Here is a copy from another site, that copied from another site of the 3 stories... Pick your favorite.. I like them all. If I knew which of the three sites that posted this was the original source I would link to them , but I don't so here is the full text.
Story 1
Ever wanted to know what Walt is pointing to...
The "Partners" sculpture in front of Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom is not a "complete" sculpture on its own. It requires the "Sharing the Magic" sculpture up front near the entrance (the one with Roy and Minnie) to be considered complete.
Both sculptures were created by Blaine Gibson. Blaine Gibson was an imagineer for Disney. The first sculpture was created and given to the Magic Kingdom in 1995. He said it was not a finished sculpture. In 1999 (he's getting up there in age so it took him a while to finishe it), the Roy and Minnie sculpture was added to the entrance at the MK and he said it was finished. The story behind the sculptures is that since Roy was never that "approachable" (or not nearly as much as Walt was), he had Minnie move across the bench, holding Roy's hand to make him more approachable. The statue of Walt and Mickey is set in 1966, just before Walt died of Lung Cancer. Walt is holding Mickey's hand telling him he's taken him as far as he can take him and as far as he can go on this journey. But not to worry, Roy and Minnie have saved a seat for you on the bench up front as he points in that direction letting him know it'll be alright.
Story 2
However, the original Partners statue was created for Disneyland at the request of Marty Sklar in 1993; a 'Roy' statue was never added. A copy of the statue was added to Walt Disney World in 1995 and Sharing the Magic (the 'Roy' statue) was added in 1999. There seems to have been no connection between the two statues at the time, so I'm very interested to hear how the story presented here came about.
The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom states the following as regards the Partner's Statue and Sharing the Magic:
Quote:
Walt is rendered as the visionary, in a hero's stance, pointing toward the future and leading the way for his creation, Mickey Mouse. Roy is presented in a more modest posture, sitting on a bench looking rather unassuming and even supporting the hand of Minnie Mouse, who has approached him to make contact. Roy's statue is intended to recognize his willingness to remain somewhat in the background while working so hard to realize Walt's visions.
Story 3
After sending an email to the best contact we could think of, Disney Historian Jim Korkis, we have received an answer. Jim has very kindly granted his permission to quote his email, so I offer you the following:
Quote:
The Partners Statue first appeared at Disneyland. The final design (done by Blaine and John Hench) is to indicate Walt pointing down Main Street as if saying "Mickey, look at all the happy people coming to visit us today". The Roy statue is based on a publicity photo from the opening of Magic Kingdom and is in the exact location where Roy gave the dedication speech. Retroactively, the company has suggested that Walt is now pointing down to Roy to "continue the final dream" of the Epcot concept beginning with the first step, the opening of the Magic Kingdom. That is why Roy is holding Minnie's hand from underneath...he is supporting her hand just as he supported Walt.
I should mention the Imagineering Field Guide story is true on paper (meaning it was really written in that book).
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