” Reflecting on Disney’s ongoing relevance almost 60 years after his passing, Kurtti explained, “Our goal is to explore this side of Walt Disney—his life, creativity, and professional influence.”

Kurtti, who has worked with Walt Disney Imagineering, served as creative director for the Walt Disney Family Museum, and authored numerous books on Disney history, visited Disneyland in 1971 as a child and became a devoted Disney fan. He joined the company in 1986 and worked on Disneyland projects over the decades.

“There’s a special sentiment for me because it’s Walt’s park—the one he personally touched,” Kurtti said. He sees Chapman University as the ideal location for the think tank, noting, “I could hear Disneyland’s fireworks every night at 9:30 while working. It’s as if Chapman was made to host Walt Disney studies.”

Alters and Kurtti plan to complete the feasibility report for the Walt Disney Think Tank within a year.