Movie producer Walt Disney and his wife found the winter sports in Yosemite decidedly to their liking in January 1935. It was the Disney family’s first experience with winter sports, and they were learning to figure skate before they left Yosemite Valley. Ski-joring was another favorite pastime. The Disneys spent the New Year with Dr. and Mrs. Hartley Dewey, Yosemite, and the rest of the week at The Ahwahnee Hotel.