Was Walt Disney born in Mojacar?
More than 50 years ago, to be specific in 1940, three men, dressed in gray suits, came to Mojacar. They said that they were representatives of Walt Disney Studios and were looking for the birth certificates of Jose Guirao Zamora, born in Mojacar in 1901. They said that Jose Guirao and Walt Disney were the same person. They spent several days investigating the municipal archives but the documents of that period had been lost during the Civil War ( they had been sold to a paper factory).
In the Mojacar of 1940 there was neither electricity nor telephone and for sure no one knew who Walt Disney was. But it was very well know who Isabel Zamora was, the beautiful laundress (washer woman) who had emigrated with her recently born son to Chicago where she had a brother.
The long voyage with the child left her weary and disoriented. Her brother advised her to leave the child in the hands of some neighbors, Elias and Flora Disney, who he assured her, were good people and already had three children. It appeared the best solution and finally Isabel agreed. The child was baptized for a second time in Chicago in June 1902 with his new name, Walter Elias Disney, and stayed to live with his new parents and siblings.
Some years later, when the daughter of Walt Disney published the authorized biography of her father, Carlos Almedros, the historian of Mojacar, asked for a birth certificate from the Registry Office of Chicago with the dates which are indicated in the biography: Chicago, December 5. The answer was unambiguous:
Walt Disney was not born on that date in that location. Other data come to the support of this theory: Disney himself commented to Salvador Dali, during a visit which he made in the 50's, that he had been born in Almeria; during the same period there were new efforts, under North American initiative, to locate the papers of that baby who emigrated in the early years of the century, and in 1954 there was another attempt on the part of the Franciscan Monks, also on instructions from California. It was one more effort to discover the definitive story of the origins of Uncle Walt, the Mojaquero who left his village to bring happiness to millions of children in the world.
Article is from the local Mojacar Tourism office
Author of the article : "Tito del Amo" (born in California and living in Mojacar)

MORE ABOUT MOJACAR (message from Ken pronounced 'Mohaka' )
Perched on a hilltop between the Mediterranean and the barren wastes of Almeria, Mojácar is like no other place. When King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella led the Christian armies to recapture vast areas of Spain held by the Moors, they failed to conquer Mojácar.Blessed with a good defensive position and ample supplies of food and water, the defenders of Mojácar were unbeatable. The King and Queen forged a compromise, the Moors swore allegiance to the Christian rulers and were allowed in return to keep their customs. The King and Queen reneged and the Moors were forced out. The last of this amazing race departed 500 years ago, leaving behind much of the tradition and architecture which has made Mojácar a corner of enchantment.
Mojácar prospered until the years of the Civil War. The years of deprivation and hunger led to mass emigration and the village went into decline. The population fell from 10,000 to 400 leaving buildings to rot. Those people that were left subsisted on a staple diet of prickly pears, boiled, fried or raw. Those whose only asset was the land they owned sold it for food, if, that is, there were any takers.
Mojácar is about as far south as you can go in mainland Spain. It's easy to reach and well worth the effort. Having been occupied by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and finally the Moors, Mojacar has created a culture of its own, and once visited, will capture your heart. Its Moorish history continues to influence its architecture. You can feel its past as you walk the labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets full of Moorish style dwellings. The shops and international restaurants have fitted in and have added to, rather than detracted from, the town's magical quality. Its captivating charm and tranquil atmosphere are intoxicating. Situated in the south east corner of Andalucia in the Province of Almeria, Mojácar sits on a hilltop, facing the shimmering Mediterranean and overlooking miles of sandy uncluttered Blue Flag beaches, with the majestic Cabrera Mountains as a backdrop. Mojácar is the jewel in a cluster of villages among which is the old fishing port of Garrucha which now boasts a marina and dozens of fish restaurants.
Situated where the south and the east of the Iberian Peninsula blend together, Mojácar is a few kilometers away from the motorway and Autovia system which was constructed to meet the needs of the millions of visitors to the Olympic Games in Barcelona and the World Fair in Seville. Consequently Mojácar is within easy reach of the French border via Barcelona, Santander and San Sebastian ferries to the UK, Granada, Seville, Cordoba, Malaga and Gibraltar. A few hours' drive will put you in reach of the most famous and historical cities in Spain and Almeria and Alicante airports to the rest of the world.
The area is illuminated by the sun. It glows for 3,000 hours every year and means that the average temperature is about 20 degrees Centigrade. It is a great spot for sun worshippers. In Mojácar winter is almost non-existent. Enjoying the best climate in Europe, the air is bright and clean. It is so light and clear that it has attracted painters and sculptors along with writers and musicians from the four corners of the world. It has become a Mecca for artists.
When foreigners began to discover what Mojácar had to offer and began to settle, the village elders took the decision that Mojácar would not be allowed to develop into another Benidorm or Marbella. You won't find the beach and the sea hidden from view, neither will you see platoons of high-rise apartment blocks or hotels. Residential buildings are limited to two floors and hotels to four. Mojácar has therefore been able to retain its essential charm. It remains part of what is called "The real Spain."
It is known throughout the country as "The Village of Enchantment." When the sun finally decides to bid its farewell for the day, it dips behind the village and then the mountains providing an awe-inspiring display of color which never loses its attraction however many times you see it. Like a fire in the sky it turns slowly from bright yellow to orange to red and gradually fades into shades of purple before disappearing ready for the next evening's show.
Enjoying such wonderful all year weather, Mojácar is a place for all seasons. With every sport and recreation facility available both on land and sea one need never be bored. The World Sea Fishing Championship is held at nearby Agua Dulce (Sweet Water), the European Cross Country Championships, etc. With three Equestrian centers, Golf, Tennis, Squash, Swimming, Sailing, Wind Surfing and of course the many arts courses, Mojácar offers a great deal more than Sunshine, Sangria and the Sea.
For History & Walt Disney Trivia Buffs . . .
Walt Disney - no one in the small coastal village harbors any doubt as to where he was born. According to local legend, the internationally famous film maker first saw the light in Mojácar, born out of wedlock and dubbed "Waldo" by his father, the village doctor. His mother, a washerwoman, and his brother were banished to Valencia.

