Xavier Atencio, Disney Imagineer and Legend responsible for Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion passed away on September 10th.
Disney Legend Xavier “X” Atencio, a former Imagineer and Disney animator, passed away on September 10 at the age of 98. X was responsible for helping bring to life a number of Disney parks attractions including Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion.
X transferred to WED Enterprises (later Walt Disney Imagineering) in 1965 to work on the Primeval World diorama for Disneyland. X was unsure of the move to WED: “I went over there reluctantly because I didn’t know what I was getting into, and nobody there knew what I was supposed to do either. About a month later I got a phone call from Walt. He told me ‘I want you to do the script for the Pirates of the Caribbean.’ From that point on, X cemented his legacy at WED, playing a key role in the development of music and dialogue for the attraction, including co-writing the iconic song, “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me).” For the Haunted Mansion, he wrote the attraction’s dialogue and co-wrote the song “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” For Walt Disney World, he contributed to If
From that point on, X played a key role in the development of music and dialogue for the attraction, including co-writing the iconic song, “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me).” For the Haunted Mansion, he wrote the attraction’s dialogue and co-wrote the song “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” For Walt Disney World, he contributed the attractions If You Had Wings and Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom, as well as Spaceship Earth, World of Motion, and the Mexico pavilion at Epcot.
He is survived by his wife, Maureen; his children Tori McCullough, Judianne, and Joe; his stepchildren Brian Sheedy, Kevin Sheedy, and Eileen Haubeil; sons-in-law Mike McCullough and Chris Haubeil; daughters-in-law Kathy Atencio, Trish Sheedy, and Beth Sheedy.
He also leaves behind eight grandchildren, Kelsey McCullough, Audrey Atencio, August Atencio, Kate Sheedy, Julia Sheedy, Samantha Haubeil, Blake Haubeil, Connor Sheedy, Sarah Sheedy and longtime aide Gio Landicho. He was predeceased by his wife Mary and his son Jerry.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. He will be missed.
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