Dunham Discusses His Unlikely Disney Roots

Jeff Dunham's Disney roots run deep, and it was this connection that led to him joining the Disney Vacation Club Member Cruise. The comedian, known for his mature material and large arena performances, tried to downplay his celebrity status during a conversation with Tony Shepherd aboard the cruise.

Dunham emphasized that he is a 'Disney dad,' having taken his three daughters on numerous trips to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line. He has continued this tradition with his wife Audrey and their twin sons, who are now 10 years old and enjoying their fifth Disney cruise.

The comedian's friendship with Shepherd, which began through their shared love of Disney, eventually led to Dunham being invited to join the Member Cruise. When asked how many people in the audience had attended one of his shows, a significant portion responded, prompting Dunham to joke that 'Disney fans actually go to my shows.'

During the conversation, Dunham also shared stories about his childhood passion for ventriloquism, which began when he received a ventriloquist dummy as a gift from Santa Claus at age 9. By seventh grade, he was already performing professionally and had learned that show business consists of two equally important parts: the show and the business.

Dunham's parents were supportive of his unusual passion, and one memorable story involved him riding his bicycle to school with his dummy, Monty, packed in a suitcase on the back. The resulting school photograph became part of a slideshow Dunham shared during the Member Cruise conversation.