We all know that Mickey Mouse is a huge star. Whether on television, the movies, on ice or in the Disney theme parks. But now Mickey is a really huge star so much so he has made it into the Guinness Book of World records and it has nothing to do with his legendary entertainment industry career.
Marking his upcoming 90th birthday as well as its new partnership with the Walt Disney Company, a Dubai garden has unveiled its near 60-foot tall Mickey Mouse topiary sculpture. The larger-than-larger-life-sized Mickey at the Dubai Miracle Garden in Abu Dhabi holds the new record for the tallest topiary sculpture in the world.
The first floral display in the Middle East of the iconic Disney character, Mickey stands at 59-feet-three inches tall and tips the scales at about 35 tons. He is perched on a concrete foundation that weighs 50 tons and is supported by a four-ton steel structure. “The leader of the club that’s made for you and me” is composed of nearly 1,000 different plants and flowers. And not just any old colored-plants — White petunia, red petunia, white geranium, yellow viola, zinnia marigold and green alternanthera all have been orchestrated and planted to make Mickey come alive to greet visitors at the garden.
Needless to say, it was no easy task constructing the topiary. It took 45 days and more than 100 laborers, designers and engineers to bring the record-breaking floral Mickey to life.
Chafic Najia, senior vice president and general manager of The Walt Disney Company said Disney was excited to partner with the Miracle Garden. “Mickey Mouse is one of the world’s most iconic and beloved characters and we are proud to be able to celebrate such a unique touch point at Dubai Miracle Garden with UAE residents and visitors and enable them to connect with Disney and our characters,” said Najia. He added that Disney looked forward to celebrating with more local experiences for Disney fans in the UAE and across the Middle East region in the future.
The Dubai Miracle Garden said as many as six more Disney characters are expected to join Mickey in November in time for the worldwide celebration of Mickey’s 90th birthday.
Guinness World Records Adjudicator Kevin Southam confirmed the record and presented the certificate to engineer Abdel Naser Rahhal, the creator and co-founder of Dubai Miracle Garden. “We are delighted to win this recognition from Guinness World Records for this iconic Mickey Mouse structure at the start of our relationship with The Walt Disney Company,” said Rahhal.