Xavier “X” Atencio: The Imagineer Who Put Words in Your Favorite Disney Rides
If you have ever found yourself humming “Yo ho, yo ho…” while doing laundry (no judgment), or you can’t resist whispering “Grim Grinning Ghosts” the second you see that stretching room wallpaper, you have Xavier “X” Atencio to thank.
X wasn’t “just” a Disney artist. He was one of those rare behind-the-scenes legends who helped define the voice of classic Disney attractions, not with a catchy marketing slogan, but with words that have been echoing through theme parks for decades. He wrote the lyrics for “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” for Pirates of the Caribbean and “Grim Grinning Ghosts” for The Haunted Mansion, helping set the tone for two of the most iconic rides ever built.
That’s why I’m excited to share my video preview of the new book Xavier “X” Atencio: The Legacy of An Artist, Imagineer, and Disney Legend. It’s a gorgeous deep dive into the life and work of someone who deserves way more “Wait, he did THAT too?” recognition.
The park legacy: why X matters (a lot)
Plenty of Imagineers designed things you can point at. X helped create things you can feel.
When Walt Disney moved him into WED Enterprises (today’s Imagineering), X shifted from animation into attractions, and his influence landed right in the sweet spot where story, humor, and atmosphere collide. He’s closely associated with the scripting and lyric work that helped Pirates and Haunted Mansion become more than ride systems. They became experiences with personality and rhythm.
Those songs are not “background music.” They are the spine of the attraction.
- “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” gives Pirates its roguish, mischievous charm, turning cannon fire and chaos into something weirdly cheerful.
- “Grim Grinning Ghosts” does the same for Haunted Mansion, making spooky fun instead of just spooky.
From the animation desks to Disney’s most famous ride songs
X started in the Disney Studio world before becoming a theme park creative force. That matters, because it explains why his work feels so “Disney”: he understood character, pacing, and visual storytelling long before he ever wrote a lyric for a pirate chorus.
He was later named a Disney Legend (which is basically the company saying, “Yeah… we can’t tell the story of Disney without you.”).
Why this new book is worth your time (and shelf space)
This new release pulls together X’s life, art, and legacy in a way we don’t often get. If you love the parks, especially the classic era where story and craftsmanship did the heavy lifting, this is one of those books that scratches the ImagiNERDing itch in the best way: art, history, behind-the-scenes context, and the human story of how the magic actually got