Disney is located in northeastern Mayes County, on the east end of Pensacola Dam along State Highway 28. The town is named after former Oklahoma U.S. Congressman Wesley E. Disney and has no affiliation with The Walt Disney Company or Walt Disney.

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While the official town population is around 300 permanent residents, this number does not account for the numerous vacation homes and the steady stream of visitors staying in campgrounds, cabins, or hotels. During special events and peak seasons, the number of people residing or lodging in Disney often reaches two thousand or more.

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Within the city limits are five recreation areas of Cherokee State Park. These areas offer off-road rock climbing, trails, and mudding for off-road vehicles, as well as camping, swimming, picnicking, boating, fishing, skiing, and kayaking.

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The mile-long highway across the dam separates the city of Langley from Disney. Both towns share similar histories, beginning in 1935 with the construction of the Grand Lake dam.

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Disney was incorporated on March 19, 1959, with the 1960 census counting 224 residents. The town peaked in 1980 with a population of 464. Disney became a ghost town during World War II as U.S. marshals guarded the dam, making it difficult for tourists to enter or leave. By the end of the twentieth century, Disney had a convenience store, two cafés, a bank, a bookstore, an antique shop, several retail stores, and other businesses. The population was 226 in 2000 and 311 in 2010.