The story is told that more than fifty years ago,in 1940 to be exact, three men dressed in dark suits, came to Mojácar. They said that they represented Walt Disney Studios and that they were looking for the birth certificate of José Guirao, who was born in Mojácar in 1901. They claimed that Walt Disney and José Guirao were the same person. They spent several days investigating the municipal archives, but documents from that period had been lost during the Spanish Civil War, ( they had been sold to a paper factory !). In 1940 Mojácar had no electriciy, no telephone, and nobody knew who Walt Disney was; but they knew very well who Isabel Zamora was.
The beautiful laundress had emigrated with her newborn son to Chicago, where her brother was living. The long journey with the baby had left her exhausted and disoriented and her brother suggested that she leave the child in the care of some neighbours, Elias and Flora Disney who, he assured her, were good people who already had three children.
The story recounts that the little boy was baptised for the second time in Chicago, in 1902, and with his new name he stayed with his new family. This would be the beginning of the story of Uncle Walt, the Mojaquero who left the village to bring happiness to millions of children all over the world.
This spectacular Moorish fortress town stands on a towering crag overlooking a shore graced by pristine beaches and the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean, which has a curious distinction all of its own: American cartoonist Walt Disney is said to have been born here, before emigrating with his parents to the United States.
Like many other villages in south-eastern Spain, in the 1960's Mojacar had become a ghost town, since most of its active inhabitants had moved north to find work in the factories of the Barcelona region, and further afield. To attract new residents, the town's mayor gave land away to anyone who promised to build, and within a year picturesque Mojacar had become a thriving art colony. Mainstream tourists and holiday-makers were also later attracted by the beauty and charm of the place and the following decades saw the development of its shoreline, with the construction of hotels and villas.

Fortunately, the village has still retained much of its original character, with its Moorish fortress called El Torreón and the Arch of Luciana, as well as the honeycomb of whitewashed, winding streets, each of which seems to lead the traveller to a lookout over the sparkling Mediterranean.
For more visit www.mojacar.co.uk